Ex-Dolphins DB DeShon Elliott says team ‘soft as [expletive]’ in 2023

Pittsburgh Steelers safety DeShon Elliott spent just one season with the Miami Dolphins and apparently wasn't impressed with their mental toughness.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Elliott said of the Steelers’ upcoming game against the Baltimore Ravens . “I couldn't play the way I wanted to against Baltimore because I played for a team that was so weak last year [expletive]. … There were some guys who were tough, but the majority of the team weren't mentally strong individuals.

“So it’s going to be fun to go against another mentally tough team, AFC North Ball, with a full team of mentally tough guys, man.”

It's not a new criticism of the 2023 Dolphins. Elliott's replacement in the starting lineup, Jordan Poyer, had a similar sentiment about Miami in the offseason after joining the team as a free agent earlier this year.

“When you play against this team in the last few years, you kind of feel like, 'Okay, if you get to the top of this team, maybe they'll give up'” . “That’s just being honest, so what happens in the moments where we get punched in the mouth?”

Elliott, 27, began his career with the Ravens and took a one-year break with the Detroit Lions before joining the Dolphins on a one-year deal in 2023. In his only season in Miami, the safety made 15 starts and recorded one interception, one tackle for loss and 82 total tackles.