Dolphins punter quotes Ted Lasso after drop that defines 0-2 start

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Dolphins punter quotes Ted Lasso after drop that defines 0-2 start

Joe Schad, Palm Beach Post · Palm Beach Post

Mon, Sep 21, 2026 ·

3 min read

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SANTA CLARA, Calif. — After it was over, the Dolphins punter was quoting Ted Lasso .

Ted Lasso is, in fact, a great TV show. But you don't want your punter quoting him in the locker room.

" Gotta have the memory of a goldfish , to quote Ted Lasso, honestly," Miami punter Bradley Pinion said . "Just forget about it and move on to the next one."

Pinion would like everyone to forget that he dropped the ball. Literally. But such things are not so easily forgotten.

The Dolphins are 0-2 and they lost at the 49ers, 35-13 , on Sunday — and to be clear this is not all on Pinion. Drop or no drop, Miami was not winning this game against a far more experienced and far more talented opponent.

Sep 20, 2026; Santa Clara, California, USA; Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane (28) runs the ball against the San Francisco 49ers in the first half at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
(Cary Edmondson, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 20: Malik Willis #2 of the Miami Dolphins looks to pass against the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter of a game at Levi's Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Ezra Shaw, Getty Images)

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 20: Malik Willis #2 of the Miami Dolphins fights off a tackle by Gracen Halton #93 of the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter of a game at Levi's Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Ezra Shaw, Getty Images)

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 20: Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers stiff arms Chris Johnson #3 of the Miami Dolphins in the first quarter of a game at Levi's Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Ezra Shaw, Getty Images)

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 20: Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers runs against Josh Uche #9 of the Miami Dolphins in the first quarter of a game at Levi's Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Ezra Shaw, Getty Images)

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 20: Michael Taaffe #16 of the Miami Dolphins tackles Deebo Samuel Sr. #19 of the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter of a game at Levi's Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Ezra Shaw, Getty Images)

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 20: Head coach Jeff Hafley of the Miami Dolphins looks on during the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
(Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images)

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 20: De'von Achane #28 of the Miami Dolphins runs against the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter of a game at Levi's Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
(Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images)

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 20: Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers runs against Chris Johnson #3 of the Miami Dolphins in the first quarter of a game at Levi's Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Ezra Shaw, Getty Images)

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 20: Jacob Rodriguez #10 of the Miami Dolphins pressures Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter of a game at Levi's Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Ezra Shaw, Getty Images)

Sep 20, 2026; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) calls a play at the line of scrimmage against the Miami Dolphins in the first half at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
(Cary Edmondson, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 20, 2026; Santa Clara, California, USA; Miami Dolphins fullback DJ Herman (34) carries the ball against San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner (54) in the first half at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
(Kyle Terada, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 20, 2026; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) runs the ball against Miami Dolphins cornerback Chris Johnson (3) in the first half at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
(Kyle Terada, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 20: Malik Willis #2 of the Miami Dolphins looks on before a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
(Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images)

But my goodness is the punter dropping the ball and getting quickly tackled a microcosm of a game. Miami can only hope it's not the microcosm for this season.

"I just got to be better," Pinion said. "The ball just slipped out of my hand, and I just got to be better."

For the record, Pinion dropped the ball at his own 28-yard line and was tackled.

It was the third quarter and it was already 28-6 San Francisco but flat-out dropping a punt and having it recovered by the opponent is both embarrassing and painful.

"I'm not sure what to tell you about the punt that we dropped," Miami coach Jeff Hafley said after the game, adding later, "He's been punting for a really long time. He's got to catch the ball."

'I just got to be better,' Dolphins punter Bradley Pinion said

Sep 20, 2026; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk (44) scores a touchdown against Miami Dolphins cornerback Chris Johnson (3) during the third quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

The bigger issue, to be frank, is that Miami's defense allowed five touchdowns to the 49ers on their first five possessions.

Brock Purdy was 20-for-22 and was not sacked and led the Niners in rushing.

So, yeah, there's that.

"It's not fun," rookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez said, adding, "We've got to get somebody in the quarterback's face. We got to make them feel off balance. And, you know, we just didn't do that today."

The Dolphins secondary allowed 49ers to run ridiculously open all day.

"It was just a miscommunication, breakdown like you said," safety Dante Trader said. "We've just got to be tighter and clean it up."

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 20: Keion White #56 of the San Francisco 49ers sacks Malik Willis #2 of the Miami Dolphins in the fourth quarter of a game at Levi's Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

This is going to be a very long, very painful Dolphins season.

Is 2-15 or 3-14 possible? It surely is.

Dolphins headed for Top 3 NFL Draft pick

The biggest benefit, we supposed, would be a Top 3 or maybe even Top 1 draft pick.

Meanwhile, Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis has been sacked nine times in two games.

"I want to play better," Dolphins right tackle Austin Jackson was saying. "I've got to be better."

The Dolphins have committed 15 penalties in two games. This isn't just about better fundamentals and technique. These things can happen when a team is physically overmatched and overwhelmed.