Julian Hill – August 30, 2023
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Wednesday, August 30, 2023
TE Julian Hill
(If I were to go to Campbell University for this first time, what would I notice? What would you recommend I do?) – “A lot of trees, a lot of open farms and cows. I recommend that you go visit Campbell University. That’s really the excitement of Campbell. Buies Creek is a long way from Miami.”
(I know you had a couple knee injuries your senior year of high school. Other than Campbell, what do you remember were some of your recruiting options?) – “I had some ACC schools, come C-USA. I played quarterback in high school. I was a pretty highly recruited quarterback. I had some Sun Belt schools. It ended up not working out obviously, so Campbell gave me an opportunity and I ran with it.”
(The background with the Dolphins, at what point did they start showing interest in you? In February or March, did Assistant Head Coach/Tight Ends Jon Embree sort of develop a relationship with you back then?) – “Yeah, leading up to the draft, so many frequent teams are calling you. As the draft got closer and closer, that’s when the Dolphins became interested. My agent told me and I thought it was a great fit. I always had my eye on the Dolphins. Nice weather. (laughter) I like their system. I like Coach McDaniel and how he runs things, and of course just getting a chance to work with Coach Embree from who he’s coached in the past, it was a no-brainer.”
(I know that to play in this offense at the tight end position, you need to be an effective blocker. I just told TE Durham Smythe I haven’t studied your blocking film yet. What will I notice? What’s your approach to blocking?) – “I love it. I take pride in being a half o-lineman. (laughter) I love the trench warfare or whatever you want to call it. Whatever name it has, I love getting physical and I think that that’s where it allows me to buy time to develop my route running. A lot of guys – you’ve just got to be willing and have a willingness to block and I have that. I love to show effort in the run game. I love to get physical, like I said, and I think that’s the beautiful thing about it.”
(From a receiving standpoint, what tight ends do you think you might have a similarity with and that you’ve studied on tape with similar games?) – “I like the Jets’ Tyler Conklin. I just like him. We’ve got a similar style of play, same size. I like watching Tommy Tremble from the Panthers, just his mindset. He was a young guy as well, same size, and how he gets in and out of breaks. Of course, George Kittle – he’s the one who was a superstar in this type of offense. How he gets up field, how he slashes the defense, all of those types of things. Those three guys are the main guys that I take a look at and take notes on.”
(What’s something that Assistant Head Coach/Tight Ends Jon Embree has said or shown you that really stands out? Like every time you’re out there, you kind of have it in the back of your mind.) – “It’s a mindset. Everything you do is a mindset. He preaches that. He doesn’t like when we don’t have that mindset going onto the field. Really that’s the only thing. He preaches it in the film room, he preaches it on the field – mindset, mindset, mindset. So mentality.”
(This locker room, this team and this organization has track record of adding undrafted free agents who have a lot of success, such as CB Kader Kohou who used to be there. DT Brandon Pili has made it, which is good for him. Did you feel like a long shot when you first got here?) – “Of course, definitely. (laughter) I knew since I walked into that meeting room, I understand I’m at the bottom of the depth chart, but I knew it was an opportunity. That’s all I needed, just a (foot) in the door. Every single day I’m going to continue to work hard. I’m just honored that they decided they want me to be one of the pieces, and I know every day, it’s an interview every day. So I’m willing to take that on.”
(How did you find out that you had made it? Did anybody say something to you? Did General Manager Chris Grier?) – “Yeah, it was Coach ‘Embo’ (Jon Embree). It was the day after the deadline, he told me congratulations. A lot of other guys, a lot of older teammates that have been around here came up to me and said, ‘Congratulations, can’t wait to work with you throughout the season.’ It was just a big moment. God is good.”
(Is it happiness? What sort of emotion is it to make it as an undrafted rookie?) – “It’s huge. It’s huge. I called my coach from Campbell because nobody has even done it from Campbell before. It’s just an honor, like I said, just to be one of the pieces of the puzzle. I’m really excited to chase this ring with these guys and earn it every day.”
(What did Campbell do to prepare you for this opportunity?) – “Humble me. (laughter) ‘Coach Mint’, Coach Mike Minter, he played in the league for 10 years. Just knowing his mindset, he played for the Panthers, the mentality he had, what it takes to be an NFL guy, he kind of molded that into me while I was at Campbell.”
Brandon Pili – August 30, 2023
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Wednesday, August 30, 2023
DT Brandon Pili
(Who told you you were on the 53? Did Defensive Line Coach Austin Clark tell you, somebody else?) – “I’m trying to remember.”
(Did anyone tell you? Or you just showed up and they told you, you were going to stay?) – “I just showed up, came to the team meeting and Coach Mike (McDaniel) came in front of the whole team and just told us congratulations, this is who we’re rocking with.”
(What did that feel like?) – “It was the best feeling in the world. You can’t duplicate it. Just a lot going through my mind. Just happy and appreciative that they gave me a chance.”
(Is it like a badge of honor when you come in as an undrafted free agent and make the final 53?) – “I kind of don’t see it that way. Obviously the NFL is a business. They’re looking for somebody to replace you every day, so it kind of just helped motivate me even more to keep going and keep pushing and keep getting better.”
(What do you think you showed this camp?) – “I just came to work. I just came and put in the work. Yes sir, no sir. The coach told me to be low maintenance, don’t be a high maintenance guy. So I think that combined with the stuff I did on the field is really what helped me kind of get here.”
(What was it like walking into that room not knowing?) – “It was nerve-wracking. It’s a big day for everybody in the league and you hate to see the guys you shed blood, sweat and tears with have their dreams ended or go somewhere else. But it’s just a blessing. It’s an honor to be here.”
(What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned whether it be from Defensive Line Coach Austin Clark or Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio or any of your coaches?) – “I’d say 80 percent of the game is mental. How you prepare for it mentally, how you get your mind right every day to go out there and practice.”
