Every now and then Miami Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley says something that makes your ears perk up.
Wait. What? Did he just say that?
In Hafley's news conference a day after team lost to the Vikings to fall to 0-4, he made a comment just like that.
Hafley said, in essence, that anyone who's not all in can go to general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and request a trade or a release.
Wow.
Here were the parts of his commentary that jumped out:
"What I just told them downstairs in the team meeting, I told the guys very clearly that this was going to be a tough journey that we were all going to go on," Hafley said. "And I told them that if they weren't up for it, then go talk to Sully, right?"
Hafley seems like a nice guy. He cares about his players. He resonates
as approachable.
But make no mistake. These Dolphins are going to do things his way or they can part ways.
That firmness has been required in the re-building of Miami's football club.
That firmness and directness is a breath of fresh air.
Miami Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley is direct and firm
The Dolphins were in need of the dreaded culture change. Hafley wants to build a team, alongside his former Green Bay counterpart Sullivan, that is tough and physical and disciplined.
When it comes to discipline, it's not just on the field. It's off the field. It's mental.
The Dolphins have drafted players they believe have the physical and mental toughness to be a part of turning the club back in the right direction.
Hafley needs most, if not all, of the veterans in the room to stay on track, work through frustrations and continue to believe in this process, even as wins may not come.
"This is the time to find out as we build this thing and grow, who are the real guys?" Hafley said. "Who are the guys that we can trust that want in the boat, because when we flip this thing and we will flip this thing, that we want to have around and the only way you find out those things is going through adversity together."
Linebacker Jordyn Brooks and center Aaron Brewer may be the most important leaders on the team. They were rewarded contractually and part of those deals is a commitment to help Hafley's messaging resonate with the team. Trust is a two-way street. And it helps to have surrogates.
Hafley is a strong personality. He is going to make decisions and not waver. He wants to take on the burden of decisions and take on the responsibility of the successes and failures.
I recall asking Hafley about if he'd lean on the captains for conversations about things like practice intensity and travel schedules. His response to that question struck me, just like his most recent one did, too.
Then, Hafley said: "Ultimately I'm gonna make the decision. I mean, that's just the way it's gonna' go."
'I'm gonna make the decision,' Jeff Hafley says
It's important that the Dolphins have a coach who believes in his methods, without waver.
It's important that the Dolphins have a coach who seems more than willing to bench or even trade or release a player who is not on board with the latest organizational approach.
The buck stops with Hafley. It's clear.
And Hafley, a former college head coach at Boston College, has the right temperament to deal with the NFL's youngest team. There will be patience for youthful mistakes. There will not be any tolerance for below-standard effort. No loafs. No turned down tackles. Or blocks.
He's made it clear it will not be tolerated.
It seems likely Miami will listen to phone calls before the November 10 trade deadline on any veterans of interest. Perhaps they'll take a call or two on Zach Sieler, Austin Jackson, Josh Uche, Jaylen Wright and/or Jalen Tolbert.
This is not to suggest that Miami is in a particular rush to trade any particular player or players, including any of those mentioned above.
This is just to suggest that Miami will surely listen.
As for the idea that any player who is not bringing the energy, toughness and focus Hafley requires could be moved? It's refreshing to hear Hafley say that quiet part out loud.
The warning siren has been sound.
"I do believe we have the right guys more or less that will help us get to that point," Hafley said of the desired destination.
More or less, Hafley said.
Stay tuned. It's only Week 5.
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 Threads and Instagram and X at @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: Jeff Hafley's clear message to Dolphins: Get on board or move on
