Stephen Ross plans to own the Dolphins for a long time

Written by Matthew Cannata
Every year, there are inevitably one or two rumors that link the Dolphins possibly being shopped around by owner Stephen Ross in hopes of selling the team. Ross wants everyone to know that he has no intentions of selling the team. Ross, who is entering his sixth season as the Dolphins' majority owner, turned 74 this past offseason and said he hopes that he's alive for the next 50 years so he can be the owner of the Dolphins for the next 50 years. For those who aren't very good at math, that would make him 124 years old.

Ross hasn't been one to shy away from spending money on front office personnel, coaches, players and facility upgrades. He's upgraded the locker rooms, the practice facility and most recently, has pledged to put a whole boatload of his own money into Sun Life Stadium to make it one of the best in the NFL. However, he has been criticized in the past though for making poor decisions that have a negative imapct on the team. For example, interviewing Jim Harbaugh while Tony Sparano sat back in Miami wondering if he would still have a job. 

Ross said he has learned from those mistakes and has become a better owner because of it. He said that as long as he's passionate about the organization and in good health, there will be no change at the top. 

Ross is excited for the 2014 season and although he didn't come out and say it was playoffs or bust for head coach Joe Philbin, he did hint at it.

“I don’t think I start any season without wanting to make the playoffs,” Ross told reporters in his annual training camp briefing Friday. “I think, if you don’t have those expectations, you shouldn’t be in the game. ... You own a team because you want to create a winner. Not just the fact of owning the team. That’s why I own the Dolphins and wanted to own the Dolphins – to bring back to Miami a consistently winning team.”

We can only hope the Dolphins get back to their winning ways in 2014. 

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