Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel says that he’s told his team that they don’t need to filter their thoughts toward critics
Mike McDaniel is very different from most NFL head coaches. Now in his second year at the helm of the Miami Dolphins, he’s got the fish flying high at 10-4 and sitting atop the AFC East. Led by quarterback Tua Tagaviolia and wide receiver Tyreek Hill, their offense has been electric, and McDaniel has been hailed as a mastermind.
A Pothole In The Post-Season Plans?
However, his team does have one pressing point hanging over their head as they prepare their postseason plans. They have been great against bad teams. For example, they smacked the Jets around this week, 30-0.
By contrast, the Dolphins haven’t faired very well against other playoff teams, as three of the Dolphins’ four losses have come against fellow contenders.
That’s led to a lot of speculation – particularly by the local media in Miami – that this team is built to score points, but maybe not win games in the postseason.
Dolphins Coach Answers Their Critics
“The thoughts are firmly with getting better from this previous game and as I talked to the team today, I instructed the players that anything other than to concern yourself with the next opponent, which for us is the Dallas Cowboys, any other narrative that has to do with good teams or playoff seeds or the next three games, all that stuff,” McDaniel said.
“I gave them the clearance to tell all members of the media to – with all due respect – eff off, with all due respect. … Because all we’re focused on is the Dallas Cowboys and they definitely deserve our attention.”
“So as we clean up our game from the previous, we’ll be thinking about that, and the narratives will be what they be, and we’re not really concerned,” the Dolphins coach concluded. “We know that’s going to exist but it’s really inconsequential for what we’re trying to do.”
The Dolphins and Mike McDaniel will have a chance to test their mettle against one of the NFL’s very best teams. The Dallas Cowboys (10-4) will come to Miami in a Christmas Eve showdown between two squads who could both legitimately make it to the Super Bowl.
With a win over the ‘Boys, it could turn out to be a Happy Holiday for the Dolphins head coach. Let’s just hope he doesn’t tell Santa to ‘F-Off’ along the way.
FOLLOW RYAN BOMAN ON X
