Dolphins React With Maturity to Multiple Scuffles at Joint Practice, Including Mike McDaniel

Dolphins React With Maturity to Multiple Scuffles at Joint Practice, Including Mike McDaniel originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Yesterday, New England Patriots' head coach Mike Vrabel was seen jumping in the middle of a scuffle during New England's joint practice with the Washington Commanders to break it up and left with blood on his face. Today, it was Miami Dolphins' head coach Mike McDaniel's turn.

McDaniel didn't shed blood on Friday, but the Dolphins' head coach was quick to jump in to break up a scuffle that broke out after extracurriculars began between Dolphins' receiver Dee Eskridge and Chicago Bears' cornerback Kevin Byard.

Some extracurriculars between Dee Eskridge and Kevin Byard during RZ drills

Escalates to a shoving match between Aaron Brewer and Tyrique Stevenson — and Eskridge got involved again

Skirmish breaks out but Mike McDaniel gets in the the middle of it to break it up while Tyreek…

— Marcel Louis-Jacques (@Marcel_LJ) August 8, 2025

"(Mike McDaniel) thinks fights are a waste of time -- we're here to practice," Dolphins' offensive lineman James Daniels said (h/t ESPN). "If you throw a punch in a game, you're going to get ejected. So that's how he's looking at it, and we're really the same way. We're not trying to fight, we're just trying to practice, go against each other, get some good looks and then go home."

Although McDaniel was able to get the players to separate and calm the waters without getting injured, his recently acquired All-Pro safety would prefer that he let the players handle any future scuffles.

"I think that's very dangerous -- we need our head coach, you know what I'm saying?" Minkah Fitzpatrick said (h/t ESPN). "We don't want him to get hurt, so I appreciate it. But I think we could get 'em separated ourselves."

Fitzpatrick didn't say it with any animosity toward his head coach; he just doesn't think McDaniel needs to risk himself getting involved.

That wasn't the only time tensions rose on Friday, though. Dolphins' linebacker Jordyn Brooks reportedly had to be separated from his own teammates, and punches were thrown, according to Miami Herald's Omar Kelly.

Jordyn Brooks just had to be separated from a teammate on the Dolphins sideline. Couldn’t tell which teammate but Zach Sieler ultimately came over and put an end to it

— Marcel Louis-Jacques (@Marcel_LJ) August 8, 2025

Brooks is in line to be one of the Dolphins' starting inside linebackers this season and plays with a lot of energy. He's a leader on the team, and Fitzpatrick came to his defense on Friday, saying that sometimes holding people accountable becomes confrontational.

"He's another dude that's passionate about the game. He loves the game," Fitzpatrick said (h/t ESPN). "Even today, he was holding people to a high standard and it becomes confrontational -- but I think that's necessary when you do anything to a high standard.

"He's a guy that I appreciate playing with, and he's another guy whose energy is infectious and great for our team."

It's unclear what started the scuffle with Brooks or who else was involved, but it appeared to be a case of competitiveness and energy boiling over. Brooks also intercepted Bears' quarterback Caleb Williams during practice today.

Fights breaking out aren't exactly what you want to be the headline coming out of joint practices, but the Dolphins' leaders seemed to handle the situation well. Miami will face Chicago in its first preseason game on Sunday.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 8, 2025, where it first appeared.