Miami, FL
Sunday Dolphins Mailbag: Grier, O-Line, Tua, and More
Part 2 of the post-Bills game Miami Dolphins On SI mailbag:
From Josh Streimer (@Josh_streimer):
Any reason to be optimistic?
Hey Josh, there are many reasons to be optimistic, starting with the playmakers on offense and a defense that’s actually played pretty well the first two games. But, without questions, there are reasons for concern as well and I can understand Dolphins fans being very dejected at this moment.
From Lloyd Heilbrunn (@LloydHeilbrunn):
Do you think Chris Grier is worried about the OL yet? Putting an injury-prone QB behind this OL is GM malpractice…
Hey Lloyd, yeah, not sure how to respond to this, other than the Dolphins (and not just Grier) overestimated what they could get done with a less-than-ideal offensive line. But it also should be said that every quarterback is going to face pressure at one point or another.
From Ed Helinski (@MrEd315):
In your opinion, what level of disarray are the Dolphins at after these first two games?
Hey Ed, hmm, I’m not sure if disarray is the right word, but it’s safe to say that things have gone off the rails a bit. And if we’re already talking about a lost season, then maybe the team didn’t do a good enough job in terms of securing a solid backup quarterback.
From Chris Bustin (@ChrisBustin13):
Hey, Alain. If Tua misses significant time, are we sure the Dolphins will get a veteran QB to start over Skylar Thompson? My biggest concern is that Miami would get a terrible QB to act only as another emergency backup behind Skylar. In this scenario, our season is over. Thanks!
Hey Chris, if I had to guess, I would not count on a “big-name” quarterback being added. And I’m only not on board with the notion that the season is over if Thompson has to start a few games because then we’re suggesting this team was all about Tua, and I don’t buy that notion.
Cold Day In the Sun(@cjb8511):
Is there any answer for the run defense?
Well, was the run defense really that bad against the Bills? Yes, the 49-yard touchdown was ugly, but Buffalo’s running backs averaged barely 3 yards per carry outside of that one play. So I don’t agree that the run defense has been horrible.
From Mark Lever (@MarkFinsfan):
Is there a backup QB that you would like to see the Dolphins pursue? What are the chances Tua returns in a few weeks?
Hey Mark, those two questions are tied, in my mind. I honestly don’t know, nor do I want to speculate, when Tua could be back. If it’s going to be a long-term absence, then I would advocate a call to the Rams to see if they’d be willing to part with Jimmy Garoppolo. If we’re looking at a short absence, I’m not sure there’s anybody out there who would represent a clearly better option than Skylar Thompson, with maybe Mike White coming back to serve as Thompson’s backup.
From will w. (@Willmvg):
How did the front office and coaches miss so bad on the trench play?
This is a case of them always believing that, first, their scheme can making everything work and, second, that they coach up players to constantly improve and they invariably will get better.
From Inphintry (@jayayemsea):
Russell Wilson?
Why? He was kind of brutal last season with Denver and by all accounts wasn’t much more impressive in training camp with the Steelers this summer. And, as with every quarterback under contract, why would the Steelers hurt their depth and leave themselves without a backup.
From TP (@BoatsNhops):
Why is this franchise cursed and when will it end?
Do you mean the franchise with the only perfect season in NFL history, two Super Bowl titles and most recently two straight playoff appearances? If you check with the folks in Cleveland and Detroit, for example, they might look at you funny about this comment, though it’s fair to say things haven’t gone well for a while. But curse? Nah.
From Rico’sRoughNcks (@TheFin22):
Thursday’s game summarized Tua’s NFL career: poor performance against quality team & injury prone. Does MIA’s brass finally do the inevitable and utilize an early draft pick on a QB? Regardless of the future of Tua’s career, trust in him is minimal at best.
Hey Rico, if Tua returns — and the reports Sunday morning was that he’s not contemplating retirement — the Dolphins are committed to him and I simply don’t see them spending a high pick on a QB as long as he’s on the roster.
From Ahula EXTREA Verified (@GrandAhlu):
Couldn’t tell on TV. What did BUF do that stopped McDaniel? TOs killed but regardless Tua didn’t seem to find anywhere he wanted to go. Didn’t BUF have soft safeties that could have been exploited with crossing route, especially if corners were sitting back deep? No McDaniel adjustments?
As is usually the case when the offense gets shut down, it was a combination of the defense playing very soft coverage, the pass rush getting to Tua pretty quickly, and the defenders tackling well. The Dolphins did move the ball at times, but didn’t finish drives and turned the ball over. And the Dolphins simply weren’t sharp offensively and the result is what we saw.
The HotChili (ImBoomBoomPow):
Do you think all the pre-snap motion is designed to compensate for the poor play of the offensive line, due to their inability to hold a block? It seems like every snap, Tua has got guys in his face in a split second.
There are a couple of reasons for the pre-snap motion, one of which is to get a read on the coverage, another is to try to get the defense off balance, and those supersede the idea of helping the pass protection.
