According to NFL Network’s Albert Breer, Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has moved “to the top” of the Dolphins’ head-coaching wishlist.

As was the case with Fisher, the ‘Fins have some competition for Zimmer, who’s also being considered by the Buccaneers for its current vacancy.

Zimmer has spent the last four seasons in Cincinnati, and has long been considered to be among the most promising — and deserving — assistants in the league.

He isn’t just a hard-nosed coach, he’s also a supremely talented one. Zimmer has fielded several top-notch units in his coaching tenure, including a Bengals squad that ranked seventh in total defense in 2011.

The move to Miami would be a logical one for Zimmer, who knows Ireland from their time in Dallas together. The Dolphins are no slouches themselves, finishing sixth in points allowed and third in rushing yards allowed this season. With a few tweaks here and there, Zimmer could take them to elite status in 2012 — assuming he gets the job, of course.

Per Jay Glazer of FOX Sports, the Dolphins fired Sparano on Monday after four seasons as the team’s head coach.

Sparano, previously the Cowboys’ offensive line coach, accumulated a 29-31 record with the ‘Fins. His high point came in 2008, when the Dolphins improbably won the AFC East division, leading to a second-place finish for Coach of the Year honors.

Aside from that season, however, Sparano quickly wore out his welcome, finishing with three consecutive losing seasons, and a dismal 0-8 start to the 2011 campaign.

As the Miami Herald reported Sunday, owner Stephen Ross will keep general manager Jeff Ireland on board, likely to pair him with a high-profile name — Bill Cowher and Jon Gruden are two that come to mind.

Also, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen says Ross is expected to hire former Chiefs president Carl Peterson to a front office role, similar to the czar position Bill Parcells formerly held with the club.

In the meantime, secondary coach Todd Bowles will temporarily take over for the remaining three games.

Today must be an unusually early start to ‘Black Monday’ around the NFL. Earlier, Todd Haley was fired by the Chiefs, who currently hold a 5-8 record, one game better than the 4-9 Dolphins in the standings.

Based on the following conjecture, one of the aforementioned will receive his walking papers, while the other gets another year to figure things out.

Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald knows for a “fact” that the Dolphins will replace Sparano, and allow Ireland to “continue in his job” after the season comes to a close.

Prior to Miami’s game against the Eagles, Salguero wrote that Sparano was already in “grave danger” of getting axed, even if the ‘Fins would’ve won their final four contests.

Following a lopsided loss to Philly, it’s now become a foregone inevitability.

Apparently, owner Stephen Ross remains “convinced” that the ‘Fins are a talented and underachieving team, in need of an influx of talent across the roster. He’ll leave that responsibility in the hands of Ireland, no matter who the next head coach is, “barring some unexpected circumstance.”

Reading between the lines, it appears Ross simply wants to move on from Sparano, possibly in search of a big name to roam the sidelines in South Beach. Expect Ross and Ireland — down to his last strike — to put on a full-court press to lure Bill Cowher away from CBS this offseason.

Brandon Marshall

Two weeks after claiming he would get into a fight during a Monday Night Football contest against the Jets, the mercurial Dolphins’ receiver is going on record that his team will emerge from MetLife Stadium — this time in triumphant fashion.

According to ESPNNewYork.com, Marshall took to Twitter Thursday night and virtually guaranteed to the media that the winless Dolphins will knock off the Giants this Sunday.

“To: Media When we win Sunday please don’t say the Giants didn’t take us serious.” Marshall tweeted from his verified Twitter account.

Taking notice, several Giants dismissed Marshall’s bold tweet as nothing more than an opinion or motivational tactic for the 0-6 ‘Fins.

“He’s entitled to his own opinion. He can guarantee whatever he wants to guarantee. Is it going to happen? That remains to be seen,” said Osi Umenyiora

“That’s what he’s supposed to say,” safety Deon Grant said. “If he doesn’t think they’re going to win, he doesn’t need to be playing football.”

It may be a large proclamation to make — considering the organization’s current state of affairs — but Marshall may just be trying to ignite some sort of fire under his teammates, who’ve publicly bickered with each other in recent days following a stupefying loss to the Broncos in Week 7.

Unfortunately, he’s also giving the Giants bulletin-board material to use as they certainly don’t want to be the one’s who hand the Dolphins their first victory — in front of their home crowd, no less.

In regards to the Jets, Marshall, who suffers from multiple personality disorder, said after the game that he was simply joking, but an 18-point loss is hardly a laughing matter. We’ll see if his latest controversial words ring true against Gang Green’s co-tenants, though the end result is almost certain to repeat itself.

According to NBCMiami.com, the Dolphins’ embattled head coach has put his Davie, Florida mansion up for sale.

For those interested in making an offer, the asking price for the five-bedroom abode is $1.5 million and comes equipped with “all the bells and whistles,” including “pre-cast Italianate archways and columns, custom built-ins, exotic granites, stainless steel kitchen appliances, and a pool.”

When asked about it during a conference call Wednesday, Sparano insisted it’s because he and his wife don’t need the large accommodations any longer.

“I’m an empty nester,” Sparano reportedly chuckled on a media conference call. “My daughter just moved away to college and my two sons are out of the house, so my wife and I have a huge house with nobody in it for the first time.

“And we’re beach people,” he added, “so that would be about it.”

That certainly sounds valid, except for one little thing: he’s about this close to being issued a pink slip.

Sparano isn’t stupid. After losing six straight to open the season, and with owner Stephen Ross supposedly reaching out to former coach and CBS analyst Bill Cowher this week, he knows his time in Miami is nearing an end. It’s long been a matter of when, not if.

No matter why he’s choosing to move to new digs, this won’t be the last time Sparano will have to relocate if his goal is to coach — at any level — in the NFL next season.

