迈阿密海豚队新任主教练杰夫·哈弗利和通用经理乔恩-埃里克·沙利文明确表态，球队不将本赛季定位为重建年，而是以竞争者心态追求即刻改善。[1]虽然球队因切割四分卫图亚·塔戈瓦伊洛亚而承担5400万美元的合同支付，导致死亡工资帽高达9900万美元——创NFL历史新高——但管理层和球员仍坚守竞争信念。[1]
哈弗利表示："我不知道怎样与竞争球员或教练讨论我们只是重建，这与任何竞争者的心态不符。"[1]线卫乔丹·布鲁克斯也附和了这一立场，称"我不认为这是重建，因为我在其中且参与比赛"。[1]为了践行这一理念，球队在训练营中采用了11对11的对抗格式，而非传统的7对7练习，旨在建立更贴近真实比赛的习惯。[1]
The Miami Dolphins organization is approaching the upcoming season with competitive ambitions rather than acceptance of a rebuilding year, despite facing significant financial and roster constraints. New head coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Erik Sullivan have made clear that the team intends to compete immediately, rejecting any notion of treating the campaign as a transitional period.[1]
The franchise is burdened by the largest dead-cap hit in NFL history—a $99 million charge stemming from $54 million in severance payments to former quarterback Tua Tagovailoa—which complicates roster-building efforts alongside an otherwise young roster.[1] Nevertheless, Hafley stated: "I don't know how you talk to competitive players or coaches about just rebuilding. That's not a mentality that any competitor is going to have."[1] Linebacker Jordan Brooks echoed this sentiment from the players' perspective, saying: "I don't think this is a rebuild because I'm in it and I'm competing."[1]
To reinforce their competitive approach, the Dolphins have restructured training camp methods, employing 11-on-11 drills rather than the traditional 7-on-7 format.[1] This shift aims to build better game-situation habits and maintain the intensity of actual competition throughout the preparation phase.