The plan, the offseason — everything, really — came down to this:
“Everything is different,’’ cornerback Xavien Howard said. “Everyone is happy.”
Isn’t that it?
Doesn’t that sum up the new direction of the Miami Dolphins — if an emotion can be a direction?
Howard, one of the game’s top cornerbacks, stood on a small stage in the Miami Dolphins interview room and talked of his new contract, of new coach Mike McDaniel, of much of the former defensive staff returning — and most importantly, of how the Dolphins, “did everything,” to get him back.
The offseason is a time for players to be selfish about money and demands. Howard and his agent, David Canter, played the game well. Howard then left the stage and fist-bumped Emmanuel Ogbah, who stepped up to it to discuss his new contract with a healthy smile and …
“I’m happy,’’ he said.
It’s been a parade of that line all offseason. You’ll surely hear it all spring and summer, too, as this franchise pivoted from the previous three years under demanding, dictatorial and suddenly draconian coach Brian Flores. Just marketing players with news conferences after signing contracts is a change.
There’s certain to be at least a short-term, uptick of enthusiasm inside the Dolphins among players who didn’t just get paid well but by all apparent signs enjoy the changed air of the anti-Flores in McDaniel. An offensive coach. A quirky vocabulary. A people person.
“A good player’s coach,’’ Ogbah said.
There are lots of ways up the mountain. Young teams like Jimmy Johnson had in Dallas. Dour teams like Bill Belichick has had in New England. Veteran teams like Tom Brady has had in Tampa Bay. One-hit-wonder teams like, well, much of the NFL.
The Dolphins now try the happy way. And, yes, you can buy happiness in sports. It was proven by the Los Angeles Rams as they made room for stars by dumping draft picks and average players overboard. Of course their two best players — defensive tackle Aaron Donald and receiver Cooper Kupp — came in the draft.
The Dolphins have a drafted core, too. They sacrificed the past three years getting it. That left them with the same average record and uneven roster where they started after the 2018 season. Hence, this changed route.
With quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and several other starters on rookie contracts, they have a two-year window to throw team owner Steve Ross’ money around and fill some obvious holes with free agency. As receiver Tyreek Hill laughed in announcing his $120 million contract recently, “Eff the draft picks.”
Ross didn’t make it rain. He made it flash flood. He wrote so many big checks to players who were going to get the money here or somewhere else that there was only one obvious message that can’t be lost on the players.
“They’re taking care of their own,’’ Ogbah said. “They believe in us. We did something special and we want to keep on building off of that. There’s still a lot of work to be done.”
Uh, well, no, that’s not really the message. This team hasn’t done anything special considering the playoffs haven’t even been been cracked.
That’s real question here, the one that will be debated all offseason: Can the Dolphins win? No one questions the names they added too hard. But, remember, the idea wasn’t just to make the playoffs when they sacrificed three seasons. It was to win big.
The Las Vegas betting line puts them at 10th in the AFC even after all these signings. That’s just a conversation piece for now.
Everyone’s happy because they got the kind of life-changing contracts they built careers to achieve. Good for them, too.
Remember, it was eight months ago when Howard glumly reported to training camp without a redone contract only because he’d lose a daily fine. Asked if he was happy to be there, he simply stated the facts.
“I’m here,’’ he said.
On Tuesday, with a $75 million contract signed, he’s happy.
“I’m just excited to be a Dolphin and continue to play here and hopefully retire [here] and hopefully win the Super Bowl here too,’’ he said.
The Dolphins aren’t in pursuit of happiness. They’re happy. Listen to them. Look at their contracts. The idea now is whether happiness leads down the road to what Howard understands all these big contracts demand.
“To win,’’ he said.
