This time, the Miami Dolphins ran away from me faster than usual. For weeks.
Well, all except coach Mike McDaniel.
I practically ambushed him.
I also surprised Hall of Fame coach Jimmy Johnson.
But Jimmy being Jimmy, he was slick and had an escape plan.
Everyone else, when informed about my interview topic, especially when the name Harrison Butker was invoked, totally avoided me.
I guess I don’t blame them.
They thought I was asking them to touch the third rail — politics.
For the record, I wasn’t asking about their personal political preferences or Butker, the Kansas City Chiefs kicker whose recent graduation ceremony remarks were the catalyst for my inquiry.
I’d planned on asking the Dolphins, partly because it’s an election year and partly because of Butker, whether they talk politics in the locker room (not which side they’re on; I honestly don’t care about that), and whether they consider it healthy to talk politics in the locker room.
That was the inquiry.
Yes, sometimes I write about topics other writers don’t even think about:
— The Dolphins’ locker room seating chart;
— Miami’s uncanny success at the pre-game coin toss;
— How many offensive linemen grew up as “fat kids who got picked on”;
— And, most recently, the Dolphins’ work in the local community.
I’m wired differently in that respect.
Set that aside.
Political topics arise whether it’s the presidential election, gun control, social injustice, whatever.
So I asked McDaniel whether, when it comes to political stances, he encourages his players to talk about it in the locker room or whether he wants players to leave that stuff at home.
“Well, I’m glad you asked,” he cracked with a sarcastic, but humorous tone before getting serious.
“I really emphasize that whatever you’re going to say, you better believe it. You just try to educate people to understand the consequences of whatever they do. They have the freedom of choice, and if they want to go that direction, go right ahead. I’ll be right over here hanging out with you guys.”
Johnson, who is as media savvy as anyone, was totally evasive.
“Well, if our players are talking politics,” Johnson said, “they know more about it than I do.”
If you follow Dolphins players on social media you know some of them are dug-in politically and like voicing their opinions.
And let’s say this, too, sometimes it’s best to avoid political topics in the workplace.
I wonder whether that’s the case with the Dolphins.
The thing is, I don’t think it’s possible nowadays.
Is it possible in your workplace?
We might be mired in one of those times.
There have been numerous times in my career that politics, in some form, have been unavoidable in the locker room.
One such time was 9/11.
That was during my second season covering the Dolphins, the 2001 season.
Another time was 2005 when I was covering the Miami Heat.
Commissioner David Stern implemented the dress code. It had huge political tones.
There was also 2018, when some NFL players were kneeling on one knee during the national anthem in a social injustice protest.
Former Dolphins wide receiver Kenny Stills, you’ll recall, became a leader in that cause.
The Dolphins’ locker room became a political hotspot, of sorts.
And, yes, players definitely had differing opinions on the topic that they voiced publicly.
However, it didn’t tear the locker room apart.
COVID was a hot topic during the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
With some players electing not to get the vaccine, I’d imagine locker rooms had some form of COVID conversations, and some of those talks were probably hardcore.
That brings us back to modern times, Butker, and the coming election.
I genuinely enjoy talking to Dolphins players about things other than football.
As I’ve said many times, this is a great locker room.
These guys are intelligent.
I like picking their brains.
I have a few ‘A’ list Dolphins, my go-to guys when I need a well-thought out opinion.
Left tackles Terron Armstead and Kendall Lamm are on that list. So is quarterback Mike White. Fullback Alec Ingold. Running back Raheem Mostert.
I hope defensive lineman Calais Campbell, who officially signed with the Dolphins on Tuesday, will be part of that group.
Then there’s another group of guys that are also intelligent and interesting, and included in that group, in no particular order, are long snapper Blake Ferguson, kicker Jason Sanders, safety Jevon Holland, guard Robert Jones, defensive tackle Zach Sieler, edge rushers Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips, right tackle Austin Jackson, linebackers David Long Jr. and Duke Riley, running back Jeff Wilson Jr., and guard-center Liam Eichenberg, to name a few.
That’s not a complete list, and it’s not meant to be a complete list.
Don’t read anything into omissions.
Honestly.
The point is, the Dolphins’ locker room is absolutely loaded with interesting, intelligent guys.
I’ve always said that.
I’ve complimented the Dolphins — players, coaches, and front office — on that.
But with a contentious election, and its buildup, set to occur during the season, I wonder how the Dolphins plan to handle political talk.