Chris Brooks – August 30, 2023
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Wednesday, August 30, 2023
RB Chris Brooks
(How does it feel to make the official 53-man roster?) – “It feels great. It’s a blessing to be here. I want to be a great teammate and do whatever I can to help this team.”
(Who told you? Was it Associate Head Coach/Running Backs Eric Studesville, General Manager Chris Grier, that you made the 53? Was there someone who told you?) – “I just walked into meetings and came in and they said congratulations fellas. I just assumed I was on the 53.”
(I know DT Brandon Pili was saying Coach Mike McDaniel was saying “this is our group.” Did it really resonate with you that you made a NFL team?) – “For sure. Then again, you have to take every day one day at a time. The most important day is right now. Just be present and do whatever I can to help out and get better.”
(When you woke up yesterday, you thought what?) – “I thought that I hope I have a good day at practice today and do whatever I can to get better at something today.”
(It would have been very human to think, there are five really good veteran backs in this room. How am I possibly going to make the team? Tell me did that thought ever go through your mind in the dog days of training camp?) – “No. I thought more in a day-to-day mindset. I feel like if you look too far ahead, you get really anxious and get kind of nervous. I just thought, ‘What can I do today to get better?’ and ‘How can I learn from these guys?’”
(Can you take us through the entire journey of not getting drafted, that low, to the high of yesterday’s news?) – “I feel like not getting drafted, I wouldn’t really look at is as a low. I would say it’s an opportunity. It’s an opportunity that not many guys I have. I can either take advantage of the opportunity or I can just let it go to waste. And I chose to take advantage.”
(What was it like when you weren’t getting those opportunities in the team drills and then had that 95-yard touchdown that day and eventually got more involved?) – “I think that the mental reps were just as important as the physical reps. I think that was probably the most important aspect of all this is taking advantage of those mental reps. Almost like I’m in it, getting those reps right then. I think taking advantage of those was a very big deal because anybody can get those same reps on game day.“
(Prior to the Dolphins calling and General Manager Chris Grier giving you an offer, did you have any relationship at all with Associate Head Coach/Running Backs Eric Studesville from March through April? Or was there anyone with the Dolphins that tried to cultivate a relationship with you pre-draft?) – “No.”
(So was it a surprise when the Dolphins called and offered?) – “I would say so.”
(And you picked Miami why?) – “It’s a great spot. I get to learn real football from ‘Coach E’ (Eric Studesville). He’s a great coach. I’m blessed.”
(Did he call you that night when they made the offer, that third day of the draft? Or had you not really talked to any Dolphins coaches by the time you agreed to terms?) – “I hadn’t really talked to anyone.”
(Associate Head Coach/Running Backs Eric Studesville has coached for a long time, coached a lot of good running backs. What was the most important thing you were able to learn from him?) – “The most important thing I’ve been able to learn from ‘Coach E’ (Eric Studesville) is learning conceptual football and breaking it down to a foundational level. I think once he breaks it down to a foundational level, we’re able to learn, read and do things when we play football.”
(What did you feel was most important to show Associate Head Coach/Running Backs Eric Studesville and show Head Coach Mike McDaniel?) – “Just to show them that I love being a great teammate, I love to work and am here to get better.”
(Had you been to South Florida before signing with the Dolphins? Did you have any Miami connections at all?) – “We played the Hula Bowl down here before. That’s in Orlando. I don’t know if that is near here though. Probably not. That’s the only time I was in Florida though.”
(So you’ve basically made home the Dolphins facility the past few months?) – “Yeah, since May. Since rookie minicamp.”
(You definitely have a lot of skills. What would you point to is your skill that you feel best about coming into the NFL?) – “Coming into the NFL, I thought my skill was physicality. I probably feel the best about that. I’m working on branching off and getting all the other skills.”
(What’s the best reaction you got from a relative or friend over the news from yesterday?) – “They were really happy and congratulating me. I thought that was great to have that love come back to me.”
Chris Grier – August 30, 2023
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Wednesday, August 30, 2023
General Manager Chris Grier
(Opening statement) – “Hope the people are safe up north and prayers to people affected by the hurricane. Just make sure they stay safe, be smart and our thoughts are with them.”
(No GM has made more impactful moves on the trade market in the last year and a half than you. You’ve put together a good roster. I was curious about this – the AFC is so loaded. There are like, 10 or 11 teams that can say, “we think we’re a playoff team.” I’m curious, did you and Chairman of the Board/Managing General Partner Stephen Ross and Vice Chairman, President and CEO Tom Garfinkel and Head Coach Mike McDaniel discuss the question of do we have enough or do we have to be desperate to acquire yet another Pro Bowler, especially after CB Jalen Ramsey was injured? Because clearly there was a point you would not cross or were not in desperate pursuit with the available guys in recent weeks like Dalvin Cook and Jonathan Taylor. It was never the desperation stage. So why did you all decide not to be desperate? Is it because of cap consequences or because you feel like you have a championship-caliber roster as constituted or a little bit of both?) – “I think we feel good about the roster we have. We like the players on the roster. Yesterday was an exciting day with the 53 and we’re still working through the practice squad additions. But when you build a team, like we’ve always talked, you look long term, short term. So yeah, we’re always aggressive to do it, but we’re also going to be mindful and (Senior Vice President of Football and Business Administration) Brandon (Shore) and (Director of Football Administration and Strategy) Max (Napolitano) do a great job as we talk through things salary cap-related. So for us, we’re able to do a lot of moves, we can do moves or not, but you’re also aware of your roster. Like we’ve been consistent in saying, we feel good about our running back room. I think it showed in the preseason. Those guys have done a nice job. Mike (McDaniel) has always expressed confidence in them as well as myself. So for us, again, my job is when players are available, whoever they are, whether it’s a Pro Bowler, journeyman on the streets that’s bounced around, we’re going to talk to people, make calls and do it. And so for us, we felt good about the roster and very fortunate to have Steve (Ross) and Tom (Garfinkel) allow us to be aggressive at times we want to do it.”