From Jorge Fernandez (@jfdad):
Need to withdraw from football after being at game yesterday emotionally drained and unable mentally to talk Fins. Another season of misery. Thank goodness leaving for Europe for 3 weeks.
Hey Jorge, it’s two games and the Dolphins are 1-1, so it’s a bit soon for any dramatic statements. Oh, and enjoy Europe!
From El Ax (@axLopezC):
Hey Poup, is Skylar T. a better player (QB) than Ryan Tannehill? Did Ryan leave the Dolphins unhappy or feeling betrayed? Why in the world is not a good idea to bring him back? If McDaniel is a great offensive mind and QB healer, couldn’t he make Ryan play for this Dolphins? Tks!!
Ryan Tannehill is a better quarterback than Skylar Thompson, but he’s got no experience in the scheme the Dolphins run and his skill set also isn’t well suited for what they like to do. The Dolphins took very good care of Tannehill while he was in Miami and he has zero reason to feel betrayed or have any animosity toward the organization.
From Tim Ski (@TimSki22):
Why, after proving ineptitude on multiple levels, is Grier still in charge of personnel?
Hey Tim, without addressing the quality of his work, I will tell you that he’s got the full support of Stephen Ross and the fact he gets along with everybody has played a role in that because Ross mentioned after the firing of Brian Flores the importance in his eyes of having folks who work well together.
From Mick (@Mrac317):
Do you think Mike McDaniel is a genius?
Hey Mick, simple answer is no. I do think he’s got a very good offensive mind, but “genius” would be stretching things.
Miami, FL
Man shot during $22,000 gold chain robbery at Supreme store in Miami’s Design District; Atlanta suspects arrested
Three men were arrested Saturday after a robbery inside a Miami clothing store left a man shot and hospitalized, according to Miami police and arrest affidavits.
The incident happened Friday afternoon in Miami’s popular Design District neighborhood.
Police said officers were dispatched around 4:20 p.m. Friday to the area of Miami Avenue and Northeast 41st Street after receiving reports of a man who had been shot. Officers found the victim, who told them he had been robbed and shot while shopping inside a Supreme store located at 45 NE 41st Street.
According to investigators, the victim said he was approached by three suspects inside the store, including one person with whom he had a prior conflict originating from the Atlanta area. Police said an argument broke out, and one suspect forcibly removed a gold chain from the victim’s neck. The chain was valued at approximately $22,000, according to police.
As the suspect ran out of the store, the victim attempted to chase him, police said. During the pursuit, an unidentified male shot the victim once in the stomach. The suspects then fled the area in a white Mercedes-Benz, according to the arrest affidavits.
Miami Police detectives later located the suspect vehicle parked near Northeast 10th Avenue and Northeast 91st Terrace. Police said they conducted surveillance and observed the suspects abandon the vehicle and walk through a nearby residential area before entering a home in the 800 block of Northeast 90th Street.
A residential search warrant was executed, resulting in the arrest of three suspects. During the search, detectives recovered the victim’s gold chain, keys to the suspect vehicle, and clothing believed to have been worn during the robbery, police said.
The suspects were identified as Jamar McKay, 25, Omarion Phillips, 20, and Kevieon Smith, 21. McKay was charged with armed robbery with a firearm or deadly weapon. Phillips and Smith were charged as accessories after the fact, with Smith also facing an additional firearms-related charge, according to court records.
“This arrest sends a clear message: violent crime will not be tolerated in the City of Miami,” Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales said in a statement. “Individuals who commit acts of violence in our city will be identified, located, and held fully accountable.”
Miami, FL
Miami Hurricanes arrive in Phoenix to continue Fiesta Bowl preparations
Miami Hurricanes arrive in Phoenix
Miami Hurricanes arrive in Phoenix on Jan. 5, 2026, ahead of their matchup with the Ole Miss Rebels at the 2026 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
The Miami Hurricanes are looking to buck a bad trend. They’re 0-4 in the Fiesta Bowl.
Coach Mario Cristobal’s team gets its fifth shot this week as Miami (12-2) squares off against Mississippi (13-1) in the Fiesta Bowl at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 8 at State Farm Stadium. The school may be 0-4 historically, but there is plenty at stake. This Fiesta Bowl is serving as a College Football Playoff semifinal.
The Hurricanes, the No. 10 seed in the 12-team playoff field, arrived at 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 5, at the Ragsdale Executive Terminal of Sky Harbor Airport. The opposing team is expected 24 hours later.
The gathered crowd of 100 or so was made of members of the Fiesta Bowl Committee, easily identifiable in their yellow jackets, and their families.
In the past, there had been a welcome event in a tent adjacent to the runway. The coach typically made an opening statement, but players and coaches walked off the plane and straight to their buses parked nearby.
Players, dressed in white sweatsuits, filed off their American Airlines flight in single file on a blue carpet.
The players will take part in a media day on Jan. 6 at a Scottsdale hotel, with the coaches talking to the media the following day, the eve of the contest.
The Hurricanes enter on the heels of a six-game winning streak. Their last loss came on Nov. 1 against SMU, a game decided in double overtime 26-20. They have surrendered just 17 points in their two postseason games.
