Jevon Holland – November 1, 2023
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Wednesday, November 1, 2023
S Jevon Holland
(First, how are you feeling coming back from concussion protocol? You’re a guy that’s been durable, been on the field. Did it kind of itch at you to not be able to be on the field last Sunday?) – “Yeah, I feel good. It was irritating to not be on the field. There were a lot of plays out there, guys were flying around, and I was that missing the fun. I definitely was having a little FOMO on the sideline.”
(With this defense getting the reinforcements back week by week, where do you see this team going as far as the season progresses?) – “That’s a great question and I’d love to give you a detailed answer. But really, we’re a week-by-week, day-by-day team, and we’re real process oriented. It’s hard to look past today, because we really want to focus on the details. That is a good question, and I’m sure with the talent on our team on paper, you can say that we’ve got a hell of a team, which we do, but we’re not really focused on that. We’re focused on how to improve ourselves, day-in and day-out, focused on technique, fundamentals, things like that.”
(What do you think of the potential of the secondary as a whole now that you have CB Jalen Ramsey in the fold, CB Xavien Howard looks like he’s coming back, and now you’re back too?) – “We can do a lot more. ‘Rams’ (Jalen Ramsey) adds a huge veteran aspect to the defense for me, myself, for other younger guys that want to learn. ‘X’ (Xavien Howard) as well, having him back. Having two veterans back playing with us is huge. It really helps us out, and it just makes the game a lot more fun, definitely.”
(What stands out about the Chiefs offense?) – “They just make it happen. They really do. (Travis) Kelce, Pat Mahomes, Skyy Moore, Mecole (Hardman), (Marquez Valdez-) Scantling, they’ve got a whole bunch of weapons. (Isiah) Pacheco, like they’ve got weapons left and right. They just get the ball to their primary guys when they need to, and they make it happen. I mean, that’s basically the bottom line. Then of course, Pat Mahomes is special. He can scramble, extend plays, use his feet, use his mind, eyes downfield. It definitely adds a unique dynamic to their offense, and we’re not even talking about the pre-snap stuff that they do, like the ‘Ring Around The Rosie,’ things like that. It’s exciting game planning for them, because it’s something that you kind of don’t see a lot. It’s a unique challenge, so we’re definitely real focused on them.”
(What was the experience like on the off day? I know the defensive backs went out, but from your perspective, what was it like being out in Frankfurt?) – “It was cool. Yeah, it was cool, man, trying different foods and whatnot, seeing the people, how they interact. I tried to just like be a ghost amongst the people and just try to see how the culture is. I don’t really like much attention or anything like that. But it’s cool. It’s cool. I see a lot of the same vegetation as I do in California, like North in Portland and Seattle, I’m from Vancouver so like in Vancouver and stuff, but it’s cool. I’ve enjoyed it, I really have. I want to go to like an antique shop though and get an old watch. That’s kind of my souvenir that I’ve been doing.”
(Any food in particular that was hitting for you?) – “Yeah, I head to get a frank, man. (laughter) I had to get a – what’s it called? Bratwurst? So that was cool. That was good. I enjoyed that.”
(Glizzys?) – “Yeah, glizzys, for sure. I had to. But it was good, man. It was cool. I enjoyed it for sure.”
(What do you think about playing in Germany?) – “I think we should do more. I think it’s dope. I mean, the flight wasn’t that long. It was just a hop, skip and a jump over the water. I was enjoying it, honestly, the whole process being in a new country. It’s like a free vacation and we get to play. So I’m always down for that, especially if we leave on Monday.”
(We’ve been told that you players shouldn’t go through the city alone but always with a buddy. Is that true? And how do you handle going out to the city looking out for Frankfurt?) – “I mean, I just keep my head on a swivel, man. I’m not trying to get blindsided by nothing crazy. (laughter) We usually go out in groups anyway. So I just keep a homie with me. I’m not really going to be out and about by myself, that’s kind of just low street IQ. So yeah, I’m just not going to catch myself at the train station, I think they said, by myself. That was the dangerous part? I’m not sure.”
(What do you think about the atmosphere here in the stadium?) – “I think it’s cool. Like I said, I love being out here. It’s a foreign country, it’s new, it’s different. So little nuances that you kind of pick up on that’s different from back home, but I’m definitely enjoying myself for sure.”
Tua Tagovailoa – November 1, 2023
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Wednesday, November 1, 2023
QB Tua Tagovailoa
(I know you’ve faced the Chiefs defense but it’s QB Patrick Mahomes on the other side. What’s it like when you know he’s manning the opposing offense and that means you probably have to put up a lot of points?) – “Yeah, it’s never easy going against Pat. But I would say and Pat would say the same: It’s not me playing against Pat, Pat playing against me. It’s our offense having to go against their defense, their offense having to go against our defense. We prepare for their defense just like any other defense, just trying to see how many times we can score, get the ball into the endzone. At the end of the day what we’re trying to do is try to score one more point than the other team and try to get a win.”
(The last time you faced QB Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, you were a rookie. Is there a way to quantify how much you’ve grown in your four years in the NFL?) – “Yeah, I think there’s a lot of things that are different, one being the offensive system that I’m playing in now compared to the offensive system that I had then. Then the supporting cast that I have and really there’s just a lot of things that are different. We’ll see what goes down this Sunday.”
(Have you been able to catch up on sleep?) – “No.”
