'You don't fix something by bitching about it' — Mike McDaniel has a strong comment on primary issue plaguing the Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins don't have – at least from the outside – what appears to be the strongest culture in the NFL, let's say. That shouldn't be a bold and assuming statement, given what's transpired over the last half year. A starter called the team "soft" after a 30-17 loss to Green Bay. Tyreek Hill […]
The Miami Dolphins don't have – at least from the outside – what appears to be the strongest culture in the NFL, let's say. That shouldn't be a bold and assuming statement, given what's transpired over the last half year.
A starter called the team "soft" after a 30-17 loss to Green Bay. Tyreek Hill declined to go into the game in the second half of the Dolphins' 30-17 loss to the Jets in Week 18, following that up with a tantrum that indicated he had a foot out the door. Jalen Ramsey has decided he's had enough of South Florida less than a month after the Dolphins rewarded him with a nice raise.
Indeed, things are not hunky dory inside the Dolphins' facilities these days. The couple of veterans they had who could help turn things around are gone, with OT Terron Armstead retiring and DL Calais Campbell off to Arizona in free agency.
So, what's there to do to turn things around inside the locker room? Mike McDaniel on Wednesday during OTAs said the first thing is to stop "bitching" about it and starting doing it.
"I think there's no shortcut for the answer to that equation. There's no easy – put a poster on the wall. You have a team, that's 2025, team that I've been with for 5 weeks, and with their daily investment across the board, with the attendance and the vigor that we go about each and every thing tell where their minds are at. You don’t fix something by bitching about it and complaining about it. You fix stuff with action.”
2024 should have been a wakeup call for this roster, so it's good that, at least so far – if you take McDaniel at his word – the effort and buy in are there.
The question in my mind is: who's going to step up and be that leader among the players, whether it's through play or more of a vocal thing behind the scenes? Aside from James Daniels, the Dolphins didn't do much to bring in an impactful veteran. You're unlikely going to see that role from a rookie.
As such, that leader is very likely going to have to emerge from the group that slogged their way through an 8-9 season. Could it be Jordyn Brooks, who had a strong first season in Miami last year? Or perhaps one of Miami's veteran edge rushers?
Regardless, Miami needs someone to lead the pack. Another season of being "soft" simply isn't going to cut it in a crucial year for McDaniel.
Miami Dolphins secondary dealt another blow as young cornerback lands on injured reserve to start OTAs
Miami Dolphins secondary dealt another blow as young cornerback lands on injured reserve to start OTAs
