The Miami Dolphins’ Ping-Pong desk within the coronary heart of the staff’s locker room has gone from supplier of a enjoyable, leisurely exercise for gamers to distraction that wanted to be weeded out and now the reason for inconsistent messaging throughout the staff.
When coach Mike McDaniel first provided the information that the desk had been faraway from the Dolphins’ locker room at their apply services, he made it sound prefer it was a call introduced forth by the captains, with receiver Tyreek Hill on the forefront, to assist enhance Miami’s give attention to sport preparation.
When Hill was requested about it on Thursday, he mentioned it was no such factor — that it was all about bringing in a brand new, custom-designed desk to interchange the essential one which had suffered overuse and was, in accordance with Hill, bent.
Revisiting the subject on Friday, McDaniel had his remaining say. He doesn’t thoughts what the last word narrative is behind the desk’s removing or potential improve to come back, and he’s pleased with what the gamers need.
“It’s the players’ locker room,” McDaniel mentioned. “If they giveth, they’ll taketh away – they usually can re-giveth.
“That is their area. I simply need them to be right here at work so long as attainable. If the story modifications 14 occasions, I might care much less. I’m simply doing my finest to report the information, however on the finish of the day, it’s their area. I’m completely happy if that’s the fact, which, if it modifications, I might care simply as a lot much less. If it does change, good for them for upgrading their requirements of Ping-Pong play. Because no one desires to be common, and when you could have a mean, inexperienced desk, what’s that about?
“I like the fact that they have all that stuff going on. It’s hard to keep up, and in two days, who knows? Maybe, for Tyreek, it was punishment, and then he thought his teammates deserved it and he gave it back to them. Or, this whole time, he was just playing a ploy on all of us. All of which, it’s really not that meaningful to me, but I’m glad that they’re getting all worked out down there because it is the captains’ locker room, and he is one of the captains. So, what he says, goes, to a degree.”
McDaniel has gotten to take pleasure in Hill’s persona because the two got here collectively in Miami this offseason — Hill from Kansas City and McDaniel from San Francisco.
“It’s tremendous. I appreciate humor,” McDaniel mentioned. “I appreciate people coming to work every day with energy. The bottom line with Tyreek is, when he’s in here, he’s in his parking spot, he comes inside, everybody on the team, whether it’s a player, coach, football staff member, knows that he’s going to get himself ready to go, perform on the field. He’s really held in high regard.”
Not so quick on Austin Jackson
After offensive coordinator Frank Smith mentioned he was “extremely” optimistic on a return for proper deal with Austin Jackson off injured reserve for his ankle harm, McDaniel cautioned to pump the brakes on Friday.
“What you guys are learning about Frank Smith is he’s overly optimistic to a fault,” McDaniel quipped. “I think that was a hair aggressive by one of my favorite people on staff. … We’re taking it day by day with [Jackson].”
Sure sufficient, forward of Sunday’s matchup with the Minnesota Vikings, Jackson was not seen on the apply subject Friday after collaborating in Wednesday and Thursday drills.
Jackson landed on IR following the Dolphins’ Sept. 11 win over the New England Patriots within the opener. The placement on IR put him out a minimal of 4 weeks. He is now eligible to return. His return to apply earlier within the week began his 21-day clock to be activated off IR.
“A.J. has done a great job in his rehabilitation, his preparation, being active and involved,” Smith mentioned Thursday. He is such a hungry learner. I imply, simply coming into the NFL so younger. I imply, he’s simply been actually enjoyable to work with. I do know we’ve all loved his development.”
Other harm updates
Aside from Jackson, Dolphins beginning left deal with Terron Armstead was not seen at Friday’s apply, marking one other full week the place he misses drills.
Armstead has been in a position to play by means of the dearth of apply the previous 4 video games, however in final Sunday’s loss on the New York Jets, he exited after eight performs because of his lingering toe harm.
Armstead stayed within the New York/New Jersey space in a single day Sunday and into Monday to see a foot specialist earlier than returning to South Florida.
Dolphins defensive again Elijah Campbell (foot), the one different participant on Miami’s lively roster to overlook Thursday drills, returned to apply on Friday.
Quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Teddy Bridgewater, whereas remaining in concussion protocol Friday, have been each seen throwing with the staff and in a position to broaden their apply workload, in accordance with McDaniel.
Injury designations forward of Sunday’s sport can be made later Friday afternoon.
This story can be up to date.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com