Did Dolphins Already Offer Tony Sparano the Head Coaching Job?

Everybody loves getting a scoop. The New Haven Register is reporting that native son Tony Sparano "has been offered the head coaching position by the Miami Dolphins and will accept it at the conclusion of the Dallas Cowboys' season, according to a source." Unsurprisingly, a Dolphins spokesman denied the report.

The Dallas Morning News' Todd Archer has a few questions, though:

* If Sparano accepted the position, why did he get on a plane and fly to Baltimore to interview with the Ravens later Saturday?

* [Jeff] Ireland and Bill Parcells know the rules. If they offered the job to Sparano, they would be in violation of the Rooney Rule, which states teams must interview at least one minority candidate.

The Dolphins are scheduled to interview Vikings' defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, who is African American, on Monday, so the team will be in compliance with the Rooney Rule in short order. But as Archer posits, why would Parcells, who worded "his contract in such a way that he could pry Ireland away from the Cowboys immediately and without compensation", so obviously violate the Rooney Rule?

I can think of a couple of reasons (one being: "Because I'm Bill Parcells, that's why"), but none make a lot of sense. Now could there have been some nudge-nudge/wink-winking going on when the Tuna interviewed Sparano? Sure. In fact, if he is Miami's top choice, I'd be surprised to hear otherwise.

Ultimately, I suspect the Register will be credited with breaking the story, but if it comes out that Sparano got the job this weekend, well, I'm sure Mr. Goodell and his goons will be interested in talking to the Dolphins. And if there's one thing that team can least afford to lose, it's draft picks, which could be the penalty for violating the Rooney Rule.