Elandon Roberts – March 26, 2020
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Thursday, March 26, 2020
LB Elandon Roberts
(I wanted to ask you about coming to the Dolphins. In the league, players make their choice based on opportunity and salary. You also have a former coach in Brian Flores, so how much was this decision based on Brian Flores and how much of it on playing opportunity and salary?) – “Through the process, it was all good. Just being a former player for him in New England and knowing what he’s about and stuff like that, it just felt comfortable to come and whatnot. Just knowing how good of a leader he is on and off the field, how much he cares about you as a player. Ultimately it went into my decision to become a Miami Dolphin and I’m 100 percent all the way in. I can’t wait to get down there and get started.”
(Describe to me what a – and I quote – ‘run through a [expletive]’s face mentality’ is.) – “It’s just in you. As a linebacker, you’ve got to – sometimes a lot of people are in your way or you’ve got to – At the end of the day for a linebacker, you have to make a tackle. So it’s a ‘do what you’ve got to do’ mentality. If you’ve got to do that, then you’ve got to do it. It’s just a mentality that I go by.”
(You were part of the Patriots’ long reign in the AFC East … is there potential now with the players that departed for an opportunity to unseat them?) – “We just have to come in every day and take it one day at a time. We can’t really look at what’s out there. All we can do is control what’s in our facility. That’s taking it one day at a time, learning our teammates, getting in and seeing what (Head Coach Brian) Flores and the staff wants out of us. That’s all that we can control.”
(I know you played with LB Kyle Van Noy and you’ve seen a lot of the pieces that were signed here on this defense. I wanted to ask you if you can still score on this defense now as it is right now?) – “Of course. I think everybody can score on defense. That’s definitely something fun to do. Creating turnovers is a part of defense. Of course I think every team in the league wants to do that. I think if we are able to get over this situation that we are going through and we all come together as the Miami Dolphins – we’re going to take it one day at a time as a team and as a defense, and try to create those habits.”
(I know you went to an HBCU. There was supposed to be a HBCU combine this weekend at the Dolphins facility but of course it was cancelled. What I want to know from you is it tougher to make it to the NFL when you come from an HBCU? If you think that is the case, why is that the case?) – ”I only went to an HBCU my freshman year. I didn’t graduate from there. I graduated and did my pro day with the University of Houston, so I really can’t answer that question. But I do think that NFL scouts around the league do a great job of finding you wherever you’re at, whether it’s HBCU, D-II, even if it’s NAIA, they do a great job of finding talent all over.”
(Were you surprised that QB Tom Brady left New England and what do you think about the new era they have in New England?) – “I just feel like Tom made the best decision that was best for Tom. I really can’t talk to deep into Tom and his decision. He’s a great guy and a great teammate.”
(What is your mindset given what we’re all going through right now. How are you able to stay in shape, and what’s you level of confidence that you’ll be able to gather with your new teammates for the offseason training?) – “Right now with what’s going on, I’ve just been staying in the house controlling what I can control. Just doing little thing within the inside of my house. Just trying to make sure I’m doing the right things to make sure this thing can get settled down and whatnot. I can’t (wait to) get out there to Miami and get with my teammates and learn each one of those and we can start taking this one day at a time.”
(How has this experience been for you? Obviously going into free agency, you would probably visit some teams before you make a decision. Was it harder going into this without being able to go and visit the teams and piggy-backing off that, how are you are keeping in shape?) – “I can only talk about my decision. For me, it was pretty comfortable because I was already comfortable with ‘Coach Flo’ (Brian Flores) out there in Miami. I didn’t think I needed to take too much of a visit. It didn’t hinder my decision because of the situation. Knowing Coach Flores, knowing what he’s about, knowing what kind of leader he is – I knew everybody in that organization. It’s going to be the same type of mentality he’s on because I know what type of leader he is, so it didn’t make it that difficult for me not taking a visit.”
(I know you don’t want to talk much about QB Tom Brady leaving, but you caught the second-to-last touchdown pass from him in New England. Can you even picture what an AFC East would look like without that guy?) – “I think the AFC East right now, for me, is taking it one day at a time with the Miami Dolphins. When we’re over this situation that we’re going through, to get there and meet my teammates, meet the staff, and even meet the people that help around the building – because that’s the people that make it easier on us – when I’m able to do that, then we’re able to just take it one day at a time and do what we need to do to control what we can control.”
(You were a captain in New England. How would you describe your leadership skills and how do your teammates think of you?) – “Me, I honestly think it’s just being yourself. Come in here every day, be the best teammate you can be, be the best person you can be in the building, and stuff like that. That’s it for me. Just always being myself and doing what the team needs me to do, and being the best teammate I can be.”
(What is your main reason for joining the Dolphins?) – “My number one reason, like I keep saying, is Coach Flores. He just made me feel so comfortable with coming down and knowing what type of leader he is and the type of staff that’s here already. That was my number one main reason and whatnot. I’m 100 percent bought in. I can’t wait to get down (there) and I love that I’m a Miami Dolphin.”
Ted Karras – March 26, 2020
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Thursday, March 26, 2020
C Ted Karras
(Why the Dolphins? How did this come together?) – “I got a couple offers and I really believe in what Coach Flores (Head Coach Brian Flores) is building and doing here, and I kind of wanted to get in and help him build it. So I’m really excited. Hopefully (I will) get down there soon. I hope everyone’s well, by the way, and I’m looking forward to meeting you all. I’m looking forward to getting down (there) and getting to work, meeting the guys and a brand new adventure.”
