During Saturday’s preseason game against the Commanders, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross visited the television booth for an interview. During the interview, Ross wrote a metaphorical check much larger than the literal checks he’s written to several key players this year.
“We have a great group of guys right now and I think everybody has high expectations,” Ross said of the team, “but it’s the old injury problem. We’ve got to make sure we don’t have injuries like we had last year. If we can stay injury-free and stay healthy, I think we’re definitely a Super Bowl contender.”
Ross explained that he paid players including quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, receiver Jaylen Waddle and receiver Tyreek Hill to help make it happen.
“We want to win this year and we want to win next year,” Ross said. “But we’ve got to start early. I think it’s important to get those guys, get them on long-term contracts and know the core of our team. They’re stars. Tyreek was just voted the No. 1 player in the league. Retain Waddle, Tua and some of our key young guys. That’s what we want to do. We want to keep as many of the guys that we drafted really well as we can. But in this day and age, it’s hard to do that.”
Yes, but “this era” is no different than anything the NFL has experienced since implementing the salary cap over 30 years ago: After all, if you have good players on your team, inevitably you have to pay them or you lose your team.
Either way, Ross believes that if his team is healthy, they are a strong contender to return to the Super Bowl for the first time in 40 years, since Dan Marino lost to the Joe Montana-led 49ers in his second season in the NBA. Coach Mike McDaniel, whose primary goal is to end a 24-year playoff winless streak, has no problem with Ross setting his sights high.
“From a team standpoint, I think a lot of times we hesitate to talk about goals because we think we might not achieve them,” McDaniel told reporters after the game. “I don’t really do that. I don’t think it’s necessarily on the players’ minds right now because there are a lot of steps before that. Because our goal is to set our own standard, win our next game, execute our vision, win the conference, win the Super Bowl. But I like the idea of being bold and not being afraid of anything, including the building and the owners. We’re going to compete. I think that brings out the best in people. I think he — it means he believes in the program, but we have a preseason game, then we have three practices, and then we have to prepare for the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. That’s what we’re concerned about, but we’re preparing to be our best selves, and that’s going to take tomorrow and the day after.”
Tagovailoa wasn’t too keen to embrace the Super Bowl hype. Here’s his exchange in the post-game press conference:
Q: During the game, the CBS broadcast had an interview with team owner Stephen Ross, who said, “If we can stay healthy, we’re definitely a contender to win the Super Bowl.” I don’t know if you knew he said that, but what do you think about that statement?
A: What do you think? Do you think so?
Q: Are you a favorite to win? Well, I think there are about 10 teams that have a chance. What do you think?
A: So you said favorites to win, I think there are 10 teams, are the Dolphins one of those 10 teams?
Q: I think so.
A: Do you think so? Yeah, I think that’s why we play this game. It wouldn’t happen with our team if any of us didn’t have the belief that we could do it. So of course, we have that belief.
It’s fair to wonder if the Dolphins are truly one of the 10 favorites to make the Super Bowl. To get there, they’ll need to finish the season strong and make it to the postseason. And their biggest challenge might be winning their first playoff game.
Right now, the Chiefs, Bengals, Bills, Jets, Browns, Ravens and Texans all have a chance to go to New Orleans, and the Jaguars and Steelers are on the brink of championship contention. In the NFC, the 49ers, Lions, Eagles, Packers, Buccaneers (who are severely underrated), Rams and maybe Cowboys are in a group of teams that could all work out. Still, the rest of the league is not going to give anything away.
It happens every year. 32 teams. One team loses the Super Bowl, one wins. The Dolphins need to improve their chances in the playoffs at home. Still, their first postseason win might be the toughest because it comes with the pressure of nearly 25 years.
And like Ross said, you have to avoid the injury bug. Injuries change everything every year. The best teams that can avoid injuries have the best chance. And some teams can overcome injuries and still thrive.
Whatever the outcome, expectations are high for the Dolphins, just as at least half the league goes into this season with the plausible hope that they can stop Kansas City from becoming the first team in history to win three straight Super Bowls.
For Miami, the early season schedule isn’t as difficult as the late one, which could confirm or refute the recent narrative, starting at Green Bay on Thanksgiving night before facing the Jets, Houston, San Francisco, Cleveland and then the Jets again the following weekend.
By the time they finish these six tough games, it will be clear whether they can win the next four or even three to win their first championship in 51 years.
