The Miami Dolphins traded WR Jarvis Landry to Cleveland ahead of the 2018 NFL season in hopes that removing him from Adam Gase’s locker room would help the chemistry of the team. And with Landry out of the picture, Gase’s Dolphins still flopped and the locker room turned on the former head coach, who is now in New York with the Jets.
As it turns out, the former LSU receiver wasn’t the problem with the locker room culture in Miami. And when Landry started his career fresh in Cleveland with the Browns, he was quick to notice.
The Palm Beach Post’s Hal Habib caught up with Landry in the aftermath of Cleveland’s 41-24 victory over the Dolphins in Week 12, and Landry acknowledged the clear difference between Gase’s locker room and the culture of the team he went to in Cleveland.
“I’m blessed. I love walking in here and shaking everybody’s hand, some things I didn’t necessarily have in Miami. It’s a lot of appreciation, genuine people, a lot of love. And that goes a long way,” said Landry according to Habib.
“When you can walk into work and actually be happy and people are happy to see you, and you’re happy to see them, it goes a long way.”
Dolphins fans will be happy to not see Landry again on the schedule this year after the receiver rolled up 10 receptions for 148 yards and 2 touchdowns yesterday against the Dolphins. It’s bittersweet for many — Landry was a fan favorite for his passionate play and he always put his best forward on the field, so seeing him succeed is sure to make Dolphins fans everywhere happy for Landry. But the creeping doubt of “what if” is quick to follow.
What if Landry were still around? What if the Dolphins had opted to hire a different coach other than Gase back in 2016?
The hypotheticals will drive you crazy. This is the path that was chosen for Miami and for Landry. All we can do at this point is be like Landry in Cleveland: happy for the change.