(What are your thoughts about this group of free agents that you are a part of? It’s a large group. The Dolphins obviously made a big investment. What kind of impact do you think you all collectively can make?) – “It’s been great. I know a lot of guys coming in. Kyle Van Noy, Elandon (Roberts) obviously from the Patriots. I played college football with Clayton Fejedelem, and then we were in rookie camp together with Kamu Grugier-Hill, so a lot of familiar faces. A lot of talent coming in. I know Shaq Lawson from Combine training. So I’m looking forward to getting to work with these guys. It’s going to be an exciting year. I’m pretty pumped up. Obviously I’m just going to focus on what I need to do to help the team win some games and that’s working hard however I can and getting to know these guys and mesh together as a team. It’s kind of like a whole other class coming in. It’s pretty exciting stuff.”
(What do you remember about Head Coach Brian Flores when he was down there with New England and do you have any good ‘Flo’ stories?) – “I don’t know if I have any good ‘Flo’ stories. I know I competed against him a lot my first couple years. I was with the sixth-man reserve scout team guys, so we competed against him a lot. We got after his defense, and he’s intense and prepares to win and knows what he’s doing and I really respect that a lot. He actually played with a couple guys from my high school at BC (Boston College), so that’s kind of how we started talking, but we developed a pretty decent relationship and I really liked what he did last year and really respect Coach Flores. I’m glad to be in his organization.”
(What has Head Coach Brian Flores told you about the culture that he’s building in Miami and do you feel like there are any similarities based on what you experienced in New England and maybe some differences?) – “I don’t know if he’s told me anything explicitly about what the culture he’s trying to build. I think just going off his personality and what I saw on film and what I’ve read and heard, it’s going to be fairly similar to what we were about in New England. I think the biggest things would just be preparing to win, being tough and trying to go out there and win as many games as we can. I think that inherently that’s what he’s about, and that’s one of the main reasons that I decided to come down and be a Miami Dolphin. I’m really looking forward to working with him again and getting some work done.”
(I’m wondering when you look at interior offensive line – in New England you guys didn’t seem to have highly drafted guys. Maybe Patriots G Joe Thuney might have been the highest pick right at the third round. What is the key to building that interior offensive line? Is it skill? Is it coaching? What is it?) – “I think a little bit has to do with skill and also hard work. I do have to give a lot of credit in my own career – I can only speak for myself – (Patriots Offensive Line Coach) Dante Scarnecchia really made me an exceptionally better football player than I was. Four years of working under him really, really benefitted me; but I think guys take it upon themselves to try and get better. We work hard every day. There’s obviously a toughness aspect and a lot of things go into it. I’m hoping that I can help bolster this interior offensive line and have some success down here as well.”
(How have you been impacted by coronavirus? Where are you right now? How much have you been able to leave the house and what do you think of what’s going on in the world?) – “It’s crazy. I hope you guys are all safe and your families are safe. I’m here in just a little town right outside of Foxborough. I’m just working out – my neighbor’s got a rack in his garage right across the street. I’m just running up and down the street. I’m doing band workouts. I’m doing anything I can to get it done. It’s pretty crazy. I hope it calms down soon so I can get down there and get to work. I’m really excited to meet the guys. That’s my favorite part about football is being on a team with 50, 60 guys so I’m really looking forward to meeting some new people and getting to work.”
(You were part of the Patriots’ long reign in this division. How much does the balance of power change with the Patriots quarterback going to Tampa Bay now? How much of an opening does it create for the other teams?) – “I think just about as much opening as any other time every year. It’s a new season. Everyone is coming in, working hard for – we’re coming together for six months and going to try to win as many games as we can out of 16, and we’ve got as good of a shot as anybody else in the division; but it’s going to take hard work and dedication. We’re going to have to come together and really buy in and work our hardest to get better every day. If we can do that, then we have just as much of a shot as the other three teams in this division.”
(I wanted to ask you – I know that there was a narrative about the Dolphins early on last season that they were tanking or whatnot, but you guys got to play them twice. What did you see in that team by the end of the season through improvement or otherwise?) – “The obvious improvement being they came up and we lost the last game; but even in both games, (they have) big tough guys on the d-line. Obviously a stout defense. (It’s a) very similar scheme to what we were doing, but it’s a tough – any time you play – I thought Coach Flores’ teams coming in, even when he was the d-coordinator here, it’s going to be a tough day for guys on the inside. A lot of hitting, a lot of guys covered up. They were a tough team and that was a tough loss for us, so I have a lot of respect for when they came up – New Year’s Eve in New England – and came up and beat us. That earned a lot of respect from me, so I’m looking forward to being a part of a team with those guys.”
(What was your reaction to QB Tom Brady leaving?) – “I’m very happy for him. Tom Brady is a personal favorite of mine. He always was amazing to me and obviously a great athlete, great person. I think he’s one of the best ever, and I learned a lot of football from him; but also about being a man, a father and a human being in this league and I’m very happy for him. He deserves everything he gets, and I wish him luck and success. I’m sure he’ll have some, so I’m looking forward to seeing what happens.”
