Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel explains keeping Crossman, dismissing Applebaum and more

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said “it never really crossed my mind” to dismiss special teams coordinator Danny Crossman after a disappointing season for the unit in 2022.

Miami’s special teams unit was ranked 28th by Football Outsiders’ efficiency metrics as kicker Jason Sanders struggled at times and Miami had a nonexistent return game. But McDaniel elected to retain Crossman, who has been with the team since 2019.

“For me, it never really crossed my mind, and that just comes as a result of daily evaluations of all coaching involved in the building,” McDaniel said Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. “I think that the Miami Dolphins fanbase, the players and Danny and myself would all agree that the desired results, we have more to achieve; but if I would have determined that that was solely his – if I thought that we couldn’t get to where we need to get to go with Danny Crossman, I would have made a move. I definitely didn’t feel that way and that just comes as a result of daily investment into the coaching staff and what he brings to the table.”

Meanwhile, McDaniel said the decision to fire offensive line coach Matt Applebaum after one season was about taking away responsibilities from offensive coordinator Frank Smith, who was also involved in coaching the linemen. A league source told the Miami Herald the team is hiring Butch Barry as the next offensive line coach, though the team has yet to officially announce the move.

“The way the staff was orchestrated the previous year, I really needed to get more offensive coordinator work out of Frank Smith and he was devoted a little too much to the offensive line,” McDaniel said. “And I needed more, selfishly, to alleviate some stuff off my plate; and so that was the motivating factor to make that move, was to facilitate Frank Smith being able to appropriate his time more as a coordinator and less in the offensive line room.”

McDaniel responds to Jones’ tweets

In the wake of a pair of tweets from Bryon Jones in which he said he can’t run or jump because of injuries in the NFL and voiced warning about taking pills or injections from medical staff, McDaniel said he did not hear any concerns from the cornerback about his rehab process last season.

“I know it’s a tough situation from a competitor that loves to play the game of football,” McDaniel said. “The one thing I will say is that throughout the process, Byron’s been able to be the conductor of the train. I think the Dolphins’ organization, the entire training staff and the medical department has supported him on every turn and I think we’ll continue to do that as he presses forward.”

A league source told the Miami Herald that Jones is not retiring and that there is no pending lawsuit over the handling of his injury.

Asked whether Jones at any point expressed concerns about his medical treatment, McDaniel said, “To me specifically, no. I try to keep my ear to the street, so to speak. The bottom line is he feels the way he feels and I think as a leader of professional athletes, I empathize with how everyone truly feels. I think all I can do is support. I know [general manager] Chris [Grier] feels the same way, we can just support the player in the process and do best with that.”

Gesicki likely to test free agency

When asked whether there is any scenario in which Mike Gesicki, an impending free agent, returns to the team in 2023, McDaniel indicated that the veteran tight end will likely test free agency, as has been expected.

“There is always a spot for good players,” McDaniel said. “I think that Mike has earned the opportunity to test the market and I very much encourage that. That’s being in charge of doing our best to take care of their careers as best we can. But for him to have that opportunity to go earn, we very much encourage that. However, we are not in the business of saying no to good players. I wouldn’t close that door at all.”

Gesicki played the 2022 season on the franchise tag but had a diminished role in McDaniel’s offense, recording his fewest receptions and yards since his rookie season. At the end-of-season news conference in January, Grier made similar comments as McDaniel, saying Gesicki “earned the right to be a free agent.”