MIAMI GARDENS — Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel was not surprised safety Jordan Poyer would say the Buffalo Bills believed Miami "might fold" if you could get ahead of them early.

"It doesn't surprise me," McDaniel said Wednesday. "We're in a business where it's very cut and dry, you're either finding reasons for success or even for failure. I say all that because it's really not a big deal. What is a big deal today? Anything you have a problem with, solve it today."

Poyer, in his 12th season, signed with the Dolphins this year following seven years with the Bills.

"I'm very open and up front and aggressive to what I see realities are," McDaniel said. "The past doesn't predict the future. But for Jordan Poyer to talk to his teammates … I think it's important to understand where things come from. To understand when you don't win football games down the stretch, when you don't win playoff games, when you don't win Super Bowls, those things will be said. The challenge is ... actually doing something about it today."

McDaniel said Poyer is in Miami "because of the player he is and the leader he is. I think he recognizes the leadership opportunity he has here."

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McDaniel said receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is "working his way back" as he starts camp on active/physically unable to perform list.

"It's so important he's able to focus on the timing and execution of how he plays the position," McDaniel said. "If he's compoimised in any regards to do that than the challenge becomes cerebral."

McDaniel does not know when Beckham will practice and added, "the longer that it is just means how much more you have to be detailed and how much longer you have to be on it (during) that time."

McDaniel said he is a stickler for "no timelines" when asked about a timeline for linebackers Jaelen Phillips and Bradley Chubb, who start the season on the PUP list.

He said the most important thing is "to not make them worse in chasing arbitrary expectations and to actually listen to their bodies to prevent reoccurring injuries."

McDaniel concluded his news conference prior to the first practice saying, "I'm really excited for the opportunity this team has because I really believe in the individuals because they're geeked about working today and that's exciting because you can do something from that, you can get better from that, you can work towards a goal from that."

Tom D'Angelo is a senior sports columnist and golf reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Mike McDaniel 'not surprised' Jordan Poyer said Dolphins 'might fold'