Miami Dolphins ‘need more of an edge,’ left tackle Terron Armstead says

Left tackle Terron Armstead hasn’t announced whether he intends to play a fourth season with the Miami Dolphins in 2025, but he evidently hasn’t shut the door on the possibility.

Armstead spoke with NBC’s Pro Football Talk at the Super Bowl on Thursday and addressed the Dolphins’ needs in a way that suggests he may be a part of the team even though he’ll turn 34 in July. Moreover, he was blunt on what has to happen to avoid another season like the 8-9 year the Dolphins just endured.

“I think we need more of an edge,” Armstead said. “More of an attention to detail and the small things. The word ‘soft’ — really, it makes me cringe. I’ve never been associated with the word, so it’s hard to even talk about.

“But the direction of the Dolphins, I think we just need to — the frustration is we have enough. We feel like we have the talent to go win. So when you don’t, it’s hard to deal with. It’s hard to cope with, especially when you’re somebody that’s used to winning.”

Armstead’s comments were triggered when co-host Chris Simms asked Armstead about the label often heard that the Dolphins are soft. Armstead pointed out the differences between the Dolphins and the AFC-champion Kansas City Chiefs, who play the Philadelphia Eagles in Sunday’s Super Bowl. Armstead spent the first nine seasons of his NFL career playing in New Orleans.

“Their situational football is incredible,” Armstead said of the Chiefs. “Fourth and 1, they know what to do. And you know, late-game situations, they know the two-minute drill. It’s like clockwork. I think those are the things that we need to lock in and focus on more.”

And they can’t just turn it on in December and January.

“It has to start early, when it’s a 90-man roster,” Armstead said. “Even the guys that’s only there for a couple of months, you know what I mean? Just having that buy-in and that culture. It’s hard to do, but it’s necessary in order to win.”

To back up his contention that the emphasis must be consistent, Armstead pointed out how the Dolphins have had the talent for five-game winning streaks.

“We’ve been on five-game losing streaks, too,” he said. “So that just shows.”

Armstead is a five-time Pro Bowl tackle who has endured his share of injuries yet appeared in 15 games this season, his highest total since arriving in Miami in 2022 via free agency.

Armstead joked that when he arrived at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, he intended to be a defensive lineman. Why the switch?

“Couldn’t stop eating, man,” said Armstead, who’s 6-feet-5 and 305 pounds. “I enjoyed the dinner table a little too much.”

Armstead records music for Madden 24, hosts event for local youth

The offseason has allowed Armstead time to delve into two of his other passions.

He revealed he has recorded music for Madden 24 with other NFL players including Melvin Ingram and Darren Waller.

“I got asked to do the soundtrack for Madden and I ended up on five of the six songs,” he said.

One song also will be featured in a “really big movie” soon to be released, he added without revealing the name of the film.

Armstead hosted a Shark Tank-like competition for youth Jan. 10 at Hard Rock Stadium with the person judged to make the best pitch receiving a $1,000 prize. His fellow judges included ex-Dolphins offensive lineman Jermon Bushrod and Dolphins defensive lineman Calais Campbell.

Armstead also was selected for the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project via his community service with his Team Armstead Foundation, which helps youth develop practical life and business skills, including through sports.

“This is the real, to me,” he said at his competition. “All the football stuff will go away.”

Armstead wasn’t asked Thursday about his football future — or if there is one — but he did address it at his event.

“It’s a mental journey that I’ve got to go through to talk to the family and all that,” he said. “But I want to give myself some time to get away from the game and then we’ll start to make that decision.”