Just last week, general manager Chris Grier said the Miami Dolphins “left the door open for [Xavien Howard] possibly coming back here.”
On Thursday, Howard — who will be released with a post-June 1 designation next week — had his say.
His response? Basically the Magic Johnson “I’m not going to be here” meme.
Xavien Howard’s Time with Miami Dolphins Is Over
Howard, appearing on 560 WQAM Radio’s Joe Rose Show Thursday morning, had this response to Grier’s olive branch:
“That door is closed, I’m sorry. I did not hear that at all [during my final meeting with Grier]. I know that door is closed though.”
The Dolphins released Howard in a cost-saving move after eight excellent years in Miami. The transaction will save the Dolphins some $18.5 million against the cap, but that money cannot be used until after June 1.
“Xavien and I had a long conversation because he was the second player I drafted here in 2016,” Grier said last Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine. “He and I have been through a lot of stuff here and we were just talking about how proud I was from early when he first got here, some stuff he was doing behind the scenes to help himself become a better player, and then all the stuff he had done as a player and a leader helping us on the field.
“We had a long discussion and he understood it was a business decision. At the end of the day, we just felt it was right for him to have this opportunity for his agent to go see what’s out there for him. But we didn’t close the door on it.”
Howard certain has.
He told Rose that he “was expecting” the Dolphins to cut him, and made clear when the season ended that he was not interested in taking a pay cut.
“In this business, you know how it goes,” he said. “You feel it. Eight years in, I’ve seen the business side of it so many times and I know how it pans out. Me and my agent talked about it before we signed our last deal, that’s how it was going to happen. It ended up happening. I wasn’t surprised at all.”
As for what’s next, Howard said he still intends to play and “there’s a few teams I’d be interested in playing for.”
KEEP READING: 2024 NFL Top 100 Free Agent Rankings
Among those teams? The Houston Texans.
“Right now, I’m at the point I just want to win. I want to go deep into the playoffs. Hopefully teams like that, gone deep in the playoffs. I’m sure there are teams that are interested. I’m interested in teams that go deep in the playoffs.”
Miss football? The 2024 NFL Draft is almost here, boss. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!