Props to McDaniel for Keeping Team Together

Props to McDaniel for Keeping Team Together

It could’ve been easy for them to quit.

On Halloween, the day after the team suffered arguably its most humiliating loss, Miami fired long-time general manager Chris Grier.

Mike McDaniel, presumed to be on the hot seat coming into the season, was somehow retained in the 2-7 start.

But even that did not seem so stable as the team weighed multiple offers at the trade deadline.

It seemed like a fire sale was on the horizon with the trade of Jaelan Phillips.

Many other marquee veterans seemed destined to be moved.

Then, after many rumors throughout Tuesday of the trade deadline, nothing came to fruition.

It seemed strange as the Dolphins, at 2-7, were going nowhere with a lame duck head coach whose days seemed numbered at the time.

However, those times seem like an eternity ago.

The Dolphins have won their last two games, beating Buffalo and Washington, on the strength of many of those veterans whose names were prominent in the trade rumors.

Jaylen Waddle, who was almost traded to Buffalo, starred against the Bills, while defensive stars Bradley Chubb and Minkah Fitzpatrick have stepped up as well in the two victories.

Zach Sieler, who was not much of a factor early in the season, has made his presence known recently.

Even some of the team’s maligned rookies in Kenneth Grant, Jonah Savaiinea, and Dante Trader Jr. have played their best games recently.

If this season feels familiar, it should.

The Dolphins faced the same situation a year ago.

Starting the year at 2-6, rumors of a trade deadline exodus were rampant.

However, Miami held off trading numerous players as they thought a turnaround was possible.

Like the Buffalo game this year, the Dolphins upset a strong Los Angeles Rams’ squad to get back on track before winning five of their last six to end the year.

The Dolphins could repeat that formula again.

After the win over Washington, Miami plays the bottom dwellers in New Orleans and the Jets.

If Miami can win both of those, they would firmly be back in the playoff hunt with contests against wild-card contenders in the Bengals and Steelers before finishing off the year against the Buccaneers and Patriots.

It seemed crazy just a few weeks ago to think that the Dolphins could be in the playoffs.

But as last year showed us, anything can happen when this team gets confident.

A lot of that confidence comes from McDaniel.

Whatever you think of him as a coach, you have to admit one thing.

He inspires his players, and they play for him.

That is how you turn things around and go from tanking to the playoffs.