(Do you believe this roster is talented enough, good enough to compete with the best of the best in the AFC? Even with the caliber of Kansas City, Buffalo, Cincinnati?) – “I do. I think we compete with them. It’ll be to be determined this season, but we do. We feel good about the players. Mike (McDaniel) and the coaching staff do a fantastic job. I think this group is a very close group that’s focused. They’ve had a great camp in here and working together. It’s a very close unit and it’s fun to be around them, and they enjoy being around each other. And I think that’s always a big key when you’re building a team.”
(How close did something come to happening with the Colts? Just please tell us everything please.) – “Why don’t you just ask Mike’s (McDaniel) daughter? She’ll tell you. (laughter) No, it’s like everything like I just talked about. Chris (Ballard) is a friend of mine. We’ve had conversations. And again, it was a lot of exploratory talks. I can say there was no exchange of offers from either one of us. It was just general talks. So a lot of the stuff reported, I could tell you guys that 95 percent of it’s wrong. So we’ve had some discussions, but it’s no different than any player that’s ever released or available that we know about and have a discussion with the GM about it. Chris was very professional as he always is, and so in terms of being close or anything, there was nothing really close.”
(Can you talk about your level of frustration with the CB Jalen Ramsey injury because this team and this offseason look a lot different with a healthy Jalen Ramsey out there on the field?) – “Jalen (Ramsey) has made an impact since he’s been here. He’s been fantastic in the room with the young guys, even the veterans, just his energy when he’s around. I mean, you guys have seen him, he comes around still when he doesn’t have to, watching practice, standing on the sidelines. He’s been fantastic. Obviously his talent on the field we miss, but it’s also an opportunity for these young guys to step up and make plays and so we’re excited for the guys in the room and they’re going to hopefully take advantage of their opportunity and hold the fort until Jalen is back here at some point this season.”
(And when do you guys think he’ll be back?) – “I don’t want to put a timetable on it, but we do expect him back this season.”
(You said 95 percent of what was reported is inaccurate, so I got to ask you. Did the words “Jaylen Waddle” come out of Indianapolis Colts General Manager Chris Ballard’s mouth?) – “Again, I’m not going to go into discussions that were talked about with stuff, but man, you’re a dog on this. (laughter) But yeah, Jaylen Waddle would not be available to anybody. It wouldn’t matter who they called about.”
(Where do things stand in regards to contract talks with DT Christian Wilkins? Just given the nature of the cap situation you guys are in, you’re projected to be $30 million over the cap in 2024. Is that feasible at this point?) – “I would say where we are today and where we are in March is always dramatically different. As you watch every team around the league, there’s some teams $100 million over and all of a sudden, they find a way to get under. So I’m not worried about that. Again, like I said, Brandon (Shore) and Max (Napolitano) do a fantastic job and we have a lot of discussions on not just short term, but long term. We have a lot of good players coming available, not just Christian. But we have a lot of guys here in the pipeline here over the next couple of years that are going to be expensive players. But in terms of Christian, we’ve had a lot of great dialogue with him and his agent. Very positive. We made an offer that we thought was fair. And there’s times when you do things like that, it has to work for both sides. So there was never any ill-will from each side. I’ve had a lot of great communication. I enjoy his agent. We have good conversations. For right now, we’re going to hold off until, in my mind, at the end of the season, because I don’t think it’s fair to distract Christian from his goal of what he wants to achieve and for the team.”
(Is this situation the same with QB Tua Tagovailoa? The last time we asked him, he said there hadn’t been any contract talks beyond the fifth-year extension. I’m assuming that’s still the same. What’s the philosophy on the wait and see play right now?) – “I just think for him, it’s just letting Tua play. Again, those things can be a big distraction. You have family, friends, you guys, everyone constantly asking about it. His agents and I have had discussions, just general but not really about that. We just kind of agreed let’s just let him play out the season and then we’ll attack that in the offseason.”
(Whether with DT Christian Wilkins or QB Tua Tagovailoa, there’s been deals in those position groups with other teams. How much do those factor in whether in negotiations or the pressure to appease a player given his peers might be…) – “It’s always tricky when you do negotiations and you’re always honest. And I think people around you can say we’re not cheap on how we handle stuff. So, we do great structure. Brandon (Shore) does a great job in his job. And as we talk through things, our relationships with agents are always very good. So yeah, when you look at things around the league and where contracts are, I think that’s just kind of what the market is, and then you kind of use that as your parameter. But I think all deals are unique and different from who the individuals are. So that’s why there are always nuances to getting the deal done to where both sides feel good about it.”
(The two trades that you did pull off yesterday, how did those evolve? What can you say about CB Noah Igbinoghene, who was your first-round pick, and now getting a change of scenery?) – “First, with Dan Feeney, we signed Dan here to be our backup center. So we were excited to have him and it just happened to be an opportunity when Chicago reached out, and so he has an opportunity to go play. I guess they’ve had some bumps and bruises on the offensive line. So for us, Dan did a great job here. He’s got some personality as you know, with the mullet and mustache. He’s a good dude. I was happy for him. He’s from Chicago, so it worked out for him. And then in terms of Noah, Vic (Fangio) here as we’ve been going, we’ve been kind of looking for another nickel player. And so I did some searching around, talked to Dallas, and then they called and they asked about Noah because they need some help on the outside, I assume. We don’t really go into each other’s needs. But for us, the chance to add Kelvin (Joseph) as a guy that can play inside and out but has played the nickel and did in the preseason here well – and he’s played special teams, which was something we needed. It was tough. Noah has worked hard here since he’s been here. He’s had ups and downs, but he’s a competitive kid. I’m so proud of him. He won us a game last year with a big pick on Sunday night to end the game. And making the transition from receiver to corner is not an easy thing for a kid. He was so young, I think 20 years old when he got here. So I’m happy for him. We were both a little sad leaving, but I’m very happy for the opportunity for him because they really wanted him, so I’m excited for him. And we’re excited to have Kelvin.”
