AP

When Bruce Arians became head coach of the Cardinals, his highest-priority hiring was Todd Bowles as defensive coordinator. But Arians thinks Bowles never would have been available to him if the Dolphins were smarter.

Arians said today at the Scouting Combine that Bowles, now head coach of the Jets, should have been hired by the Dolphins in 2012 after finishing the 2011 season by going 2-1 as the interim head coach in Miami.

“Miami screwed up a long time ago. He should have been head coach there when he was interim coach,” Arians said.

Arians made those comments as part of a longer statement about how much he loves working with Bowles, whom Arians coached at Temple in 1986.

“Ever since Temple, whatever that was, 30-some years ago, watching him grow as a coach, it was fun. It really was. And then to be able to have him on the staff and do what he did, all you need is opportunity,” Arians said. “Brilliant young man, and he’s a great teacher. It’s not what you know, it’s can you teach it? And he can teach it.”

Arians believes Bowles has a long, successful career ahead of him as head coach of the Jets. Bowles may just make the Dolphins regret not hiring him when they had the chance.