Miami Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill admitted on Wednesday that he snapped at his scout-team defense during last weekend’s practice before the Jets game in London – but Tannehill insisted he did not tell a team-mate to “enjoy your practice-squad paycheck.”
The quarterback spoke to the media after practice to try and tamp down on the latest negative report to come out of the crisis-hit Dolphins.
Tannehill said: “It was a day before the [Jets] game, and I didn’t feel we were getting the looks that we needed before a game, so I got upset. But I said nothing about a paycheck or anything close to that. I know everyone in this building works hard every single day. So I respect that and I would never take a shot like that.
“Am I happy about everything I said? No. [Am I happy] the things went down the way they did? No. I hold myself to a higher standard than to take a shot at something like that.”
The Miami Herald reported on Monday that Tannehill got angry when linebacker Chris McCain went in more aggressively than usual for a Saturday practice. Tannehill reportedly said something to the effect that he would prepare a scout team trophy for him.
Tannehill admitted he made negative comments about “a scout team or trophy” after the defense was giving him trouble in practice.
The quarterback said: “I was heated, I’m very passionate about this game. I put a lot into it, put a lot into my preparation, how I go about my business every day. And I feel like it’s the day before the game and it’s crucial to our preparation and how we go into a game. I did get upset and said those things, but I talked to those guys and cleared the air with them and we’re moving forward.”
Tannehill had his worst game of the season against the Jets at Wembley. He threw for a season-low 198 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in the Dolphins’ 27-14 loss. The Dolphins have had a miserable start to the new NFL season, and coach Joe Philbin was fired on Monday with the team 1-3.
According to Tannehill, he spoke to his team-mates afterwards to clear the air, and maintained there were no hard feelings. But on Wednesday he described as “sickening” what he considered to be inaccurate reporting.
“To put words into my mouth that I didn’t say, to degrade my reputation and what I stand for – honestly it’s sickening to me,” Tannehill said. “On top of that, just the fact that something inside the locker room gets out obviously upsets me as well.”
