Dolphins Dan Campbell On Grimes-Tannehill Controversy, Reflects On 2015 NFL Season
By Abraham Gutierrez
To say that it has been a turbulent 2015 NFL season for the Miami Dolphins organization would be a huge understatement. As the team prepares for a Week 17 battle against New England, no one is looking forward to the offseason more than interim head coach Dan Campbell, who, in retrospect, bit off more than he could chew when he inherited this bunch.
Not only will this year's Fins team go down as one of the biggest busts in NFL history, but having to address Brent Grimes' wife Miko's social media remarks about quarterback Ryan Tannehill at this stage of the season takes things to a whole new level.
"I'm not concerned about it. I just wanted to make sure those two are okay and I know that they are. I've talked to both of them," Campbell told media members in Wednesday's conference call. "I know that they've talked to each other and we're off to New England now. I feel like the issue is resolved."
Tannehill was the main target in a line of Twitter attacks made by his teammate's wife. Following Miami's Sunday loss to Indianapolis, Miko Grimes wrote on Twitter that she knew Tannehill "stunk the minute we signed to this team but I tried to keep quiet so I didn't discourage [her husband] from believing in his team."
Tannehill also tried his best to defuse the situation. When approached by reporters this week, the Fins signal-caller called the whole thing "a distraction," and did his best to focus on the task at hand, the New England Patriots.
"Honestly at this point I've heard what she said and I don't really want to give it the time of day," said the former Texas A&M standout. "It doesn't affect the way I think about myself or the way that I go about my business and prepare to win games. The saddest part about the whole thing is that we have to answer questions about it and it's becoming a distraction to myself, this organization and this team. Other than that, it's just business as usual and nothing has changed for me."
As for Grimes, reporters looking to dig up some additional information also harassed him this week. Much like he's done in the past, the Fins defensive back tried his best to separate himself from his significant other's incendiary social media posts.
"I've said this plenty of times: My wife is my wife," Grimes said. "She talks. We don't speak the same things. That's her. My wife's opinions are her opinions. They're not my opinions. I really don't understand why you ask me about my wife's opinions. It's not mine."
In addition, Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry also participated in a conference call with members of the New England media. Coming as no surprise, he was also asked to weigh in on the Grimes-Tannehill controversy, but to no avail.
"I can't speak on behalf of anybody on this matter, on that situation," said the LSU product. "Honestly, I don't want to be part of it. I'm sorry to refrain your question to Coach (Dan Campbell) and to (QB) Ryan (Tannehill), but I don't really want to be part of that topic."
Luckily, Campbell was able to put the topic to rest in his opening remarks. With Grimes and Tannehill out of the way, the interim coach was asked to assess the 2015 NFL season, which didn't quite make things much easier for Joe Philbin's successor.
"I do look back and say 'my gosh, here we are,'" Campbell stated. "After all of that, everything that's been going on, this is the last week and you do kind of reflect back as to everything that's gone on, everything that's happened and now here we are. Other than that – I'm just like what I was when I first took over, I just want to win. I want to win a game and you've got one more, it's a good team that's coming in and I just want to go out and compete and find a way to win. That's what I want to do."
Abe Gutierrez's (Twitter: @GutierrezAbe) passion led him to ditch law school journey in order to launch his own publishing company. His expertise make him a valued addition to Examiner.com, AXS.com and the CBS-Sports family. Some of his work can be found on CBS-Miami (Dolphins), CBS-LosAngeles (Chargers), CBS-BayArea (Raiders), CBS-NewYork (NY Jets), CBS-TampaBay (Buccaneers), AXS.com, Examiner.com and other online publications.
