‘Sh*t had me hype’ — Former Dolphins star sets the record straight and offers first-hand account of practice dust-up between Miami teammates
Former Dolphins Pro Bowl tackle Terron Armstead shared his account of the practice scrap between Dolphins teammates on Friday in Chicago.
By most accounts, the defenses ruled the day at Friday’s joint practice session between the Miami Dolphins and the Chicago Bears. The two teams will take the field again today for the preseason debut of both franchises in 2025, but the fireworks got off to an early start with a physical, chippy practice that featured plenty of jawing and shoving between the teams. Chicago, by all accounts, initially brought a higher level of intensity into the practice, which prompted the Dolphins to have to respond.
Before practice came to a close, there were two scraps that needed to be broken apart. That’s not unheard of for NFL joint practice standards. But the unique part about one of these scuffles was that it was between two Miami Dolphins defenders, linebackers Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson. Two players on the same team jawing at one another? What in the name of “culture overhaul” is this?!
Well, before you make any judgements, consider this. Former Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Terron Armstead had boots on the ground and was on the field for Friday’s practice. On Saturday night, he offered his first-hand account of the circumstances of Miami’s fracas on his YouTube show ‘The Set’.
Former Dolphins offensive tackle Terron Armstead offers first-hand account of practice spat between Miami defenders
“I saw the whole thing. I’m seeing this unfold, I’m standing in the middle of the practice fields…the guys on the Bears defense side are taking guys to the ground. They’re tackling the runners, hitting the receivers, they’re doing a lot. There’s a lot of pushing and shoving, the offensive line for the Dolphins — they’re knocking people down. It’s turning up. The energy of the joint practice started to rise. Midway through, it started to get intense…The Dolphins have the Bears at 3rd and 20, something crazy. It’s a good situation for the defense. Caleb Williams throws the check down…and (Tyrel Dodson) tags the runner.
That tag-off is normal joint-practice procedure. You’re not tackling, you’re not taking someone to the ground — even though on the other field, they’re doing a lot of that. The Bears defense is doing a lot of that on the other field. But on this field, (Dodson) squares him up, he tags off, fourth down…Jordyn Brooks hated the tag-off. I’m talking about hated the two-hand touch tag-off…I love it because neither is in the wrong. (Dodson) is doing what he’s supposed to do, tag-off. (Brooks) is doing what he’s supposed to do as a leader trying to set the tone, set a mindset for your defense. You want to hit? We want to hit! Let’s do it…That’s exactly what you want; you want two alphas going toe to toe, standing on business…they had their disagreement, they chopped it up after, and they went right back on the field. From Jordyn Brooks’ standpoint, I love it. Shit had me hype.”
— Former Dolphins offensive tackle Terron Armstead on Miami’s practice scuffle
The most valuable insight Armstead provides is that Dodson was doing what he’s been asked to do by his coaches to conduct himself accordingly at practice, while Brooks is doing what he’s supposed to do as a leader to protect his team amid what was clearly a more physical than expected practice itinerary for the Bears.
When the going gets tough or the adversity hits, who are the players that are going to step up to the challenge? Dolphins fans should expect Jordyn Brooks to be one of those on the front lines. As Armstead points out later in the program, Dodson is a physical player when he comes down hill. And in a practice environment that necessitated Miami bowing their backs and fighting back based on the intensity and physicality of the other team, Brooks wanted to see that, too.
Miami’s players have spent time this offseason talking about the need to handle confrontations more directly. It doesn’t get more direct that the one between Brooks and Dodson on Friday afternoon — but it’s one that seems to be taken in stride. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was quick to back Brooks’ Friday practice, per David Furones.
“Today, (Brooks) was holding people to a higher standard. It becomes necessary when you do anything to a higher standard,” said Fitzpatrick.
So Jordyn Brooks’ dust-up with Tyrel Dodson at practice on Friday can be tied back to several ‘narratives’ around the Dolphins. Chicago went into the joint practice seeking to play with a little extra edge. When that became apparent, the question was whether or not the Dolphins were going to shy away from the physicality or lean into it. Jordyn Brooks, as a leader of the defense, wanted his team to elevate their play and meet the moment.
He also aspired to have the conversation directly with Dodson and not wait while brushing it under the rug. Miami’s 2024 season was spoiled in part, per player accounts this offseason, but not having the hard conversations directly and instead letting issues fester.
Brooks was having none of it on any front on Friday. And now we know that too, thanks to Armstead’s account. Regardless of what the optics may have looked like on Friday afternoon, I’m not so sure any of this is a bad thing — rather it’s a healthy follow through on the stated goals of how to be a better team in 2025.
Now that I think about it, I’m hype too, Terron.
Miami Dolphins News
‘It’s a champagne problem’ — Dolphins defense faces a challenging issue that every coach wishes they had in 2025
This position room could be among the best in the league.
