Dolphins' Mike McDaniel nails joke on tampering; Tua Tagovailoa’s fifth year up in the air
Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel doesn’t take himself too seriously.
And that notion allows for lighthearted soundbites such as the one he delivered at the NFL scouting combine on Tuesday.
When asked about free agent safety Jordan Poyer’s comments about wanting to join the Dolphins this offseason, McDaniel took advantage of the moment.
"I’m not in the business of tampering," McDaniel said. "We need every draft pick that we can get."
The irony in McDaniel’s joke?
The Dolphins were stripped of their first-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft and their third-round pick in 2024, due to their prior tampering of both Tom Brady and Sean Payton.
The NFL also fined Dolphins owner Stephen Ross $1.5 million, following the league’s investigation into the matter raised in the civil, class-action lawsuit filed by former coach Brian Flores.
As for Poyer, he attended Tagovailoa’s birthday party over the weekend, and said during his podcast: "It would be crazy to stay in the (AFC) East and come down here to South Florida."
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Mike McDaniel sheds light on Tua Tagovailoa's future
Speaking of Tagovailoa, McDaniel said Tuesday the Dolphins will take as much time as they can – up to the May 1 deadline – to decide on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s fifth-year contract option.
"Both parties really want him to play at a very high level for a long time for the Miami Dolphins," McDaniel said on behalf of himself and general manager Chris Grier.
Tagovailoa, who sustained two reported concussions and at least three hits to the back of his head while playing last season, intends to play again in 2023.
First-round NFL draft picks can have a fifth year option added to their rookie contract, per NFL rules. So Tagovailoa and his fellow first-round picks from the 2020 NFL draft are up for fifth-year options, or their respective teams could agree to contract extensions with the players.
The decision to do either is instrumental for Miami, which was 9-7 and lost in the divisional round of the playoffs to the Buffalo Bills in McDaniel’s first season as Dolphins coach.
More on Dolphins' 2023 NFL draft picks
The Dolphins had two first-round picks in 2023 before one was stripped and then a trade for standout defensive end Bradley Chubb at the NFL trade deadline in November.
Miami has also had its share of draft picks in recent drafts: Tagovailoa was one of three first-round picks in 2020. The Dolphins drafted star receiver Jaylen Waddle and edge rusher Jaelen Phillips in 2021, and they traded away a first-round pick for star receiver Tyreek Hill last year.
The Dolphins have five picks in 2023: one in the second round, two in the third round, and picks in the sixth and seventh rounds.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dolphins' Mike McDaniel jokes on tampering, discusses Tua Tagovailoa
