Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel is known for his calm, composed demeanor in front of the media. However, those familiar with him know that he ramps up the intensity during games. This was on full display in Week 12 after a penalty on Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby for jumping offsides.
As the third quarter ended, McDaniel took the opportunity to taunt Crosby after the 5-yard penalty that gave the Dolphins a first-and-5 at the Raiders’ 35-yard line to begin the fourth quarter. McDaniel yelled across the field to Crosby, “Hey, we didn’t have a play called, Maxx! We didn’t even have a play called! L-O-L.”
The interaction quickly gained traction on social media, with podcaster Bobby Shouse sharing the clip on November 21. The post racked up around 250,000 views in just five hours. Sun Sentinel reporter David Furones also shared the video, which has since been viewed more than 60,000 times.
Furones pointed out that McDaniel’s trash talk was part of a broader strategy to get into Crosby’s head. Crosby, an All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler, had committed the neutral-zone infraction at the end of the third quarter. This penalty helped the Dolphins move closer to a potential score.
CBS Sports’ Jared Dubin commented that McDaniel’s taunt was a form of trolling, acknowledging that while the infraction wasn’t game-changing, it contributed to Miami’s overall momentum. “Sometimes trying whatever you can to gain extra yards can work, even against one of the NFL’s best players,” Dubin wrote.
The clip also caught the attention of social media personalities, with Nicky Smokess calling it “this clip rocks” on X.
While the penalty didn’t directly lead to a Dolphins score — as Miami was flagged for holding on the next play — the team eventually finished the drive with a touchdown. Although the Raiders matched with a touchdown of their own, they never got closer than five points.
Not all fans were impressed with McDaniel’s trash talk, though. Some took to X to criticize the coach for his antics, especially given the Dolphins’ 4-6 record at the time. “Coach more, troll less,” one user wrote, while others argued that McDaniel needed to focus on winning consistently before engaging in any smack talk.
Despite McDaniel leading the Dolphins to two playoff appearances in his first two seasons as head coach, both ended in first-round exits. As of Week 11, Miami had beaten only teams with a combined 12-30 record. “Mike McDaniel has to be the most insufferable guy on the planet,” one user tweeted, referencing his tendency to talk big despite a lack of postseason success.
The Dolphins will have another chance to build momentum in Week 12 against the 3-8 New England Patriots, whom they had already beaten earlier in the season.
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