Chris Perkins: Dolphins aren't 'toxic'; Mike McDaniel would never allow it

We need to clarify something about the Miami Dolphins and coach Mike McDaniel — this isn’t a toxic environment.

If you believed the social media quote falsely attributed to former offensive Dolphins tackle Kendall Lamm over the weekend — Lamm issued a denial Monday, saying he wouldn’t trash the Dolphins, and I believe him 100% — you need to read this declaration on the team and the locker room. It’s important.

The false quote said: “I understand why the Eagles reached two Super Bowls in three years: players are never late, never toxic, and after every practice, the room spends 15 minutes sharing personal struggles to stay mentally sharp — something I never got with the Dolphins.”

As you know, I’m harder on McDaniel and this team than any other media member. But I always want to be fair and keep the record straight.

I’ve been in the locker room for the entire McDaniel era. I’ve never heard a player use the term “toxic,” or anything close to that when discussing the Dolphins, on or off the record.

I’ve also never observed anything to suggest the Dolphins have a toxic environment or are toxic in any way.

In fact, I’d say, with absolute certainty, that McDaniel has built a healthy environment with the Dolphins.

Players leaguewide would back me up on that.

In 2024, the Dolphins, for the second consecutive year, ranked No. 1 in treatment of players in the annual NFL Player’s Association report card. The Dolphins got an A or A+ in all 11 categories. That reflects well on McDaniel and owner Steve Ross.

Yes, there’s a need for culture change. I drive the bus on that one.

However, requiring a culture change is a long, long way from being toxic.

McDaniel, the epitome of a “players coach,” wouldn’t tolerate a toxic environment.

McDaniel wants to fix problems, not ignore them. McDaniel, for example, has been meeting more with the Leadership Council, composed of players of different experience levels and positions, during this offseason.

McDaniel wants to build the best work environment in the NFL. On a professional level, he brings a Silicon Valley mentality to a coal mine. He relies heavily on analytics on the field for play-calling and off the field for players preservation/health/performance. On a personal level, he’s about fun. He playfully trash talks his players before and during practice to get the best out of them. On at least one occasion he played a hip-hop song recorded by a player in front of the entire team. That’s creative and entertaining. That’s different.

McDaniel wants to build better men along with better football players. I respect that greatly. I think he goes too far in some ways, but I respect him for having a (unique) vision and being true to that vision.

He thinks players are better served by running plays more than sprints, so the Dolphins don’t do as much post-practice running as other teams in training camp. Players love that.

McDaniel is about player empowerment. He views the team as a partnership between him and his players.

I’ve been around pro teams for 30 years. This is the most chill, laid-back locker room I’ve ever covered. But it’s far from toxic.

As for culture change, I’ve maintained that the biggest offshoot of the Dolphins’ culture problem is that they’ve underachieved and disappointed, almost with corporate approval and encouragement. They’ve wasted talent and wasted an opportunity.

By the way, I don’t regard being late for meetings, something else Lamm was falsely said to have referenced, a major part of the culture problem. I file that more under an individual lack of respect for McDaniel. My understanding is the tardiness issue is a specific group of repeat offenders, not a widespread group of random offenders.

To his credit, McDaniel thinks happy men means better players, so he gives players lots of leeway.

The players know this and they take advantage by doing something as selfish and disrespectful as showing up late for meetings because they know McDaniel won’t do anything but issue a fine. The problem is that NFL players have lots of money. Fines aren’t a deterrent.

McDaniel must dock them playing time. If the Dolphins lose a game because of it, well, that’s even better. That way, players will see how their selfish and disrespectful actions are hurting the team.

But McDaniel is too nice to take drastic such action. He almost cares too much.

McDaniel cares about players, and people, as much as any coach I’ve ever covered.

I once saw McDaniel walk about 40 yards toward injured New York Jets defensive tackle Solomon Thomas during a game because he was concerned about Thomas, who McDaniel got to know years earlier when both were with San Francisco.

McDaniel doesn’t do a traditional locker room seating chart (quarterbacks with other quarterbacks, running backs with other running backs, and so on …). He mixes players of different position groups and personalities so they get different experiences. McDaniel thinks. McDaniel tries new things.

If you ever, even for a second, believed that the Dolphins have a toxic environment under McDaniel, you haven’t been paying attention.

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