(How many video conferences have you done, and what’s your reaction to doing it this way?) – “Well, I’m actually pretty well-versed in Zoom before this. I was actually watching a lecture on Zoom. I’m finishing up my degree from Indiana University – my Master’s of Business Administration – so I’m pretty well-versed in zoom. It’s not bad. It’s kind of like everyone’s on a football offseason now and everyone’s home. This is kind of – it wouldn’t be too much, that much different for me, except now we just can’t even leave anyway. I’m just finishing up school and I don’t mind doing it this way; but I am looking forward to meeting you guys and shaking your hands when that is socially acceptable again (laughter) and working with you guys. It’s always exciting to meet new people, and I’m looking forward to meeting you guys and working together.”
(This one comes from a fan, Gabriel Lopez. He wants to know, what’s your opinion of Brian Flores?) – “I think he’s a smart, tough coach. He prepares us to win, brings in guys he thinks share his vision and his toughness and his drive to compete and win. I’m very much looking forward to practicing and playing in his organization.”
Brian Flores – February 25, 2020
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Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Head Coach Brian Flores
(Regarding Offensive Coordinator Chan Gailey, who brought his name up first and what was the reaction in the room when that name was called?) – “I brought his name up first. Having coached against him in years past, he was always somebody who was tough to deal with schematically, good situationally and then I’ve just heard many great things about him as a teacher, him as a – the big thing for me is always teaching. He’s a great teacher. These past couple – the time that he’s been here, I’m seeing more and more of that, so we’re excited to have Chan.”
(Did you have to talk Offensive Coordinator Chan Gailey out of retirement or convince him to come back or was he enthusiastic?) – “He’s back. He’s enthusiastic and he’s excited for the opportunity, and we’re excited for him to work with our players.”
(As a coach when you sit down with these quarterbacks in the next week, what is the No. 1 thing you hope to…?) – “It’s hard to say one thing for the quarterback position or really any position. We’re looking for guys who are tough, who are smart, who are competitive, who love to play, put the team first. Obviously we’ve watched all of the film. We’re looking for talented players. There’s a lot of things we’re looking for in each player, but I would say tough, smart.”
(How high is mobility on that list in terms of things that you want a quarterback to have?) – “Mobility, I think at any level you’ve got to have mobility. Pee Wee, college, high school. You’ve got to be able to step up in the pocket or slide in the pocket or if you get a free runner, try to avoid that guy. I think mobility at that position at any level is a good thing. I would say just from a talent standpoint, yeah, that’s something we’re looking at as well.”
(On what he needs to know from QB Tua Tagovailoa’s medical evaluation.) – “There’s a lot to know about a lot of players. Specific to him, it’s all the things we just talked about – his love of the game, his intelligence. But that’s for any player, and medical’s obviously a part of that; but again, we’re very, very early in the process. There’s medical, there’s tests. This is very early. We haven’t even met him yet. I’m looking forward to meeting him and a lot of players. (There are) a lot of talented players here at the Combine.”
(There’s already a lot of talk about the “it” factor in quarterbacks. How do you evaluate that? When do you first evaluate if that quarterback has “it” to lead your team?) – “I think that’s something everyone talks about. Does he have that factor? Do guys rally around him? I think that’s something you see watching the film, but you get to know the player, the people around him, his coaches, his high school coaches or anybody who’s had an effect on (him). You want to get to know him and have those conversations. It’s a feel. You may feel like your guy has it. (Someone) may not. As a group, myself, (General Manager) Chris (Grier), we spend a lot of time talking about a lot of different things. If we feel like a player has that, that’s something that I think every organization is looking for. It’s an important piece, but it’s different. Everyone’s got a different kind of thought process and opinion on that.”
(Is that a requirement for you to feel like a player has that “it” factor?) – “I mean, the good ones have it, so yeah.”
(Drawing on your experience, what’s the most valuable thing your staff will take away from this week in Indianapolis?) – “It’s a great week to evaluate a lot of talented players at a lot of different positions. I think getting to know them – because there’s a lot of juniors here that we don’t really know very well, so to spend some time with them, getting to know them, getting to find out how smart they are, things that are important to them; I think that’s the most important piece. I want to know about the person. We can re-watch all the film. I have an opinion on how talented the player is, but how do they work? How important is it to them? Are they going to make the sacrifices necessary to become the player they want to be? Those are the kinds of things that I’m looking for.”
(You talked about having a vision for the team moving forward here. For the sake of that vision down the road, do you need to come out of this offseason with a young quarterback for the future?) – “There’s a lot that goes with that question. Obviously we’re looking at all positions. The quarterback is part of that as well. I think we want to create competition to get young, talented players at all positions. So yeah, as far as, I’ll tell you that’s – you’re right there, but it’s not just the quarterback position. It’s o-line, it’s d-line, it’s defensive backs. It’s all positions, so they’re all important.”
(On the competitiveness of the AFC East.) – “I think our division’s very competitive. Obviously the Patriots every year. They’re well-coached and they’re tough to deal with. The Jets – they’ve got a very talented roster. They’re well-coached as well. All those games are tough and obviously Buffalo. They made the playoffs last year. They’ve got a talented team as well, so yeah, I think it’s a very tough division.”