(How’s the experience been in Frankfurt so far for you?) – “It’s been pretty cool. We’ve been able to go check the city out, been able to go to maybe two places to get some drinks and then also try some food. But for the most part it’s been pretty cool. I got to go golf with a couple guys as well.”
(How would you describe the opportunity that comes with playing a team like the Chiefs that, like the Dolphins, is 6-2?) – “Any opportunity for us to play a team that has been to the Super Bowl within the last couple years or the last year and has won it, I think that’s always a great challenge. For our team to have this opportunity to go against a Pat Mahomes team, it’ll be fun and it’ll give us a chance to see where we’re at going to this bye week as a team.”
(Hosting NFL games is a big deal for the city of Frankfurt. Do you remember the moment when you first heard you were going to play in Frankfurt and did you know anything before about the city?) – “While I can’t really remember when I found out we were coming to play in Germany, it was definitely in training camp when I figured out what our schedule was going to be. Prior to that, I didn’t know much. I had a massage lady, I was asking her for a couple of words and so she gave me, ‘how are you doing.’ So I think I can say that pretty good, but I don’t think so.”
(You want to try?) – “Yeah. ‘Hallo, Wie geht es dir‘. I think that’s how you say it. (laughter) That was good? Does it sound good? Perfect, thanks.”
(I believe two years ago when you guys when to the UK, was that your first time in Europe?) – “Yeah, that was my first time in Europe.”
(Got it. So obviously, you’re back in the area. Head Coach Mike McDaniel spoke a lot about being a history a major and the appreciation he has for the sport of football taking him overseas and all the things it’s done for him. Can you kind of speak to that as well, just the opportunity to be on this international stage and the experiences that have come along with being a football player?) – “I would say for me, football has opened up a lot of avenues for me. Obviously in America, the status that it gives you and that it allows you to do things that others aren’t fortunate to do. The money that we make, it puts into perspective a lot of things that maybe normal, hardworking people don’t necessarily make. For us to be able to come out here and travel as a team, it gives you that opportunity as well, not just in the States of traveling, but coming outside the States, going to other countries and really expressing what Americans love with American football and trying to share that with the world and things like that. Football has done a really great job in helping not just me, but a lot of our guys have an experience like this.”
(I know a couple weeks ago the Baltimore Ravens were in the UK, QB Lamar Jackson said he was surprised that he was noticed by people out. By any chance did anybody notice you and maybe say ‘Tua’?) – “No, no, no. I’m going to say no to that every time. I think we’re able to go out and – yeah, no.”
(So you weren’t noticed? Or were you noticed?) – “No. We’re just going to leave it at that. (laughter)”
(WR Tyreek Hill obviously playing his former team. What has he been like over these past 15 months or so compared to what you were expecting? What you knew about him during his first six, seven years in the league?) – “I would say I didn’t know what to expect. I think as we all look at Tyreek’s film, we know one thing is for sure, is that he might be the fastest man alive as far as stepping foot on a football field and playing in pads. Outside of that, I think what really surprised me was who he was as a leader, his work ethic, and then how he takes ownership of what is asked of him. Whether it’s in the run game, in the pass game, or things like that. Then it’s almost like a trickle down effect for a lot of the guys in his room. They respect him as a player, as a person, to take advice from him and follow his lead.”
(What do you think about traveling to Frankfurt and playing in Frankfurt?) – “I think this is cool. It was a long flight. It was a really long flight and I think we just need one more day to get adjusted to the sleep schedule and after that I think it’ll be fun. Coming here and playing on Sunday, I think one of the things that I’m excited for is the fans. I don’t know how many people from Germany watch American football, or doesn’t, so that’s what I would say I’m excited about, for the fans. I’d like to know what they would be cheering for; if it’s a field goal they cheer for, things like that and if they have chants, we’d love to hear them.”
(How is it for you to play with super fast guys like WR Tyreek Hill, WR Jaylen Waddle, RB Raheem Mostert?) – “It feels good. I think any quarterback around the league would marvel at being in the position that I’m in now, having those guys in the backfield with me. They definitely help one another in getting each other open. If one guy gets doubled, the other guys are open. If two guys get doubled, then you still have three guys running routes that could possibly get the ball. So I mean, it’s fun. Those guys make this offense fun.”
(You already talked about adjusting to the time over here, but you have to adjust twice because the kickoff is very early, especially for the U.S. How do you do that?) – “I think that adds to the reason why we came so early to Germany. I don’t know too much on the science. It’s one of those things where we trust our head coach and conversations that he’s had with our PR department and people like that to be able to know that we’ve got to come here to get adjusted so that hopefully by the end of the week we’re adjusted and regardless of the time that we are playing it won’t change how we’re feeling. I think none of that should play a factor towards the end of the week.”
(Just to follow up on the question about Tyreek, what’s he been like this week has he prepares to face his former team?) – “I think Tyreek has been the same. I haven’t seen him try to do anything more or anything less. He’s just been the same Tyreek. Just wants to go out there and play football. He loves ball. He’s a competitor and he just wants to do good. He has competitive greatness.”
