Gase says onside kick not about Elway

DAVIE — Miami Dolphins coach Adam Gase briefly re-visited his team’s controversial onside kick against the Denver Broncos in Sunday’s 35-9 victory on Monday, and indicated it had nothing to do with reports about friction between him and Broncos executive John Elway.

Gase, a former Broncos offensive coordinator, said he was trying to establish a mindset with the Dolphins, who were trying to end a five-game losing streak, when he tried the onside kick in the fourth quarter with a 33-9 lead.

“You guys have seen every game we’ve played,” Gase told reporters Monday.

“It’s not like we’ve been dominating, and we haven’t had big leads. And I think the whole point of that was for our guys to understand we have to play 60 minutes every week and you have to play that game like it’s 0-0 for 60 minutes.

“That was the biggest point that I wanted to make to our guys, that we’re going to be aggressive the entire time and that’s the mentality I want our guys to have. That’s why those guys on the other sideline, those offensive players, they know where my mind’s at for an entire game. They’ve been through it with me before.”

Denver safety Chris Harris said of the onside kick, “He was trying to embarrass us,” and said there was “bad blood.”

Reports say that had to do with Gase, who became Chicago’s offensive coordinator in 2015, not getting an interview for the Denver head coach job in 2015, a job that eventually went to Gary Kubiak.

Gase and Elway had what appeared to be a cordial conversation on the field before Sunday’s game.

Meanwhile, Dolphins center Mike Pouncey — who left Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury — is OK, according to Gase.

Pouncey left the game in the fourth quarter and didn’t return.

Things aren’t so certain for defensive tackle Davon Godchaux (knee), cornerback Cordrea Tankersley (shoulder and ankle), right guard Jermon Bushrod (foot) or running back Damien Williams (shoulder).

Godchaux, the rookie fifth-round pick from LSU, missed the Denver game with a knee injury.

“[We] kind of got surprised on that one heading into Friday,” Gase said.

Godchaux’s status this week is uncertain.

Tankersley, the rookie third-round pick from Clemson, left the game first with a right shoulder injury and then a right ankle injury.

He returned after both ailments, but Gase said the team will likely take it easy with Tankersley during the week.

Gase said the team hopes to get a look at Bushrod, who didn’t play against Denver, this week in practice.

As for Williams’ status for the week, Gase said, “We’ll see,” and added much of his participation has to do with pain tolerance and range of motion. for