The Dolphins officially began the process of filling out their front office Monday by interviewing Jets director of college scouting Joey Clinkscales and securing permission to speak with Cowboys vice president of pro scouting Jeff Ireland, according to multiple sources.

"Obviously, this would be a great opportunity," Ireland said. "I'm ecstatic to be even considered for the position. The Dolphins are a great and proud franchise. They've just had a little bad luck."

The Miami Dolphins today announced that General Manager Randy Mueller, Assistant Director of Player Personnel Mike Baugh and College Scouting Coordinator Rick Thompson are leaving the club.

The Dolphins banished the starting defensive tackle for the season's final game, a result of an argument he had with teammates on the flight back from New England last week. According to a source, those teammates were offensive linemen Rex Hadnot and Vernon Carey.

Traylor, 38, did not practice this week, and the team listed him on its injury report with an ankle ailment. Cam Cameron met with Traylor on Monday, and verbally cut him. They kept him on the roster, partly to avoid a public relations issue.

Head Coach Don Shula

“Going undefeated during the regular season is a remarkable achievement. I know first hand how difficult it is to win every game, and just as we did in 1972, the Patriots have done a great job concentrating on each week’s opponent and not letting any other distractions interrupt that focus. If they go on to complete an undefeated season, I will be the first to congratulate Coach Belichick and the Patriot organization.”

Defensive Tackle Manny Fernandez

“Congratulations to the Patriots for winning all of their regular season games. If they finish without a loss, it’s almost going to be a relief to me. That way, the media will start to call them the first eight or nine games each year whenever a team starts undefeated instead of calling us. That will give us a break.”

Quarterback Bob Griese

“I want to congratulate the Patriots on going undefeated during the regular season. I know Tom Brady well because he played at Michigan with my son, Brian. I’ve followed his career ever since then and have the greatest respect for him as a player. He is having one of the greatest seasons ever by an NFL quarterback, and his outstanding performance has been a major factor in the Patriots’ success this year. I hope he continues to play at such a high level in the playoffs, and if he does it will be very difficult to beat them the rest of the way.”

Running Back Jim Kiick

“If they finish up undefeated, I would be the one of the first to help lift their chair up on the mountaintop. Going undefeated in the regular season is a great accomplishment. But I’m sure going 16-0 isn’t important to them – they wan to go 19-0. If they finish 18-1 by losing the Super Bowl, there’s no doubt they would look at it as a disappointing season. And that’s the way we viewed it back in 1972. Our main objective wasn’t going undefeated, it was to win the Super Bowl. So it’s great that they’ve gotten this far, but I know what’s really important to them is to win that last game, not necessarily all the ones before it.”

Guard Bob Kuechenberg

“They’ve done a heck of a job thus far. But now the exhibition season is over and the real season begins. Obviously, if they can win their first playoff game, beat an even more dangerous Colts team, and then Brett Favre or the Dallas Cowboys in the Super Bowl, I will be the first to take my hat off to them. If they can pull it off, they will have earned it.

“But my heart is dead set against it. The ’72 team in uniquely immortal in American sports and I don’t want us to lose that special place. We will forever be immortal, and if they win every game in front of them, then they will join us among those ranks. They will have deserved it ant I will congratulate them. But something in my heart makes me feel that we accomplished something so special that it forever sets the standard of excellence in sports.

“Imperfect is mortal. Perfect is immortal.”

Tight End Jim Mandich

“My sincerest congratulations go out to the Patriots. In this salary cap-era, free agency-era, I didn’t think it could be done, and the Patriots did it. They are a remarkable team. They are terrifically coached, and if somebody was going to tie the Miami Dolphins record in the regular season of going unbeaten, it’s appropriate that it would be the Patriots because they are a class act.”

Quarterback Earl Morrall

“I’d like to congratulate the New England Patriots. They’ve had a great run and a great season in winning all of their games. I’m sure if they look at it, it’s a difficult thing to do. They play great football, so you’ve got to compliment them on that. Now you’ve got to see if they can finish it and go the distance – the playoffs, championship and Super Bowl. You’ve got those to go to end up perfect, and we’ll be the first ones to congratulate them if they do it.”

Running Back Mercury Morris

“My feeling about it is as consistent as it has been all year. It doesn’t matter to me whether or not they win them all because it doesn’t affect anything we’ve done. When all the dust clears, the best they can do is to stand beside us, and in the end, that’s not a bad thing. I will welcome them to the neighborhood with my Mr. Rogers sweater on, but first they have to get to the neighborhood.”

As if facing another high-powered passing offense in the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday wasn't going to be enough of a challenge for the Dolphins, they found out today that they are going to be without one of their best cover cornerbacks in Andre Goodman. The sixth-year veteran was placed on injured reserve as the result of a knee injury suffered in the first half of last week's 28-7 loss at New England and becomes the fifth defensive back and 14th player overall to find his way onto I/R. Ikechuku Ndukwe, a 6-foot-4, 338-pound offensive guard, was signed off the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad to fill Goodman's spot on the active roster.

"My idea would be to keep the good players we have and try to collect some more," Parcells said during an interview on ESPN's Monday Night Countdown in his last night as an analyst. "And I think Jason Taylor has been a pretty good player in Miami."

The Dolphins' Pro Bowl selection gutted out a torn plantar fascia on his left foot and started despite practicing only once this week. But Taylor said his involvement had more to do with his teammates needing him than the opportunity to set the franchise record by playing in 129 consecutive games.

Taylor, who passed former center Jim Langer for the mark, said he didn't know he was going to play until he got to the stadium and tried the foot out.

Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder will miss the rest of the season because of an injured right knee. His roster spot was filled by quarterback Casey Bramlet leading to Sunday's game against undefeated New England.

“Bill’s accomplishments put him among the most successful head coaches in NFL history, and this position was created to take advantage of his unique background and expertise,” Huizenga said. “We all know the respect that he has around the NFL. He has a proven track record of success everywhere he has been in the National Football League, and his football acumen will help put the Miami Dolphins franchise back among the elite of the NFL.”

“I’m honored to join such an illustrious franchise as the Miami Dolphins and to work for one of the best owners in the league in Wayne Huizenga,” Parcells said. “He shares my same commitment to winning and I told him I would do everything I can to help turn around the team’s fortunes.

“I respect what the Dolphins name means – the legacy of the Perfect Season, and people like Coach Shula, Dan Marino and so many others who have made the team one of the most successful franchises in the NFL. I’m looking forward to helping restore that winning tradition.”

Bill Parcells signed a four-year contract with the Miami Dolphins to become the team's executive vice president of football operations, according to a Dolphins source.

Parcells faxed the contract to the team. The Dolphins are expected to make a formal announcement Thursday afternoon.

Taylor matched a team record by playing in his 128th straight game last weekend, and could break Hall of Fame center Jim Langer's mark Sunday if he gets on the field when the Dolphins (1-13) visit the unbeaten New England Patriots (14-0). He missed practice Wednesday and, while he's far from being ruled out, his availability is still in question.

Parcells is almost certain to land in Miami after Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga sent word Wednesday to Parcells that he has decided not to sell the team, sources have told ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Len Pasquarelli.

Parcells has a four-year agreement in place to become the Dolphins' vice president of football operations -- the identical role he had negotiated with Blank, a Dolphins source said. Parcells is expected to sign a contract in the next 48 hours, and sources say it's unlikely to fall through as it did with the Falcons.