RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesMIAMI GARDENS — If ever there was a year for the Miami Dolphins to ignore the outside noise, 2026 is the one.
And it's not just low expectations, it's the lowest of the lows.
With the Dolphins having torn it down, from the GM to the coach to virtually the entire roster, including the quarterback, nobody has Miami sniffing the playoffs, which isn't something new for a franchise in a quarter-century funk.
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Instead, the debate is whether the Dolphins will have the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft next spring.
And whether it's projecting which quarterback the Dolphins will pick in the draft, win four or five games, or ESPN naming Miami's roster the worst in the league, none of that means anything to the players everyone is doubting.
"I'm kind of an underdog story my whole career," said defensive lineman Zach Sieler, one of the few veterans the team retained. "There hasn't been a single snap of football played this year. We've all seen guys and teams make massive jumps in a matter of a year. I'm very excited for this team and where we're going to go."
Jordyn Brooks: 'I don't look at it as a rebuild'
Linebacker Jordyn Brooks feels the same way. Predictions and projections look great on paper, but nothing is the way it seems.
And nobody can predict how all those names will come together as a team.
"People could say it's a rebuild. I don't look at it as a rebuild because I'm in it and I play the game," Brooks said. "I realize being in the league, it's not always what it looks like on paper. You can have the superstar-studded teams and they don't be worth a darn. They don't have the right chemistry. They don't know how to connect the dots.
"And then you can have a bunch of no-name teams who know how to gel together, who know how to win, know how to buy in together. I think if you have that, you have the perfect team. That's the way I'm looking at it."
With Tua Tagovailoa , Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle gone, the offense is built around running back De'Von Achane . The fourth-year veteran was a rookie during the peak year of the Mike McDaniel era and has seen the team's win total drop each of the last two seasons.
Achane has seen expectations plummet.
"I feel like we're kind of used to that," Achane said. "I feel like we should pay more attention (but) don't pay no mind to that."
Achane believes Miami can use the bleak outlook to its advantage.
"As long as the teams feel that way about us, when they play us, they're going to be not taking us serious," he said. "And if you're doing that, I think you're going to have a long day for yourself."
Chop Robinson calls it "outside noise," adding "we know the guys we got in here, the coaches, so we just focus on us."
Robinson is doing his part to help this team exceed those expectations. The third-year linebacker took a step back in Year 2 and has taken it upon himself to live up to that label of a first-round draft pick.
Robinson added weight, which he said will help him set the edge in the run game.
"When I put the weight on, I was eating right, had a chef," he said. "I'm putting the right fuel in my body. I feel the best I've ever felt.
"Watching the tape from my rookie year and last year, I know what I'm capable of and I know what I have to do. I did everything I can to put myself in the best position. Everything is motivating me."
Jeff Hafley will use Dolphins' low expectations as motivation
Still, the reality is Miami has torn it down to the studs. Nobody will measure this season by wins, but by progress.
The rebuild officially started Wednesday, July 29, the first day of practice under the new regime, led by General Manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley.
And Hafley admitted although he will not talk about the disrespect his team is receiving at first, he believes there will come a time that he will address that subject.
"I don't think now is the time for that," he said. "Now is the time for us to focus on ourselves and for our guys to go out and win jobs, and for our coaches to put together schemes and develop and get ready to play.
"I think certainly there's a time and a place for that. I'd be lying to you if I just said we're going to ignore it. I'd rather not have that be the main focus because I think that kind of goes in one ear, you get fired up for a couple minutes and then you leave and it has to become real again."
Hafley will leave that speech for the 53-man roster and practice squad.
"Maybe if we need a jolt here and there, throw it at them," he said. "But nothing I'm concerned about right now."
Tom D'Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins hear disrespect, but have other things to worry about
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