(One last Tyreek question for you. He’s obviously been very vocal in support of you from the very jump since he was traded to this team. I was curious if you could speak on what that has meant to you over the past year? You kind of remember the first time you met him and spoke to him and the nature it seemed like from the jump, he said ‘this is your team and I want you to assert that leadership role’?) – “Yeah, I’ve heard people say it and the guys have been joking about it the last week, but the ‘Cheetah effect,’ that’s what I would say. Just because ‘Reek’ (Tyreek Hill) exerts so much confidence in everything he does that it’s almost ideal for you to do the same for yourself. The Cheetah effect could mean many things with Tyreek. But I will say that’s all it is. Like I said, he’s been a great teammate. Not just to me, but to everyone on the team with his leadership the way he carries himself. I think he’s excited, and this team is excited to play the Chiefs on Sunday.”
(I’ve talked to some colleagues in the morning, and we learned how to pronounce “Tagovailoa” over the last years in the NFL, but we struggled with the long version of your first name. Can you tell us how you pronounce that?) – “Can I hear you say it?”
(I have no idea, it’s way too long to remember.) – “Does anyone know how to say it? We can get Mike White up here and say it. Mike White knows how to say it. ‘Tuanigamanuolepola’ and then Tagovailoa.”
Jaelan Phillips – November 1, 2023
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
LB Jaelan Phillips
(I see you already have some German in you. Did you do some preparation ahead of this trip? How much have you been able to interact with people around here.) – “Yeah, I actually came out to Germany. My aunt was stationed out here. She is in the military. So my sister and I flew out here when I was probably 12 years old or something like that for two weeks. We were up in Heidelberg and Cologne, just drove around the country. We looked for castles when we were driving through the countryside. That’s kind of what I remember. And I learned how to count to about 20. That’s basically the extent of my knowledge, and good morning, good afternoon.”
(But you know your way a little bit. Did you impart any of that knowledge off on your teammates? I saw you had the adaptor ready to go.) – “Yeah, I love traveling. I love adventuring. When we went out and about yesterday, I guess you could say I was the tour guide. I don’t know this city of Frankfurt too well myself, but I just like to roam around and see as much as I can.”
(Big week this week for you all. This game has a lot of implications. How are you able to stay focused and not let the outside noise trickle in?) – “That’s something that you have to practice is staying present. That’s something that Mike (McDaniel) preaches to us every day. That’s one of the first things he always puts up in his presentations, is a little picture of a present and he says your presence is a present. I think just treating this like any other game, obviously there’s extenuating circumstances – we’re out here in Germany. Like you said, it’s a big game, a 6-2 matchup, obviously big implications, but we just prepare for it like we do any other week. Take it day by day. We had a good practice out there today and we’re going to get in the film room, correct what we need to correct and just keep moving and going forward.”
(I thought it was interesting that the Dolphins are first in the NFL in quarterback hits, and also first in fewest quarterback hits allowed. So QB Tua Tagovailoa doesn’t get hit and you hit the other guy. What do you think is the correlation, what’s the team aspect that would allow that, or foster that, to happen?) – “I guess it would just be all the preparation we did during camp especially. Iron sharpening iron every day in camp. Our best against their best. I think you could see throughout camp there were times when we were dominant and there were times when the offensive line was dominant. I think that we just made each other better throughout that whole process. Really, it’s not just camp. It’s through OTA’s. It’s really been a whole year preparing for this. It’s just a testament to obviously the offensive line and Tua obviously for being able to get the ball out quick, have great pocket presence and move around. Defensively, we just try to be tenacious in our rush and get after it, and really team rush, and rush together, have a rush plan. I think it’s just all the work that we’ve put in so far.”
(Rushing Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, I’ve never done it, but it seems like something that could be frustrating with his ability to make plays off script. What kind of challenge does he present for you guys with his ability to just kind of make throws out of nowhere and escape tackles?) – “Yeah, obviously sometimes he looks like a magician with some of the things he does. But at the end of the day, you just have to be disciplined in your rush. I think that’s the biggest thing when it comes to edges at least, is keeping him contained, not letting him roll out of the pocket. On the inside, not getting too wide so he can step up through the middle. Then obviously when he does start to get off schedule and scramble around and look to throw, you just have to keep going after him. So like you said, it can definitely be very frustrating because you can rush, win, do everything perfectly and he gets the ball off. Or you could be running around, he’s running around for five, six seconds and he makes some crazy throw to Travis Kelce down the field. I think we have to expect that to happen and know that’s going to happen a few times during the game, but not let it discourage us. We just have to keep rushing no matter what happens.”
(You guys do play two games a year against another guy who does that in Bills QB Josh Allen. You played Eagles QB Jalen Hurts earlier this year. Does that experience help you guys come Sunday?) – “Yeah, I’d say so. It’s not just them either. Pretty much all quarterbacks in this league can move around a little bit, even if they don’t seem like the most athletic guys. They have presence and are able to make things happen off schedule. Really its something that we’re constantly working on during practice, during games. But going up against a guy like Josh Allen twice a year for three years now for me, it definitely puts you in that mindset where you know you have to be disciplined in your rush. So yeah, we’ll try to take those principles and apply them to this game.”