(On if the Patriots are vulnerable.) – “(laughter) No, I don’t see them as ever being vulnerable.”
(On Preston Williams.) – “Preston is working hard every day. I’ve seen him in there. He’s working hard. He’s doing everything he can to get back as quickly as possible. I thought he played okay last year. There’s always room for improvement. I think he’s taking steps to make those improvements.”
(On the team’s draft capital and trades and how aggressive they will be.) – “I think it’s entirely too early to kind of talk about how aggressive – there’s a lot of smokescreens out there from trade this, trade that. Look, I think we’re going to – you’re right. We have some capital; but again, it’s not just one position. Not in this game. There’s 22 guys on the field at a time, so we’re trying to build a talented roster. Depth is important in this league as you know, and there are injuries every week, so we want to build as talented a roster as we can. The quarterback position is part of that like (someone) mentioned earlier, but they’re all important to me. We have our kickers, punters and long snappers; I’m taking a look at all those guys as well. We want to create competition. That’s important to me at every position, so that’s kind of the goal.”
(Your reaction to Assistant Head Coach/Wide Receivers Karl Dorrell leaving to go to Colorado? Will you have an assistant head coach next year?) – “I’m very excited for Karl. I think it’s a great opportunity for him. He and I had some very good conversations about – I think he was happy here with the Dolphins, but there was an opportunity that I was very supportive of. He wanted it. Like I say to all our coaches, if there’s something that they want, then I’m going to be supportive of those guys. As far as assistant head coach, we’re still kind of in the process of looking to replace Karl and potentially replace his dual roles with us, so we’ll see how it goes. It’s too early in the process. When I know, I’ll let you guys know.”
(What do you have on the status of Xavien Howard’s health and potentially the discipline he might face?) – “The league has kind of taken over from that standpoint. We’ve got to let them go through that process and we’ll take it from there.”
(As you prepared to play the Patriots last season. What did you see from QB Tom Brady in September, and then of course again when you saw him in the finale?) – “I see a very talented player. One of the best players to ever play.”
(How strange would it be for QB Tom Brady to leave the Patriots? Is that something you’re sort of hoping for?) – “I don’t want to speculate. That’s what it is right now. A lot of speculation, a lot of smokescreens. I’m worried about our team. That’s where my focus is, where my mind is at all times. How do I help our team get better, how do I help our players and coaches get better? I think the Combine is a part of that.”
(In your personal life, do you find people you know asking about QB Tom Brady, because of your connection with the team?) – “My personal life? I don’t really get that much. (laughter)”
(You mentioned the smokescreens and speculation earlier. How do you decide how to move from that? Do you stay, go, move around?) – “I don’t read much. I don’t have a Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. I kind of stay out of that, so I don’t really get much of it. If it’s Pro Football Talk, maybe I’ll read it. I know what’s going on in our building. I don’t really worry about what’s going on in everybody else’s building. Everything for me is about how do I make the Dolphins better, how do I help the Dolphins get better. That’s kind of where I’m at.”
(On Stephen Ross dismissing the idea of QB Tom Brady coming to Miami.) – “I think ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) did a good job, a really good job last year. His leadership was something that really helped us a year ago. I’m really focused on the guys that are on our team right now. As far as Tom Brady and free agents, that’s coming up and I understand the question. But right now, we’re having conversations and we’re kind of looking at everything – Chris (Grier), myself, our personnel staff, we look at everything. Every avenue, Chris has got a Plan A, Plan B, Plan C for everything. That’s a good thing. We kind of bounce ideas off of each other. It’s a really good working relationship. We’ll see what happens as we move forward.”
(On if he’s comfortable with what Stephen Ross said) – “Like I said, I feel that ‘Fitz’ has done a really good job. I agree with Steve as far as why would (Tom Brady) want to come to Miami, I do. I’ll leave it at that. I do agree with Steve.”
(Where does QB Josh Rosen fit in?) – “Josh is expected to come in, learn the offense and develop the way he has developed over the latter part of the season. He’ll get an opportunity to compete and get better every day.”
(You guys have versatility on your roster. As you guys go into free agency, do you know where guys like G/T Jesse Davis, and S Bobby McCain will play next season. Or do you wait and see how free agency and the draft play out?) – “We know where they’ve played in the past and what they can do. Versatility is very important for us. It allows us to – it’s not like quarterback where you play one spot. If you can play multiple positions, that’s a good thing. It’s still very early. I don’t think we’re go into it and say ‘hey, you’re playing this, or you’re playing that.’ I think being versatile and having the ability to move a guy like Bobby from safety to different positions, that’s good.”
(What’s your ideal running back for the running game?) – “Running backs come in all different shapes and sizes. It depends on we’ve got. I think we’re always going to do what’s best for the player. Chan (Gailey), he’s done a really good job of fitting the scheme to the different players he’s had. Yeah he wants somebody who is fast, breaks tackles and can block. He’s got to protect. We’re looking for all of those things.”
(On the organization winning the Paul Tagliabue Award for diversity.) – “I think it’s great. There are a lot of great minority candidate throughout the league. I think we have a few of them on our staff including Karl (Dorrell) – we just lost one. I think that’s a good thing. I’m obviously in full support of that. It’s pretty clear that the Dolphins are in support of minority candidates. I do think that there are a lot of great leaders of men, great coaches, great teachers who, if given an opportunity, will do a great job.”
