The Miami Dolphins‘ 31–6 implosion against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday has sparked a full reckoning within the organization. What started as a typical Week 7 game soon turned into the team’s worst performance under head coach Mike McDaniel, one that has left pundits calling for the organization to back away from any intention to fire him in light of evidence that the Dolphins’ dysfunction is more likely rooted in the locker room rather than the sideline.

The debate reignited on Monday on The Dan Patrick Show, when former quarterback Robert Griffin III reacted to Bill Cowher’s ‘disinterested ‘comment: “It means that the Miami Dolphins need to blow it all up. Dan, they have to fire Mike McDaniel. And I do also believe they have to get rid of Tua.”

Griffin’s criticism came hours after Miami’s latest offensive collapse, a game filled with mental errors and turnovers that justified his and broadcaster Bill Cowher’s reference to as “disinterested” play.

Tagovailoa had three interceptions, including a horrific red-zone interception on Miami’s first series and a third-quarter misread that sailed straight into the clutches of Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. The Dolphins also fumbled a snap on 3rd-and-1 close to midfield, ending another drive and highlighting just how uncoordinated the unit has become.

Griffin equated those sequences directly with the players’ body language, “And now it’s affecting his (Tua) play to a level of like coach Bill said, they’re disinterested. They don’t want to play. Mike McDaniel does not look like he’s having fun right on the sidelines.” Behind a balanced 389-yard effort, the Browns out-ran Miami 186–63 and scored on five consecutive drives to lock up the game.

Defensively, Cleveland’s front four dictated everything: Myles Garrett and Za’Darius Smith combined for 3.5 sacks, repeatedly collapsing the pocket as Miami’s protection broke down. By late in the third quarter, frustration on the Dolphins’ sideline was evident, receivers miscommunicated on routes, linemen gestured toward the bench after missed assignments, and McDaniel’s motion-heavy offense, once hailed as the NFL’s most dynamic, looked more confusing than creative.

For a team that led the league in yards per game last year, Sunday’s 197-yard showing was symbolic of a broader breakdown: Miami’s timing, energy, and execution all vanished at once. The suggestion to “walk back” McDaniel’s firing talk is less about saving his job and more about acknowledging that the players themselves may have stopped responding long before the head coach lost control.

Griffin’s honest remarks also illustrated how broken things are between Tua Tagovailoa and his teammates.

Former Dolphins’ star: Tua Tagovailoa ‘lost that locker room’

“I do believe Tua himself has lost that locker room,” Griffin said. “we saw it last week when he came out and called out, you know, the leadership in the building.” His words cut in the aftermath of another afternoon of turnovers on which Tagovailoa’s decision-making and poise had appeared to melt away.

Tagovailoa had earlier provoked inner turmoil days ago by complaining about team discipline following an earlier defeat, saying, “I think it starts with the leadership in helping articulate that for the guys and then what we’re expecting out of the guys.” Those comments stoked rumors that Tua no longer enjoys the confidence of his teammates. Sources told NFL Network that several veterans were angered by his remarks, feeling they publicly aired issues that should have stayed in-house.

By mid-week, the quarterback publicly backtracked. ”I’ve made a mistake, and I’m owning up to that right now,” Tagovailoa said. “I’ve talked to guys on the team about it, talked to the leaders about it. They know my heart. They know that the intent was right. The intent can be right, but when things get misconstrued or however the media wants to portray it, that leaves a void of silence and a lot of questions for the guys on our team.”

Nevertheless, even after apologizing, his performance is still sluggish. His 24.1 passer rating Sunday was his lowest in his career, and his 10 interceptions left him tied with Las Vegas’ Geno Smith for the NFL lead.

The only win of the season for the Dolphins was over the winless New York Jets.

At 1–6, ownership is holding off on changes, with reports confirming that Stephen Ross isn’t moving on McDaniel “for now.” Walking back the firing statement may preserve appearances, yet unless both the coach and quarterback regain the locker room’s trust, the Dolphins’ season risks slipping beyond repair.