(I know it’s only been one day, but you obviously were a rookie when you guys made the trip to the UK two years ago. Does your body feel any different having an extra day? Obviously you’re spending the entire week, but do you feel a little more energetic compared to getting here Friday?) – “Yeah, we’ll have to see obviously how we all feel on Sunday before the game and after the game, but I think so far I definitely enjoyed being out here this whole week. One, just because like Jevon (Holland) said, it’s almost like a free vacation. I love traveling and I haven’t been to Frankfurt before, so I was super excited to come out regardless. I would’ve been disappointed if we came out on Friday morning and only had a day to go see the city and then we’re playing a game and leaving. And then preparation-wise, I think if you handle everything correctly, then you are more energized and adapt quicker. But that’s also on us to actually prepare accordingly. So it’s when you’re going to bed, types of things you’re doing, the way you’re fueling, different things like that, so it’s important to stay on top of it.”
(You said that your aunt was stationed over here in the military and you came over. The NFL’s relationship with the military goes back over 50 years. How important is that to you as an NFL player who has a family member who served in the military? How important is that connection between the NFL and the armed forces?) – “Oh, I think it’s super important. Obviously, giving credit to where credit is due, the people who risk their lives protecting our countries, I think it’s important to give them the respect they deserve. I think there’s actually about 35 active military personnel coming to the game that my aunt’s friends with. To be able to see them after the game and just acknowledge them, like I said, is going to be really important.”
(You said your aunt stayed here in Germany. Do you know any German words, or what is it about the language?) – “Eins, zwei, drei, vier, fünf, sechs, sieben, acht, neun, zehn, elf, zwölf, dreizehn, vierzehn, fünfzehn, sechzehn, siebzehn, achtzehn, neunzehn, zwanzig is 20 right? I mean, I don’t know a ton. My sister actually learned more German then me because she did a Full Bright Scholarship up in the Netherlands and so obviously she spoke Dutch up there, but she also learned German. She was super fascinated with the language and super fascinated with the country. She’s a little better than I am for sure.”
(When you were here as a child, what did you like most about Germany?) – “The castles. I think just the history to me is the coolest thing. In the United States, the oldest buildings we have are from maybe the late 1700’s, early 1800’s. But here in Europe in general, you have buildings from the 1500’s. The history is just something that’s really cool to me. I think the food is great. Yesterday we were wandering around the city and got some sausage, had some beer. Obviously there’s more to it then sausage and beer. I had some schnitzel too, that was really good. I just think the culture and everything is amazing. The people have been super friendly and welcoming. We actually had a tour guide yesterday, just a lady we met on the street, a German lady, and she just showed us around. Obviously you saw we were foreigners because we stick out like a sore thumb, but yeah it’s been an incredible experience so far.”
Jaylen Waddle – November 1, 2023
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Wednesday, November 1, 2023
WR Jaylen Waddle
(What has the early part of the Germany trip been like for you? Did you catch up on sleep or enjoy the city a little bit?) – “Hit the city a little bit, that was about it. Got some sleep – tried to get some sleep at least. Schedule is getting kind of normal coming into today.”
(You seem to shine your brightest on the international stage. Coming back from your experience back in the London game, what are some things that you took from that game leading up to preparation that you bring with you here to Germany as well?) – “Honestly, about nothing. It’s two different games, two different years against two different opponents, so really didn’t bring anything. These international games are a little different as far as schedule wise and the way we got to go about the game. I feel like it’s going to help that we played in it two years ago, but ultimately, it’s going to be about going out there and handling business.”
(What did you get WR River Cracraft for his birthday? Did you get him anything for his birthday today?) – “Huh?” (laughter)
(It’s WR River Cracraft’s birthday.) – “I know it’s ‘Riv’s’ (River Cracraft) birthday. Happy Birthday ‘Riv’. (laughter) He was with us a little bit in the town, got to spend some time together – nothing like time. (laughter)”
(I don’t know if Taylor Swift is coming. Are there any reports on Taylor? According to Twitter, Taylor Swift is coming. Your thoughts?) – “It’s going to be fun, I guess. I’m a Swiftie. (laughter)”
(When you’re QB Tua Tagovailoa, it probably feels like the whole world is watching you. On Sunday, literally the world will be watching. We’re in a different part of the world. How do you think he’s built for this moment?) – “I think he’s built for it. He’s played on big stages before, been playing on big stages his entire career. I feel like the highlights and spotlight’s always been on him going back to college and going into the NFL so I think he’s built for it.”
(How did the team prepare you for the Frankfurt experience? Did they tell you something in advance something Frankfurt-specific or things to know?) – “Yeah, they gave us a little history and background of Frankfurt, how historic it is, and they kind of gave us a rundown of where we’re going to be staying, where to go, how things are, what to do out here, the historic museums and stuff like that. They gave us a little rundown of that. That’s about it.”
(I wanted to ask about WR Tyreek Hill again. It seems like in the year-plus since he’s been here, you two specifically, really created a strong friendship, relationship. I was curious what WR Tyreek Hill has kind of meant to you as an older receiver in the room and just being his teammate over the last year?) – “Tyreek (Hill) really just made me really up my game. You think you’re a baller and a good player, then you meet someone like Tyreek who comes in. He’s legendary, historic – y’all see that throughout the week. He just brings the team along, got high energy, brings it each and every week, and that’s what we expect from him. He just makes everybody up their game.”
(I know everyone talks about how competitive he is, but is there like a story or kind of a memory that comes to mind of him just being crazy competitive?) – “It’s a lot. It’s really weekly. He goes out there, he’s got a dog mentality. I just go into the way he practiced in the offseason back to OTAs and you think a guy of that caliber wouldn’t go out there and give it all he’s got on a weekly (basis), he comes in weekly and just be a dog.”
