Cigarettes at halftime? Flores recalls 1st coaching gig overseas
For Dolphins coach Brian Flores, the team’s upcoming trip to London to face the Jacksonville Jaguars is a vivid reminder of his coaching roots and how the sport can bring people from all walks of life together.
“I don’t know how many of you guys know this but my first coaching job — or coach, it wasn’t even a job — was with a club team in Italy,” Flores said Wednesday before the team’s practice. “Guys were smoking cigarettes at halftime. It’s a little different from what I’m dealing with now, but it was a great experience for me and something I will cherish my entire life, coaching for the Napoli Briganti in Naples, Italy. So that was fun. That was a personal experience of mine and I think our guys are going to have a similar experience going out to London and doing something that is very different than what they’ve done before.”
Flores said he was in scouting at the time and had friends from Boston College who were playing professionally in Naples in the early 2000s when he visited one summer. But when a coach left, he was asked to fill the role and “that was my first coaching job. I was the defensive coordinator for the Napoli Briganti. I coached one game. We lost 6-0.”
Other Dolphins players expressed excitement for the trip. Second-year safety Brandon Jones said he has never been out of the country and recently got his passport for the trip. Rookie outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips said he has never been to the United Kingdom but traveled to multiple European countries years ago when he visited his aunt who was stationed in Germany with the Army.
Flores said the biggest adjustment for the team will be the time difference — London is five hours ahead of Miami.
“But it’s a great atmosphere. That I know for sure,” he said. “The fans there love the game of football, so it’s a great atmosphere and we’re excited to get out there.”
FLORES TALKS GRUDEN
Asked about the resignation of former Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden after some of his emails surfaced with racist, misogynistic and homophobic language, Flores called the situation “unfortunate.”
“I think football is a game that, from my standpoint, what I love about the game is that it brings people together and it really brings people from all walks of life together,” Flores said. “So you hate to see anything that brings any type of division — I guess that’s the word I’ll use.
“At the same time, I believe in forgiveness. I do. I never want to judge someone on the worst thing they’ve ever said or done. I don’t think anybody here would. I know I wouldn’t. So from that standpoint, I guess that’s how I feel about it. I would never judge someone based on the worst thing they’ve ever done or the worst thing they’ve ever said. But I do think the whole thing is unfortunate. Obviously there are consequences for your actions and the things you say and I think we all should learn something from it.”
In this past week, the New York Times and Wall Street Journal have reported that from 2011 to 2018, when Gruden was an analyst for “Monday Night Football” on ESPN, he communicated via email with former Washington executive Bruce Allen and directed insensitive language at a number of people, including NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith. The emails were obtained as part of an investigation of the Washington Football Team.
Gruden announced his resignation Monday night.
PAIR OF STARTERS DON’T PRACTICE
Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard and wide receiver DeVante Parker did not practice Wednesday.
Parker missed the Week 5 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a hamstring injury that surfaced during the week. He was sidelined Wednesday because of the recurring hamstring and a shoulder injury which also limited him in parts of practice last week.
Howard was listed as having shoulder and groin injuries. He played through both injuries last week.
Quarterback Jacoby Brissett (hamstring), cornerback Byron Jones
(Achilles) and tight end Adam Shaheen (knee) were limited. Safety Brandon Jones (ankle) was a full participant.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa participated in the portion of practice open to the media Wednesday, throwing several passes during positional drills. Because he has not officially been activated to the 53-man roster, the team does not have to list him on the injury report. Flores sounded optimistic about Tagovailoa’s chances to play Sunday if he can get through practice without setbacks.
Jaguars starting linebacker Myles Jack did not practice because of a back injury. Starting wide receiver Marvin Jones also did not practice because of personal reasons.
Offensive linemen Ben Bartch (groin) and Tyler Shatley (groin), cornerback Tyson Campbell
(toe) and defensive lineman Roy RobertsonHarris (ankle) were limited.