MIAMI GARDENS — Once in a while, I bow to the thoughts of Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel. Wednesday, the primary day media was allowed within the locker room, was a type of days.
I’m at all times fascinated by the Dolphins’ locker room seating association. It’s distinctive. McDaniel places thought into it.
“I’ve a good time with it simply because it’s nuanced,” McDaniel mentioned.
Most NFL locker rooms seat defensive linemen with defensive linemen, huge receivers with huge receivers, and so forth. Consequently, gamers by no means get to know their different teammates, particularly these on the opposite aspect of the ball. McDaniel does it in a different way. He mixes everybody in response to who he thinks can be fascinating mixtures. He encourages gamers who usually wouldn’t socialize with one another to bond.
In 2023, for instance, fullback Alec Ingold, who grew up in Inexperienced Bay, was seated subsequent to cornerback Xavien Howard and huge receiver Jaylen Waddle, a pair of Houston natives who gave him an schooling on music in addition to rising up of their metropolis.
McDaniel referenced a time a participant acquired right into a “aggressive argument” with somebody on the opposite aspect of the ball.
“In April,” McDaniel mentioned, “they’re locker mates.”
I requested Dolphins veteran exterior linebacker Bradley Chubb why he thinks his locker is subsequent to veteran proper guard James Daniels. Throughout from them are third-year working again De’Von Achane and rookie left guard Jonah Savaiinaea, and, down from them a couple of lockers, veteran proper guard Larry Borom.
“To be trustworthy, I’ve been questioning the identical factor, bro,” Chubb mentioned. “I actually don’t know. However you get to develop nearer with guys that you just don’t often discuss to.
“Me and James have been cool. I get to sit down throughout from Achane. Jonah’s coming alongside; I get an opportunity to mess with him and be cool with him. I’m nonetheless attempting to get Larry to be my buddy. However it’s been going clean.”
Borom, who was seated at his locker watching one thing on a pill display screen, regarded up and smiled.
All the locker room is the work of Mike McDaniel, the grasp mixologist.
Defensive sort out Zach Sieler, who was seated subsequent to veteran cornerback Jalen Ramsey final yr, is now seated subsequent to rookie cornerback Jason Marshall Jr.
Veteran exterior linebacker Jaelan Phillips is seated subsequent to rookie defensive sort out Jordan Phillips. The mixtures are intriguing.
This is likely one of the causes that I like McDaniel.
He sees the violent, ruthless, high-dollar, high-pressure, short-lived, bottom-line NFL as a set of fascinating human beings.
I’ve written about this yearly of the McDaniel period.
Outgoing huge receiver Tyreek Hill is seated between punter Jake Bailey and outdoors linebacker Quinton Bell.
“Tyreek’s not a man that I often work together with quite a bit,” Bell mentioned.
Affable offensive sort out Patrick Paul is seated subsequent to huge receiver Malik Washington.
“I’m simply chopping it up with anyone,” Paul mentioned. “Whoever I can mess with, I’m gonna go and mess with them a little bit bit.”
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is seated in probably the most extremely seen, extremely trafficked space of the locker room, a four-locker house positioned close to the bathe.
Security Jevon Holland, who could possibly be, properly, gruff, hated that spot final season.
Subsequent to Tagovailoa is linebacker Jordyn Brooks, huge receiver Jaylen Waddle and outdoors linebacker Chop Robinson.
“I don’t know why I’m seated proper right here,” mentioned Brooks, one of the intense gamers on the group.
Throughout from them is true sort out Austin Jackson, rookie defensive sort out Kenneth Grant and fullback Alec Ingold. Offensive sort out Kion Smith is a couple of seats down.
“However there’s a number of defensive guys over right here,” Smith mentioned trying down his row. “I feel me and AJ are the one offensive guys. And Ingold.”
Jackson shared Smith’s opinion.
“I’m at all times by a defensive sort out,” Jackson mentioned.
Jackson, reminiscent of everybody else, doesn’t know why he has his neighbors, particularly Grant, the first-round choose. However he has an concept.
“I feel I’m subsequent to KG simply to assist him out, something he wants,” Jackson mentioned. “I’ve been right here 5, happening six years, so attempt to be in his ear. In the event you want something, simply let me know. I acquired you. I’ve been round right here. And that’s in all probability why.”
The Dolphins usually have an fascinating locker room in each sights and personalities. In the event you take a fast look round this yr you’ll discover a pop-a-shot recreation, a basketball hoop, a card desk and different assorted methods to have enjoyable, compete with others and entertain your self.
The tip recreation for McDaniel with the locker room seating — the personalities, the socialization, the blending and mingling — is successful.
“All these issues, I feel, are geared in the direction of constructing a group that’s invested in one another,” he mentioned, “in order that the little issues are carried out appropriately or the tough issues are carried out appropriately when it issues most.”