Mike McDaniel won't stop Tyreek Hill from racing against Jaylen Waddle

MIAMI GARDENS — Ever since Tyreek Hill joined the Dolphins, there has been a buzz about who is the fastest man on the team.

Is it Hill? Jaylen Waddle? Raheem Mostert?

We may have inched a step closer to finding out Tuesday. Coach Mike McDaniel said he won’t stand in the way of the speedsters racing.

“I’m not going to tell them not to race,” McDaniel said. “I love competitors. I’m also not going to force them to race.”

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McDaniel egged on reporters to try to “persuade” the players to race.

Hill, for one, sounded like he couldn’t wait to silence everyone when he addressed the subject at his introductory news conference.

“Hey, wherever I go, the ‘Cheetah,’ he’s always got to prove he’s the fastest on the team no matter what,” Hill said. “I mean that.”

Waddle was cagey.

“We’ll race when all of y’all get out there and race,” he told reporters. “We’ve got to see who is the fastest out there.”

Does Waddle think he can beat Hill?

“You can’t just race a cheetah straight up,” Waddle said. “You’ve got to sneak up on him.”

The NFL’s Next Gen Stats have clocked Hill at 23.24 mph and Mostert at 23.09. McDaniel said the Dolphins clock players in practice and have had some in the 21-22 mph range, but he wouldn’t divulge who.

At least in the short term, we likely would be looking at a two-man race, if they ever do line up. Mostert is coming off knee surgery last year.

“His expectations are to be ready to play Week 1 and we are not going to rush it,” McDaniel said. “He’s come too far to have a setback.”

Dolphins will practice with Eagles, too

McDaniel revealed that the Dolphins’ joint practices with the Buccaneers in Tampa won’t be the only time they share a practice field this summer. They also will have joint workouts with the Philadelphia Eagles.

“Joint practices are outstanding for everyone involved because there’s only so far you can go when going against each other before things start to hurt more than help,” McDaniel said.

The Dolphins would hold Wednesday and Thursday workouts with the Bucs before their Aug. 13 preseason game at Raymond James Stadium. After facing the Raiders on Aug. 20, they would host the Eagles leading up to their Aug. 27 preseason finale at Hard Rock Stadium.

The Dolphins open the regular season Sept. 11 vs. New England in Miami Gardens.

This and that

· Among players not spotted at practice were tackle Terron Armstead, cornerbacks Xavien Howard and Byron Jones and defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah.

· Tua Tagovailoa had a couple of highlight connections, hitting tight end Mike Gesicki along the sideline and receiver Preston Williams with a long catch-and-run on a ball that traveled about 25 yards in the air. Backup Teddy Bridgewater also found Hill on a play with serious yards-after-catch possibilities. (Remember, there is no tackling.)

· McDaniel, on receiver Lynn Bowden: “He does have an interesting skill set. I’ve always been drawn to players that have multiple positions, specifically quarterback (in their history), because of the way they see the game. Lynn’s been battling some hamstring stuff. He’s been diligent in the meeting room. … We’ll know if Lynn’s ready to contribute to the team when he’s on the field and we’re trying to get him there. I know he’s making sure he’s prepared for his opportunity when he is healthy.”

· McDaniel said he couldn’t comment on veteran edge rusher Melvin Ingram, who is joining the Dolphins, because Ingram hasn’t actually signed yet. “Hopefully we’ll be able to talk about him soon,” McDaniel said.

· McDaniel, on an offensive line that has received its share of criticism in recent years: “This is my seventh team, been in a lot of different places, but this is as athletic and capable of any group. They really are.”

· McDaniel, on the experience of coaching the Dolphins thus far vs. expectations of what he called his “dream” job: “Surpassed it. It’s just really fun to express lot of the things that you didn’t know you’d ever have the opportunity to do and I’m surrounded with so many people that are supporting and help driving the force that it truly feels like a team that we’re working together for a common ball, which — that is what football is all about.”

Quote of the day

McDaniel, seeing a crowded interview room with media members despite the Heat and Panthers playing later in the day: “The Miami Dolphins truly appreciate your guys’ support but I’m going to call into question your priorities. We have two playoff games today? Just making sure. I mean, OTAs are very important, I’m telling the players the same thing. But: Playoffs!”

Hal Habib covers the Dolphins for The Post. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dolphins' Tyreek Hill racing Jaylen Waddle just might happen after all