Latest news with #McDaniel
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Miami Dolphins seek 'new identity' for 2025, but what is it?
MIAMI GARDENS — It's about action, more than words, Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel will tell you. But the words do set the tone. And for McDaniel and the Dolphins, it seems there's been an intentional shift in tone. Advertisement The Dolphins have had talent. Pro Bowlers. All-Pros. Mega-contracts. But not enough winning. No playoff wins, actually. And so when McDaniel met with the team before what might be a little harder spring and summer of work, he set a tone with the players. "Just like, we got to kind of get a new identity," veteran Dolphins cornerback Kader Kohou said at the start of organized team activities. "And there's not gonna be a lot of slack and stuff like that. Everybody has to be on their s---, really." McDaniel is not a tough guy/disciplinarian/dictator. But it's clear he wants to set a new tone. Words are words are words, but... Advertisement Here are some of the words we're hearing and seeing already. Connection. Consistency. Chemistry. Mike McDaniel changes up Miami Dolphins' tone for 2025 Those words were literally part of a recent Dolphins social media post. The Dolphins want to be a better team in 2025, which means player investment and spending more time together, on and off the field. McDaniel is asking for - and it seems he'll demand as necessary - consistency. There must be a better consistency in all areas. And after missing the playoffs last season, players seem to be on alert. There will be be changes if there is not improved performance in 2025. Advertisement More words? OK, we've got words. Toughness. Reliability. Commitment. "Personally, I feel like we're not soft," Kohou said. "We just, we just have to win more games and win the big ones." Do Dolphins have to be tougher? More committed? Accountable? Smart, incredible leaders like Terron Armstead and Calais Campbell have either retired or moved on. And on the way out, each seemed to indicate a bit more could be given by Dolphins if they wanted to experience a championship effort. Be present. Be on-time. Attention to detail. Armstead, candid as ever, put the onus on McDaniel to enforce accountability. "It starts with Mike," Armstead said after Miami's final game of 2024. "It starts with Mike. You know, he's coming with that approach that we're going to be a great team. Nothing less. And holding everybody to that standard every day..." Advertisement Accountability. A word, but an important one. Players say Tyreek Hill is showing signs of improved leadership. For talented lone wolf Jalen Ramsey, who will soon be traded, leadership was not a focus. Dolphins trading talented and temperamental Jalen Ramsey The Dolphins have tried in recent years to assemble a team of star players with Pro Bowl pedigree and it's resulted in, again, no playoff wins. There are still some really skilled players on this roster. But what McDaniel seems to be emphasizing is that more than talent is going to be required to break through to another level of success. INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 25: Head coach Mike McDaniel of the Miami Dolphins speaks to the media during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on February 25, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by) Veteran linebacker Jordyn Brooks was asked about "culture" and "work ethic" and he suggested it is headed in the right direction. Advertisement "I feel like as a leader, you gotta' be the example," Brooks said. "And I think all the young guys that we've got, as a leader, you gotta' be the example. And I think the young guys, all the young guys that we got in, they'll follow behind that. "It's not just myself that's helped leading the charge. We've got several guys. And so honestly, I feel with us leading the charge and making that change or whatever you wanna' say, I think a lot of the young guys that have come in, they went to work immediately. Which ultimately has kind of changed the, people wanna say the work ethic around the team or whatever, to our benefit." McDaniel seems to be setting a 2025 tone with a bit more edge. And he's hoping, it seems, that the veteran players echo that tone in their leadership strategies. "There's no easy put a poster on the wall," McDaniel said, adding, "Your culture is defined by the people within it and how you execute your daily habits. The tonality of the focus of the team has been clear to me thus far, and we'll see how it goes." Advertisement Dolphins OTAs: Top 5 storylines: CBs, OL, Chubb & Phillips Miami Dolphins' Bradley Chubb: At least 90 percent healthy in return Bobby Slowik: Miami Dolphins' new assistant may speed Mike McDaniel's play-calling Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@ and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dolphins' Mike McDaniel setting new tone, but knows words not enough
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Miami Dolphins focus on team chemistry; try out pilates and paintball
