Stephen A. Smith criticizes the Dolphins for letting go of their GM while retaining the coach known as ‘Geek Squad’

Stephen A. Smith Questions Dolphins’ Management Decisions

Stephen A. Smith expressed his confusion regarding the Miami Dolphins’ decision to let go of general manager Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel during a segment on “First Take.” This discussion surfaced as the NFL’s trade deadline on November 4 approaches.

The Dolphins are struggling this season with a 2-7 record, especially after a disheartening 28-6 defeat against the Ravens on a recent Thursday night. Coach McDaniel’s visible frustration during the game raised eyebrows.

Smith remarked, “It’s frustrating. Was that the first move? Seriously? It was about Tua and Mike McDaniel, yet the firings focus on them? I stand by my colleagues as a head coach and GM, especially after 30 years of struggle. If the team isn’t performing, the job’s not secure.” He further emphasized the need for accountability in the organization.

While Smith acknowledged Grier’s limited playoff success since becoming GM in 2016, he expressed surprise at the lack of further actions from owner Stephen Ross to indicate a broader need for change: “Everyone should be concerned about their jobs.” He criticized McDaniel’s demeanor at press conferences, suggesting that it portrayed a lack of confidence in the coaching role, questioning whether he could last the season.

“This is nonsense. I really don’t want to dive deeper into that but I’m just saying, he should go too,” Smith added. Despite McDaniel’s current 30-30 record over four seasons, with the team woefully underperforming, reports indicate that he is expected to remain throughout the season.

The Dolphins have been among the least effective teams defensively, ranking 28th in yards allowed per game and 23rd in total yards allowed. The team’s offense is particularly weakened by the absence of star receiver Tyreek Hill, who suffered a season-ending injury earlier this season.

Smith expressed skepticism about McDaniel’s ability to lead the team to success in the remaining games. With Tua Tagovailoa’s performance also dipping, summarizing it as “disastrous” with 15 touchdowns against 11 interceptions, there’s a lingering sense of uncertainty regarding the Dolphins’ direction.

“This team has potential, but why is Grier the first one to take the fall? It just feels wrong,” Smith concluded, revealing his discomfort with the current situation and uncertainty about McDaniel’s future.