(You have some uber fast guys in the offense obviously being very productive this year, is that the secret? Adding speed and dominating the NFL?) – “No, it’s not. I think every team has a lot of fast guys and throughout the league, it’s a lot of speed. I think we get a lot of praise for our speed, but we do a lot more than just run fast. The splash and highlights are always going to be someone running 22 or 23 miles per hour, but we do a lot more than just run fast.”
(What do you do more? What’s the secret of the offense this year?) – “Well, I can tell you one thing. If you’re going to be in this offense, you’re going to block. Mike (McDaniel) praised that and how you get a lot of your passes by going in and digging out safeties, occasionally linebackers sometimes (defensive) ends, we’re an extension of the run game.”
(One more question about Head Coach Mike McDaniel. He has a special history as a coach, also in his personal life. He talked very openly about his former alcohol addiction. Does he talk to you guys about that specific topic?) – “Yeah, he kind of, when he first came in, gave us the history of how he came up in the coaching ranks and what he had to overcome when he first came in. But going into it, it’s not something that we really ask about or comes out and just openly say, but he definitely gave us a history of everything he’s been through.”
Mike McDaniel – November 1, 2023
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Wednesday, November 1, 2023
Head Coach Mike McDaniel
(Can you please update us on the three offensive linemen, T Terron Armstead, OL Connor Williams, and OL Robert Hunt, and also S Jevon Holland?) – “So who do we start with?”
(Left tackle, center, right guard.) – “Okay, left tackle. You feel the breeze? The window’s open. (laughter) He’ll be out there, it’ll be fun. We’ll see how he responds to that effort and we’ll assess that the next day and do the same the following day. You said center? Yeah, he’s excited. We have a good trusting relationship so holding him back I think in the moment wasn’t necessarily his cup of tea. But in hindsight he appreciates it. Dapped me up with a smile and is excited to go to work this week. Then Rob Hunt will be day-to-day. He’s a little fresher. But again, he’ll be working towards trying to be able to just getting to practice. I don’t foresee him getting really anything today, but we’ll just try the day after, whatever day that is and then the day after that.”
(Is S Jevon Holland out of concussion protocol?) – “Yes, he is. He is out of concussion protocol.”
(Can you detail your experiences coming over to Germany?) – “Yeah, I slept and then I woke up and then I watched film and that’s been my experience. I made it down to the first floor of the hotel twice, both for meetings. But I know really from all the feedback I’ve gotten, that it’s been a fantastic experience for a lot of our locker room. Those to credit for that experience is our Miami Dolphins support staff. They are carrying the majority of the weight. You talk about moving servers, equipment, and just jumping in a five-hour time difference and just going to work. It’s times like those that you can see why you feel so great about your organization because there’s some tired support staff people that have no regrets but are drinking a lot of caffeine.”
(The trade deadline came and went yesterday. Two things, were you guys involved in any discussions and then what was it like trying to navigate that while, like you said, five hours ahead in a different country?) – “Well, fortunately, my office is directly adjacent to Chris Grier’s here, too. No knocks. We actually have several – the best trades that exist in the works. You’re talking about getting players with no assets given from injury. So we’re in a great spot. I think Chris is always and will always enter into whatever conversations that are sought out to him. That’s a part of his job. He doesn’t labor my mind with NFL gossip like ‘hey, I talked to this guy and this guy said this.’ He brings it to my attention when we need to discuss it to a serious platform and he didn’t discuss anything. That speaks to where we’re at with our football team. We’ve been playing some good football and then we have some players that are very good players that are returning. That means there’s a lot of people executing on all three phases at every position. Feel pretty good about that.”
(One last injury question, S Brandon Jones, if he’s in the concussion protocol right now?) – “Yes, he’s back at home going through the process, which doesn’t mean he won’t be here. But from a health perspective, the best way to treat him was to leave him in Miami so he can work through that and if you guys know Brandon, he’s working diligently.”
(How does it feel to be a part of this historic game in Frankfurt, and what significance does this hold to you personally?) – “It’s pretty surreal in that the game of football has really shaped my life. Really when you look at, everything that is good in my life has come through the game of football. It’s really changed at every juncture. I even met my wife in a place coaching football and to be a part of the National Football League, being able to play in front of fans that are newer to the game that are really, really big fans of the NFL, but don’t get to see any live; I know exactly what that is like as a fan. So it’s a privilege. The game of football is so unique in that there’s parallels as long as you can think about to life. And that’s the one great thing about our game and very, very fortunate to have a different platform and an expanded platform. I’ve never been across the Atlantic. The furthest I’ve been is Pacific, Tahiti once and I’ve been in the Caribbean. And I’m a history major. I’ll be excited if I’m ever able – if Chris Grier ever lets me out of my dungeon. (laughter) But yeah, it’s a privilege and I know our guys are elated with the opportunity as well. It feels like something that you’re definitely not entitled to, that you’re honored, and that you’re going to do right by it by putting forth your best effort of work and diligence throughout the week so that whatever it is, it is our best version of ourselves on Sunday.”
