Days after a damning report claiming that Ryan Tannehill treated members of the Miami Dolphins practice team like second-rate citizens, the Dolphins quarterback admitted to reporters that he did indeed make disparaging comments toward those players.
Ryan Tannehill slams ‘slanderous’ reports but admits to being a jerk to scout team
The Dolphins quarterback said that he criticized the practice squad players, but never said anything about their paychecks.
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"It was a day before the [New York Jets] game, and I didn't feel we were getting the looks that we needed before a game, so I got upset," Tannehill said after Wednesday's practice, via ESPN. "But I said nothing about a paycheck or anything close to that. I know everyone in this building works hard every single day. So I respect that and I would never take a shot like that."
The admission comes on the heels of a report from the National Football Post’s Aaron Wilson which claims that during a recent practice the Dolphins franchise quarterback shouted, “Enjoy your practice squad paycheck, enjoy your practice squad trophy” after members of Miami’s scout team forced a turnover. On Wednesday, Tannehill acknowledged that he made the comment about the scout team trophy but denied ever referencing those players’ paychecks.
“It’s slanderous to report things I didn’t say, to degrade my reputation, it’s sickening to me,” Tannehill added, via NFL Media’s Jeff Darlington.
The National Football Post report also stated that former head coach Joe Philbin, who was fired earlier this week, asked practice squad players to take it easy on Tannehill to prevent him from becoming rattled, which was happening with increasing frequency in recent weeks. Tannehill didn’t comment about that report, though he did attempt to explain his practice mentality.
“I was heated, I’m very passionate about this game,” he said. “I put a lot into it, put a lot into my preparation, how I go about my business every day.
“I did get upset and said those things, but I talked to those guys and cleared the air with them and we’re moving forward.”
Tannehill, now in his fourth year in the NFL and coming off a six-year, $96 million contract extension that he signed with the Dolphins in the offseason, is completing just 57 percent of his passes this season and has thrown just seven touchdowns compared to five interceptions. The 1-3 Dolphins and interim head coach Dan Campbell, who doesn't seem like he'll let anyone take it easy in practice, are off this week and travel to Tennessee in Week 6.
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