‘I’m very confident in Tua’
Flores responds to Watson trade rumors
CINCINNATI — Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores declined to address specifically if the team is still pursuing Houston Texans star quarterback Deshaun Watson on Sunday amid a Saturday report that dubbed the Dolphins the “front-runner.”
“Reports, speculations are not really things we get into,” Flores said after the Dolphins’ 29-26 preseason win at Cincinnati. “I understand the question, but as I’ve said in the past, any conversations that we’ve had or don’t have with other clubs are going to be internal. I’ve been pretty steadfast about that with our players, with other clubs. That will remain the case.”
In a follow-up, Flores was asked if he would feel comfortable flatout saying the Dolphins are not interested in Watson.
His response: “I’m interested in the players that are on our team. That’s what I’m interested in.”
He went on to name standouts from the Dolphins’ preseason finale two weeks before the start of the regular season in his answer.
“I’m interested in [quarterback] Reid Sinnett, who went out and played his butt off [Sunday] night. I’m interested in [running back] Gerrid Doaks, who we talked about a second ago. I’m interested in the guys that didn’t play today that we’re focused on recovering and being fresh for next week. That’s what I would say.
“I’m interested in the players on the Miami Dolphins.”
While not exactly putting out the flames that were ignited by the Yahoo report on Saturday, Flores said he remains confident in current Dolphins starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
“I’m very confident in Tua,” Flores said. “He’s done a lot of good things this spring, this offseason, this training camp. Played well last week [against the Atlanta Falcons].”
Flores, however, did not delve into his conversations with the Dolphins’ second-year quarterback, whom the team used the No. 5 pick in the 2020 draft to acquire out of Alabama.
“My conversations with the players are going to always remain between me and that player,” he said. “I talk to a lot of players every day. Obviously, I spend a lot of time with the quarterbacks. Those conversations will remain [between] myself and that player.”
The Dolphins were involved in trade talks for Watson during the offseason, but that was before 22 civil cases and 10 criminal complaints — but not charges — involving sexual assault began hanging over him.
Watson led the NFL in passing in 2020, throwing for 4,823 yards. He tossed 33 touchdowns to just seven interceptions while completing 70.2 percent of his passes and rushing for 444 yards and three more scores.
The Texans are seeking three first-round draft picks and two second-round selections for Watson, according to the Yahoo report.
When pressed at the start of the offseason, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier gave Tagovailoa his vote of confidence as rumors began swirling.
“I want to be clear. Tua is our starter,” Grier said then.
That was coming off a rookie season for Tagovailoa where he was 6-3 since the team moved in his direction over veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback. Tagovailoa completed 64.1 percent of passes for 1,814 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions in those nine starts — getting relieved by Fitzpatrick in two of those games.
After an offseason of development and being another year removed from the hip injury that ended his college career prematurely in 2019, Tagovailoa showed improvement this preseason.
Against the Falcons last week, Tagovailoa was 16 of 23 for 183 yards and a touchdown. In the preseason opener at Chicago, he was 8 of 11 for 99 yards but had an interception.
Tagovailoa did not play on Sunday as Sinnett, the thirdstringer, handled all the quarterback duties while backup Jacoby Brissett also sat.