The winner advances to the national championship game on Jan. 19 against the winner of the other semifinal, the Peach Bowl between Oregon and Indiana.
Miami, FL
This Miami Developer Is Leaning Into Miami’s Surging Mansion Market
Naoshi Matsumoto has found a niche in the Miami luxury new-development scene—long dominated by glittering, amenity-packed condo buildings—in ultra-private, design-driven single-family waterfront homes.
As the founder of Sunland Group, the developer oversees architecture, construction and brokerage under a single umbrella, a setup that gives the firm unusual creative control in every step of building and selling a home. Given this level of autonomy, Matsumoto has shaped some of the city’s most luxurious stand-alone residences over the past decade.
His approach is on full display with his latest project: Marea Collection, four waterfront homes inside Belle Meade, an upscale gated enclave. Two of the houses Casa Vista and Casa Coral—each priced at $10 million—have hit the market. Casa Coral was developed in collaboration with the Chilean architect Gonzalo Mardones.
MORE: Castle Built for a Habsburg Outside Vienna Hits the Market for €33 Million
With more high-net-worth buyers trading penthouses for stand-alone homes—drawn by privacy, space and the appeal of living directly on the water—Matsumoto has found himself at the center of one of Miami’s gradual shifts in taste. He spoke to Mansion Global about why some buyers are rethinking condo life, what they’re seeking instead, and how he sees the city’s next wave of waterfront architecture evolving in the years ahead.
Mansion Global: What drives a Miami’s luxury buyer to move away from condo living and toward a stand-alone home?
Naoshi Matsumoto: High HOA fees that don’t provide the level of services buyers expect when they purchase a luxury condominium is the primary reason. We’re also seeing concerns about privacy, as well as the desire for a true waterfront lifestyle that enables buyers to house their personal boats in their backyard. It’s worth noting, too, that the price point of single-family waterfront homes today, like those in Marea Collection, is comparable to that of ultra-luxury condominiums. This makes the concept even more compelling to both current condo owners as well as those deciding between the two asset types.
Are condo owners expressing interest in the Marea Collection?
Most of our buyer interest is from current luxury-condo owners. The majority of them note a desire for increased privacy and the opportunity for true waterfront living as the main reasons they are considering making the switch.
How does Sunland Group’s vertically integrated model influence the way you design and deliver a home?
The close collaboration and ongoing involvement between the architects, construction team and brokers lead to more unified decision-making, which streamlines every process. Each detail is analyzed from multiple perspectives, resulting in homes that are architecturally appealing, functional and thoughtfully designed.
From Mansion Global Boutique: How To Create Comfort in Winter’s Dark Months, According to Kendall Wilkinson
Indoor-outdoor living is central to your work. What core design principles guide your waterfront projects?
We explore distinct modern expressions within a shared design language to give each home a unique identity while maintaining a cohesive aesthetic. Because this aesthetic is more minimal, it enables you to draw the outdoors in beautifully, which is crucial for leveraging a waterfront home’s most desirable aspect: the water. In this way, the surrounding areas, with the waterways and views, become a signature design element.
We also rely heavily on a warm color palette, floor-to-ceiling windows, sliding glass doors, and multiple outdoor spaces to further integrate the outdoors. There is an inherent ease to waterfront living due to the desire to allow the natural landscape to take a more prominent role. These elements combined help blur the lines between indoors and out to create a sense of luxury and serenity.
Tell us about the Belle Meade neighborhood.
When we first came across Belle Meade and the four adjacent sites, we saw an immense opportunity, both in the amount of private waterfront access each residence would have, as well as the proximity to the open waterways. People not only want immediate access to water but also to be able to get out of the winding canals quickly and easily. Belle Meade enabled all of this, which is a rarity. The neighborhood is also an incredibly private and exclusive community, something buyers at this price point tend to appreciate. These elements, combined with a commute time of just 10 to 20 minutes to both Brickell and the Design District, make Belle Meade one of Miami’s best hidden gems.
What’s influencing what today’s luxury buyers want?
Many luxury buyers, especially those relocating from other states, prefer a move-in-ready home to avoid the extended timelines associated with design and ground-up development. While some degree of personalization is expected, it typically occurs through interior design elements such as furniture, art, and lighting rather than through structural or material changes.
Buyers are especially drawn to architectural elements such as refined wall paneling, purpose-designed niches, thoughtfully proportioned art walls, and spatial layouts that accommodate sculpture and large-scale artwork. They also place a high value on functional, open floor plans that allow luxury furniture pieces to be showcased as part of the overall spatial composition.
MORE: Burt Reynolds, Jake Paul and Five Finger Death Punch: 10 Celebrity Homes That Wowed in 2025
Where do you see the greatest opportunity for the next wave of luxury single-family development in Miami?
Many buyers are beginning to look toward lesser-known waterfront neighborhoods such as Belle Meade, where architectural character, lot sizes, and street layouts offer a more intimate, curated residential experience. As true waterfront parcels become increasingly scarce and values continue to rise, these emerging enclaves present both strong investment fundamentals and an appealing architectural setting.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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