Mike McDaniel dodges tampering questions on Bills star

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Mike McDaniel dodges tampering questions regarding Bills Pro Bowler

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated Mar 1, 2023 12:07 AM ET

When Buffalo Bills All-Pro safety Jordan Poyer recently joked about possibly staying in the AFC East uniting with good friend Tua Tagovailoa in Miami, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel presumably knew he was going to be asked about it at some point.

That moment happened Tuesday at the NFL Combine when the head coach was asked his thoughts on Poyer possibly being interested in joining the team.

"Well, I'm not in the business of tampering,” McDaniel said, via the team’s website. “And I believe — I mean, you guys might be trying to get this second-year hustle on me, but we need every draft pick we can get, so I'm all for Dolphins fandom and the more players that even if they're on our opponents' team; if they're cheering for Dolphins, I think that's good for all of us."

What to make of Jordan Poyer and Dolphins connections…

A few nuggets on @nflnetwork from my talks with Poyer on his pending free agency: a player that will be in demand coming off a Pro Bowl season. pic.twitter.com/jHtyWdpDxS
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) February 28, 2023

If Poyer is legitimately interested, the Dolphins could use a player of his caliber to pair in the defensive backfield with Jevon Holland, who was Miami’s fourth-leading tackler in 2022 (96) and recorded seven passes defensed and two interceptions.

Beyond Holland, Eric Rowe and Brandon Jones left a lot to be desired. The duo combined to allow a completion percentage of 79.3 and 766 receiving yards. For comparison, Poyer allowed just 181 receiving yards this season and only 61 the year before.

Poyer recently stated if he didn’t re-sign in Buffalo he would like to be somewhere warm where he could see the sun every week or a state that doesn’t take half of his money. Miami’s average yearly temperature is approximately 72 degrees, and Florida does not take out state income tax.

Jordan Poyer said he’s sick of taxes taking 50% of his money.

And this is wild...

Taxes on his $5.6M salary:
Florida - $0
New York - $655,000 pic.twitter.com/FuRFHMURSX
— Andrew Petcash (@AndrewPetcash) February 28, 2023

Michael Gallagher

Michael Gallagher is a longtime sports journalist based out of Nashville with a decade of experience covering college football, mixed martial arts and prep sports plus the NFL and NHL — specifically the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators. He’s covered several notable sporting events including an AFC Championship game, a Stanley Cup Final, an NHL All-Star Game and an NHL Stadium Series. Some of his past bylines can be found at the Nashville Scene, SB Nation, The Hockey News and Fox Sports Knoxville

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