(What would your message to QB Tua Tagovailoa be relative to the magnitude of the international stage, Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes being on the other sideline, sort of the world watching?) – “It’s only going to get bigger if you’re doing your job the way that you want to. So you have to get used to – it’s not noise because noise has a negative connotation, but there’s things. There’s attention. There’s storylines. There’s questions. The fact of the matter is that people that are successful at a high level in professional sports, that doesn’t seem to bother them. It’s a rep that doesn’t mean every single person will be their very best at it today or tomorrow or whatever, but it’s something that you shouldn’t shy away from. You should embrace because the only people – if you don’t experience that as a starting quarterback in the National Football League, it truly stands for ‘Not For Long’. We’re all that way. It’s a very competitive business. There’s a lot of people that are qualified and would love the opportunity that we have, so you don’t take that lightly. You really embrace that. You don’t make more of it then it is. I can tell it’s one of the major growths that Tua’s had this year where you’re hard pressed to mess up his process. He has a routine with which he digests and owns the gameplan, and then has a certain standard in which he brings energy to the practice field that his teammates can count on. What does that do? As a quarterback, that makes everyone better because when someone’s standard is high, you’re not going to let them down or you’re not going to drag your feet through the day. These are things that I think he’s prepared for. It’s something that you really shouldn’t make a big deal of if you’re trying to be a starting quarterback in the National Football League, which he is. It’s kind of part of the game.”
(This is WR Tyreek Hill’s first game against the Chiefs since he was traded. He obviously has done a lot in his year and a half in Miami. From your perspective, what has he brought to this team?) – “It’s always good when you have one of the best football players in the entire National Football League on your team. That’s what he does. Remarkable stuff last year, but he’s taking everything to another level this year with regard to the details and the fundamentals to his position to the daily approach to being a captain and to leading. I think that’s manifesting itself on the field. I think he’s a Miami Dolphin. He is on the journey. Wears the logo, takes pride in the organization, and sees it, just like all of us, as part of our jobs to do right by the organization and take care of some business that hasn’t been taken care of for a while. It’s an exciting time. Nothing’s better than going out to a practice field when Tyreek’s out there. Not because – what people miss is yeah, he’s fast – I want to see somebody move faster in practice during the week then him. With Tua and Tyreek as one example of multiple, I promise you that on any game day, whatever they do is not the first time we’ve seen it. That’s what that does. You push all the other competitors on the team to better prepare so that on Sunday, they can be themselves. Really do right by all their hard work and talent and just go out and play football, which is what they’ve had an ordinate ability to do. Be their best selves, he’s a classic example. And he’s got a new haircut.”
(How close does CB Xavien Howard appear to be returning and what are you getting once he is playing opposite CB Jalen Ramsey?) – “Well, you could say he would be a factor, an X-factor. (laughter). Yeah, you see I still got it, even across the seas. We’ll see how he does today. It was hard enough to hold him out. That was another different disposition, but very similar message as Connor Williams. Very much so had to look at the big picture and what a setback or nagging issue would do to this team and what we’re trying to do. I wouldn’t say he enjoyed watching the last game, but he enjoyed doing what was right for the team. And I know he enjoys playing much more than watching.”
Xavien Howard – November 1, 2023
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Wednesday, November 1, 2023
CB Xavien Howard
(What’s the process been like of missing the last couple games with the groin injury and where do you feel you are right now?) – “I feel great right now, ready to play this weekend. Dealt with a little issue with the groin but the team took care of me so I’m ready to play now.”
(What’s the experience been like traveling over here and having a day in Germany before practicing today?) – “It’s been great to spend time with the team, but trying to get on a sleeping schedule right now.”
(The last time you all faced the Kansas City Chiefs, WR Tyreek Hill was an opponent, but now he’s a teammate and you’re practicing with him. Can you touch on just the preparation going into this game with him as a teammate?) – “I’m just happy he’s on my team now. He was on the other side last time, so I’m just happy he’s on my team. We’re ready to get to it.”
(I just wanted to ask more about WR Tyreek Hill. Was there anything that you didn’t know about him that you maybe got to know about him in the past year plus since he’s joined this team that stood out to you?) – “I’ve been playing against Tyreek (Hill) a long time, since college. So we ended up touching bases and ended up in the same draft and everything, and now he’s a teammate. Get to know him, his kids, his family, his mom. I went to the camp in Houston he had, so he’s a great guy.”
(Is there anything in particular you did on the off day? Did you get to sightsee, explore, see anything in Germany?) – “Yeah, I did a little bit. I was trying to get my sleeping schedule right. We tried to do a little bit of shopping, some of the DBs, but the mall closed at 7:00. So I got up, made it over there by 6:30. Did my little 30 minutes shopping.”
(Yeah, I found out a lot of stuff closes early in Frankfurt.) – “Right.”
(My phone doesn’t work either. Does your phone work in Europe?) – “Yeah, you’ve got to pay when you get back. (laughter)”
(Have you and CB Jalen Ramsey spoken about what it will be like when you’re able to play together?) – “Man, we always speak about it, man. Since he got here, before he was here and he wanted to come here, we reached out, we were talking and stuff like that. Now he’s here, now we’re able to play together this week. So I’m excited about everything. Also, Nik (Needham) coming back. With Nik back, we’re all ready to play together and get this defense rolling.”
(Head Coach Mike McDaniel, what kind of a person, what kind of a coach is he?) – “Man, he’s a funny guy, man. He always makes the meetings – he always makes everything fun. He’s a real player’s coach. He vibes with the guys and everything, man. He’s a great coach.”
