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Josh Rosen – August 29, 2019 (Postgame) Download PDF version

Thursday, August 29, 2019
Postgame – New Orleans

QB Josh Rosen (Transcribed by New Orleans Saints)

(Obviously QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has been named the starter – how do you feel about that?) – “Not great, but at least for me, the battle and competition never stops. I’ll push him every single day for him to get better, and if he doesn’t get better, I’ll hopefully surpass him at some point. We’re teammates. We’re both Dolphins, and I’m rooting for him as hard as anyone because I think – as I said before – a rising tide raises all ships. I think our quarterback room has a lot of good talent and I think it’s making me better as well.”

(When were you told about this decision?) – “Before the game.”

(How confident do you feel that you didn’t get the starting job, considering you kind of have impressed Head Coach Brian Flores in practice and film sessions and that kind of thing?) – “I think Coach (Flores) challenged me pretty early in training camp as I wasn’t playing very well because I was just sort of drinking water from a fire hose. I think I responded pretty well and made some good progress through the preseason games. I think a lot of that had to do with focusing on my day-to-day and not trying to worry if Coach was looking or make sure I impress him here or this. I think I’ve just got to play football like I know how to play football. In our discussion when (Coach Flores) told me ‘Fitz’ (QB Ryan Fitzpatrick) was going to get the job, he told me that I’ve made a lot of really good, steady upward progress. I think it’s only time that this team is mine, but until then I’m going to be as supportive a backup as I can, and like I said, push him every single day.”

(A year and a half, whenever it was when the Arizona Cardinals took you at No. 10 in the 2018 NFL Draft, I don’t think you’d ever imagine that at this point in your career, you’d be here. How do you get your head around where career progression went?) – “I think I’m in a pretty good spot. It’s not the spot I’d prefer to be in at the moment, but it doesn’t change my progression as a quarterback. Last year everything kind of flipped pretty quickly. They told me at the beginning of the year I was supposed to sit out and try and learn behind (Former Arizona Cardinals QB) Sam (Bradford) and play that Year 2 and get ready to get, and that didn’t happen. I think any sort of projection of where my career should be is kind of irrelevant, or really difficult to pin down, I guess you could say at this point. That’s why I’m really focusing on what I can do day-to-day. In terms of my progression as a quarterback, I think I’m substantially better a quarterback now than I was three weeks ago and a way better quarterback than I was a year ago. On this progression, I think the future is pretty bright. I’m excited. I wouldn’t say it’s a setback, but the temporary – it’s not even a hurdle to cross over; it’s part of the journey.”

(Did you at any point think that as the younger guy that you might get the edge in a close race because you figure more into the Dolphins’ future than QB Ryan Fitzpatrick? Did you ever think, “yeah, if it’s close, the younger guy probably gets it”?) – “No, because there are arguments for both sides. There are arguments for both sides. You could say that you want to develop the young guy and make sure that when he pulls the trigger, it’s the real trigger and that he’s ready to do it, or you could say that you want him to trial by fire. Trial by fire didn’t work great for me last year (laughter), but I think there are arguments on both sides.”

(You obviously don’t feel great about the decision. You shouldn’t, but do you agree with it?) – “That’s a good question. I would like to answer your question but it’s just really not up to me. I think there are arguments on both sides. If the decision was made after Preseason (Game) 1 or 2, I think it would be pretty clear-cut decision, but I think I’ve made some pretty good progress in this offense and really started to get the hang of it, so as time goes on I’ll only continue to improve. Coach’s decision is out of my control. I think I did a pretty good job of making it at least a little bit difficult for him at the end. Maybe if there were a couple more preseason (games), it’d be – I’m just kidding.”

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