(Why were the three quarterbacks you have on your roster the right three for this team? There were obviously some options you had out there on the waiver wire.) – “Yeah, I think, first of all, that room, it’s a very close room. The three of them get along extremely well. They support each other, they push each other, they communicate well with each other. I think that’s a big part of it. I think Mike (White) has done a good job operating the offense as well as Skylar (Thompson). I think some of the familiarity with obviously Skylar, helps being here. This is his second year in the system. But Mike’s done a nice job coming in here as well and supporting Tua (Tagovailoa). So for us, we thought it was the right group to keep those three.”
(Regarding your offensive line, you pretty much have the same group of starters as last season. T Terron Armstead is a year older with one more surgery on his body. Where are you counting on improvement coming from with this unit?) – “With the offensive line, we’re happy with it. I think you’ve seen the progress from the last two years with the fundamentals and the teaching in this offense in the preseason. In the run game, they’ve done some good thing. Pass pro(taction). So we’re excited for the guys with the group we have here, the 53. Like anything, we’ll always keep looking here and on the roster, but we’re very happy with the guys here. Coaches are very happy. So I think this is a group that we feel we can win with and we’ll continue to just keep building and working.”
(On the offensive line, what did T Kion Smith show to make team?) – “Kion, small college, HBCU, and then worked hard. He came here and needed a lot of work. (He was) very raw in everything he had. He just puts his head down and grinds every day. He’s gone and worked each year and battled to where he was on and off practice squads, back-and-forth. Then this year, I think the second year in a system helped him a lot. But it’s a testament to him and his work ethic, how he’s done, because he just comes in and grinds. ‘T-Stead’ (Terron Armstead) was talking about how he just loved his effort and how he approached every day. He just wants to be better. He loves ball, loves being here. I was very proud of him and happy for him to make the team.”
(CB Jalen Ramsey, OL Robert Jones and DB Elijah Campbell, are they all injured reserve bound?) – “No.”
(I’ve got a guess; OL Robert Jones is not?) – “Elijah Campbell is on the active roster.”
(Can you help me understand the rules on the two guys that were placed on injured reserve yesterday? Are TE Eric Saubert and DB Keion Crossen, according to the rules, could they technically injure-settle and return to the club at a later date? Is that an option?) – “Keion Crossen yesterday suffered a freak injury. He’s out for the year, to let you guys know. Then Saubert, we’ll wait and see here what happens.”
(I wanted to ask you about TE Tanner Conner and WR Robbie Chosen. Are you bringing them back to the practice squad? How tough of a call were those two in particular?) – “We’re still working through it. Tanner (Conner) is back. With Robbie (Chosen), because he’s a veteran and he has options, we’ll see what happens there.”
(I was curious with the NFL changing from three cut-down dates to one, how that changed this for your process? Because it seemed like there were some decisions that really did come down to the last minute.) – “It’s an interesting one, just because like I said, I’ve been doing this in the scouting room since 1995. We’ve always had the three multiple cut-down days before you go from 90 to 75. We said now it’s weird, we have 90, and you talk to every GM around the league, we’re like, ‘We don’t have enough players. Everyone is hurt all the time.’ (laughter) When I started in New England with (Bill) Parcells, it was a different time, different era. Guys were like, ‘Oh, you’re hurt, are you? OK.’ And the guy is out there limping, and you’re like, ‘What’s this guy out here?’ These kids are tough. They work hard. And I do think it’s a credit to the NFL and all the safety stuff we’re doing to make sure these guys have the best healthcare they can in this tough game. It does make it hard, but with 90 players, we need the 90 players to get through the three preseason games. Because if you had to go down to 75, I think it’d be a challenge for a lot of teams to get through it.”
Mike McDaniel – August 29, 2023
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Tuesday, August 29, 2023
Head Coach Mike McDaniel
(Why the trade with CB Noah Igbinoghene to Dallas? Did he need a new start or was this to get a new body in here? What was the thinking there?) – “That was something that we definitely weren’t chasing; we were approached with. There was some interest there. Really, regardless, it wasn’t planned. It wasn’t a situation where we were really exploring the idea of not having him on the roster. But when given the opportunity and our specific team with our specific needs, we thought it was both a win for us. I’m so happy for and really proud of Noah because everybody wants to be a first-round draft pick. As a 20-year-old, that sounds cool, but there’s a burden with that. What you’ve seen is a guy grow as a player and as a person. I think being able to be 23 years old and go to a place with a fresh start, specifically with a guy that I’ve worked with in Dan Quinn and just knowing his coaching mentality, I think it’s a good fit for them. I think it’s a good fit for us. That’s how deals are done.”
(DB Keion Crossen and TE Eric Saubert going to injured reserve. I just want to get clarification, does that end their season without the possibility to return?) – “Those are things that you kind of figure out as the week progresses because of the multiple implications within the roster. But it was in both of those players’ interests, with regard to their injury, to go ahead and do that. Later in the week, I think it’s Wednesday night or Thursday, we settled the designated for return players with the accompanied movements.”
(We thought you had to wait until…) – “I can’t remember. Again, why are we even here? The Chris Grier show is tomorrow. (laughter) I stay in my lane. And honestly, I told you guys it’s the worst part of the year. Yeah, I short-changed that. There’s a lot of people that we’re all very close to that our journey together may or may not have ended. So, excuse me if my timelines are a little foggy.”
