Big-money players step up
DAVIE — Michael Jordan highlights played on flat screen televisions throughout the Miami Dolphins hallways last week.
On non-stop looping clips there were speeches about Jordan’s competitive nature laid over his greatest shots. The Jordan tribute recapped the moments and stories that drove the Chicago Bulls legend — a sixtime NBA champion — and Hall of Fame inductee to greatness.
Dolphins interim coach Dan Campbell wanted everyone associated with his football team to see the greatest athlete of his lifetime on a daily basis. He wanted players to pause for a second and think about the journey Jordan took to get there.
Campbell hoped Jordan’s competitiveness would light a fire in them, especially the high-priced players.
There’s a difference between talking about greatness, having aspirations for it, and doing what it takes to achieve it. Getting to Jordan’s level requires pushing a bolder uphill to reach the mountain top.
In the first half of the Dolphins season, Miami’s bigmoney players were coming up short. During the bye week Campbell challenged them to set the tone for Miami’s resurgence, and they challenged one another.
“If you consider yourself a primetime player, if you’ve been to the Pro Bowl a couple of times, if you consider yourself a leader then you have to step up and show the young guys the way. Show the organization that it doesn’t have to always come from the top. It comes from the players,” said left tackle Branden Albert, whose $10.7 million cap number in 2015 is the highest on the team this season.
“Just lead!” Albert continued. “You don’t have to speak all the time. Just lead! Do what you’ve got to do to be the player you’re supposed to be.”
Miami’s money players clearly responded against the Tennessee Titans.
Strong safety Reshad Jones, who carries a $7.7 million cap number, returned an interception for a touchdown to give the Dolphins a 21-point lead in the third quarter of Miami’s 38-10 victory over Tennessee.
Pro Bowl cornerback Brent Grimes, who has a $10 million cap number, played on a sore right knee. Grimes jumped in front of a pass to Titans tight end Anthony Fasano in the red zone to keep Tennessee from putting points on the board.
Ryan Tannehill’s blindside was protected courtesy of Albert’s blocking, allowing Tannehill, who got a $95 million contract extension this summer, to be more aggressive with his passes (9.17 yards per attempt against Tennessee, which was the fourth highest of his career).
Mike Pouncey, who has a $7 million cap figure this season, was mowing down linebackers on the second level on running plays, helping Miami rush for a seasonhigh 180 yards.
Four-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Cameron Wake, who is nursing a hamstring strain, destroyed Tennessee’s inexperienced right tackle, registering four sacks and forcing two fumbles. Not bad for 33-year-old who came into last Sunday’s game with one tackle in four games despite carrying a $10.45 million price tag in 2015.
Four-time All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who signed a six-year, $114 million deal with Miami this offseason, was consistently occupying two blockers, helping the defensive line suffocate Tennessee’s rushing attack (63 rushing yards, 10 of which came in the second half ).
And tight end Jordan Cameron, who will make $7 million this season if he plays in every game, led the team with eight targets and scored on a 12-yard touchdown.
That’s roughly $62
million worth of football players, and they finally all showed up for the Dolphins in game number five.
“Our impact players stepped up, every one of them. They made plays when they had to,” Campbell said. “And we had enough of our blue collar guys that came to work and did what they were asked to do, and did it well.”
The Dolphins will need similar performances if this team plans to continue its up-stream swim from a 1-3 start back to respectability.
Campbell knows the value of both impact players and blue collar workers. As a blue collar NFL player himself for 11-seasons, the former tight end realizes the grunts must serve as tasty side dishes that compliment the meal.
But the half dozen players eating up well over onethird of the team’s payroll must be the main course.
They must be superstars like Jordan was, elevating the play of Miami’s versions of Steve Kerr and Horace Grant.