The Miami Dolphins have had a disappointing season, currently sitting at 3-6 and looking to make up ground in the AFC playoff picture. This comes after making the postseason in back-to-back seasons under head coach Mike McDaniel, so a losing record and missing the playoffs would be step back.
While this year’s team has struggled, one former Dolphin thinks he knows why. Steelers safety DeShon Elliott, who played for Miami last season, went viral on Wednesday for calling the team out for their lack of toughness.
The Jugo Mobile examines Elliott’s comments and McDaniel’s responses.
What did DeShon Elliott say?
While appearing on the Punch Line Podcast with Marlon Humphrey to preview this week’s Ravens-Steelers game, Steeler’s safety took a shot at the Dolphins, with whom he played last year.
“Last year I played on a team that was soft as f—k,” Elliott said. “There were some guys who were tough, but majority team, they was not mentally tough individuals.”
? DeShon Elliott on his time with the Miami Dolphins: “Last year I played on a team that was soft as f—k… there were some guys who were tough but majority team they was not mentally tough individuals.” (@h/t @B_Shousejr) #GoFins pic.twitter.com/29Z466rX7X
— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) November 13, 2024
Elliott is a six-year veteran who played his first three seasons with the Ravens before playing one year each with the Lions, Dolphins, and now Steelers.
Elliott made the comments in an attempt to praise the 7-2 Steelers, but in the process significantly criticized Miami. Even though Miami made the playoffs last season, the team did lose its final two regular season games to fall short of the AFC East division title.
Mike McDaniel’s DeShon Elliott response
McDaniel was asked about Elliott’s comments, and the Dolphins head coach downplayed what his former player said.
“I am supremely only concerned with the 2024 Dolphins for sure,” McDaniel said. ““And I think that every team’s ability to be mentally tough in an NFL season is definitely tried. Case in point, some of the stuff that we’ve been going through. I think our team played a tough-fought game the last three weeks, and ended up finding a way to win this past week. I think that’s not the easiest thing to do. And just worried about this year’s team. It’s cool he said it on a podcast. Cool podcast.”
? Mike McDaniel on DeShon Elliott’s remarks about the team’s toughness: “I am supremely only concerned with the 2024 Dolphins for sure… cool, you said it on a podcast. Cool podcast.” (@MiamiDolphins) #GoFins https://t.co/U9mH8QyF4q pic.twitter.com/sp6ird9bZE
— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) November 13, 2024
However, many of the Dolphins did push back on Elliott’s comments more than McDaniel did.
“He’s not here for a reason, obviously,” cornerback Kader Kohou said, via David Furones of the Miami Sun-Times. “I don’t know why he would go on a podcast and say anything crazy like that…I got no respect for it. I didn’t think DeShon was the toughest guy.”
The Dolphins don’t play the Steelers this season, so Miami won’t have the opportunity to get revenge on their former teammate unless both teams meet in the playoffs.