(I wanted to ask you about trading away OL Dan Feeney. What went into that decision and as of now, who is the backup center to OL Connor Williams?) – “That was another situation, we had a couple that kind of came to us. I think me from a human being standpoint, in this situation as well, knowing Chris Morgan, the offensive line coach, I kind of knew that it was an opportunity that would be good for him and good for us with the return compensation. In terms of the backup center, you guys always sit here and tell me, what’s the big deal about OTAs? Do you remember there was a center every play? (laughter) The first guy’s up to be working on that and who have been training since OTAs and got invaluable reps throughout will be Liam Eichenberg and Lester Cotton. We have a good core of players in the interior and adversity is an opportunity, so remember that next OTAs.”
(You know about, obviously, the long winding road in your career. Do you impart any of that on these guys when they’re let go and talk to them about that stuff?) – “When it’s appropriate, I think it does come up, for sure. Just because they get beat over the head with, ‘Adversity is an opportunity,’ and that’s where it comes from for me, is living experience of those things. I think to be an effective coach, you have to embark on each individual player’s journey, and when you do that, it’s very easy to understand. The first time that I ever got let go with the Houston Texans, viscerally, I’ll never forget, I had been on a team my whole life, and then I remember walking out of Reliant Stadium like, ‘Wow, who am I?’ And that identity, although a player’s experience is different than a coach’s, I think there’s a commonality in that, which is why it’s very emotional and very, very difficult for me in these times because I know exactly what that is. You wake up – I mean, you are embarking on an invested journey that your mind is goal-oriented to be on the 53 (-man roster) for the Miami Dolphins, and then boom. Now what? I don’t wish that on anybody. It’s uncharted territory. The unknown is like one of the greatest sources of stress – it’s science. It’s been studied. And it is a feeling that I don’t wish on anyone. However, I do feel like there are certain times that it’s very, very appropriate to share that with guys, because you can see it on people’s faces, ‘I didn’t even see this coming,’ or ‘What do I do now?’ It’s brutal. So it comes up, I think that’s an important part. It’s not about living exactly in someone’s shoes; it’s being able to connect experiences that might render residual feelings that are similar. So again, I mean it, this is brutal. There’s more than 53 deserving people to be on this football team, but there’s only 53 spots. I pressed upon the locker room today, like part of your grieving of your brethren that isn’t here is doing right by them because they sure wish they were.”
(As it stands, I believe you only have three safeties on the 53-man roster, and S Brandon Jones really hasn’t practiced much. Are you comfortable with that? With the post-cut down day kind of roster shelf thing with IR, do you anticipate adding another safety?) – “I think it would be safe to say that you don’t feel completely safe with too little safeties. There’s a lot of ways now that your roster can be set up with regard to, since the COVID year, the 16-player practice squad and the flexibility and things of that nature. So there’s some depth issues that will be solidified by some practice squad members, maybe some active activity. I mean, shoot, tune in for the Chris Grier show tomorrow. Who knows what you’ll find out? (laughter)”
(How stressful is it from the organization standpoint when you make a move today, and you’re hoping that you can get a guy through waivers, or you’re hoping that a guy will be available tomorrow or down the line?) – “You can’t make moves under any sort of assumption. Either way, you have to be very, very calculated and knowing that you’re taking a risk, and that’s inherent in all of it. It’s bittersweet, because you’d love to have additional players, specifically the guys that you’ve been with that know your system and you’re invested with. However, teammates, the organization itself, you can’t spend too much time getting down for someone’s dream to be realized. So it’s conflicting. It is measured and calculated, but it comes with inherent risk. I’m very much the optimist, but I just flip the role in these situations. I kind of turn to a pessimist with regard to just very ready for that to happen. That’s a real thing. Players aren’t really a secret that much.”
(Can you talk about the three undrafted rookies to make the team, DT Brandon Pili, TE Julian Hill and RB Chris Brooks and what they showed you?) – “So that is the journey that is the hardest, most difficult to navigate that really exists. You go zero to 60 from college to professional, and then you get here, and you’re stacked underneath guys that have been doing it professionally in the scheme or on the stage for an extended period of time. It can look insurmountable. Especially, you have your first rookie minicamp and you’re like, ‘Man, I’m pretty good.’ And then you get to a practice with your whole team, and you’re like, ‘Whoa.’ So undrafted free agents that are able to make a 53-man roster, that in and of itself is such a monumental task that so few people can undertake, promised nothing, and really just behind the eight ball. It’s like if I went to a foreign country, could I speak fluently in a month and a half or however long? That’s tough to do. But every year, there’s certain guys that you’re really trying to find that have that mental fortitude to really accomplish something like that. Very huge accomplishment that really all the teammates really appreciate. You want to see an excited locker room? It’s seeing an undrafted rookie free agent on the 53 (man roster), because most of the time, they’re breathing a sigh of relief because if they’re even in consideration, they’ve made waves in practice and in preseason games. To see that that goal, all of their $5,000 or $10,000 signing bonus, and just really doing stuff for the right reasons and learning fast, it’s a cool process for everybody involved. A lot of respect given to those three and many other rookies that hopefully will join us.”
(Last week when we asked about Jonathan Taylor and you were trying to tell us not to read between the lines, but was there ever a point that you thought it might happen? Or is it always just something that was not attainable?) – “Honestly, I spend zero time except when I answer questions about it. When I can half see your face because your phone’s covering the rest of it. (laughter) It’s again structured that way for a reason. When things are serious enough, it comes to my plate. But when you’re very happy with the players that you’re coaching, know that they’re capable of making a ton of plays, and you have a lot of guys that you’re going with on a journey, just trying to get them better every day, I spend zero time thinking or forecasting. I’m just trigger ready if Chris (Grier) comes knocking on my door for whatever reason. But that hasn’t been a part of my life really since you’ve asked me.”
