Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel wasn’t about to sacrifice any draft picks over accidental tampering at this week’s 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.
After McDaniel was asked about Buffalo Bills safety Jordan Poyer strongly hinting he had interest in joining the Dolphins as a free agent, McDaniel quickly sidestepped the prompt.
The Miami coach also found a very humorous, roundabout way to lament on the Dolphins losing two draft picks (including a 2023 first-rounder) in the franchise’s tampering scandal involving Tom Brady and Sean Payton.
While McDaniel was elsewhere when all of that happened, he won’t let his team get fooled again when it comes to breaking league rules.
Mike McDaniel on Jordan Poyer: I’m not in the business of tampering. We need all the draft picks we can get. pic.twitter.com/HdFhFOh3RS
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) February 28, 2023
Well, you can’t fault McDaniel’s savviness. As you well know, NFL teams aren’t allowed any contact with free agents until the “legal tampering window” opens shortly before the start of the new league year.
This year, teams can start negotiating with prospective players on March 13. Maybe the Dolphins and Poyer will start talking then.