Things are getting weird between Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel and Tyreek Hill
The star wide receiver told reporters Friday that De'Von Achane shouldn't be Miami's short-yardage running back, only for head coach Mike McDaniel to say Sunday that the change had already taken place.
'Take De'Von [Achane] out on third down — what?' Hill said after he was asked about the team's short-yardage issues last season. 'That's my honest opinion. If it's third-and-short, he's not a power back. I keep telling him that in the locker room, but he swears he's a power back. I love De'Von, but if I'm being honest like that's why you got Jaylen Wright, that's why you got Ollie Gordon II, for those kind of situations.'
4 Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill speaks to reporters at training camp on July 22.
Getty Images
4 Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel speaks to the media in July 2025.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
When McDaniel responded Sunday, he seemed amused and annoyed at his receiver's comments.
'I thought it was genius reporting by Tyreek, seeing how we had a short-yardage period that very day that you guys were in attendance for, and his suggestion was I guess congruent with [running backs coach Eric] Studesville — that's exactly how we repped the backs in that short-yardage period that very day,' McDaniel said. 'But we thought it was funny that he reported the news that wasn't news on that practice day in that short-yardage period that you guys were all there, too, for.'
4 Tyreek Hill is an eight-time Pro-Bowler.
Getty Images
The odd back-and-forth comes after Hill said he was 'opening the door' to leaving Miami at the end of last season, although the eight-time Pro Bowler then walked it back and publicly apologized during Super Bowl week in February.
Hill was also reportedly late to the Dolphins' team stretch Sunday after emphasizing the importance of being on time to the start of stretch on Friday.
4 Mike McDaniel (c.) looks on at Dolphins training camp in July 2025.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Hill, 31, is entering his 10th season in the NFL.
He's coming off a down year with 81 receptions for 959 yards and six touchdowns, but is just two seasons removed from his torrid 2023 campaign, in which he led the league in receiving yards (1,799), touchdowns (13) and yards per game (112.4).
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Bucs' Teddy Bridgewater reflects on suspension from coaching Miami Northwestern: 'Those players became my sons'
Teddy Bridgewater retired from the NFL in 2023 after 10 seasons, in part to focus on his two sons. In his eyes, he inherited many more when he took over as the head coach of his alma mater, Miami Northwestern High School, in his native South Florida. "I'm protective, and I'm a father first before anything," a now-32-year-old Bridgewater told reporters Wednesday during his first media appearance as a Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback. "When I decided to coach, those players became my sons. And I want to make sure that I just protect them in the best way that I can." Being what Bridgewater calls "a cheerful giver" unfortunately ran him into trouble with the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA). Bridgewater revealed on Facebook in July that he covered Uber rides, meals and recovery services for his players last season, a year that culminated in Miami Northwestern winning a Florida Class 3A state championship. In that post, Bridgewater asked fans to donate and help him take care of those expenses this time around. Word apparently got to the FHSAA, and then Miami Northwestern had to respond, ultimately suspending Bridgewater from coaching for allegedly providing impermissible benefits to his players. Bridgewater, who initially unretired from the NFL to rejoin the Detroit Lions late last season, is spending the 2025 season in the Bucs' quarterback room as a veteran voice and experienced backup. The former first-round pick reflected Wednesday on his suspension from Miami Northwestern, and on his motivation behind doing what he did to help his players last year. "Not enough blessings in tough neighborhood, and sometimes things can happen when kids are walking home and different things like that," Bridgewater said. "I just try to protect them, give them a ride home instead of them having to take those dangerous walks. But I just want people to continue to see me for the person that I've been, from the time I arrived in the NFL, from the time that I arrived at the University of Louisville. Just a humble guy with a good heart and a cheerful giver." According to the U.S. News & World Report, 75% of students at Miami Northwestern are considered "economically disadvantaged" and 72% qualify for the "Free Lunch Program" under the National School Lunch Act. Bridgewater was asked Wednesday about the possibility of changes to FHSAA rules. "I guess in due time those changes will happen," he said. "But until then, man, I can't change who I am because of the rules. I have a big heart. I get it from my mom. And I just always said that I was once those kids. I know what it's like to be in their shoes. I know what it's like to walk those halls at Miami Northwestern and to have your stomach growling and rumbling at 12 o'clock in the afternoon because you didn't have any lunch money or you don't get the free lunch. So I can't change who I am. I'll still give to those kids just because, man, I know what it's like. When I say 'give,' it's not even about money. It's about my time and my presence. Because a lot of times you see your idol on TV and it's like, 'Man, I wonder what it's like to be that person.' But when they see me in the flesh, and they see how I'm an open-spirited person and I'm happy I'm around them and they fit right in with me and I fit in with them — it's just hope." When Bridgewater mentioned "hope," he was referring to the source of inspiration he feels he provides to students at Miami Northwestern. He called his experience with those kids as "the way that I feed my soul." "I think now that I'm back in the league, there's actually going to be extra motivation for them as well because they'll play a game on Friday night and probably get to drive across the state and come watch the Bucs win and see coach on the sidelines," Bridgewater said. "So it's like, 'Man, Coach is just continuing to just serve as motivation and continuing to influence us in every way possible. He's showing us that he can make it to the NFL. He's showing us that he can coach, he's showing us that there are different avenues of life that you can take.' And I'm hoping that they take notice of that."
