Racism? Stephen A. Smith Isn’t Convinced by Dolphins Just Firing Chris Grier: “I Better Hear Mike McDaniel’s Name”

The Miami Dolphins were battered by the Baltimore Ravens at home, leaving fans frustrated and covering their heads with paper bags.

Racism? Stephen A. Smith Isn’t Convinced by Dolphins Just Firing Chris Grier: “I Better Hear Mike McDaniel’s Name”

Chris Grier, Mike McDaniel; Stephen A. Smith (Images via Sky Sports/The Palm Beach Post/The New Yorker)

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The Miami Dolphins owner Steve Ross fired long-time general manager Chris Grier following the team’s recent loss against the Baltimore Ravens. The Dolphins are 2-7 in the season and much closer to a back-to-back playoffs miss.

Stephen A. Smith, the famed ESPN broadcaster, wasn’t happy with Steve Ross’ decision to fire Chris Grier ahead of the failing head coach, Mike McDaniel. Smith accused Ross and the management of racism. He feels that the management was trying to pin the blame on a Black individual rather than the person responsible for the recent bad performances.

Smith strongly implied that QB Tua Tagovailoa and the head coach, McDaniel, are the responsible personalities for the damning losses.

The brother gets fired first? All I know is this, I better hear Mike McDaniel’s name today. I’m not saying that he don’t deserve it because of the way they look. You’re at the helm, I got it. I understand it. I’m all for brothers as head coaches and GMs. We know what battles I’ve been fighting for over 30 years. I got it.

Stephen A. Smith argued on the recent First Take episode

Smith admitted that just three playoff appearances since assuming the role, in reference to Chris Grier, are reasons to be evaluated and fired. However, his problem is that Grier was the sole person fired, and the Dolphins’ management needed to take more action.

The analyst further rained down on McDaniel and ripped into the young coach. He told the co-panelists that McDaniel should be held responsible and called him out on his reluctance to give answers for their terrible record. He even compared McDaniel’s appearance to a service personality at Geek Squad, a subsidiary of Best Buy.

Mike McDaniel with the glasses, giving one-word answers at the press conference, looking like a man from the Geek Squad from Best Buy. That brother gets to keep his job for the rest of the season? With how this team has looked? Nah, that’s BS. That man needs to be gone too.

Smith added

Much to Stephen A. Smith’s dismay, Mike McDaniel is set to stay with the Dolphins

To Stephen A. Smith’s disappointment, ESPN’s Adam Schefter later reported that McDaniel is expected to retain his position for at least the remainder of the season.

Mike McDaniel and Tua Tagovailoa
Mike McDaniel and Tua Tagovailoa (Image via Uncle Jack/X)

Chris Grier holds the record of the longest tenured NFL general manager without a postseason victory. Rather than McDaniel having brownie points over Chris Grier, it is the latter’s inadequacies that led him down the road to a firing.

Chris Grier’s plan to rebuild didn’t pan out as he thought or proposed years ago. The Miami Dolphins acquired some high-value superstars and handed out some pretty big contracts as well. However, neither did any good for the Fins.

ESPN’s Marcel Louis Jacquez wrote that the trade deadline-related issues might have expedited the firing process. The Dolphins are in a bind at the quarterback position as Tagovailoa has almost as much as interceptions as he has touchdowns. His contract is a major roadblock for the Fins as teams might be hesitant to accept his contract, well-knowing his production numbers. The ESPN writer noted that Grier might not have been willing to part with a few players at the trade deadline, which is fast approaching.

The decision to keep on Mike McDaniel might not have pleased Stephen A. Smith, but it won some major points from Colin Cowherd. Cowherd mentioned that caution is better in these situations and advised against hiring an interim coach as head coach after they won some remaining games.

Cowherd also named Lane Kiffin as the potential replacement for McDaniel, after this season nonetheless of the upcoming results.

Also Read: (Video) Dolphins Coach Lashes out at RB Ollie Gordon After He Was Flagged for a Tripping Call