Flores loses friend to violence
Bills’ Fromm issues apology for words in text a year ago
MIAMI — Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores’ roiling emotions of late regarding social injustice were compounded with the death of Chris Beaty, a good friend who was fatally shot after violence erupted during an Indianapolis protest.
Beaty, 38, was a business owner in Indianapolis, a former Indiana University football player and the ex-teammate of a Dolphins assistant coach.
“This guy was an incredible human being,” Flores said Thursday. “It’s sad. It’s just another tragedy that we’re dealing with. Hopefully we can learn from it and make the necessary changes so these things don’t happen again.”
Flores, one of the NFL’s three black coaches, has encouraged expressions of outrage about George Floyd’s death last week while in police custody in Minneapolis, and other recent killings of blacks that have raised racial tensions in the United States.
Flores said he supports the right of his players to protest on social media or in the streets, although he stressed the need to be careful.
“People are hungry,” Flores said. “People are out of jobs. There’s a pandemic. And then people are angry as well. Guys need time to be angry and have a platform to show their emotions.”
BILLS: Buffalo rookie quarterback Jake Fromm apologized for using the phrase “elite white people” in a text conversation from more than a year ago, and posted on social media early Thursday.
The former Georgia star posted his apology on his Twitter account, in which he wrote: “I’m truly sorry for my words and actions and humbly ask for forgiveness.”
In saying he never meant to imply he was an elite white male, which he noted during the text conversation, Fromm added: “There’s no excuse for that word choice and sentiment. While it was poor, my heart is not.”
Fromm said he also apologized to his teammates and coaches in a team meeting.
“He was wrong and he admitted it to us. We don’t condone what he said,” the Bills said in a statement. “We will continue to work with Jake on the responsibilities of being a Buffalo Bill on and off the field.”
VIDEO: Patrick Mahomes, Saquon Barkley and Michael Thomas are among more than a dozen NFL stars who united to send a passionate video message to the league about racial inequality.
The 70-second video was released on social media platforms Thursday night and includes Odell Beckham Jr., Deshaun Watson, Ezekiel Elliott, Jamal Adams, Stephon Gilmore and DeAndre Hopkins.
Thomas, a New Orleanss wide receiver, opens the video with the statement: “It’s been 10 days since George Floyd was brutally murdered.” The players then take turns asking the question, “What if I was George Floyd?”
The players then name several of the black men and women who have recently been killed, including Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and Eric Garner.
COACHES: Coaches will be allowed to return to team facilities beginning Friday as the league continues preparation for training camps and its season.