The AFC East could’ve looked a lot different this season if certain pieces fell into place for the Miami Dolphins.
Following Tom Brady’s retirement, there were reports saying the Dolphins were looking to bring him in as a minority owner and the quarterback. The reports also indicated that Miami wanted to bring former New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton in to coach Brady.
Brian Flores, who was fired as the Dolphins’ coach, filed a lawsuit against the team on the same day of Brady’s retirement. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio added some context by saying that Miami had a package together for Brady and Payton — but, pulled the plug after the lawsuit was filed.
According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Dave Hyde, the Dolphins were prepared to give Payton $100 million over the course of five years. The deal would’ve made him the second-highest paid coach in the NFL, behind only Bill Belichick.
The deals never came to fruition and Brady eventually announced his return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after a 40-day retirement. The Dolphins wanted Brady “badly,” according to Ben Volin of The Boston Globe.
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“Ross badly wanted Brady — in part to bring sizzle to the Dolphins, in part to stick it to the Patriots,” Volin wrote in column. “For Brady, it was an opportunity to get into the business side of the NFL, with the goal of one day fronting his own ownership group.”
The Dolphins now have Mike McDaniel at head coach and Tua Tagovailoa, with star receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle leading the offense.
