It won't be long before Miami Dolphins fans and websites will stop talking about Mike McDaniel. Jeff Hafley is providing more than enough opportunity to see that real change may actually be on the horizon.
McDaniel was well-liked in Miami, but his ability to coach consistently and hold his players accountable eventually led to his firing. Hafley is not a first-time head coach, just a first-time NFL HC. Unlike his predecessor, Hafley isn't sugarcoating things. He knows what he wants, and he knows that if he doesn't get it, those players who stop him will be gone.
At the owners' meeting in Arizona, Hafley addressed the culture change he expects and made it clear that if you talk the talk, you'd better be able to walk the walk as well. In fact, the question sent him down a spirited hole fans haven't seen since Don Shula.
Miami Dolphins HC Jeff Hafley's message to his players isn't just clear, it's cemented
If fans were still wondering what his expectations are, they don't have to anymore. Hafley is clear about one thing: he doesn't want garbage coming out of a player's mouth and then not showing it on the field.
Hafley started to get a little heated as he talked about what it means to help the players reach the levels they want to.
"Don't get mad at me when it's 110 degrees outside and you don't want to do it anymore. I'm going to make you do it because you told me when you were comfortable in this meeting room and air conditioning that that's what you want. Be on time, or you are full of it."Jeff Hafley
Hafley said you have to be direct and honest with the players and not give them any gray area. For four years, McDaniel let the players police themselves. There have been repeated reports of players not showing up for meetings or showing up late. Tyreek Hill called out of practice, but was later doing videos from his wife's store at the local mall. It doesn't appear that this is going to fly under this new regime.
"We are going to hold you accountable for it. We are not going to say this is what we want, but then not show up on time, put in the extra work, not do the little things that we're saying. That's not how it's going to work. "Jon-Eric Sullivan
It's a strong message not only to the players on the roster, but also to the future players that may end up in Miami. With 11 picks in this year's draft, the Dolphins are looking to identify more than just an athletic player; they want them to have the next-level mindset to go with it.