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The Miami Dolphins coaching staff and front office appeared to prove once again Monday night that reports of the team tanking to get the number one overall draft pick in 2020 are true.
Following the team’s trade of star running back Kenyan Drake to the Arizona Cardinals on Monday, the Dolphins shot out to a quick 14-0 lead only to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and come from ahead to lose 27-14, dropping them to a robust 0-7 on the season.
Now all the Dolphins basically have to do to secure the top pick in the next NFL draft is lose to the 0-8 Bengals on December 22nd, cementing their status as the worst team in the league, “ahead” of the 1-7 Redskins, 1-7 Falcons, and 1-6 Jets.
There was one little snag, however, on Monday. Miami traded free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Steelers earlier this season for Pittsburgh’s first round pick. Meaning that if they had beat the Steelers that first round pick could have possibly been made better.
Fitzpatrick, who had two interceptions during the game, certainly didn’t help matters.
When the Dolphins traded Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Steelers for multiple picks, I don't think this is what they meant.https://t.co/6n9lNHyY0v
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) October 29, 2019
So one can understand the conundrum Dolphins fans faced on Monday. Win and their first round draft pick from Pittsburgh gets better, plus, yo, it’s finally a win. Or, lose and strengthen the team’s chances of being able to pick number one overall.
https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/1189020616558436352https://twitter.com/MichaelJankus/status/1189161648516407297
The Dolphins trying to figure out a way for both teams to lose tonight because they have the Steelers draft pick #FinsUp pic.twitter.com/RRNYoelYKE
— Jack Betz (@jackbetz3) October 28, 2019
Dolphins wanting to tank but remembering they have the Steelers 1st round pick. pic.twitter.com/VzbCgYuNFN
— Ann George (@AnnGeor23385802) October 29, 2019
Supposedly the Dolphins were out of Tank mode for this one game because they own the Steelers 1st round draft pick and they still almost blew the cover.
— Bill Hooker (@DerailedTarheel) October 29, 2019
Yeah but if the Dolphins won today to get a better pick from the Steelers, then lose to the Bengals they would still have the first pick in the draft.
— €W🐝🐝🐝 (@PickettWattSZN) October 29, 2019
So… if the #Dolphins win tonight:
– They would get their first win of the season.
– Improve the #Steelers first-round pick which THEY own (via Minkah trade). pic.twitter.com/sTcNG2i12g
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 29, 2019
If the Dolphins win a game, it might as well be the one that makes the Steelers’ draft pick worse
— Patrick Daugherty (@RotoPat) October 29, 2019
Dolphins are about to pull an all time tank move and beat the Steelers to increase the value of the Steelers pick that they own while slightly decreasing the value of their own pick#ChessNotCheckers
— Luke (@luke3342) October 27, 2019
Dolphins fans watching their team trying to mess up the first overall pick, but then they realize they got the Steelers 1st pic.twitter.com/KoEe5r4SXR
— Not Robert Griffin (@Pseudo_RGIII) October 29, 2019
Dolphins playing 4D Chess out here. Beat the steelers so the 1st rounder they got from them is better, then go winless the rest of the season so you get the tie breaker over the bungles for the 1st overall pick #MIAvsPIT
— Eberlose sufferer (@_Little_Jimmy__) October 29, 2019
Conspiracy:
The #Dolphins, masters of the tank, realize that even with a win tonight, they can still go 1-15 and guarantee the number 1 pick (via tiebreakers)
They also realize that they own the #Steelers pick, and beating them would make that pick better, so... pic.twitter.com/Tz9nIuoKBp
— Logan Boyle (@ldboyle5) October 29, 2019
When a Dolphins win might cost them a No. 1 pick but also get them a second top five pick. pic.twitter.com/ohYkOvKzp9
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) October 29, 2019
It certainly is a confusing time to be a Miami Dolphins fan (what few that are left.)