NFL writer has a bizarre choice for Miami Dolphins player to root for in 2024
The Miami Dolphins are a team filled with players that are easy to root for in 2024. That's kind of what comes from a season of pain – literally and figuratively. With a number of players suffering heartbreaking injuries and the team coming painfully short of winning their first division title since 2008, fans have […]
The Miami Dolphins are a team filled with players that are easy to root for in 2024. That's kind of what comes from a season of pain – literally and figuratively. With a number of players suffering heartbreaking injuries and the team coming painfully short of winning their first division title since 2008, fans have plenty to pull them in for the upcoming season.
However, according to NFL.com's Tom Blair, the player that Dolphins fans should be rooting for the most in 2024 is… Odell Beckham, Jr.?
That's who Blair tabbed as his pick for the Dolphins when he put out his list of players to root for on each AFC team.
"Odell Beckham Jr. hasn't really been ODELL BECKHAM JR. since 2016, the last time he cleared 1,100 receiving yards or scored more than six touchdowns in a season. His days of being a weekly superstar are probably in the past, but he was effective in spots for Baltimore in 2023 after suffering a knee injury in Super Bowl LVI and sitting out all of 2022. While there is no guarantee Mike McDaniel will be able to unlock the Beckham of old, this sure is an intriguing pairing. Beckham did bump his yards-per-catch mark up to a career-best 16.1 last season. Even if the final stat totals don't stand out all that much in an offense where Beckham's the third option behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, it won't be surprising if the 31-year-old puts up a good number of highlight-reel plays in Miami." – Tom Blair, NFL.com
Look, I think it's interesting to see how good Beckham, Jr. can do in Mike McDaniel's offense. He helped the Rams win a Super Bowl and he wasn't exactly a good fit in Baltimore thereafter. The opportunity is there for a solid bounce back year.
However, the article isn't about who could surprise. It's about who to root for, and Beckham isn't exactly the personality – or coming back from a tough situation – to warrant a groundswell of fan support.
That should probably go to a handful of other players on the team who are fighting through adversity. Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips both suffered heartbreaking injuries in the second half of the 2023 season. Both should be back some time in 2024.
Tua Tagovailoa has been needled and questioned by fans and media alike throughout his career. A championship season would vindicate him in the biggest way possible.
Shaq Barrett suffered an unimaginable tragedy in April 2023 when his young daughter Arrayah drowned in a swimming pool. He and his wife have recently added another member to their family in daughter Allanah. If he's not the face of someone to root for, then I don't know who is.
Certainly not Beckham by comparison to that group. But he could be in line for a significant step forward in production this fall. As such, if Blair wants to talk about candidates to break out or bounce back, then that's a list that makes perfect sense for #3 for the Dolphins. This one simply isn't.
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