Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
‘We’re not trying to tank or lose every game’
Grier, Flores backfill for Ross, set record straight on rebuild
INDIANAPOLIS — Maybe, Miami Dolphins owner Steve Ross was taken out of context.
At least, that’s what Dolphins general manager Chris Grier believes.
When Ross spoke shortly after firing former coach Adam Gase at the end of last season, Ross said he wanted the Dolphins to take a “different approach.” He wanted the Dolphins to get away from being “anywhere from 6-10 to 10-6,” because “that’s not good enough.”
“I would hope I don’t have to go 3-13, but whatever it’s going to take, we’re going to build that organization with the right players that want to win,” Ross said on Dec. 31.
Ross wants Grier and new coach Brian Flores to build a team that can achieve sustained success and become a contender for years to come — even if it takes one, two or three seasons to do so.
The means to get there, however, remain to be seen.
Some might call it a rebuild. Some would even say it’s a full-on tank job.
Not Grier.
“I think everyone kind of took Steve’s words (at) the first press conference out of context because you’ve been around Steve. He is a volatile, very competitive person. So we’re not trying to lose games. We’re going to do what’s best,” Grier said Wednesday as the NFL scouting combine kicked off at Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana Convention Center.
“We’re going to build like we’ve talked about building right, going through the
process to do what’s best for the Dolphins. But no, we’re not trying to tank or lose every game. But we’re going to build it right and see how it plays out.”
The Dolphins enter the combine, which will see NFL prospects interview with teams and participate in drills, with hopes of identifying players who can move the franchise through its rebuild.
Miami owns the No. 13 overall pick in the NFL draft, which will be held April 25-27 in Nashville, Tenn., and possesses at least one pick in each of the seven rounds.
The Dolphins’ eventual goal — under Flores, a firsttime NFL head coach — is to work toward a drastic improvement from their unimpressive 199-201 record since 1994, and knack for missing the playoffs in 15 of the past 17 seasons.
“It’s incredible. It’s a dream come true. But at the same time — and I’ve had this conversation with many people — I’m never going to feel like I arrived. This isn’t the finish line; this is the start line for me,” Flores said regarding his task ahead in Miami.
“I’m excited to be in this position, but at the same time I know that there’s a lot of work to be done in all areas. We’re always all trying to improve on a day-today basis. We want to build a tough team, a smart team, a team that can play under pressure. Players need to know that. The entire organization needs to know that. We’re going to work towards that every day.”
Miami’s success in the future could hinge on a new quarterback, after Grier and Flores were non-committal about Tannehill’s future with the team.
Quarterbacks like Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray and Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins highlight the position group in the 2019 draft, which also includes budding prospects like Duke’s Daniel Jones, Missouri’s Drew Lock and West Virginia’s Will Grier.
There are also a number of quarterbacks to consider despite needing at least one more year to become draft eligible, like Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa, Oregon’s Justin Herbert and Georgia’s Jake Fromm, or two years for Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence.
The Dolphins also desperately need to bolster their depth on the defensive and offensive lines and to find a receiver who can develop into a No. 1 target, and should consider adding a defensive back or two to solidify the secondary.
Other needs, if not met in the draft, could be addressed in free agency, which officially starts on March 13.
But for Miami to see the success it craves, some losing may need to occur — to improve draft position in future years, and to potentially draft franchise-altering players, of course.
Still, Grier — now in charge of all of the Dolphins’ football operations — was adamant regarding Miami’s rebuilding efforts as it relates to next season.
“I don’t see how you could ask 53 guys to put their body on the line to lose games.”