(What are your thoughts of the changes of the Combine?) – “Adapt or die. You’ve just got to be fluid, you’ve got to be flexible. We meet at night now. I‘ve got to figure out when I’ll get my workout in and go from there.”
(On QB Tua Tagovailoa thinking being left-handed is a strength.) – “I wouldn’t sit here and say I’m a quarterback guru. I think I look at it from a defensive perspective and that is a little bit – not unusual but it’s different. There aren’t a lot of lefties out there. (Tua Tagovailoa) is a good player. He’s done a good job and I think everyone, their talents, strengths and weaknesses are different. He’s good player. (Joe) Burrow is a good player, (Justin) Herbert is a good player. (Jordan) Love is a good player. There are good players here. We will evaluate them all. He should think it’s a strength of his. If he thinks it’s a weakness, that’s probably not a good thing.”
(I want to ask you about your t-shirt.) – “The (Dolphins) Cancer Challenge. Just supporting the function the Dolphins have this weekend. The 5k run or walk, or (you can) bike. I think it’s for a tremendous cause and it raises a lot of money for cancer research. I think the Dolphins have done a great job of supporting the fight against cancer. I’m here to support it in any way I can.”
(Are you going to run, walk or bike?) – ‘I’ll be here.“
Chris Grier – February 25, 2020
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Tuesday, February 25, 2020
General Manager Chris Grier
(Year 2 of the rebuild – obviously last year, you guys started with some pieces and tried to get the foundation – what is the goal this offseason?) – “Just continue building. Last year I think was a good year for – I think (Head Coach) Brian (Flores) and the coaching staff did a great job of establishing the culture. The narrative was out there (that) we were tanking, and that clearly was not what we were doing. It’s important to establish that culture of winning, the importance of winning and doing things the right way; so for us, it’s just to keep building upon that and I think we got a good start at the end of the year of how we played the second half of the season, and we’ve just got to keep building from there.”
(What are some of the most important things that you hope to find out here about the quarterbacks?) – “Really it’s just getting to know all of these kids. It’s every position. Like we tell you, every position is crucial, especially when you’re building where we are at this point, and just getting to know the type of person, the leadership, mental toughness, character on and off the field. It’s every position, but especially that one.”
(How important is it to find a young quarterback that you want to build the organization around?) – “I think it’s important. I think every team would tell you that. I’m not going to sit up here and lie and say it’s not. (laughter) It is important. You see that in every team that has one feels really good about it. We want to get to that point. ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) did a great job for us last year, and he’ll be a good guy here to help show this person – whoever it is – how to be a pro, a professional and learn from him, so we’re excited about that.”
(A lot of the teams that have gone for their franchise quarterback in the last few years have had to trade up to do it. Have you already started those talks with the teams about the possibility of having to go up to find your guy?) – “No, not yet, because we’re so early. No team has really met many of these guys yet, so I think until everyone goes through their process – like we’ve talked about – and getting to know them, that’s when you start making your determinations of what’s best for your franchise.”
(Do you feel good at five? Do you think you need to move up to make that happen?) – “We feel good where we are right now. Like I said before, we feel we’ve done a lot of things that give us flexibility through the draft and free agency. Right now, we feel very good where we are.”
(Is there any position that you can say, ‘yeah, most likely we’re going to take that position in the first round,’ whether it’s pass rusher, offensive tackle, quarterback, anything else?) – “I don’t think we can rule out anything. (laughter) We have a lot of spots we need to fill. We have some young players that did a good job last year that Brian (Flores) and the staff developed and keep going from there; but for us, I don’t think we can rule out any position no matter – We’ve always said, you can think you’re deep in some place and then an injury happens and changes the picture.”
(Would you rule out any move including to No. 1?) – “I don’t think you can rule out anything right now. I think we’re wide open to everything.”
(How do you feel about – obviously you’ve talked about liking the amount of money and the ammunition that you have as far as draft picks – do you feel like you have enough to make any move you want?) – “Yeah, we do. We feel good, and I think history shows with the things we’ve done and the picks we’ve acquired and the money, that we feel good about our standing and the flexibility to move up and down or stand pat.”
(What’s the sales pitch that you make to prospective agent of a free agent that you’re targeting as an organization?) – “I think last year was a great – at the end of the year, going up to New England, beating New England like that with New England playing for something that was really important, and everyone was telling us, ‘lose for a draft pick.’ It didn’t make any sense, and I think we can have a team that’s going to be competitive, tough, smart, and building it the right way with a coach that’s going to lead us to good things in the future.”
(If you guys don’t get a quarterback what does that all mean?) – “What’s that?”
(If you guys don’t get a quarterback, what do the wins last season, what does the draft position you have now – if you guys don’t get this quarterback to finish this rebuild, what does it, where do you guys stand?) – “No, we’ll just keep building and working and doing everything we can to win here. Like I said, we’ll keep working, doing everything and build it the way we think will be the right way to bring a championship here to Miami. We’ll do everything we can to try and add the right people.”
(There are a lot of veteran quarterbacks on the free agent market – some available via trade. Where does the team stand in terms of their thought process of does it have to be a young guy that you want to invest in, or can you go the veteran route?) – “No, I think right now we’re just still going through all that. Like you said, there are a lot of people who – probably more than usual (laughter) – out in the marketplace, I guess you would say. For us, we’re just going through our process still. Like I said, we feel really good about ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) and where we are, but we’re just looking at every option still.”
