Dolphins Mike McDaniel Provides Clarity on Player-Led Meetings
It’s been a rough start to the season for the Miami Dolphins. This was a critical season for Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel and GM Chris Grier, entering the year on the hot seat after falling short of expectations last year.
Miami started the season with a blowout loss to the Colts and are 1-4 on the season, blowing a 17-point lead against the Panthers last week. WR Tyreek Hill, the team’s best player, is out for the year with a multi-ligament knee injury. Things have gone from bad to worse for the Dolphins.
On Thursday, rookie first-round pick DT Kenneth Grant spoke to the media about how the defense is responding to adversity. The Dolphins rank last in the NFL in run defense.
“What we’re focused on is just the run game,” Grant said. “You know, teams are running the ball against us and we have to fix that. So until we fix that nothing in the pass [game] really matters, and that’s what we gotta do, fix the run game first.”
When asked how they were going about fixing their run defense, Grant said something really interesting. “Right, well we take more time out of the day to meet. You know, player-led meetings,” Grant said. “Some of the player-led meetings the coaches are in now, so just finding extra meeting time and getting on the same page with our teammates and things like that.”
Players-only meetings aren’t uncommon for struggling NFL teams, but they aren’t players-only meetings if coaches are involved. Grant chose his words carefully, calling them “player-led” meetings, ones that the coaches are at least sitting in on. An interesting and unusual approach, for sure.
Miami Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel Clarifies Coaches’ Involvement in Player-Led Meetings
“That’s by player request, only,” McDaniel said emphatically. In his press conference on Friday, McDaniel was asked about Grant’s comments on coaches sitting in on player-led meetings.
“I can’t say with full certainty across the board in every room,” McDaniel said on how many meetings coaches were involved with. “I know it’s occurred on the [defensive] line a couple times, but I think they’re building upon what they kinda started last year, which is traditional later in the week. Not rally meetings, more opponent-study and communication meetings. And I think some of the guys requested that some of the coaches go to it for various reasons. I told them, ‘what else would you do better than Coach, coach?’ So that’s all it was.”“I think you’re going down a good direction,” said McDaniel to a reporter who asked him if coaches were helping the players learn to prepare for opponents. “Yeah, follow your internet sleuth nature right there. I think you’re right on it.”
The Miami Dolphins Don’t Get a Schedule Break
Steph Curry Breaks Silence On Warriors Disappointing Offseason
The Golden State Warriors are the only team in the NBA who have yet to add or resign a player in the 2025 offseason, but their lack of moves isn’t a worry for superstar Steph Curry.
Speaking at his annual summer camp, the four-time champion commented on the Warriors’ quiet summer, highlighted by Jonathan Kuminga’s contract standstill with the team.
“My confidence has been built on the identity we were able to create over the last third of the regular season last year. You know, the playoff journey,” Curry said. “We have a really good team, and we do know we need some pieces to help take us to the next level.”
Golden State lost Kevon Looney in free agency to the New Orleans Pelicans this summer. They also lost Gary Payton II, but he, alongside Al Horford, can sign with the team once their Kuminga situation is sorted out.
Curry Is Confident
Though Curry spoke positively about the Warriors, their lack of offseason moves comes as a surprise for a team predicted to be one of the league’s busiest this summer. Their last roster change came at the 2025 NBA trade deadline, acquiring Jimmy Butler for a package that sent Andrew Wiggins to the Miami Heat.
They had a 23-7 record with Butler in the lineup, but lost in the playoffs to the Minnesota Timberwolves after Curry suffered a hamstring strain in Game 1 of the second-round series.
Regardless of their finish last season, as well as the questions surrounding Kuminga, Curry remains confident in him, Butler, and Draymond Green leading the team.
“I think the veteran presence that we have — me, Jimmy, Draymond — we understand how to prepare through that uncertainty and be able to hit the ground running at training camp, knowing you should have some movement by then,” Curry added.
The 2022 Finals MVP also said, despite the offseason rumors, he is focused on controlling only what he can control.
“But, you control what you can control,” Curry said. “And no matter how many new experiences you have or whatever the difference is from this offseason to the previous ones, you don’t let it affect your own personal preparation for the season and then the conversations that we’re having on what we need to do to get ready.”
The 3-Point Leader’s Future With the Warriors
While Curry’s comments share little worry about his faith in the team next season, questions have arisen about his future in the NBA. All expectations point to him finishing his career with the Golden State Warriors, but it remains unknown as to when his retirement will come.
Speaking with Complex earlier in the summer, Curry said rehabbing from injury and preparing for the upcoming season are always the most difficult parts about playing in his late 30s.
“The offseasons for me are the hardest,” Curry said. “Once you get into the 82 games, it’s repetition, it’s ‘you know what you need to do’…. The games are the most fun. If you get hurt in the middle of the season when you’re walking off the court and know something’s wrong with you, that’s the worst feeling in the world. All you’re thinking about is the rehab process.”
Curry is currently the ninth-oldest player in the NBA. While his play style is a good sign of his ability to continue as a face of the league, his recent injuries have cast come doubt on his future.
“Rehab is scary, and you don’t want to do it,” Curry said. “So if I can get through offseasons, I feel like that’s the marker as to how long I can push it.”
The Warriors’ summer has been highlighted by Kuminga, and their lack of offseason moves as a result of his contract dispute. Despite some worries about their future, Curry remains confident that he and his veteran teammates can make a strong push for the franchise’s fifth title since 2015.
