The Miami Dolphins had a discipline issue and head coach Mike McDaniel had a hard time finding a solution during the 2024 season.
“I can fine people til they’re blue in the face,” McDaniel said at a press conference Tuesday. “One thing I did learn during the course of the season is that fining guys … didn’t particularly move the needle in the way we need to, so I’ll adjust as I should as the head coach.”
The exact issues were mostly kept behind closed doors, but several of the team’s leaders told reporters that discipline needs to be a point of emphasis in 2025.
“There was things going on this year, obviously in the background, that needed to get taken care of,” Dolphins defensive lineman Zach Sieler said Monday. “We needed to be on our p’s and q’s earlier in the season and earlier in camp.”
“You definitely need structure any time you’re striving to do something great,” Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith added. “There’s a lot of things we need to clean up as a team.”
So what comes next if players won’t respond to being fined? Parting ways.
“We’re at the point in our team where guys are firmly aware of the expectations, and if your actions continually lead to finable offenses that you’re telling me without words that you don’t want to be here. I think it’s very clear,” McDaniel said.
Will anything change with both McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier set to return? The latter says that’s largely up to the players.
“Players have to be accountable for each other,” Grier said. “Coaches aren’t around them 24/7. “It’s clearly understood now and Mike’s message to the team was very well received.”