(You told us you asked WR Tyreek Hill about acquiring CB Eli Apple. If Tyreek would’ve said no, would you guys just move on and would that be the case for Jonathan Taylor, or would that be the case for any other high-profile player you might attain?) – “I think you hit the nail on the head. That’s something that is important to me. That Eli Apple example is a great one, where when you’re adding someone to the team, you want to know it’s residual effect on the team because when you’re adding a player to the team, it’s about the team. So when there’s questions that are obvious, or maybe pseudo not obvious, there are position coaches on our team, the personnel staff, the training staff, the strength staff, and our jobs are to invest in these players. And when you invest in people, you can learn a ton about them, especially when you’re not on your phone. And, in that, if there’s something that you can connect dots to, shame on me if I enter into something that might shake the locker room up in an adverse way. That’s kind of our jobs, as Chris and I look at it, to build a team, coach a team, and make sure the team is as good as it possibly can be. So things like that always factor in.”
(Earlier when we were talking about getting released from a team and that feeling of not being a part of a team, someone who went through that was here a few minutes ago, DT Zach Sieler. And now you saw him get rewarded the way he did. Can you describe your feelings about seeing him get rewarded and why he was able to overcome the way he did and be an important part of the team?) – “The absolute climax of the coaching experience. It is everything because to watch someone go to sustain what that is, that body blow to be released from a team, to battle against the human nature that is, am I good enough? The fortitude to keep pressing forward for the right reasons. The belief it takes in oneself. All of that, and to see someone come out the other side, we’re so fortunate to have Zach and we were so fortunate to be able to extend him for three years. And there’s one thing you know with guys like that. Every piece of the pie was earned and that is a testament, a living testament, that we have in house now. It is a great example of perseverance that you can always resource and point out. I brought it up the other day. I think my last team meeting with the 90-man roster, is before you go into a world where this is all or nothing, I asked Raheem Mostert how many times have you been cut? Zach Sieler, how many times you’ve been cut? And that’s everything, because you don’t go through this this world of NFL football unscathed and it’s not a coincidence that I say adversity is an opportunity every two minutes because it’s always there. But if you can control what you can control, you have a chance to be the best version of yourself and live after football with no regrets.”
Jaylen Waddle – August 29, 2023
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Tuesday, August 29, 2023
WR Jaylen Waddle
(We haven’t seen you at practice for about a week or two. Are you all good to go for Week 1?) – “Yeah, I’m feeling good. Me and the medical staff talked, and they’re doing a good job monitoring me and doing stuff like that. But feeling good.”
(The expectation is you’ll be there Week 1?) – “Yeah, it’s always the expectation to go out and play.”
(QB Teddy Bridgewater wore No. 50 in preseason, but now he switched his number to 17. Do you think that’s an ode to you?) – “No, Teddy is OG. (laughter) I liked him rocking that 50, though, it’s pretty funny. Especially the meaning behind it, being in Detroit and stuff like that. But no, I think he just got one of the best available numbers and stuff like that, for real.”
(I know Head Coach Mike McDaniel had mentioned he had to slow you down out in Houston, hometown, you wanted to practice there. Where are you as far as doing stuff on your own, running and whatnot?) – “Pretty solid. I think our training staff and the coaches are doing a good job of monitoring me, really taking a little incident serious and stuff like that. But like I told them, I’m feeling good. They’re doing a good job of communicating with me, letting me know what to do and what not to do and things like that.”
(How do you balance that from a player perspective? You have the coach saying, “Hey, don’t go,” and you’re like, “Man, I can battle through something like this.” How do you mentally turn yourself down when you want to go?) – “I think just trust, trusting that they know what they’re talking about, knowing what’s best for me and my body, knowing I’m one of the guys that likes to go out there and play and compete. So really just trusting them.”
(It was just reported by ESPN that Jonathan Taylor will not be traded today. He’s going to miss the first four weeks of the season on the physically unable to play list. My question is about the backs that are here, maybe up to six of them I saw out there today. What do you think about the running back room?) – “Oh, I love them. They bring a different dynamic to the game. Each and every one of them has a different style of play I think really helps in the running game and ultimately pass game, and ultimately putting points on the board. So I love the backs, man.”
(There’s a report that CB Noah Igbinoghene was traded to Dallas today. I wanted to know from your perspective, is there a heaviness to being a first-round pick? Is there a pressure? Would it be easier if you were a second- or third-round pick from the expectation standpoint?) – “I think being a first-round pick, they really expect you to come in and kind of make something shake ASAP.
It’s definitely some pressure, being a first-round pick just going out there and just learning on the fly kind of, for sure. But it’s fun, though. It’s fun. The pressure, it makes the game a little more fun, and I ain’t going to lie.”
(Fun or stressful?) – “Not really stressful because – not really stressful at all, because at the end of the day, it’s a game that we all love. It just makes it more fun, a lot more at stake.”
(I was curious, I know you’ll play any game but starting the season off against the Chargers, obviously things didn’t go the way you and the team expected on Sunday night last year. How excited are you to kind of start it off that way?) – “Yeah, it’s going to be a good game. They’ve got a great group. We’ve got a great group. Starting off the season, really getting to showcase what we’ve been learning and all of our hard work coming out of training camp and OTAs and all that good stuff. We get to pop it off with a great team, really showcase where our team is at. It’s really going to be a good test for Week 1.”
(Your shirt has me thinking just so many questions I want to ask you. Do you play golf?) – “No, I suck, I ain’t going to lie. Top Golf I’m pretty good at though. Top Golf, I’m pretty good. No, Tua (Tagovailoa) has been trying to get me out there. I don’t know why people go so early in the morning. (laughter) I don’t know why. I don’t know why that’s a thing. I don’t know why that’s a thing, but I’m not getting up at 6 or 7 in the morning to go golfing, I’ll tell y’all that now.”
