"You're right. Owner Stephen Ross can't paint ex-general manager Chris Grier as the singular scapegoat or fall guy. After all, Grier led the way in collecting the most talent this franchise has had in two decades. Coach Mike McDaniel and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa are more responsible than Grier for the on-field disappointment, or, as you call it, the dysfunction. I think bringing back McDaniel and Tagovailoa while Grier is the only one to pay a price would be doing the rebuild halfway."
"Plenty of media folks (me excluded) were in favor of Tagovailoa's four-year, $212 million contract extension in 2024. It's now viewed as a bad contract, which is what it was at the time it was issued. Tagovailoa is unable to beat quality teams (2-10 vs. playoff teams in 2023-24), he's immobile and he remains an injury concern. Regardless, the bigger mistake was not properly building around Tagovailoa."
"He's capable of winning a playoff game. And if he was/is given a strong running game and a strong defense, Tagovailoa could win a playoff game. But with the rebuild about to hit full swing, Tagovailoa will have no chance of winning a playoff game in 2026, which could be his final year in a Dolphins uniform. It was important for the Dolphins to construct a better supporting cast around Tagovailoa in 2023 and 2024, but they didn't see it that way."
Owner Stephen Ross shares responsibility for the Dolphins' failures and cannot single out ex-general manager Chris Grier as the sole scapegoat. Grier assembled the most talent the franchise has had in two decades, but coach Mike McDaniel and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa bear greater responsibility for on-field disappointment. Retaining McDaniel and Tagovailoa while holding only Grier accountable would constitute a halfway rebuild. Tagovailoa's four-year, $212 million extension is now considered a bad contract; he struggles against quality teams, lacks mobility and remains an injury concern. The larger mistake was failing to build a stronger running game and defense around him, as the roster emphasis on speed undermined playoff prospects.
Read at Sun Sentinel
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