(Did you have some experiences in Frankfurt already and do you know some German words?) – “Not yet. Not yet. I haven’t learned it yet. I haven’t been outside that much. Like I said, yesterday, I did a little 30 minutes of shopping and also had some cinnamon rolls with the guys, so that was about it. We had to come in before bed check.”
(How much of an advantage do you think it is or do you think it’s an advantage to come here early instead of Thursday like the Chiefs?) – “Like I’ve been saying all day, the schedule, getting the sleeping pattern down and everything because I think we’re five hours ahead right now. Just got to get well rested and get used to the Germany time.”
Mike McDaniel – October 30, 2023
Monday, October 30, 2023
Head Coach Mike McDaniel
(It’s cool weather so a good time in Germany to have the windows open. So will T Terron Armstead travel and have his window open to practice? And also OL Robert Hunt, if you guys have ruled out anything serious with his hamstring?) – “Wow. (laughter) Well, I can say this, we’ll probably be evaluating Terron Armstead’s performance in another country other than the United States this week. So that’s pending yes, and all signs point to evaluating that, which will require some moving and shaking as we are used to. Robert Hunt is kind of a day-to-day evaluation. We’ll see how it progresses but evaluating the severity of it, kind of letting it cool down for a second to see too.”
(So T Terron Armstead will travel?) – “Oh, he’s traveling.”
(And then if T Terron Armstead looks good, the window you think would open this week or is it not 100 percent sure that he’ll practice?) – “You just never know what the latches are in another state let alone – I’ve never been to Europe. I don’t know what the windows (are), so you don’t want to get ahead of yourself. But I would think I would figure out how to open a window. Yeah? We’re good? We’re good there? (laughter)”
(With you not ever traveling to Europe, how excited are you about this trip and obviously taking on the Kansas City Chiefs?) – “I’m excited for a lot of things currently in life. All of the above. I think the opportunity to play NFL football is a privilege. I talk about it a lot, you prepare to play against the best and there’s not a better opponent to play than the Kansas City Chiefs. They are the current Super Bowl winners in terms of the last ones to win it. That will be a really cool opportunity for our team. They know how to win and do it at a high level. Then I’m excited for the team to go to Germany. Outside of maybe an hour that I may be able to get on Friday, I’ll be hanging out in the hotel. But the team has the opportunity to experience a different country and culture together. I think that’s a really cool opportunity. Teams win and lose so anytime you have an opportunity to do a bonding experience like that – I know many people are like myself that have never been there – so that’s just exciting in itself. You feel it’s an opportunity, a privilege, to take this game that we devote our lives to and perform in front of an audience on the other side of the world. I told the team today that if you make a play in a game, there’s some kid that speaks German that is wearing your jersey for the rest of his adolescence. You have lifelong fans, that is kind of what happens in those type of environments. Their first exposure is you making this play, and that’s a really, really cool opportunity. A lot of fun stuff for our team and it’s maturation journey for the season for sure.”
(I wanted to get an update on three players who had injuries of varying degrees yesterday, T Kendall Lamm, LB David Long Jr., DT Zach Sieler? I saw Long and Sieler went into the tent briefly.) – “All three I would expect to be getting treated and be some sort of participation during the week. We’ll evaluate closer on Wednesday for Wednesday but they’re all in the day-to-day process and expecting good things. I feel like the plane we have chartered, has healing elements to it.”
(Any must-have essentials that you pack for this trip besides your work stuff?) – “People kind of cut me out of the equation of essential things to bring. It’s an unintended consequence of being present all the time that you’re just like locked in and I forget stuff all the time. All the important stuff will be delegated to people that are more pack-responsible. So I’m just going to take myself, have a notebook and a backpack and then there’s going to be all the video and computer stuff that we need to gameplan which is why we’re going to Germany, is to play game.”
(Speaking of adolescents wearing jerseys, one of the hot costumes of Halloween is you. I’ve seen it posted on social media of kids dressing up as Mike McDaniel.) – “That does not compute. That doesn’t make any sense. (laughter)”
(One kid did your run on Sunday Night Football.) – “Was I faster than the kid? (laughter)
(I’m just curious, what, as you see it, goes into dressing up like Mike McDaniel?) – “I have no idea. I refuse to accept that as reality. I don’t even know what that means. I guess that there’s a compliment in there to the Miami Dolphins organization and locker room because there’s got to be some really, really, really good players for someone to dress up like me.”
(But I guess the knapsack would be essential? Or the glasses?) – “I don’t know.”
(He had the watch too, the hoodie, he had everything. The capris.) – “Probably the essential would be the broad chest, right? (laughter)”
(You’re speechless for the first time ever) – “Yeah. (laughter) No words.”
(You guys completed 15 passes yesterday to guys not named WR Tyreek Hill or WR Jaylen Waddle. How does that open up the offense so you can get all those guys involved?) – “So much of what’s lost in execution of offense or defense really, in general, is that even when Tyreek and Waddle are doing damage in the pass game, it’s such a concerted effort by the entire group. The route distribution has to be exact. The protection has to be on. The quarterback has to be right with his progression. But I think in terms of the way defenses play, you can definitely influence them by distributing the ball and making them pay for over attention. That’s something that to beat a defense that’s adept at minimizing the top player or most productive player of teams, you go into the game knowing that it’s going to take the commitment and execution from everyone and all skill (players) have to make plays across the board, because there’s going to be times where it just doesn’t make any sense to throw to a certain eligible. We knew we were kind of going to have to do that to win the game. And I think the whole team was confident that we could execute that.”
