Ex-NFL scout asks, what is going on with the Miami Dolphins?

It has been rumored Dolphins have been interested in Texans’ quarterback (QB) Deshaun Watson, and now there are conflicting reports coming out of how much team owner, Stephen Ross, is involved in all of this? 

A story broke on Pro Football talk today, which stated that according to a “league source,” Ross wanted the Dolphins to acquire Watson. 

Watson himself has been said to be wanting to play for Miami according to another report in The Palm Beach Post. 

Within that same article, it was said if the Dolphins’ do acquire Watson at any point in the future, the organization wants it to be known it’s not Ross’ call. It was said that team general manager Chris Grier and head coach Brian Flores would be making that decision.

I will say this from my involvement in the game. The only time owners generally get involved is when there is a major decision to be made. Any decision with major organizational implications goes through ownership. 

This one is a major decision. 

Now, granted it was a “league source,” doing Ross’ talking, this still has created a major enough splash that the organization is responding to it. Typically, there is no turning back when this kind of credible information leaks.

The Dolphins are already showing they are busy pitching sandbags by their facilities’ front door as according to that article in The Palm Beach Post, as it has been reported, Flores wants his players to ‘block out’ the speculation about Watson. 

That is easier said than done. 

Tagovailoa is scheduled to start against New England, Sept. 12.

Miami finished 10-6 last season and they were in position to make another strong run this upcoming season before all of this blew up.

Now the team has to contend with this type of uncertainty – – and more importantly the team has to respond to it on the field. 

Will this most recent development undermine starting QB Tua Tagovailoa’s confidence in himself and/or the organization’s confidence in him as their leader or will it propel Tagovailoa to play lights out football? 

That remains to be seen. I personally do not believe Watson is going to Miami or anywhere else until at least 2023.

One thing is for sure, this has probably become a much bigger public spectacle than the Miami Dolphins probably wanted it to become. Support of Tagovailoa has been shaky at best to begin with this entire off-season, despite him putting together a 6-3 record as the Dolphins’ starter last season and now off of this has seeped into Miami’s locker room. 

I personally am a fan of Tagovailoa, and have been since I saw him make that miraculous play to win the National Championship for Alabama. I thought and still do think this young man is ear-marked for greatness. 

That is not taking anything away from Watson either, who I consider the most dynamic QB in the game. 

No matter the outcome, this has created some waves within the Dolphins’ organization – – and now their season will depend on how well they can ride those waves. 

I am most interested in who this “league source” was?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated Detroit Lions and he is a contributing evaluator for Draft Diamonds. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @danielkellybook and his Facebook page is WHATEVER IT TAKES NFL TALK.