MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins left tackle Terron Armstead sustained a right knee ailment against the New York Jets that was so bad it limited him to just five plays. Despite that, the next day Armstead hosted dozens of kids at Target for his “Team Armstead Holiday Blessing” Christmas shopping spree.

“It’s impactful to the community,” Armstead said in explaining why he hosted such an event for the ninth time in his 12-year career.

“It means a lot to me, too, personally, just to be able to do so. And it’s our duty as professional athletes. These people come and cheer us on, and fans spend their hard-earned money to support us. It’s just a small way to give back to the community.”

Armstead gets it.

The Dolphins get it.

During this holiday season the the Dolphins helped more than 1,200 South Florida residents among 25 events, delivering gifts and food, and spreading hope and good cheer.

Armstead was joined at his event by defensive lineman Calais Campbell, edge rushers Emmanuel Ogbah and Bradley Chubb, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, center Andrew Meyer and offensive tackle Bayron Matos.

The next day, a group of players — Chubb, kicker Jason Sanders, quarterback Skylar Thompson, defensive tackle Benito Jones, linebackers Mo Kamara and Derrick McClendon, tight end Julian Hill and defensive lineman Zach Sieler — joined nearly 70 pediatric patients from local hospitals at Hollywood-Fort Lauderdale Airport as they boarded a United Airlines flight to the North Pole, where they were greeted by Santa Claus.

Fullback Alec Ingold, along with his Ingold Family Foundation, hosted an event in which they announced plans to build a playground at SOS Children’s Villages Florida in Coconut Creek. The facility houses 72 foster children, newborn to 18 years old.

Wide receiver Braxton Berrios hosted an event that packaged more than 2,000 meals for local food shelters.

Tight end Jonnu Smith, linebacker Anthony Walker Jr., running back Raheem Mostert and numerous others hosted and participated in holiday events this month.

That’s good stuff and it needs to be publicized.

Also, it’s Christmas, a good day to take a break from talking about job security, season record, and all that other stuff that raises everyone’s blood pressure.

You see a lot of aspects of a pro sports franchise when you cover a team.

I’ve never had to look far to see how the Dolphins impact the community and what it means to the players and the organization to be good neighbors.

At Armstead’s event, each child got a $200 gift card.

With that gift card came lessons in budgeting, prioritizing and selflessness as Armstead and other players helped the kids make decisions on which family members they’d purchase gifts for, how much they could spend on each gift, and what they’d have left to spend on themselves.

At one point I overheard Campbell telling a group of kids that he’s 38 years old. He asked one child his age. The boy said he was 9.

Campbell made the chat a learning experience.

He asked the kids the difference between his age and the boy’s age.

“Use your math skills,” Campbell said.

Finally, one child came up with the answer (honestly, it was only about a second or two after I figured it out.)

“Twenty-nine,” he said.

It’s reassuring to experience players interacting with the community in such a way that a Christmas shopping spree becomes a low-key learning event.

It’s even better to know that players understand this is about something bigger than them.

Ingold hosted his event the day after the Dolphins’ disappointing 20-12 loss at Houston. He knows being part of the community doesn’t end just because there’s a crushing outcome to a pivotal game.

Ingold knows it’s about something else.

“It’s those little things, the perspective, the smiles on their faces,” he said.

There have been numerous times that I’ve said this is one of the best locker rooms I’ve ever covered in almost 30 years covering pro sports.

Yes, it’s been a disappointing season.

Set that aside.

These guys are a class act.

It’s good to pass along examples of positive off-field actions.

These community stories need to be told as much as most other things that go on in a pro sports organization.

The good thing is you never have to look far to find such stories with the Dolphins, especially at Christmas.

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