"Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and CEO Mike Dee on Friday strongly denied an NFL Network report that Ross has reached out to Bill Cowher's agent about Cowher becoming the team's coach.

The Dolphins are expected to have interest in Cowher but will not contact him or any other candidate until the job is open. Barring a miraculous turnaround, coach Tony Sparano is expected to be dismissed by early January, if not sooner.

"I have not reached out to [Cowher] in any way and will not so long as Tony is the coach," Ross told The Miami Herald. "I will not reach out to anyone so long as Tony is the coach. And I hope Tony wins and stays the coach.""