When you are the highest-paid player on your team, the expectation is that you are going to work harder than everyone else. After all, that’s likely one of the reasons you put yourself in position to be the highest paid.
Unfortunately for the Miami Dolphins, this hasn’t necessarily been the case with defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who is absent from voluntary workouts in Miami this week.
Suh, 29, has always preferred working out at the Nike compound in Oregon instead of with his teammates during the voluntary part of the off-season program. It’s been his MO since he was a member of the Detroit Lions.
According to Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald, certain unnamed Dolphins teammates are “steamed” over Suh missing these voluntary workouts this week.
That can’t be a great way for first-year head coach Adam Gase to start his tenure with the team. One would also expect Suh to possibly make an exception this time around by actually showing up to the spring workouts, especially with a brand-new coaching staff calling the shots.
In addition to Suh, defensive end Mario Williams, linebacker Koa Misi and safety Reshad Jones were all absent from the workouts. That’s four of the team’s 11 defensive starters.
While Misi and Williams had legitimate excuses, Jones is looking for a new contract and won’t report to any voluntary activities until he receives one.
Welcome to Miami, Adam Gase.