(What’s the meaning of the shirt?) – “I just mess with it, for real. Just mess with it, for real.”
(Do you know who John Daly is?) – “I know a little bit about him. I know a little bit about him.”
(Pretty sure his philosophy is hit bombs. Is that kind of what you’re trying to go for, just hitting bombs on the football field?) – “I mean, if the shoe fits.”
(You were talking about the pressure a little earlier. Your draft class has incredible receivers. You, Ja’Marr Chase, DeVonta Smith, Amon-Ra St. Brown is coming up. How much do you guys talk about that class and maybe the competition to be maybe at the top of it when it’s all said and done?) – “We really don’t talk that much about it. All of us, I feel like are doing great things. We’ve got a great receiver class, and I think everybody is doing great things for their team and organization. It’s always good being in a competitive draft class. It kind of keeps people competitive and seeing what people have going on and what they’re doing. So it definitely keeps it fun, but like I said, those guys are doing great for their teams.”
(This is your third year, taking that next big step in Year 3. What are some things that WR Tyreek Hill has spoke to you and your Wide Receivers Coach Wes Welker about as far as just staying consistent and things like that?) – “You learn each and every day with a coach like Wes (Welker) and a guy like ‘Reek’ (Tyreek Hill). If it’s not them telling me something, it’s them doing it themselves, going out there. Playing with a guy like ‘Reek,’ you learn so much just from him going out there and doing it for so many years, being consistent and just being a leader on this team. Wes actually did it, too, so it’s kind of easy when you have a coach that’s done it and really can tell you what to expect out there and what to really do.”
(The expectations of this offense are through the roof externally. You’ve got to be so excited about what you’re going to show this year. Just how thrilled are you that the season is finally starting?) – “Yeah, man, it’s here. We finally get to – kind of in preseason go out there and compete against someone else, but it’s going to be a real, real challenge. We’ve got some good games this year to showcase our ability to put points on the board. It’s going to be good. We have a lot of weapons, a lot of people coming back, a lot of people trying to up their game. It’s going to be fun.”
Christian Wilkins – August 29, 2023
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Tuesday, August 29, 2023
DT Christian Wilkins
(I saw that you put on social media congratulations to DT Zach Sieler. How do you feel about him getting a deal with the club?) – “Honestly I couldn’t be more proud, more happy, more excited for someone than Zach Sieler honestly. He called me the morning of. He wanted to be the first to tell me. That’s been my brother since day one when he got here with like three games left in the season. I couldn’t be more happy, more proud of someone. All the work he’s put in, we were able to ride this thing out together since he came here. It was salt and pepper. Me and him always had a tight bound since day one. That was a great feeling. I was in his ear yelling on the phone when he called me. I’m sure he didn’t expect anything less, but I couldn’t be more proud, more excited, for someone to have that moment to get what they have been working so hard for all their life. He’s someone who started out literally living life in a trailer when he first got here. Now he’s on his second extension on the team. I couldn’t be more proud of him, just everything he’s worked for. Now he has enough money to finally buy that platinum grill he’s always wanted, or some of those tools, whatever the heck he’ll probably get. We just really had each other’s back throughout this whole process, and I’m so glad he was able to get what he wanted ultimately. I couldn’t be more happy for someone, in a lot of ways more happy than myself. I’ll challenge his wife Hannah – I’m more happy for him than she can ever be. I’m really excited about that.”
(Where do things stand with you? Obviously we saw the hold in. Are you back full now?) – “With all that, at this point I’m just focused on being the best teammate I can be and being there for my guys and getting ready to play a game and get focused on the season. As far as all of that goes, whether or not something gets done, my focus is on the season. We have a game to play in two weeks. Ultimately I’m just here to be the best teammate I can be, and be there for my guys the same way I’ve been all offseason, all training camp. That’s really what it comes down to.”
(On his contract negotiations) – “Like I said, whether or not something gets done, I’m just focused on being the best I can be for my guys, and getting ready to have the best year of my career, and for us to have the best year we can have as well.”
(What have you learned about the business process of the NFL from this experience?) – “I definitely learned a lot, and that’s a good thing. I’ll just say, at the end of the day, nobody wants to be a Miami Dolphin more than me. No one wants to work for this organization more than me. And that’s from Valerie at the front desk, to the coaches on the coaching staff, to Hubert who cleans up the building. Nobody wants to be a part of the organization more than myself. That’s how I feel, that’s what it is, that’s where I’m at with everything still. This is my home. I was drafted here, I love this place and I put my all to be the best player, the best leader, the best teammate, the best Miami Dolphin I can be. That’s not going to change. The organization deserves that, my teammates deserve that, the fans deserve that and everything.”
(We saw your excitement when you were talking about DT Zach Sieler’s deal and we see your energy on the field. How do you wrestle with the internal thoughts of not having something done given how much emotion you play with?) – “With all of that stuff, and everything that goes on, you have to be able to compartmentalize. I’m a professional. That’s business. You understand that part. But at the end of the day, that’s not going to change how I am, how I approach the game, how I approach just life. I still get to play football. At the end of the day, I want to be the best football player I can be. That mindset isn’t changing for anything. I’m really excited about that more than anything. I’m just going to make the most of it, have the same approach each and every day, and just have fun with this thing while I got it.”
(There are others who would’ve made waves, maybe ask to leave this team, trade, all of that. Why was that not something you would consider?) – “Well, just like I just said, no one wants to be a part of this organization more than I do. I love everything about being here. That’s not even a thought of mine or nothing like that to that point. I just want to be here at the end of the day.”