As has been the case all season, the ‘Fins came up short once again — in heartbreaking fashion — and now it may be just a matter of time until management finally pulls the plug on head coach Tony Sparano.

During the Week 7 tilt between Denver and Miami, the Dolphins jumped out to a 6-0 lead after kicker Dan Carpenter drilled two field goals in the second quarter. Following a scoreless third, quarterback Matt Moore hooked up with tight end Anthony Fasano, and Carpenter nailed another field goal, in the fourth quarter to extend their lead to 15-0.

But then it all started to fall apart for Miami as Tebow, who finished with 226 total yards, began to lead the Broncos to an improbable comeback win in his first career start as a pro.

Tebow drove the team to a pair of scoring drives, capped off by two touchdown passes to receiver Demaryius Thomas and tight end Daniel Fells, respectively. The latter came after Denver recovered an onside kick with under two minutes remaining in the game.

The Broncos went on to kick a game-winning 52-yard field goal in overtime, possibly notching Sparano’s pink slip.

A Miami Herald report during the week indicated that Sparano’s job would be ‘re-evaluated’ by owner Stephen Ross should the team fall to 0-6.

With that scenario becoming a reality, Ross might decide to make a move and replace the lame duck Sparano, who could’ve lost the team completely after another demoralizing defeat.

If Sparano is indeed fired, the favorite to take over coaching duties in the interim would be defensive coordinator Mike Nolan. Nolan has prior experience as a head coach with the 49ers from 2005-2008.

Ross might just let Sparano finish out the season — after all, they’re right in the thick of the Suck For Luck sweepstakes — but with a slew of tough games left on the docket, and a squad that’s already looking to pack it in, the losses should continue to pile up in Miami.

According to Jeff Darlington of NFL.com, the ‘Fins fear quarterback Chad Henne could be lost for the rest of the season with a separated left shoulder.

Henne was injured in the first quarter of the team’s 26-16 loss to the Chargers on Sunday. He never re-entered the game and, afterward, left the stadium with his shoulder fastened in a sling.

Although he said Monday he expects to play after the Dolphins’ Week 5 bye, Henne is waiting on a second opinion that might “dictate” whether or not he suits up again this year.

In the meantime, Miami will hand the reigns over to Moore, who completed 17-of-26 passes for 167 yards with an interception against San Diego. He was no Tom Brady, but showed good composure and an ability to lead the offense in a pinch.

The Dolphins are also expected to pursue one or two available quarterbacks as they only carry Henne and Moore on the active roster. It’s possible they could again reach out to David Garrard, whom they’ve already had discussions with earlier in the season.

Still, the loss of Henne — no matter how ineffective he was — will do nothing to improve the organization’s 0-4 record, and could turn coach Tony Sparano‘s seat into a scorcher.

The Sacramento Bee reports the Dolphins avoided a potential home television blackout of Sunday’s game against the Texans by purchasing the remaining unsold tickets, which were then offered to season-ticket holders.

This means Miami’s Week Two tilt will be its 103rd game aired on local TV, a blackout-less streak that extends back to 1998. Sort of remarkable considering their home games usually appear half empty, no matter the opponent or occasion.

Then again, the fans haven’t had too much to cheer for in recent years, having only seen the Dolphins in the playoffs once in the last decade. What also hasn’t helped matters as of late was Tom Brady‘s record-setting night in Miami on Monday, when he passed for 517 yards en route to a 38-24 season-opening victory.

A win against Houston would go a long way to ensuring the organization won’t have to cover for its fans in future contests.

According to the Dolphins’ official Twitter account, the team signed free agent running back Larry Johnson. The contract terms are undisclosed, though it’ll be a major shock if it’s anything more than a one-year deal for the veteran’s minimum.

To make room on the roster, fellow ‘back Kory Sheets was waived.

The 31-year-old Johnson was last seen with the Redskins, signing a three-year deal before the start of the 2010 season. He only lasted a few regular season games before the ‘Skins gave up on him. It wasn’t surprising, as Johnson looked washed up and a shell of his former All-Pro self.

Before his brief stint in D.C., Johnson played one season in Cincinnati in 2009, but made his bones in Kansas City, most notably in 2005 & 2006 when he ran for at least 1,700 yards in each of those years and scored a combined 37 touchdowns on the ground.

In Miami, Johnson figures to be a warm body on the depth chart, as Reggie Bush and rookie Daniel Thomas are locked in as the top two running backs. If — and it’s a big if — he makes the team, Johnson could give Bush or Thomas a breather every now and then. Though, if his play is anything like it’s been recently, it won’t be long before the Dolphins pull the plug on him, too.

Per the Palm Beach Post, the ‘Fins released their first depth chart of the season on Monday night.

Although most of it was filled out as one would expect, there is one notable difference: Reggie Bush, acquired on July 28, is listed as the starting running back, with rookie Daniel Thomas as his primary backup.

It’s a decent surprise considering there was a recent report that stated Thomas was ready to become a “workhorse” for Miami. That meant giving Thomas nearly 300 carries this season, while doling out a modest amount to Bush.

Another omission is coach Tony Sparano not having Bush as their primary punt returner, a specialty of his since entering the league. Receiver Davone Bess is scheduled to field punts for the team’s first preseason game against the Falcons.

Even though that’s a bit of a headscratcher, the decision made in the backfield appears to have a simpler explanation. The organization might defer seniority to Bush, who’s entering his sixth season, compared to the first-year man. The Dolphins may be unwilling to hand the reigns over to an unproven player — at least up to this point.

However, seeing as how these charts are tentative — especially this early in August — the decisions are far from set in stone. Things change on a weekly basis in the NFL, so it would be no surprise to see Thomas trot out as the starter on opening day, as once envisioned.