Yesterday, in response to questions about head coach Joe Philbin's refusal to name his quarterback for this week's game against the Oakland Raiders in London, presumptive Miami Dolphins starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill went ahead and did exactly what his coach wouldn't do - he named himself the starter.
"(I'm) taking the first snap of the game and playing the game," Tannehill said.
He went on to say that "it's not a great feeling" to have his coach refuse to name him the starter, and he wishes Philbin would have handled the situation differently.
"He has his reasons. Honestly, yes. Does it feel good to deal with all the distractions that have been created because of the situation? No, but that's life," Tannehill said. "You face distractions, you face adversity in life and you have to be able to handle it, you have to be able to fight through it and become a better man and become a better player because of it. So here we are and we're getting ready to play."
That doesn't sound like a player who is handling it well.
Was it odd and probably unnecessary for Philbin to play this little cat and mouse game in the media?
Yes.
But Tannehill is a professional athlete and the supposed face of the Dolphins franchise. Instead of griping about his coach's decision and worrying about whether or not it would be a distraction in the locker room, he should put his head down and concern himself only with things he can control - like his performance this coming Sunday.
Today, reporters asked Philbin about Tannehill's comments and about his refusal to name him as his starter for the game. Philbin did his best not to back down from the choice amid questions of whether or not it had created a distraction.
"I think that's totally fair. I think everybody is entitled to their opinion," Philbin said. "They certainly can feel free to express it, and just like you said, at the end of the day, I have to go to sleep and put my head on the pillow and do what I think is the right thing. I have no issues with any of that."
Refusing to name Tannehill his starter was a bold strategy and one that could very possibly blow up in his, and the Dolphins', faces. It could also do exactly what Philbin seemingly is hoping it will do - light a fire under Tannehill and drive him to stronger play.
In the meantime, Philbin is sticking to his guns.
"If I contributed to any of those distractions, intended or not, doesn't really matter," Philbin said. "That falls on me, that's my responsibility, so certainly I accept that responsibility as the head coach. Really, that's all I have to say on it."
In the end, the ones most likely to suffer here are the Dolphins fans.
Their head coach has painted himself into a corner unnecessarily, setting the stage for major criticism should the Dolphins offense continue to sputter, and their starting quarterback has handled the situation like a petulant child.