(How much does draft capital allow you to kind of make a pitch to free agents and possible prospective players you’re going to bring into the building?) – “I think it’s a big piece. I think people want to see that you’re trying to do things to win, and I think what we’ve done and what we’ve acquired, I think for any player – especially a young player – would be excited for the opportunity to know he’s going to come in with a lot of picks, a lot of good, young players and the chance to build and grow with them to create something special hopefully.”
(Over the last few years there’s been a lot of talk about devaluing of the running back position both in free agency and the draft. I’m curious, your thought process on the value of the running back position?) – “(laughter) I think everything goes in cycles in this league. For a while, everyone’s saying running backs weren’t important and then Zeke Elliott and Todd Gurley had big years and running back’s really important. Then the year before, New England did a good job with their backs by committee and won, so I don’t really value or devalue any position. I think each team’s going to make their determination of what’s best for them, and there’s a lot of good players at that position. I would say I don’t really view it as devalue or value, I think you’ve just got to make whatever decision’s best for your team.”
(Yesterday a lot of the quarterbacks or a lot of the players got measured – height, weight and all that – and Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa was 6-foot and 217 pounds. Is he a prototype-size quarterback?) – “No he’s not, but I think you’re getting – the game has changed a little bit. I think you’re getting a lot of players that aren’t the old model like the Drew Bledsoes at 6’5, 230 (pounds). You’re getting a lot of these guys because – Kyler Murray last year is one, Baker Mayfield. I think you’re getting a lot of guys that are good football players now, I think. That’s what teams are just looking for. Are they good football players? Especially at that position if they have all the intangibles.”
(What are your thoughts about QB Tua Tagovailoa as a prospect and what do you hope his medicals maybe show you this week?) – “Tua had a fantastic college career. I haven’t met him yet, so for us, we’re just going through the process of getting to know him; but again, he seems like a great kid and the medical will tell us what it is. We’ll go through our process and get to know him, but (we are) excited to meet him, as well as a bunch of other prospects?”
(Is it fair to say that you’re, like all the top quarterbacks you’re going to meet at the Combine?) – “Yeah, we’ll sit down and talk with them. Yes.”
(Offensive Coordinator Chan Gailey question for you – how did his name first come up? Who brought it up, and what was the reaction in the room?) – “Brian (Flores) was just going through his process of doing it and I think with that, you should probably talk to Brian about it. But I worked with Chan previously. Chan was a little bit ahead in the RPO (run/pass option) game early on before it became I guess, ‘in-style’ for the league and stuff. Chan’s a great guy, a good football coach and when we made the hire, I had so many coaches from around the league text and say, ‘hey, fantastic hire,’ just for the guy and a football coach.”
(How much input will Offensive Coordinator Chan Gailey have on I guess your future quarterback?) – “Yeah, like I said, we’ll go through it. He’s going to be a big part of it as well as Brian (Flores), myself, the scouts, the coaches. Like I said, it’s going to be an organizational decision on this.”
(What is your viewpoint on the mobility of quarterbacks now in today’s game? Is it necessary or can you have a statuesque quarterback in today’s football?) – “I think the mobility gives you a dimension that defenses have to account for with spreading everything out, so I think it is an advantage (for) the guys that can do it; but also on the other hand, if the guy – like Drew Brees is a great thrower, passer and not known for mobility and I think everyone would take that as well. But it does add a dimension that makes defenses account for them. It seems to be a lot of these guys now add that dimension which is exciting for the future of football.”
(I wanted to ask about edge rushers, guys that affect the passer. What do you feel like are some of the most important attributes in all of your years of research and study that will translate to sacks?) – “I think if you go back and you try and study those guys whether it’s a prototype, whatever the numbers are, whether it’s the measureables; but it’s also going to be the kid, the person as you talk to him. And that’s a big thing because a lot of those guys are driven to be great. Besides the gifted athletic (abilities), it’s really the person, the traits and the characteristics and the desire to dominate. For us, it’s getting to know the person, talk to him, as well as all those things, but any time you can find those, it’s huge for an organization.”
(What are the dynamics like when you decide on whether to trade up for a player versus staying there and believing that he’ll be there when you pick?) – “It’s a conversation. Sometimes it happens before you talk and then sometimes they happen right when you’re on the clock on draft day. Again, it’s weighing – you look at what’s available, how many players at that position are available as you’re looking at your board and stuff and then in terms of when you do it in free agency and stuff, it’s just working with the team and seeing what’s best for your organization. It’s a lot of conversations. It’s nothing that’s ever done quickly and in terms of when it’s veteran parts, you’re looking at the salary cap, money, how it’s going to affect the years and length left on contracts.”
(How often is a team aware that they’re about to get jumped? In other words, it would seem to me that you’re probably not very often blindsided by a jump, right?) – “Not often because most of the calls that come to teams are working all the teams, all the way up through there, so you’ll have an idea. Every once in a while like, ‘Oh wow, they got all the way up there,’ but most times you get those calls from teams just saying, ‘Hey, they’re interested in a move here or there,’ and then kind of work from there as you work down your board and you kind of see who’s available, who’s not and then you decide, is this better for us to move or move down?”
