Adam Gase – October 9, 2017
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Monday, October 9, 2017
Head Coach Adam Gase
(How did you learn of this video and what was your first reaction?) – “Probably around 10:45 (p.m.) last night. (General Manager) Chris (Grier) called me and I don’t think I can say what my reaction was.”
(What was your next step after you became aware?) – “Really just gathering information. Just trying to find out details of what was going on and what happened and then basically, where we were going to go from there.”
(You said Chris called you?) – “(General Manager) Chris Grier.”
(And what were your conversations like with Chris Foerster?) – “I called him last night. (It was) brief. Just kind of told him that I was aware. (He) apologized to me and then this morning, this morning he resigned.”
(Do you know if this was a recent video as in the last…?) – “I don’t know the details.”
(Chris Foerster mention he was about to go to a meeting in the video. Do you know if that was here at the facility or…?) – “I can’t answer that. I don’t…”)
(Did you say that you talked to Chris Foerster last night?) – “Yes, I called him.”
(So you do not know whether this video was taken while he was working for the Dolphins. Is that right?) – “I have not gotten that far into any kind of investigation. That’s what really other people are for in our building. I had the information I needed and then when he resigned this morning, that’s where I’m at.”
(The statement said – I can’t remember the exact phrasing – but there’s no tolerance for this kind of behavior. Your reaction when you see that as a reflection of the franchise that you lead?) – “I mean, it’s not a good situation. It wasn’t something that you expect. But things happen sometimes that you don’t anticipate and you have to deal with it. It’s not fun, especially when you’re close to somebody; but you’ve got to take the next step and move on because we’re going to play on Sunday.”
(Did you have any knowledge that Coach Chris Foerster has or has ever had an issue?) – “As long … I mean I haven’t been around him for, what was it, like eight years we were apart. Then since I’ve been around him, he’s been a guy that just put his head down and worked. He was here at four in the morning, worked as hard as he could for us. It is what it is.”
(How will the team support Chris Foerster moving forward?) – “We’ll do everything we’ve got to do. Whatever we can do to help him, whatever that next step is, that’s what we’re going to do.”
(Did Chris Foerster volunteer his resignation or was he encouraged to take that step?) – “I mean anything that we’re going to do there is just going to be stay in-house. All I know is he resigned this morning.”
(So what happens with your offensive line position now?) – “We’ll move forward and kind of make those decisions and let you guys know what we’re going to do, probably in the next few days.”
(Have you spoken to Owner Stephen Ross? What did he have to say about the situation?) – “Yes, he’s just been briefed on everything. He’s been in conversations. I was here later last night so a lot of the conversations started before I got here this morning. They kind of got it going early. So I missed him a couple of times but I’ll speak to him later today.”
(You called Chris Foerster, correct?) – “Yes.”
(Around what time was that last night?) – “I have no idea.”
(Are you aware with respect to what has been reported and how that video came to be on social media?) – “I’m aware enough.”
(You are aware enough?) – “Yes.”
(And what are your thoughts with respect to that scenario and that situation?) – “I don’t have any thoughts. I know what the result was.”
(Was there any concern that Chris Foerster might have been blackmailed?) – “I have no idea.”
(How do you keep this from becoming more of a distraction than it already is?) – “That’s the NFL, man. It’s a league of distractions. Move on.”
(How might this affect the football club relative to Chris Foerster’s strengths as an offensive line coach?) – “Any time you lose a really good coach, it’s not ideal. We’ll rally. We’ll figure out a way. We’ll show up next week. We’ll do our thing.”
(Obviously Chris Foerster resigned but is there further investigation going on with the team and the NFL?) – “I can’t answer that right now.”
(How long have you known Chris Foerster?) – “(Since) 2008.”
(So for a while then?) – “Yes.”
(Where did you last work with Chris Foerster?) – “San Francisco.”
(Big picture but Chris Foerster, the Lawrence Timmons situation and the hurricane, how tough has it been in your seat dealing with the things that are unpredictable?) – “It is what it is. That’s what that is. You just keep dealing with situations that come up and move on.”
(What was Chris Foerster’s state this morning when you left things with him? How did you feel about where he’s at as a person?) – “Obviously he’s disappointed. He’s upset. He’s mad at himself. It’s unfortunate.”
(Did you have interaction with Chris Foerster this morning?) – “Yes.”
(Chris Foerster came here to the facility?) – “Yes.”
(Do you know if Chris Foerster turned in a letter of resignation physically to you?) – “Yes but I’ll keep the details of what happened in-house.”
(WR DeVante Parker, any update on his situation?) – “Yes, we’ll just kind of see. I really haven’t had time to meet with the trainers today. Usually I do that after team meeting. I haven’t had a chance to, but it’s really the same as last night. We’ll see kind of how it goes.”
(Is there any initial MRI or anything like that to where you know it’s at least not this?) – “I don’t know. I can guess but I don’t know.”
(What did you tell the team about this incident?) – “I haven’t had a chance to meet with them yet.”
(What will you tell the team when you meet with them?) – “I don’t know. We’ll see.”
(On another subject, the national anthem, what is the team’s policy regarding the anthem now just so we’re clear?) – “If you’re out there for the national anthem, you’re standing. If you don’t want to stand, stay in the locker room.”
(And that was reached in discussions with the players or that comes from above or…?) – “That comes from me.”
(You’ve mostly not commented on this issue either way the last two years. Why now did you implement this policy?) – “Because I thought it was time for us to address it.”
(Why though? What’s the reasoning behind your decision?) – “I don’t need a reason. That’s what I wanted to do.”
(Any conversations with Owner Stephen Ross regarding it?) – “I might have. I had a lot of conversations with a lot of people.”
(Do you believe it was becoming a distraction to the team?) – “It doesn’t matter what I think. This is what we’re doing.”
