A hypothetical series of fictitious conversations between Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and Miami Dolphins GM Chris Grier and Miami Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel in the 2024 offseason before, during and after NFL Free Agency and the 2024 NFL Draft
We’ve all used that expression, “I wish I were a fly on the wall for that conversation”. So here’s a take on if I were actually that fly, on the wall, in Miami Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross’ office, getting the pitch from his top Dolphins men Chris Grier and Mike McDaniel.
03/03/2024
Stephen Ross : Good morning gentlemen. Have a seat, let’s talk about how you’re going to improve our team
Chris Grier : Good morning sir, Mike (McDaniel) and I have a solid plan going forward, and we’d like to share that with you right now
Mike McDaniel : Yes sir, Chris and I have been talking about this since the end of last season and we’re excited that we can take that next step towards winning it all
Stephen Ross : OK, that’s precisely what I want to hear, my birthday is about a month away, I’m going to be 84, so I’m really counting on you two to bring this city of Miami a Lombardi Trophy. Tell me more about your plan to make that happen.
Chris Grier : Well Steve, as you know, we hired Anthony Weaver from the Baltimore Ravens to be our Defensive Coordinator. The Baltimore Ravens have always been a first class organization, so anyone from them I consider to be an excellent addition to our organization. Both Mike and I have a plan, but as you know, Mike is more focused on the offensive side of the ball, and we’re going to make some changes defensively. Last season we were ravaged with injuries, and the defense more than any other unit was hit hard. I feel like it’s in our best interest not to overpay anyone on the defensive side of the ball with the exception of DB Jalen Ramsey who has been outstanding and is still at the top of his game.
Stephen Ross : Are you saying you don’t have plans to try and keep Christian Wilkins?
Chris Grier : Yes, sir, Anthony Weaver and I feel like we’re going to employ much more of a rotation on the defensive line, which will keep the players fresher, it will be akin to bringing waves of pressure against the offense. Christian Wilkins played far too many snaps last season, we’re looking in a different direction now. I think paying our QB, Tua Tagovailoa is the most pressing need, he makes this offense go, and when you have talent at the QB position, you don’t take that for granted, you pay to keep them. Therefore, we’re going to let some high salaried players go in Free Agency this year, DT Christian Wilkins and OG Robert Hunt. I know you’re familiar with the New England Patriots organization, this is something they excelled at, letting high priced players go in Free Agency and recovering the loss by acquiring compensatory picks. If I’m correct, these two players may net us a couple of third round picks.
Stephen Ross : Hmm, not sure I like letting one of our best players go, he (Wilkins) was a 1st RD pick, I still remember the bump he gave Roger when he came out on the stage
Mike McDaniel : Sir, if I may, this offense as you saw last season was one of the top offensive units in the league, and I feel like this year we’re going to make it even better. We’re going to score at least 30 points per game and the defense will just have to be decent at best. No team can stop us with WR Tyreek Hill, WR Jaylen Waddle, and did you see our rookie running back D’Von Achane? I have some huge plans for him. This offense will be unstoppable! You won’t even be thinking about the defense, although Chris and Anthony are excited to get LB’s Jaelan Phillips back, he’s really progressing nicely in his rehab and also Bradley Chubb.
Stephen Ross : What about that lanky kid with the long blonde hair, Van Winkle? He seemed to always be making exciting plays
Chris Grier : We’re looking elsewhere sir. We have some young players like LB Cam Goode who should be able to come back from his injury and LB Quinton Bell who also has some promise. Andrew Van Ginkel is a part time player who’s going to get paid like a full time one, and if we want to keep our QB, we have to watch our budget.
Stephen Ross : Do you believe that he (Tua Tagovailoa) can stay healthy? I really worry about that young man. I know he made it through last season but I find myself holding my breath every time he gets hit.
Mike McDaniel : We’re going a different direction this year sir. We have him (Tua) slimming down to regain his maneuverability and speed, and you saw that he had no issues last season so there’s nothing to worry about. Besides, Chris and I feel like QB’s Mike White and especially our young QB Skylar Thompson will be able to handle the job if Tua should get injured, but again, he went unscathed last season, we feel he’s healthy and beyond those issues.
Stephen Ross : Do you gentlemen have a replacement for Robert Hunt, I know you mentioned we’re letting him go?
