NAPA, Calif. ― When the Miami Dolphins expressed to NFL schedule makers an interest in playing road games at Las Vegas and San Francisco in consecutive weeks, they knew they would have a young team.
Well, the Dolphins have the youngest team in the NFL.
"I think it's huge," Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley said of an extended trip out west to start the season. "Young team and then brought in a bunch of guys later. So I think it gives our team time to just kind of get away from everything, and you're kind of in a bubble for 24 hours and we can connect and grow."
Many of the Dolphins players are barely old enough to legally consume the fine wines of northern California. But clearly this is a business trip with the added benefit of glorious weather.
It should
be around 72 degrees for Napa-area practices.
"Obviously, it's a work trip," said rookie safety Michael Taaffe, 23. "We can't forget that, it's a work trip. We're going to take a little bit off our bodies and enjoy life, enjoy being in the NFL, enjoy getting to play a kids' game for a job. But at the end of the day, we're going to San Fran to win the game. And that's how we're going to practice the next six days."
Miami Dolphins training in Napa before game at 49ers
The Dolphins will practice here on the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday prior to a game in Santa Clara against the 49ers on Sunday, Sept. 20.
Santa Clara is about 1.5 hours south of Napa, perhaps more with traffic.
Miami is a 13.5-point underdog in Week 2, but at least they'll be better rested than the Rams, for example, were for their visit to Australia. Staying in one time zone and avoiding multiple coast-to-coast flights has its perks.
"I think it'll give us time to bond more on a personal level," Dolphins tackle Patrick Paul said. "The free time we do have, hang out, go eat dinner, get closer as a team. I think that helps on the field also."
Quarterback Malik Willis supports the decision.
"I think it'll be great this week," Willis said. "We can come out here and focus just on ball. I mean, we have no distractions. Not saying that we have distractions at home, but we have just a lot of time to spend with each other to go over this game plan and try to go out here and win a game."
Dolphins on board with two weeks in Western USA
The Napa area is famous for its rolling vineyards, hills and picturesque countryside.
Napa is famous for its world-class wine, top-notch food scene and charming downtown.
Turns out they've even got hot-air balloon rides.
Aside from football practice, do the Dolphins have any special plans for Napa?
"We'll see when we get there," Willis, the quarterback, said before departing Las Vegas.
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: The Dolphins aren't in Napa for the wine. Here's why they're here
