Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel recently addressed comments made by former player DeShon Elliott regarding the team's mental toughness. In a recent episode of the Punch Line Podcast, Elliott, now a safety with the Pittsburgh Steelers, characterized the Dolphins, the team he played for in the previous season, as 'soft.' Despite the remarks, McDaniel emphasized his focus on the current roster and the challenges they face in the present season, as reported by ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques.
'I am supremely only concerned with the 2024 Dolphins, for sure,' McDaniel stated. He continued, noting that the team has demonstrated resilience in their recent matchups. 'Our team played a tough-fought game the past three weeks and ended up finding a way to win this past week. That's not the easiest thing to do. I just worry about this year's team. He said it on a podcast? Cool podcast.'
Elliott specifically criticized the Dolphins’ mental toughness during his podcast appearance, mentioning that although some players exhibited toughness, the majority lacked the mental fortitude needed at higher levels of competition. He remarked, 'So to be on a [Steelers] team with a full team of mentally tough guys going against a mentally tough team ... this is going to be fun.' Elliott, who joined the Steelers with a two-year contract after a single season in Miami, contributed significantly during his time with the Dolphins, accumulating 82 tackles, a forced fumble, an interception, and seven passes defended last season. This year, he has continued to perform well, recording 64 tackles, a forced fumble, an interception, and four passes defended. As the Dolphins aim to recover from a challenging 3-6 start to the season, McDaniel appears to be maintaining his focus on the team's upcoming challenges, including their next game against the Las Vegas Raiders, after a recent victory against the Los Angeles Rams. Meanwhile, Elliott and the Steelers, currently holding a 7-2 record following a close win over the Washington Commanders, are gearing up for a significant matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