Chris Grier : We like what we have, we just can’t have that type of bad luck with injuries again. Terron Armstead is going to give top level play and we feel Isaiah Wynn and Liam Eichenberg, who’s so versatile can move to OG and we plan on getting a center here, someone with move skills beyond what we had. Austin Jackson really came on, so we just need one more piece, and when we get to the draft, we need to find an heir to Terron Armstead. Seems like this will be his final season in the NFL. With the offseason weight program Tua is on, it will help his escapability, he’ll be able to avoid pressure better and keep himself healthy. He was just too heavy last season, sloth-like. RB De’Von Achane is going to be an explosive outlet for Tua this season, and Mike and I are also looking to find a TE that can help us get some yards after the catch if teams should focus their efforts on stopping our receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Stephen Ross : Alright then gentlemen, best of luck in the upcoming draft, I’m excited and feel like you guys are getting closer to getting what we need here, a winning franchise that can win a Super Bowl and more.
Chris Grier : Thank you sir, we feel the same way, winning is going to be a regular thing here, and not just during the season, we’re going to win in the playoffs and make it all the way
Mike McDaniel : Appreciate your confidence sir, we’re going to have a great season
Finsmob Unleashed 
Thanks Mike E. You need a lot of uhhs and ummms in MM answers! 😂
LOL! No question about it. Edited to make it more readable. 😉
BOOOO!!! FIRE THEM ALL!!! Asshats!
Lol Mike E!
Good stuff!
LOL
BBM stressing, college playoffs kick off tonight.
IU at ND, 7pm on ABS/ESPN
That was fucking amazing, Mike E ! Lmfao…
THANK YOU!
Thats a nice screen play Mike E. Too bad some bumps in the road came up after that. I’m just glad we have a full slate of picks in the draft plus a couple kickers.
it would just be like Grier to draft a couple of kickers. After giving a big contract extension to our current one Should not be on the team. (I know that’s not the kind of kicker you’re talking about)
by the way, we do not have all of our draft picks.
I thought we had two thirds and two fifths. What are we missing?
The 3rd RD picks are both compensatory picks so basically 4th RD picks. We traded our 3rd RD pick to draft Jaylen Wright so we can sit him on the bench most of the time. Great planning by these 2 knuckleheads as per usghe!
We still have a nice slate of pivks in the draft though don’t we? Not how it has been last couple years. Looking forward to filling up the bench.
The next episode will be a little more engaging. Had to start somewhere. As much as it’s a tradition to have an article for every game, this idea hit me and I ran with it. It’s not like any of these games matter, at least not to me they don’t. Winning won’t excite me and losing will just further confirm what I already believe. The Niners are right about where we are in many ways, lots of injuries, and their most important piece in their offense (McCaffrey) OUT, and then they lost their backup RB too, Jordan Mason. They’re on their 3rd and 4th string backs now, Isaac Guerendo and Israel Abanikanda from the Jets. I still think the Niners are a tougher team so we’ll see how it goes, although I have little interest either way.
“Winning won’t excite me and losing will just further confirm what I already believe.” — tough place for you to be. I’m just gonna watch and hope for a good game. It’s entertainment after all.
Indeed Stanger, but different things entertain different people. Watching this team lose games they needed to win is an annual rite for Dolphins fans. Now they don’t need to win because they’re done, even with Tua at QB.
Mike E,
😆
Stephen Ross : Alright then gentlemen, best of luck in the upcoming draft, I’m excited and feel like you guys are getting closer to getting what we need here, a winning franchise that can win a Super Bowl and more.
———–
(continued) Stephen Ross: Now allow me to run your plans by a very good friend of mine who knows this foosball business like the back of his throne. Secretary, get me King Carl on line 1, immediately…
Secretary: As you wish, Mr. Ross… and here he is…
King Carl: Stevie guy! Let me tell you, we just made a KILLING on our latest business venture! What can I do for you? Just ask it and consider it done!
Stephen Ross: That’s great news, King! Alright, I’ve got a foosball question for you, being you know foosball better than anybody in the world. Would it make sense to allow Christian Wilkins and Robert Hunt to walk… in order to make Tyreek Hill, Jalen Ramsey, Jaylen Waddle, and Tua top-paid players at their respective positions?
King Carl: Fuck yeah! That’s a great idea! Want to know something? We’ve got SO much money that it really doesn’t matter anymore! Got a problem, just throw money at it and all problems go away in the end! You have to keep your four best players no matter what… just think of the jersey sales, right?!!
Stephen Ross: I just knew I could count on you, King! Thank you for that very sage advice. GM Chris and HC Mike have a plan that mirrors your plan. I’m going to move forward with their plan with the expectations of a Super Bowl run this season. Oh, and they were talking something about a Defensive ‘wave’ of sorts in order to replace the Wilkins guy. Does a wave work?
