MIAMI GARDENS – After the Dolphins beat the Commanders in preseason action on Saturday, The Palm Beach Post asked quarterback Tua Tagovailoa about owner Stephen Ross’ bold comments during the game.
Question: “During the game, the CBS broadcast, they interviewed the team owner, Stephen Ross, and he said, ‘If we stay healthy, we’re certainly a contender for the Super Bowl.’ I don’t know if you knew that he said that, but what are your thoughts on those remarks?”
Tua: “What are your thoughts? You think so?”
Reporter: “Contender? Yeah, I think there’s about 10 teams that have a chance.”
Tua: “What do you think? You just said contender. I think there’s 10 teams. Are the Dolphins one of the 10 teams?”
Reporter: “I think so.”
Tua: ” You think so? Yeah, I would say that’s the reason we play this game. If none of us have the belief that we can do it, it won’t happen for us on our team. So, of course, we have that belief.”
Stephen Ross views Miami Dolphins as Super Bowl contenders
We know a few things.
We know the Dolphins have 8 of the NFL’s Top 100 players, according to a players’ poll, and all those players are in the Top 70.
We also know it’s been 24 years since Miami even won a single playoff game.
And, so, coach Mike McDaniel, we ask you a similar question about Ross’ televised remarks.
Ross mentions Super Bowl. Do you like it?
“Absolutely,” McDaniel said after Miami’s second preseason game. “I think that means he’s, I think from a team perspective, a lot of times people hesitate to talk about goals in case you don’t achieve them. I don’t really operate that way. There’s a lot of steps before that, so I don’t think necessarily it’s on our guys’ minds right now because our goals are creating our standard and then winning the next game and then you try to do the division and then you try to win the conference and you try to win the Super Bowl.”
But McDaniel appreciates the mindset.
Aug 17, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel looks at a screen on the sideline against the Washington Commanders during the second quarter of a preseason game at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Mike McDaniel likes owner Stephen Ross thinking ‘bold’ Super Bowl
“But I like the building and including the owner having the mindset of let’s be bold, don’t be afraid of anything, we’re going to compete,” McDaniel said. “And I think that brings out the best in people. And I’m excited that he, I think that means he believes in the program, right? Yeah.
“But we’ve got a preseason game that follows three practices and then we got to get ready for the Jacksonville Jaguars after that. So that’s where we’ll be concerned, but we’re building to be our best selves and that will take tomorrow and the next day to do.”
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at [email protected] and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe’s free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.