(There is a report that CB Noah Igbinoghene has been traded to Dallas. Are there times when a change of scenery could benefit a guy, and if he has been traded, is this one of those situations?) – “Yeah, it definitely could. Sometimes a change of scenery like you said, or a breath of fresh air, different things. I got a lot of respect for a guy like Noah. He’s always come in each and every day ready to work, whether it’s been good for him, whether it’s been bad for him, whatever. He just remained pretty consistent. I wish him all the best. I just always hope and want the best for my teammates regardless whether they go somewhere else or whether they are here, I always want them to do what’s best for them and do their thing. I’m excited about that.”
(Is there a heaviness that goes along with being a first-round pick?) – “Absolutely. There is obviously a lot of pressure and things like that. There definitely is. There are a lot of things that people don’t understand or really get to know but there is a lot of pressure that comes with that.”
DeShon Elliott – August 29, 2023
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Tuesday, August 29, 2023
S DeShon Elliott
(What’s this camp been like for you? I mean obviously camp is over, but what’s this journey been like for you, now on your third team and learning a new defensive scheme?) – “Football is football no matter where you go. I can say being here is different because of the energy that we have. We have a lot of young guys, we have a lot of very talented young guys who want to be great. I think that’s a big thing. We’re very hard on each other and ourselves. And I think that can push us to be the best version of ourselves, so I think that’s one of the biggest things for me.”
(What goals do you have this season?) – “I want to win. I want to win. Not just 10-plus games, I want to win and go deep into the playoffs and get my teammates paid who deserve to get paid. And what’s the saying – rising tide raises all ships. So I think that’s the biggest thing for me.”
(You weren’t here last year, but I’m sure you’ve gotten to know DT Zach Sieler a little bit. You’ve obviously been able to watch him do his thing. What’s your sense about the reaction in the locker room with that deal getting done? And also, he’s kind of a cool story that he has been cut and was a seventh rounder and that sort of thing.) – “What you don’t know is me and Zach (Sieler) started together in Baltimore. Same year, everything, so I’ve seen Zach’s growth. He was raw around the edges our rookie year, but he worked hard. And I think the best thing for him was getting cut. With that being said, today’s the grim reaper day, so to all those guys around the league who’s getting cut, don’t make that be the end of it. The way Zach handled it, he’s a very strong-minded guy so he was able to make that into a positive. Came here, dude has worked his butt off. Him and Bradley Bozeman were living in a trailer when they were in Baltimore. Just how humble that guy is and everyone knows how humble he is and how hard he works. It was well deserved and I’m proud of him to see where he’s came for sure.”
(We saw you play a lot in the preseason. How valuable were those reps to get familiar with the new defense here?) – “I think it was great. Just to knock the rust off before the first game. I haven’t played that much in a third preseason games since like, my rookie year, but I think I really needed it just to get out there and get the calls out there and also just, I need to run the show for the younger guys, so I think that’s going to help us in the long run. I felt good honestly. It’s time to play some ball.”
(We know obviously you have a relationship with S Brandon Jones. How has that kind of progressed now that you guys have had so much time together here in Miami?) – “Nothing’s changed. That’s been my boy since we were dang near kids. I think it’s great. I’m happy to see Brandon (Jones) back. I texted him the other day, told him how proud I was of his recovery and whatnot. With more reps, the more comfortable he’ll get with the defense. I think he’ll be fine. I think what me, him, and Jevon (Holland) will be a great trio of safeties for sure.”
(What’s one thing that you’ve learned, maybe that you didn’t know, about the Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio’s scheme since your arrival to know?) – “You have a set of tools that he gives you and it’s up to you to use them. You can’t be a robot in this defense. It’s about what you think is the best for our defense. I think he’s done a great job of making sure we understand that you can’t be a robot, that you’ve got to go out there and be thinking and set everybody else up to make their plays so that’s one of the biggest things for me.”
(Is this the day where there’s kind of a tangible shift to the season from training camp to let’s get going to the regular season? Or when does that shift happen?) – “I wouldn’t say the shift, I would just say, it’s more finetuning. Because we’ve been working since OTAs to try to be the best team we can be. So then this week is just more of just going back to the basics and making sure everybody understands our basic game plans and then once we come back from this little break, it’s time to get back to it. It’s time to get back to it and really lock in on L.A.”
(How do you feel your experience coming from Baltimore helped you to this point? I mean, you played under what Eric Weddle and Earl Thomas, so what are some things that you learned from those two?) – “Just taught me how to be a pro and handle each day the right way and understand it’s one play at a time. You can’t let the last play affect the next one and honestly, it just helped me grow up because I came into the NFL like 20 years old. So with that being said, it’s like hanging around with Weddle and Tony (Jefferson), they really helped me. They weren’t my fathers, but they definitely felt like a mentor for me, just helping me how to be a man in his league, understand the business side because it’s not just about ball no more, it’s about business. It’s different.”
(When did you get that realization that this is business?) – “I would say after my rookie year because I had broken my arm, so I didn’t even get the chance to play that much ball. So just being around a building and just walking in and out, just seeing how the ins and outs of the NFL works. I’m going to rehab and I’m just me, just vibing. So, just seeing how ball was and when I was in Baltimore, it was a lot of very savvy vets on the team, like everybody was above 27 (years old), so just talking to them and bouncing ideas off them. It just kind of helped me develop.”
(Those times when you’re lined up back there with S Jevon Holland, how do you feel the chemistry coming along?) – “I think it’s going great now. I think when I first got here, I was kind of too flustered because I can get a little all over the place, but he helped me just calm down and just play ball. So I think with that our situation is just gelling even more. I think we’re going to be great.”
(You mentioned S Jevon Holland there and you mentioned the trio with you and S Brandon Jones earlier. What has the battle been like? We’ve seen a lot of different safeties in and out of the lineup throughout camp and now it seems you might be the guy there.) – “Battle? Shoot, we are all just working. I’m not even worried about any battles. I’m just doing my thing. God is going to do everything. God is going to do everything that needs to be done and whatever happens, happens. So I never really thought about it as a battle, I was just playing ball.”
