During Saturday’s preseason game against the Commanders, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross visited the TV booth for an interview. Along the way, he wrote a check figuratively much larger than the checks he has literally issued to multiple key players this year.
“Right now, we have a great roster and I think everybody has great expectations,” Ross said of his team. “But hey, it’s the old injury bug. You got to make sure that that doesn’t happen like last year. I think without that and we stay healthy, I think we’re certainly a contender for the Super Bowl.”
Ross explained that he paid players like quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, receiver Jaylen Waddle, and receiver Tyreek Hill in order to help make that happen.
“I want to win this year and I want to win next year, as well,” Ross said. “But you’ve got to start early, and I think having those players and signing them to long-term contracts and knowing the nucleus of the team, I think that’s important. They are stars — Tyreek was just voted the No. 1 player in the league. With Waddle and Tua and some of the important young guys, retaining them — that’s what you want to do. You want to retain as many of your draft choices that really pan out. That’s a challenge though in these times.”
Yes, but “these times” are no different from any times the NFL has experienced since implementing a salary cap, more than 30 years ago. The bottom line is that, if a team has great players, it inevitably must pay them or lose them.
Regardless, the boss thinks his team, if healthy, will be a contender to get back to the Super Bowl for the first time in 40 years, when Dan Marino in only his second season lost to Joe Montana and the 49ers. Coach Mike McDaniel, whose primary focus is to end a 24-year run without a playoff win, has no problem with Ross aiming high.
“I think from a team perspective, a lot of times people hesitate to talk about goals in case you don’t achieve them,” McDaniel told reporters after the game. “I don’t…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/stephen-ross-declares-dolphins-super-031721821.html
Author : ProFootball Talk on NBC Sports
Publish date : 2024-08-19 03:17:21
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