AP

In past years, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has shown no inclination to end the employment of G.M. Jeff Ireland. But in the midst of another disappointing season, the fourth straight without a playoff berth, some see hints about Ireland’s future in the lack of players having their own futures secured.

The Dolphins aren’t signing any of their looming free agents to new contracts. For a couple of the big-name guys like running back Reggie Bush and tackle Jake Long, multiple league sources tell PFT there aren’t even any talks.

And so, as the theory making its way through the NFL grapevine goes, Ross possibly as told Ireland to do nothing, given the possibility that Ross will replace Ireland after the season ends with someone who would then be making the decisions about the roster going forward.

That said, not many teams are negotiating new contracts right now, so the perception may be inaccurate. But the perception nevertheless exists. Within a couple of weeks, we’ll start to find out which perceptions are right and which are wrong about the future of every NFL franchise that fails to get to the playoffs.