MIAMI GARDENS — Paintball and Pilates. Several Miami Dolphins players have said this year feels different. And more team bonding activities are on the 2025 agenda. "I feel like we're closer as a team," Dolphins assistant head coach Jon Embree said during offseason workouts. "I felt like last year we were more of a roster than a team. This year the feeling I'm getting out of us is more of team, the comradery, guys doing stuff together." Advertisement The offensive line did pilates together. The defensive line did paintball together. The tight end have gone to dinner. "We're doing more team events," Embree said. "(Coach) Mike (McDaniel) has set more time for us as coaches to do stuff with our players." Said running back De'Von Achane: "We're trying to build our chemistry." Said edge rusher Chop Robinson: "You get to see the team chemistry. Everybody just wants the same goal. Everybody wants to be great, everybody wants to win. The only way to do that is doing it all together." Miami Dolphins try out paintball and pilates Are you picking up what the Dolphins are putting down for 2025? Advertisement The Dolphins are planning to trade star cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who is very talented, but a bit of a lone wolf. It's clear Miami, in general, has felt a chemistry shakeup can be beneficial. "I think that we can further develop and that can contribute to a culture of a team-first mentality," McDaniel said at league meetings. A higher percentage of players are attending voluntary offseason workouts. Miami Dolphins' offseason attendance is up "The attendance is similar to our first year when we had everyone showing up," Embree said. Embree was asked about McDaniel's approach to some things that came up in 2024, such as player lateness. Advertisement McDaniel's plan has always been to empower the players to hold themselves and each other accountable. Embree made it clear McDaniel has not undergone some dramatic metamorphosis in approach. Sure, there will be tweaks, but McDaniel believes in his core philosophies and principles. "One thing I have to say about Mike, and some people might think this is a fault, he's even-keeled," Embree said. "You can hear when I'm mad. Everyone knows when I'm not happy. So I think I need to be more like him. He's done a good job of really continuing to empower the true leaders on the team, lifting them up and doing stuff." Mar 31, 2025; Palm Beach, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel attends the Annual League Meeting at The Breakers. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images And to be clear, Embree implied he is seeing more focus. Advertisement "I would have to say that the players have done more," Embree said. "They are hearing all this stuff about discipline and they are taking it personal and feeling like its a reflection on them." The Dolphins, in recent years, have added a collection of star power. General manager Chris Grier drafted players like Tua Tagovailoa, Jaylen Waddle, and De'Von Achane and traded for players like Tyreek Hill, Jalen Ramsey and Bradley Chubb. But any coach or player will tell you that it takes more than talent to win. The Dolphins clearly have 2025 themes of focus, accountability and also strengthening overall team chemistry. Advertisement In some ways, it all goes hand-in-hand. "More time within the calendar for us to do the things we need to do to become closer as a team," Embree said. Jonah Savaiinaea: Miami Dolphins OL coach on Jonah Savaiinaea: Big-body, explosive, anchor Chop Robinson: Can Miami Dolphins' Chop Robinson make the leap to elite pass rusher? Zach Wilson: Miami Dolphins coach: Zach Wilson has 'gifted arm' and humility Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@ and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins want to grow closer, so Mike McDaniel adds team bonding
NBC Sports
2 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Mike McDaniel: Tyreek Hill is going above and beyond while recovering from wrist surgery
Despite talk as last season came to an end that Tyreek Hill was unhappy in Miami, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel says Hill has done everything asked of him and more in the offseason. McDaniel said at the Dolphins' Organized Team Activities that Hill timed his wrist surgery so that he'd be ready to return when the Dolphins need him, and that Hill is doing everything he can during voluntary practices now, even though his wrist isn't fully healed. 'Tyreek's done a great job of being proactive with when he got the surgery done and making sure he is able to do as much as he can with the team, which has very much included his daily participation in how he attacks all of our strength program,' McDaniel said. McDaniel said Hill is running routes in practice but that the Dolphins are holding off on having him catch passes until there are no concerns about his wrist or his ability to fully use his hand. 'Then he'll start catching the ball,' McDaniel said. 'But he's been participating above and beyond. Whatever he can do, he has been doing.' For much of his career, Hill has been among the NFL's best wide receivers, and a year ago his fellow players voted him the single best player in the NFL in a poll conducted for NFL Media. But his injury-plagued 2024 season was a disappointment. McDaniel knows nothing is more important to his team in 2025 than getting Hill back on track.