(Do they have to clarify to you who they want before you consider?) – “You always ask, but they never do. (laughter) You’ll be like, ‘oh, is it an offensive player?’ They’re like, ‘oh I can’t tell you.’ (laughter)”
(I wanted to ask you one about the offensive line. Last year – well not the offensive line, the trenches. Last year you said that it was a priority to build the trenches. How do you feel like you guys did and what’s the next step?) – “I would say we did okay, and I think the big piece for us is keep building there. I think line play on both sides is critical for being good in this league, so for us, we’re going to keep addressing that and it’s going to be a point of emphasis here over the next couple months.”
Chris Grier – January 22, 2020
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Wednesday, January 22, 2020
General Manager Chris Grier
(I wanted to ask you about evaluating the quarterback position and I’m sure you’ve been asked this version or a similar version but I wrote it down. How do you personally weigh arm strength, mobility and things like that versus intangibles like presence and leadership skills?) – “I think when you’re talking about the quarterback position, a lot of the intangibles are what separates a lot of guys because you hear stories now even when they talk about – like they said Tom Brady coming out didn’t have great arm strength or Drew Brees. But those guys are some of the all-time best to ever play the game. You look at everything, everyone’s skillset at the end of the day. Do they win games? Are they leaders? Are they football smart? The intangibles, the character and stuff plays a big part at that position but also at any position. There’s a lot of guys that get overlooked – Zach Thomas is a perfect (example) … ‘Zach’s too small, too slow’ and stuff; but yet, he’s one of the best linebackers to play in the history for the Dolphins and being considered for the Hall of Fame, which is great for him.”
(This is the first time we’ve been able to ask you officially about Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa since he’s declared. To the best of your knowledge, where is he at physically and what does he need to show you guys to be considered in the first round?) – “We’re still so early in this process. We haven’t met him, haven’t sat down with him, talked to him. Our doctors haven’t seen him, so we know as much as you do right now. We see the media reports and things of that nature; but at the end of the day, we’ve got to get to know the guys and get in front of them just like any player. We’re very, very early in the stage with the fact that we haven’t even met the guy yet.”
(You got to see QB Tua Tagovailoa in person at least once. We know you were at the LSU game. What were your thoughts on him from purely a football standpoint, not taking into account the health, but the way he throws the football and runs an offense?) – “Yeah, I mean it’s – the way people are talking, he’s been a winner. I think the fact that he won the Elite 11 then goes to Alabama, has kind of storybook (story) coming off the bench and winning the national championship. Everyone always talks about his accuracy and they talk about the person as well – the intangibles that we talked about, so yeah, I’m looking forward to getting to meet him, just like a lot of players. There are a lot of good players in this draft and even some other quarterbacks he’s competing with, so I’m looking forward to the next couple months.”
(How important is the ability to get to evaluate these guys at the Senior Bowl, to see the Justin Herberts, the Jordan Loves and to get to meet them? And what are you looking for during this week from them?) – “For us, it’s always the first step. This is the first meeting you can actually sit down and talk to them and kind of begin to figure out who they are and what makes them tick. In terms of practice, it’s the competition. I love the fact that Herbert and Love and those guys have come down here to compete, just like in the past when Baker (Mayfield) and Josh Allen and those guys all came down. That’s the thing, you get to see them in a competitive situation. They’re all on equal footing. They’re all learning a new playbook and everything, so that’s the thing you like about the Senior Bowl and you appreciate those guys coming down here to compete.”
(When you’re doing a deep dive on a particular player and maybe a top-10 quarterback, like a really important player that you want to turn over every stone – I’m just curious, how many people that know that know that player might you and your colleagues touch before the draft?) – “I couldn’t give you a number, but it goes back well into their past. Their coaches – their college coaches, high school coaches – and people that know that player through family members. You’ll get people reaching out to you, too – especially the high-profile players. It’s a very interesting case study. Some day, I’m sure somebody will write a book on it and talk about their background, how they found some player and the work they did. (laughter) But we’ll have many, many people that will have or have had contact with those players over the years.”
(Where do things stand with QB Ryan Fitzpatrick?) – “I fully expect Ryan to be back and playing. He did a great job – the things he did with the young players, too, in the locker room, his leadership and just his enthusiasm. (laughter) I mean, you guys saw him, how he is and carries himself. He did a great job for us.”
(I wanted to ask you about the coaching staff and the changes to the coaching staff. Obviously you guys built a team that caters to the talent that Head Coach Brian Flores and this coaching staff wants to coach. How difficult will that be when you have a completely new staff – well not completely new, but new coordinators?) – “It’s a lot of communication. That’s always the important part. I think Brian and the staffs even previously have done a good job of when they all get here, we’ll get together, we’ll get in a room, we’ll talk about the traits and characteristics they want at each position, and we’ll go through it just like we always do. Again, you always have to make sure you’re on the same page of what everyone’s looking for and then that communication piece will be important. We have a couple months here, too, which is good. We’ll sit and we’ll go here and we’ll talk about the players here at the Senior Bowl and the other all-star games and then we’ll work through once we get to the combine, and we’ll do that again. So we’ll spend a lot of time talking and it’s communication like ‘does this player fit what you like? Is this profile the type of player?’ You’re right. The communication part of it is going to be huge.”
