Dolphins fans react to Mike McDaniel's eye-catching admission about fining players - "He has lost the locker room"

In 2022, Mike McDaniel had been hailed as the savior of the Miami Dolphins after guiding them to their first playoff appearance in six years. In 2023, he led them to their best record in 15 years. But after a collapse to 8-9 in 2024, fans reckon he might be failing to rein in his players.

During Tuesday's press conference, Mike McDaniel got candid about the lack of discipline amongst his players, more particularly how fines worked out for them:

"I can fine people until they're blue in the face. I can take their money. I can yell at them. But until they understand that part of the reason that we're in the position is controllable, and we have to with absolute certainty and zero tolerance for anything else, we have to clean the controllables up.

"Fining guys didn't particularly move the needle in the way we need to. So I'll adjust as I should as a head coach."

Fans expressed all sorts of negative emotions, with one tweeting:

"Sounds like McDaniel has lost the locker room, which is never good."

More such reactions can be seen below:

"Cut those players and stop being friends! You’re the Boss, act like it!" one demanded.

"RUN A COUNTRY CLUB THATS WHAT HAPPENS..", another scolded.

"We’re gonna get the same on the field product next season. Write it down," another predicted.

---

Mike McDaniel reveals meeting with Tyreek Hill

One of the players who might have been targeted by Mike McDaniel's speech was Tyreek Hill.

He left before the end of the team's 32-20 loss at the struggling New York Jets that would have eliminated them from playoff contention even had other results gone in their favor. Hill told reporters:

"I'm opening the door. I'm out, bro".

In that same presser, coach Mike McDaniel revealed that he had met the eight-time Pro Bowl wide receiver:

“I told him it’s unacceptable to leave a game and won’t be tolerated in the future. There’s nothing to fix in the relationship, but we needed to clear the air.”

General manager Chris Grier, meanwhile, claimed that no trade request was insinuated from the aforementioned comments:

“I’ve had productive conversations with Tyreek that will stay internal. I will say in a frustrating season, he was very emotional in a game where we had a chance coming back from 2-6.”

Hill ended the season with 79 receptions for 939 yards and six touchdowns, his worst output since being traded from the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022.