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Dolphins fire Tony Sparano as coach

MIAMI - Tony Sparano has been fired as coach of the Miami Dolphins, the third dismissal of an NFL coach in the past two weeks.

The move came Monday, one day after the Dolphins lost to the Philadelphia Eagles to fall to 4-9. The defeat ended a recent surge by the Dolphins after they lost their first seven games.

With two other teams already in the market for a new coach, owner Stephen Ross didn't want to wait any longer to start shopping. Sparano's dismissal came hours after the Kansas City Chiefs fired coach Todd Haley. Jacksonville fired coach Jack Del Rio on Nov. 29.

Todd Bowles, who had been Miami's assistant head coach and secondary coach, will be the interim head coach for the final three games, starting Sunday at Buffalo.

The Dolphins are assured of their third consecutive losing season, the longest such streak since the 1960s. They'll miss the playoffs for the ninth time in 10 years.

Ross is eager to boost sagging attendance, and he's expected to pursue a coach with star power. Among those mentioned as possible candidates are Bill Cowher, Jeff Fisher and Jon Gruden.

Sparano began the season aware he was on borrowed time. After Miami's late-season fade to 7-9 last year, Ross embarked on a public courtship with Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh.

When Harbaugh instead joined the San Francisco 49ers, Ross gave Sparano a contract extension through 2013. But Ross made clear he expected substantial improvement this season, saying the Dolphins had "the nucleus of a great winning team."

Ross gave Sparano a vote of confidence after the Dolphins lost their first four games, but now they'll start over again. Bowles is the sixth coach since 2004 for the Dolphins, who haven't won a playoff game since 2000 and haven't reached the Super Bowl since 1984.

In Sparano's first season as an NFL head coach, he led the Dolphins to a surprising 11-5 record, the 2008 AFC East title and their only playoff game since 2001. He departs with a record of 29-32.

Shortly before he was fired, Sparano held his regular Monday news conference. When asked if he wanted to comment on reports he would be fired after the season, he said no.

"I want to coach against the Buffalo Bills this week. That's my sole focus," he said.

Sparano was popular with his players, but a dismal home record and declining attendance accelerated his departure. The Dolphins lost 12 of 13 home games during one stretch.

Sparano's teams tended to be dull, too. Last year Miami ranked third-worst in the NFL in scoring, and this year their offense often sputtered.

His departure represents further dismantling of the regime built by Bill Parcells after he joined the Dolphins in late 2007. Ross took over as owner in early 2009, and Parcells gave up control of football operations before last season.

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