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel appears to not want to talk about potential Ramsey trade
The Jalen Ramsey-Miami Dolphins debacle has almost reached its conclusion. June 1 serves as Ramsey's proverbial freedom day as the Dolphins will finally be able to trade the All-Pro cornerback without taking a $8 million cap hit. A post-June 1 deal, however, would open up about $10 million in cap space. And as the deadline approaches, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel appears less and less willing to talk about it. 'I'm interested in the players that I'm coaching on the field today,' McDaniel said Wednesday, adding that 'zero has changed since the last time I said anything about' him. 'It's irresponsible [not] to focus on the players working now and concern myself with that.' This comes roughly 24 hours after Ramsey tweeted '5...,' seemingly calling attention to the number of days until he can be traded. The Dolphins-Ramsey saga dates back to mid-April when news broke that both sides mutually agreed to trade the star cornerback. It's unclear what led to the decision, however, general manager Chris Grier made it known that Ramsey didn't ask for a trade or more money. 'It's never easy to replace a player like Jalen,' Grier said April 15. 'He was a good player for us. He's a good player, he'll probably be a Hall of Famer, but for the Miami Dolphins going forward, we feel like this is the best chance to help us win not only just this year, but in the future as well.' When asked about their relationship following the conclusion of the 2025 NFL Draft, McDaniel somewhat avoided the question. 'I think speaking on the relationship with Jalen on this forum kind of undercuts what I think is important today which is we've added a class and are continuing to add new players to the 2025 Dolphins,' McDaniel said April 26. 'And I think beyond that, it wouldn't do justice to these draft picks and what we're trying to do today.' Since then, the Dolphins and Ramsey have been at a stalemate of sorts. Sure, teams like the Los Angeles Rams, a team which the seven-time Pro Bowler helped lead to Super Bowl 56, have indicated interest but nothing has yet to materialize. 'I've had discussions with Miami,' Rams general manager Les Snead said April 22, later adding that 'there are a lot of nuances to that situation based on all the things that come with a trade, contracts and things like that. I'm not sure where they're at in the process.' Rams coach Sean McVay appeared excited when Adam Schein of SiriusXM's Mad Dog Sports Radio asked about the possibility of a Ramsey reunion. 'He is a total stud, and you look at, obviously he has continued to play at a really high level,' McVay said, according to Rams Wire. The veteran coach added that the team will never 'shy away from opportunities to increase the competitiveness of our roster or add great players as long as it fits within the framework of everything that an acquisition like that would entail.' With Ramsey likely soon out the door, the question then becomes who will be his replacement. The Dolphins previously let go veteran cornerback Kendall Fuller in January and signed Artie Burns, Kendall Sheffield Jr. and Ryan Cooper Jr. in addition to their selection of Jason Marshall Jr. in the 2025 NFL Draft. Outside of Kader Kohou, who primarily plays in the nickel, the cornerback room lacks recent full-time starter experience as players such as Cam Smith, Stom Duck, Ethan Bonner, Ethan Robinson and BJ Adams round it out.
NBC Sports
3 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Mike McDaniel on Jalen Ramsey: "Quite honestly, zero has changed"
While the Dolphins have not yet been able to trade Jalen Ramsey, Miami is still looking to move the cornerback. Head coach Mike McDaniel confirmed as much in his Wednesday press conference when asked about the three-time first-team All-Pro. 'I mean, quite honestly, zero has changed since the last time I said anything about him,' McDaniel said. 'Very much interested in the players that I'm coaching on the field today. And I think if you have a team that's focused on getting better each and every day, that's plenty for me to worry about. And I guess I'll leave it at that.' Ramsey's contract becomes less prohibitive to trade after June 1, which makes that date the next checkpoint for the player and club. Given that, McDaniel was asked if he'd like to see a resolution by minicamp. 'I'm really worried about the team, the players that will be out on the field today,' McDaniel said. 'And that's about as much breath as I want to speak into it.' But there was one more question about Ramsey, as a reporter inquired if the head coach was sad that the relationship between the Dolphins and the defensive back went sideways. 'I'm very excited to coach a football team, and that's not dismissing, but quite honestly, everything is an opportunity cost,' McDaniel said. 'So, I think it is quite honestly, irresponsible for me to put down some of the thoughts and focus on the players that we're working now to build a performance for the season and concern myself with that. That's where I should be, I think.' The Rams — with whom Ramsey won Super Bowl LVI — have known interest in potentially bringing Ramsey back. The Falcons, Lions, Commanders, and Eagles have also been reported as teams with potential interest in Ramsey. In 2024, Ramsey finished with 60 total tackles, 11 passes defended, and two interceptions in 17 games for Miami.