King Carl: Steve! Of course a wave works, even on Defense. Remember when I was GM of the Chefs* that I had everybody in Arrowhead Stadium do the ‘tomahawk chop’? They were all waving their hands simultaneously… and get this… at the same time, too! Waves work!
Stephen Ross: Thanks a billion, King! We’re going to move forward with this aggressive and collective plan. Super Bowl LIX, here I come!
King Carl: Ha! I see what you did there, ol’ Stevie! You said ‘cum’ and ‘licks’ in the same sentence! You ol’ dirty dog, you! You should settle for a Snickers just in case you aren’t going anywhere for a while, old friend. Snickers called me out over… Chefs*.
Damn Rouke, quit trying to force the ball.
Rourke
IU is just out matched in the trenches talent wise
Sounds like our Phins.
Mike E,
That was really good and believable. I could see a similar conversation actually happening and it doesn’t sound awful when the contract info isn’t known. Tua getting too much, both WRs getting more money when they had shown zero ability to pop the top off good teams. AVG being so cheap and not even being looked at was really stupid. Honestly, if Grier had ever worked as hard on fixing the OL as he was on overpaying lazy WRs, we’d probably be in the playoffs this year.
Good job!
Just me, but I don’t think ‘Reek and Da’ Penguin are “lazy WRs”. Over-paid? YES! There was no reason whatsoever to make them top-paid at their position for the sake of as much… especially when ‘Reek had already signed a contract that had made him the #1 $$$-maker.
If Coach McD can’t figure out how to make ‘Reek and Da’ Penguin earn their $$$ with 2-deep Safeties, Coach McD might need to find a new line of work.
Sucks the first 2 college playoff games tomorrow, SMU/PSU and Clemson/Texas are on TNT. I don’t get that channel here at the office.
Well, the IU run was fun to watch. They were just out matched. A team slapped together with 26 transfers. Good coaching job by Cignetti. It will be interesting to see where they can go from here and can IU maintain having a good team.
My fears on Kurtis Rourke really showed in that game in that he has no mobility and can’t escape the pocket. I hope the Jets draft him. LOL
IU’s next QB has a good arm and some wheels so that will be interesting to watch.
It was nice to see a dominant ND defense.
SMU at Penn State up next, 11am TNT
Damn PSU defense outscoring the PSU offense.
Wow, again!
So, right now, Allar says he is going to return to PSU for 2025.
It could change if they win it all.
I think he will return . I said to M13 the other night that’s likely why Pribula went into the portal
Probably
Be nice if he transferred to IU. lol
BBM,
they need to remedy that. Players can’t even play in Bowl games or the playoffs if they want to transfer. Additionally, now if Allar DOES go into the draft then Penn St. lost a QB they have been grooming, and Pribula was forced to leave somewhere he likely would have preferred to be.
Yeah, players shouldn’t be allowed to enter the portal until February. This is ridiculous.
maybe it has something to do with national signing day? I don’t know
I don’t even know when that is. lol
the day HS athletes can sign with a college
Yeah, I knew what it is, just didn’t know when it starts.
I figured. It is 2/5 this year. It used to be 1/15 every year
Been watching North Dakota State vs South Dakota State. Good game. NFL QB Trey Lance’s younger brother is a WR for NDS. Looks good and had a great game.
Also watched the PSU/SMU game on the computer.
Bryce Lance had 6 rec for 125 and 3 TD’s
Typical Chiefs luck as Texans missed their last extra point.
RIP Ricky Henderson
He was a weapon. He was on base and the pitcher and catcher got real scared.
He was Run Ricky Run before Ricky Williams
Chances were that a walk was a triple.
Watching the Steelers i realized our RBs don’t match our short passing game O
We’re back to just having a bunch of players, that don’t fit together
Congrats, PSU!!! Way to go!!!
RIP, Rickey Henderson. One of my favorite MLB players of all-time who I often emulated on the base-paths. 😦
RIP Rickey Henderson, great player and fun to watch.
stangerx says: December 21, 2024 at 5:12 pm
Chances were that a walk was a triple.
————
He did that a lot.
RIP Rickey
Very interesting to me. Note when we fell from glory… just after HWH sold to Stephen Ross…
Anybody wonder what happened in 2009? Hmmm… I wonder what that could have been?
I was right, I am right, and I’ll continue to be right.
Yes, I’m insinuating political shit… just to be clear.
Time for Ross to sell.
Oops!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clXB-lMAAl4
We’re fucked in the head for believing that this team could ever fucking build a competitive team on both sides of the ball and compete for a Super Bowl.
It was really just a joke about how some people are done with this team and a few people just root the team on regardless.
GAMEDAY BLOG UP!!