Miami Dolphins CEO Tom Garfinkel says interviews for a general manager will begin Friday, and experience will weigh heavily in the decision.
In another nod to experience, team owner Stephen Ross said Thursday night that he is bringing in Carl Peterson to advise him on the search.
"Carl and I have had a business relationship for almost 30 years dating back to the USFL [United States Football League] and I have tremendous respect for his experience and judgment on team building and football operations," Ross said in a statement. "He will advise me on the search but he will not have a role with the Dolphins after the process is over."
Peterson said in a statement that no one wants to bring a winner to Miami more than Ross.
"I look forward to advising Steve through this search and I am confident that he will add an outstanding candidate with a proven track record in talent evaluation to the Dolphins," Peterson said.
Speaking Wednesday while attending a Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Garfinkel said he'll be involved in the search already underway, but the final decision will be made by Ross.
"Someone with a lot of experience evaluating talent, a proven track record of evaluating talent and a football person — that's going to be the first criterion," Garfinkel said, according to the team's web site.
Candidates without experience as a GM will be considered, however.
"I don't know that that's going to be a deal-breaker," Garfinkel said. He joined the Dolphins in September and is responsible for their business operations.
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Jeff Ireland departed Tuesday after six seasons as general manager. He and Ross said they mutually agreed to part ways.
The Dolphins fired offensive coordinator Mike Sherman Monday. Ross said head coach Joe Philbin and his staff are holding interviews for the offensive coordinator position, while they continue their offseason activities.
The Dolphins would have made the playoffs for the first time since 2008 if they had won one of their final two games against the Bills and Jets. Instead, they lost both to finish 8-8.
