Citing sources familiar with the team’s front office, Miami Dolphin’s owner Stephen Ross will fire coach Tony Sparano as early as Monday. After the Dolphins embarrassing loss to the Cleveland Browns Sunday, this was not unexpected. Dolphins are starting 0-3 in spite of strong showings from quarterback Chad Henne.

As you know Stephen Ross tried to hire Jim Harbaugh from Stanford in the off season, but the deal fell through. While letting Sparano hang on till this season, most analysts of the NFL know that was basically the kiss of death for Sparano. Sources tell me that Ross has been actively looking for a coaching replacement since week two when the Dolphins lost yet another home game to the Houston Texans.

Likely candidates are Bill Cowher, CBS NFL analyst and former Pittsburg Steelers coach, or Jon Gruden who now works for ESPN and covers Monday Night Football. Ross needs a solid winner and big name coach in order to improve disappointing ticket sales.

UPDATE: Ok, it’s been a couple of weeks and you’re asking, “So what happened?” The source which I quoted stood behind the story that Sparano would let go as of September 26th. However it’s evident that didn’t happen.

I spoke with this source, who is actually a good friend who works in the Dolphin organization and Ross changed his mind to allow Sparano to coach the San Diego game – which the Dolphins lost today. He told me that the fact that any interim replacement such The Dolphins are going into a bye and I asked him again will Ross pull the trigger now? His answer is that Sparano will coach the Jets / Dolphin game two weeks from now, and that game will determine Sparano’s continued tenure with the team.