The Top 10 Hard Knocks Episode 1 Moments
The debut episode of the "Hard Knocks" in-season series on the Miami Dolphins, which focused on the return from the bye week all the way through the victory against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, certainly had its share of highlights.
We count down the top 10, from this vantage point:
10. TYREEK SCORES
Yes, there will be a lot of Tyreek Hill references in this countdown and we start with his 38-yard touchdown, more specifically his reaction where he shouted three separate times, "I'm the best!" When it comes to NFL players in 2023, he's probably not wrong, but it still was interesting contrast from the humble approach he's taken in his media sessions this season.
9. THE O-LINE DINNER
While the scene didn't last particularly long and didn't feature any particularly memorable lines, it still was cool to see Terron Armstead and the Dolphins offensive linemen enjoying a dinner at a Fort Lauderdale restaurant, something Austin Jackson said this week has become a weekly tradition.
8. WILKINS POSTGAME MOVES
Props to the big fella for the moves he showed in the locker room after the 20-13 victory against the Raiders, though we shouldn't be surprised considering he literally did a split after winning a national championship game at Clemson.
7. TYREEK AT HOME
Tyreek Hill's wedding was the first main storyline explored and it included a visit to his home and a conversation with his wife, Keeta. There also was a cool introspective moment there with Hill when he told NFL Films he used to take home his work but now is more able to separate his roles as player, father and now husband. Hill also dropped hints like maybe he was serious about moving on from football after his current contract expires in a few years.
6. TYREEK'S MOM AND WIFE
Between Hill's mother mad because she missed her son scoring a touchdown and his wife accidentally bumping a nearby fan's nachos onto her, there was a lot to capture in that section of the stands, wrapped up by Hill's mom meeting owner Stephen Ross after the game.
5. WILKINS PRACTICING TRASH TALKING
Our second good Wilkins moment of the episode came when he lined up against practice squad tight end Nick Bowers and did what Wilkins does — talk trash — before apologizing to his teammate and explaining he was just getting himself in game mode.
4. TYREEK AND THE REF
Yes, there were a lot of memorable Tyreek moments in this episode, but his reply to the official who warned him against throwing up the peace sign if he scored was really funny.
3. CROSBY PREP
On one hand, there was an awful lot of time spent on a non-Dolphins player, but this was all good stuff, from QB coach Darrell Bevell talking about how he always like to make contact with quarterbacks (even after plays), to Tua asking practice squad LB Quinton Bell to bump him after every play in practice, to the postgame exchange between head coach Mike McDaniel and Crosby.
2. TUA'S POSTGAME WORDS TO TEAMMATES
Very cool to see Tua Tagovailoa going over to practically every player after the too-close-for-comfort victory against the Raiders thanking the defense for keeping "us in there" and telling his offensive teammates he's got to be better. Nice show of leadership all around.
1. THE CAMPANILE SPEECH
I mean, is there even any debate? That was classic with a capital C. The linebackers coach addressed the whole team before a practice and basically compared football effort to protecting your loved ones. Oh, and the speech included this all-timer of a quote: "All over the world, they speak ass whooping."
