Miko Grimes Sent Outlandish Tweets so Dolphins Would Cut Husband Brent
July 12, 2017
Miko Grimes, wife of Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Brent Grimes, had an ulterior motive when she publicly criticized the Miami Dolphins in 2015.
In an interview with Sports Illustrated's Jack Dickey (warning: link contains NSFW language), Miko said she wanted to help engineer Brent's exit from Miami:
According to Miko, the Dolphins had told Brent he had to take a pay cut; if he declined, they would wait until other teams used up all their cap space and then release him. (A Dolphins spokesman says that these discussions never happened.) At home, Brent said he'd sooner retire. But Miko wasn't going to let that happen—instead she would get him run out of town by going "as wild as possible on social media." Her version of what happened next: "[Brent] said, 'Go for it.' I got his full permission to be as disrespectful to the Dolphins as I wanted to be. And I threw in [Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill] because I don't like him or his wife."
In March 2016, Grimes signed a two-year deal with the Buccaneers worth $13.5 million—$7 million of which is guaranteed.
Miko has been a frequent critic of Tannehill, even after Brent's departure from the Dolphins:
Miko Grimes @iHeartMikoMy Column: How many people does ryan tannehill have to get fired before you realize he's the problem.
Miko Grimes @iHeartMikoGase & Tannehill blamed everyone EXCEPT Ryan Tannehill for their short-comings, and ur wondering why nobody wants to do their job?🤔 #Year5
Miko Grimes @iHeartMikoThe obsession is REAL!😂These idiots have somehow tricked themselves into thinking i said the dolphins suck. NO! I said tannehill u idiots!
Brent apologized to Tannehill for Miko's comments in December 2015, when he was still a member of the Dolphins.
While Brent got his wish, Miko's strategy may have been counterproductive. Bleacher Report's Jason Cole reported in March 2016 that at least three general managers had indicated they didn't want to sign Brent because of his wife's social media habits:
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In addition, Brent arguably received a deal less than what one would've expected for a player who made three straight Pro Bowls from 2013 to 2015. According to Spotrac, his $6.75 million average salary ties for 25th-highest among cornerbacks.
In June, The Ringer's Danny Kelly listed Grimes as the most underpaid veteran member of the Buccaneers roster.
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