Yahoo
2 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Darren Waller's return is "tricky" with joint practices upcoming
Dolphins tight end Darren Waller remains on the active/physically unable to perform list after coming out of retirement. He is about a week away from working his way back into practice, coach Mike McDaniel said Wednesday, but it's going to be "tricky" with joint practices upcoming. The Dolphins go against the Bears and Lions back-to-back. 'It's a little tricky because you're bringing a guy back, and is his first practice a joint practice?' McDaniel said Wednesday, via the South Florida Sun Sentinel. "So, it's about a week, but it's a little tricky in terms of what practice. We'll feel our way through that, and you're just trying to be smart with that.' Waller, who has not played since the 2023 season, has worked on the side in camp. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said on WSVN this week that Waller will be ready for the start of the season. Waller is listed as the starting tight end on the Dolphins' initial depth chart.
Newsweek
4 minutes ago
- Newsweek
NASCAR Announces Relief For Austin Hill After Iowa Race Suspension
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. NASCAR has some relief for Xfinity Series driver Austin Hill following the race penalty suspension he served at Iowa last weekend for taking out Aric Almirola at Indianapolis. That meant he was out of the playoffs, since they require drivers to participate in all races. However, Hill has been pardoned by the sport, which makes him eligible for the playoffs. Hill was involved in a big controversy during the Xfinity race at Indianapolis, where he deliberately rear-right hooked Almirola in an act of retaliation. He was handed a five-lap penalty during the race. However, NASCAR handed him a one-race suspension later in the week, which kept him out of the race at Iowa. Hill had 21 playoff points. However, given the race suspension, he has lost all his points. Although the sport's waiver means he is eligible for the playoffs, he will not get back the points he collected through the season. Additionally, the playoff points that Hill scores up to the finale in September will not be counted. Austin Hill, driver of the #21 Bennett Transportation Chevrolet, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Austin Hill, driver of the #21 Bennett Transportation Chevrolet, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2025 in Indianapolis, team, Richard Childress Racing, released a statement after he was handed the suspension, confirming that it will not appeal the penalty. The statement read: "Richard Childress Racing will not appeal the penalty NASCAR issued to the No. 21 team following the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. We remain focused on winning a championship with Austin Hill in 2025. Austin Dillon will race the No. 21 Chevrolet at Iowa Speedway." The Athletic's Jordan Bianchi said that while the suspension has a serious impact on Hill's championship prospects, the penalty was much deserved. He said in a Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Dirty Mo Media video: "It's gonna be tough for Austin Hill in the playoffs, a championship favorite. He's got three wins this year [and] he's currently ranked fifth in points. Now, he'll get a waiver to make the playoffs and that's fine, but his road to the Championship 4 is much harder now than it would have been before Saturday's incident. "... This was a justified penalty. NASCAR got this one right. The caveat, of course, is the playoff points. NASCAR added that rule this year, and so that's really going to hit Austin Hill in the playoffs. You work all year during the regular season to get to bonus points that help you through each round. As we've seen many times, those can be the big difference between advancing and being eliminated. Austin Hill is not going to have those to fall back on. This has championship implications but again, when you look at what happened, this was a deserved penalty for Austin Hill."
