Flores on Tua: ‘We believe in him’
Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores pushed back fiercely Thursday in response to an ESPN report lastweek that said the team’s decision to start Tua Tagovailoa was centered toward evaluating the rookie quarterback in preparation for the 2021 NFL draft.
The ESPN report, citing an unnamed source, said the Dolphins made the move to Tagovailoa — benching 16-year veteran and fan favorite Ryan Fitzpatrick in the process— to see what they have in their young quarterback with two valuable draft picks in both the first and second round soft he next draft.
In essence, Flores was upset the report insinuated Tagovailoa is auditioning to be the Dolphins starter for the rest of the 2020NFL season and beyond.
“I’m just going to tell you about my thinking: We brought Tua here becausewe believe in him, same as the other draft picks,” Flores said on Thursday.
“We believe in developing players, and I think you’ve guys have heard me talk about improving players on a daily basis. Thatwould be the opposite of giving someone a 10-game audition.
“So, I guess that’s my thinking on that just so everybody is clear.”
Tagovailoa will start for the Dolphins (4-3) on Sunday on the road against the Arizona Cardinals (5-2), his second game in a 10-game stretch where he’ll be Miami’s starting quarterback to the end of the season. The Dolphins won their first with Tagovailoa as starter last week against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Dolphins drafted Tag ovai lo a with the No. 5 pick in the 2020 NFL draft last April and elevated him to starter during their bye in Week 7, which appeared unique because Fitzpatrick was playing like one of the better quarter backs, with a Top 5 quarterback rating, to start this season.
The Dolphins are also second in the AFC East behind the Buffalo Bills, and sit ninth in the AFC standings, two spots out of a wildcard berth in Flores’ second season with the team.
The Dolphins decision tomake a quarterback change during a playoff run did become a major talking point surrounding the team in recentweeks, in part to the popularity and interest in both Tagovailoa and Fitzpatrick garner nationally at this stage of their respective careers.
Also, the first-round selection Miami owns from their blockbuster 2019 trade with the Houston Texans is lined up to be the No. 4overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft after eightweeks of the NFL season.
Based on how the Texans perform the rest of this season, the pick could either drop into the Top 10 or 15 or remain in the Top 5, which would put the Dolphins in prime position to select one of the best players in the 2021 draft field.
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence is the presumptive No. 1 pick, but others like Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance, Miami Hurricanes defensive end Greg Rousseau, LSU receiver Ja’Marr Chase and Oregon left tackle Penei Sewell are considered some of the top available players in the next draft.
The declaration from Flores was quite unique. It came unsolicited during his Thursday Zoom press conference with reporters. And Flores did not shy away from sharing how the report did not sit well with him.
Flores did not outright say the Dolphins will not use any of their future draft picks — one of which could be a Top 10 pick— on a quarterback. Nor would Flores want to pigeon hole himself in such a statement.
It’s worth noting Flores has not shared such a sentiment regarding a player during his tenure as Dolphins coach quite like he did about Tagovailoa on Thursday, including former Dolphins quarterback Josh Rosen, who had a one-year stint with the team before Tagovailoa’s arrival.
Tagovailoa will be the only quarterback under contract with the Dolphin sat the end of this off season.
Fitzpatrick is in the final year of a two-year deal he signed with Miami shortly after Flores was hired, and it’s unclear whether the team will pursue re-signing Fitzpatrick, if Fitzpatrick wants to seek playing time elsewhere, or if Fitzpatrick wants to retire.
But Flores’ statement on Tagovailoa was strong enough to conceive that the Dolphins intend to cultivate the former Alabama standout this season and into the future.
“Yes, I’m comfortable of what comes out of these 10games. I think since I’ve been here, I think everybody has heard me talk about the development of players, improvement on a daily basis,” Flores said of his evaluation process of Tagovailoa moving forward.
“I just don’t see how ‘someone close to Dolphins’ thinking’ could see that and say that would be a 10-game audition. I’m not sure whoor where that came from. Just putting that out there.”