The Miami Dolphins’ Ping-Pong desk within the coronary heart of the staff’s locker room has gone from supplier of a enjoyable, leisurely exercise for gamers to distraction that wanted to be weeded out and now the reason for inconsistent messaging throughout the staff.
When coach Mike McDaniel first offered the news that the desk had been faraway from the Dolphins’ locker room at their observe amenities, he made it sound prefer it was a choice introduced forth by the captains, with receiver Tyreek Hill on the forefront, to assist enhance Miami’s give attention to sport preparation.
When Hill was requested about it on Thursday, he said it was no such thing — that it was all about bringing in a brand new, custom-designed desk to interchange the fundamental one which had suffered overuse and was, based on Hill, bent.
Revisiting the subject on Friday, McDaniel had his last say. He doesn’t thoughts what the last word narrative is behind the desk’s elimination or potential improve to return, and he’s proud of what the gamers need.
“It’s the players’ locker room,” McDaniel stated. “If they giveth, they’ll taketh away — and so they can re-giveth.
“That is their area. I simply need them to be right here at work so long as potential. If the story modifications 14 instances, I may care much less. I’m simply doing my greatest to report the news, however on the finish of the day, it’s their area. I’m completely happy if that’s the fact, which, if it modifications, I may care simply as a lot much less. If it does change, good for them for upgrading their requirements of Ping-Pong play. Because no one desires to be common, and when you’ve a median, inexperienced desk, what’s that about?
“I like the fact that they have all that stuff going on. It’s hard to keep up, and in two days, who knows? Maybe, for Tyreek, it was punishment, and then he thought his teammates deserved it and he gave it back to them. Or, this whole time, he was just playing a ploy on all of us. All of which, it’s really not that meaningful to me, but I’m glad that they’re getting all worked out down there because it is the captains’ locker room, and he is one of the captains. So, what he says, goes, to a degree.”
McDaniel has gotten to get pleasure from Hill’s character for the reason that two got here collectively in Miami this offseason — Hill from Kansas City and McDaniel from San Francisco.
“It’s tremendous. I appreciate humor,” McDaniel stated. “I appreciate people coming to work every day with energy. The bottom line with Tyreek is, when he’s in here, he’s in his parking spot, he comes inside, everybody on the team, whether it’s a player, coach, football staff member, knows that he’s going to get himself ready to go, perform on the field. He’s really held in high regard.”
A singular paddle was left the place the desk as soon as stood. It had white athletic tape surrounding it, apparently within the form of a query mark but in addition passing as chalk round a physique at a criminal offense scene.
Not so quick on Austin Jackson
After offensive coordinator Frank Smith stated he was “extremely” optimistic on a return for proper sort out Austin Jackson off injured reserve for his ankle harm, McDaniel cautioned to pump the brakes on Friday.
“What you guys are learning about Frank Smith is he’s overly optimistic to a fault,” McDaniel quipped. “I think that was a hair aggressive by one of my favorite people on staff. … We’re taking it day by day with [Jackson].”
Sure sufficient, forward of Sunday’s matchup with the Minnesota Vikings, Jackson was not seen on the observe discipline Friday after taking part in Wednesday and Thursday drills.
Jackson landed on IR following the Dolphins’ Sept. 11 win over the New England Patriots within the opener. The placement on IR put him out a minimal of 4 weeks. He is now eligible to return. His return to observe earlier within the week began his 21-day clock to be activated off IR.
“A.J. has done a great job in his rehabilitation, his preparation, being active and involved,” Smith stated Thursday. He is such a hungry learner. I imply, simply coming into the NFL so younger. I imply, he’s simply been actually enjoyable to work with. I do know we’ve all loved his development.”
If Jackson isn’t in line to return, reserve swing sort out Greg Little would stay in a beginning function.
“I’m just going out there when I’m needed and getting the job done,” stated Little. “Just be prepared for wherever they want me, whether or not it’s proper, left [tackle], teaching, waterboy. Doesn’t matter. It’s my job to be prepared.
Other harm updates
Aside from Jackson, Dolphins beginning left sort out Terron Armstead was not seen at Friday’s observe, marking one other full week the place he misses drills.
Armstead formally enters Sunday questionable. He has been in a position to play by means of the dearth of observe the previous 4 video games, however in final Sunday’s loss on the New York Jets, he exited after eight performs resulting from his lingering toe harm.
Armstead stayed within the New York/New Jersey space in a single day Sunday and into Monday to see a foot specialist earlier than returning to South Florida.
Dolphins cornerback Kader Kohou (indirect) is uncertain towards the Vikings, however All-Pro cornerback Xavien Howard goes into Sunday with no harm designation, good to go towards Minnesota.
Also questionable are quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (concussion protocol/proper pectoral), working again Raheem Mostert (knee), tight finish Durham Smythe (hamstring) and defensive again Elijah Campbell (foot), who returned to observe Friday after lacking Thursday drills.
Mostert and Smythe have stated within the staff’s locker room they count on to play this week. For Bridgewater, it comes all the way down to protocol clearance to again up rookie Skylar Thompson, certain to begin after getting the observe reps this week.
Quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Bridgewater, while remaining in concussion protocol Friday, each have been upgraded to full contributors from being restricted Thursday. Tagovailoa, as beforehand reported, has been dominated out.
()
