What's happened
The Miami Dolphins were eliminated from the playoffs after a loss to Cincinnati, marking their second consecutive season out of postseason. Head coach Mike McDaniel faces questions about his future, while rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers made his first start, replacing struggling Tua Tagovailoa, amid ongoing team challenges.
What's behind the headline?
The Dolphins' season highlights ongoing issues with second-half performance, particularly their inability to maintain leads and avoid costly turnovers. Coach McDaniel's decision to bench Tagovailoa signals a shift towards evaluating younger talent, notably rookie Quinn Ewers, who showed promise in his first start. The team's interest in Burrow in 2020 underscores their long-standing quarterback concerns, now intensified by Tagovailoa's struggles and hefty contract. The decision to potentially move on from Tagovailoa will have significant cap implications, with a possible dead cap hit of nearly $100 million. This situation reflects broader NFL trends where teams prioritize future stability over short-term fixes, and Miami's next steps will likely involve a major roster overhaul. The coaching future remains uncertain, but the focus on developing Ewers suggests a rebuild is underway, with the franchise aiming to find consistency and playoff success in the coming seasons.
What the papers say
The AP reports that Miami's season ended with their second consecutive playoff miss, and coach McDaniel is expected to return despite questions about his job security. The NY Post details Miami's failed attempt to acquire Joe Burrow in 2020, highlighting their long-standing quarterback ambitions. AP also notes that Tua Tagovailoa's future is uncertain, with reports indicating he will be benched for rookie Quinn Ewers, who showed potential in his first start. The Cincinnati game was a showcase for Burrow's continued excellence, with key performances from Chase and Brown, despite Cincinnati's overall struggles this season. These sources collectively illustrate the Dolphins' ongoing quarterback dilemma and the strategic decisions shaping their future.
How we got here
Miami's season ended with a loss to Cincinnati, confirming their second straight missed playoff appearance. The Dolphins have struggled with consistency, especially in the second half of games, and faced questions about their quarterback situation after benching Tua Tagovailoa. The team had previously shown interest in acquiring Joe Burrow in the 2020 draft but was turned down by Cincinnati. Miami is now considering a potential move away from Tagovailoa, who has a large guaranteed contract, amid reports of possible trades or release plans.
Go deeper
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The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Dolphins compete in the National Football League as a member of the league's American Football Conference East division.
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Tuanigamanuolepola "Tua" Tagovailoa is an American football quarterback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. Born and raised in Hawaii to Samoan parents, he attended Saint Louis School in Honolulu. Following that, he attended the Univer
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The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional American football franchise based in Cincinnati. The Bengals compete in the National Football League as a member club of the league's American Football Conference North division.
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Quinn Ewers is an American football quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He was often previously considered to be the best collegiate prospect for the 2022 high school recruiting class before reclassifying and enrolling at Ohio State in 2021.
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Joseph Lee Burrow is an American football quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. After starting his college football career as a backup at Ohio State, he transferred to LSU in 2018, where he became the starter and eventual
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Michael Lee McDaniel is an American football coach who is the head coach of the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League.