(A check on S Jevon Holland and if he’s out of the concussion protocol. And also we saw TE Durham Smythe is in a boot. Is that something that is in the FB Alec Ingold category or something we should be concerned about?) – “Jevon is doing well. He’s still in the protocol but is doing well. It’s been progressing as we’d want. Durham is like half Alec Ingold, half Durham just doing Durham. Just wearing boots, that’s kind of his swag. Medical boots. (laughter) He’s a guy that’s as tough as they come. It’s hard during a game to assess the severity of anything because he’s so tough and is willing to play through whatever that he probably says less, and you kind of just have to – between Kyle (Johnston) and (Assistant Head Coach/Tight Ends) Jon Embree, they kind of manage when he tells them he shouldn’t be managed, which is the way you want people to be. But he’ll battle through that and yeah, I definitely wouldn’t bet against Durham Smythe playing in any game.”
(I wanted to ask about your conversations with the players. You obviously want them to enjoy Germany when they can. Kind of a fraught time internationally right now. What kind of talks have you had with them about being safe, being smart and all that?) – “I mean that’s prerequisite. Part of being an NFL player and part of being a teammate is understanding that you carry all the obligations that are required of people. You carry the logo and how you act and what you do affects everyone. And then I haven’t really gone into dark and desolate scenarios. I’ve more been emphasizing the opportunity for us to do things as groups and experience and be together and not be off as individuals, but to take advantage of the time as a collective. Strength in numbers.”
(WR Tyreek Hill seems to be super excited about playing his former team. I’m sure that’s common when you’re playing the other team that you played for. Do you worry about the emotional end of those battles?) – “No, I think for this particular team, that’s something that so many of his teammates take – since they’re so invested in Tyreek and we have the locker room structure that we have – I think his teammates are going to take it more personal for him then ultimately he will take it. One of the reasons he is able to have the production that he has, which is at a historic rate through eight games, is because of how fiercely competitive he approaches each week and understands how important each game is, so he comes to play every game. I know he’s going to come to play to this game. I think it will be a bigger deal for his teammates in support of him. In actuality, I mean he’s as Miami as it comes now. He’s on a new chapter and worried about being a captain for this team.”
(Yesterday the snap count was about the same for RB Jeff Wilson Jr. and RB Salvon Ahmed. That’s a little different obviously from how it was last year. It’s a new year. Is that a by-product of Salvon doing things that impress you guys and want to carve out a role for him? Is it partially because Jeff is coming off missing six games this year?) – “Absolutely. I would attribute that to ‘SA’ (Salvon Ahmed) and his development. It’s more about deserving opportunities and doing whatever you can control with those opportunities. What ‘SA’ has carved out since last year is he necessitates the opportunity to make plays. He’s proven and did it all preseason, and has proven in games this year that he’s a playmaker. We’re fortunate to have multiple and we try to disperse it and give guys an opportunity to be their best selves, and when they get hot, we keep feeding the hot hand.”
(Shot in the dark here, did you look at Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes before he was drafted as well?) – “I refused to look at him. No eye contact. Don’t look at me. (laughter) Yeah, no that was in 2017 when he came out. It was pretty cool because he had the arm talent that’s out of this world that you see. You kind of knew he had a chance to be the exception to the rule which, is he wasn’t playing in any sort of rhythm or timing offense, it didn’t feel like, or it just felt very different then the NFL game. But he could make every throw. You could tell that there was a special human being. So yeah, it’s been cool to watch him develop into what might be the best player in the NFL. And that wasn’t promised to him. Henceforth, he was picked at least 10th I think, not first. He’s earned every bit of it and he’s an unbelievable player.”
(From an outsider’s point of view, it appears you guys have taken a more measured approach to bringing guys back from injuries this year with a bigger eye towards December and January. Is that accurate?) – “I think I can only speak on since I’ve been here. I’ve been here for I think between the time I’ve been here and the time the training staff has been here before, you learn more about people. So, the more knowledge you have, the more you invest into them, the more you can kind of properly assess, ‘Hey, well, this didn’t work out in this way for this individual for this reason. Okay let’s adjust it either way.’ So there’s been times that we’ve been a little on the aggressive end and there’s been a lot of times that we’ve been on the conservative end. All just adjusting to the facts as the facts change and as we get more of them.”
David Long Jr. – October 29, 2023 (Postgame)
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Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023
Postgame – New England Patriots
Miami Dolphins LB David Long Jr.
(How nice was it to get this dub before going across the pond?) – “It was good. We’re about to go out to Germany and have another hard opponent. It was just good to be in these games. The division games are always close. It’s always going to be hard-fought. So it was good to have that before we left town.”
(Are you packed up already? Ready to go?) – “I’m ready to go. I’ve been packed. I can’t wait.”
(To be missing guys like CB Xavien Howard and S Jevon Holland and still have a solid defensive performance like that, what do you think that should tell you about this unit?) – “It means we’ve got the same type of dogs right there in the back ready to make a play. Going through the week you don’t know if you’re going to play or not and then having that next-man-up mentality is what makes the team better. There’s no drop off. I think you saw that today. ‘B. Jones’ (Brandon Jones) almost had his first pick of the season, but you see guys stacking days.”
