Players-only meetings are rarely good things. They're virtually unheard of following the first week of the NFL season.
Yet, the Miami Dolphins felt compelled to hold one after their 33-8 shellacking at the hands of the Indianapolis Colts.
Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks, one of six Miami captains, explained the purpose of the players' meeting.
"Just staying locked in. Losing the way we did Week 1, it can be discouraging," Brooks said, via team transcript. "Outside noise. People talking. Fans talking. Family talking. … Just kind of making sure that everybody's together."
The loss brought some heat on head coach Mike McDaniel, who was asked to explain how the Dolphins could perform so poorly in the opener.
"Guys let the bells and whistles of Week 1 get the best of them, and they got dealt some strong humility," McDaniel said after the game. "We're a young team going through some growing pains. That's what the NFL is and what the NFL does -- it teaches you some hard lessons sometimes."
While the players-only meeting could be viewed as a mutiny, Brooks indicated the Dolphins' players merely needed to come together before they lose confidence in themselves.
"When you lose like that, it's easy for people to get discouraged. Start looking and questioning maybe yourself or others," Brooks said. "So, making sure we all lock back in. Making sure the belief is still there.
"If you lose belief, you don't have nothing. So, making sure that everybody's on the next page and come back strong."
Pass rusher Chop Robinson believes the Dolphins have the right attitude this week.
"It's been great, everybody is tuned in," Robinson said. "Everybody is locked in, the communication with each other, just everything. Everybody is just forgetting about the past and just moving on forward trying to be better than last week, for sure."
The Dolphins will try to do that starting Sunday, when they host the 0-1 Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium.
