This was the highlight of the night for many of the Dolphins players. (Getty Images)
DAVIE—The
Dolphins’ locker room conversation about clinching a playoff spot was understated compared to the rampant reaction by their fans
when it became official Sunday night.
Many of the players watched the Chiefs’ victory over Denver intently, eager to solidify the franchise’s first postseason berth since 2008, but right tackle Ja’Wuan James was asleep. He normally calls it a night around 9 p.m. and was perfectly content to check the score in the morning.
Adam Gase said he had the game on at his house “kind of as background noise” while he dissected film from the Dolphins’ win over Buffalo the night before. Long snapper John Denney, a man who’s been here 12 years and sniffed the playoffs just once, watched it quietly on the couch with his wife.
“It was exciting, but there was no balloons or drinks,” he said. “It was kinda surreal, to be honest, like, ‘Wow, this is happening. It’s been a while. This is what we’ve been working for.’”