(So you have a profile for every position for what Head Coach Brian Flores wants?) – “Yes.”
(How different is that based on – You’ve been here 20 years. I’ve covered six coaches by the way. How different is that when you have to piece it together based on what you know and what everybody wants?) – “It can be a little challenging at times, but it’s also – You just have to learn to be able to adjust on the fly. When changes come and if you switch from whether it’s a 3-4 to a 4-3 or you want a zone scheme to a gap scheme. The good thing is we have a lot of veteran scouts that have been around and are good personnel evaluators. It’s just a matter of getting everyone on the same page as quick as possible. With all of the new coaches in, we’re meeting together as soon as we can with all of us in the room in early February and we’ll start preparing for the Combine and going through the types of players that they’re looking for.”
(How much do you and your staff have to communicate with other staffs around the league to identify and figure out what other teams want to do to try to get possibly ahead of you in the top five? Is that so important that you guys have to be aware of?) – “Yeah, I think every team is always monitoring what’s going on around the league. I think it works both ways. At some point, there’s a lot of misinformation going out. Teams are always trying to probe what you’re looking for. There’s a balance to it. But at the end of the day, I don’t think anyone’s tipping their cards right now until probably right up until draft day with what’s going on. But yeah, teams are always talking. Agents talk to people and stuff too, which is information again; but you don’t know who’s telling the truth all the time.”
(Is it impossible to forecast how much it would take to trade up, how much it would take to trade down?) – “Yeah, because every trade has been different. We look over the years at the value of what people do. You can always say you have an idea on place your value on it and then that other team may have a completely different view. And we’ve had that with other trades we’ve done in the past.”
(Do you feel like you have enough ammunition to move up if you needed to?) – “Yeah. I think we have more than enough.”
(How would you evaluate the QB Josh Rosen trade and what he’s done for you guys this past year? Is he part of your future plans?) – “Yeah, Josh is here. I think the trade, for us – we were always trying to upgrade that position. He’s a young player that had some talent and I think for us, the value knowing that we were going to have picks and a lot of picks going forward in the future and money available, it made sense for us to try and make that trade. We’re happy we made it. Josh has made huge strides like Brian (Flores) has talked about. It’s been fun watching him grow through the year. I know no one got to see it and everyone wanted to see him play, but he did a tremendous job growing. People always forget, like I said before, he’s had four straight different offensive coordinators and schemes. That’s hard for a young kid to keep with no stability. That’s hard. We were proud of him.”
(C Daniel Kilgore seems an interesting case. He’s a guy who loves Head Coach Brian Flores and Flores seems to love him. He’s a team captain, but he’s getting up there in age. I believe he’s 31. He was out all year. What are your thoughts on him and how he fits in next season?) – “Daniel is a tremendous locker room presence (and brings) leadership like you said. A veteran presence is what our team needed last year. I think he did a tremendous job along with ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) of steadying the ship early on when things were rocky. Like I said, we have tremendous respect for him. I love the guy and his energy in the building. For us, we expect him to be here, but we’ll see. We love him and he was great for our team.”
(Obviously, you have a very young team. You’ve got a lot of draft picks. That’s going to make the team even younger. How do you get leadership or how do you add leadership. I know QB Ryan Fitzpatrick contributes to that, but do you feel like you need more?) – “I think that’s a very important piece. Brian (Flores) and ourselves and the scouts and coaches have talked about that. It’s even with the young guys we bring in, we’ve got to make sure that a lot of those guys are leaders and understand – not necessarily captains at their schools, because we all know sometimes captains are appointed; but at the end of the day, (we) value leadership – leadership through all avenues whether it’s guys on the street, free agency or the draft – and just bringing in the right types of guys to help. Because you’re right, it’s going to be a young team. The good thing is that Brian and the coaching staff are tremendous teachers. I know when you were talking about a lot of the coaches and the guys we’ve had, and that’s the big thing. They’re teachers and motivators. You guys saw how the team played; but it is very important to have guys that have good leadership traits.”
(How badly do you sense that Stephen Ross wants to see an elite franchise quarterback added?) – “I think that’s from all of us. We’d like to find the right guy to be the quarterback. You see how important it is around the league. I wouldn’t just say it’s Steve. I would say it is Brian (Flores), myself, everyone – the coaching staff, scouts. We think it is important that we find the right guy to be the leader and the quarterback here for a long time.”
(What do you think about QB Tua Tagovailoa’s agent – Leigh Steinberg – honoring Stephen Ross with a philanthropy award before the Super Bowl?) – “That’s the first time I’ve heard it. (laughter) All last week we were in meetings all day and then we went right down here. Good for him. Steve deserves it and I’m happy (for him). But no, that’s the first time I’ve heard of it.”
(The trend seems to be the league is going towards more athletic quarterbacks, more guys who can move, more guys who can move the pocket. Is that just because that’s what college is delivering or is it just because that’s where the game is going? Or do you disagree that that’s the trend?) – “I think it’s probably a combination of both of those because nowadays, everything in high school – youth is 7-on-7. It’s get the ball out quick, it’s RPOs (run-pass options) and stuff. So the college game is producing a lot of it but the big thing is those guys are having success doing it. If guys were doing it and they weren’t successful, people wouldn’t be copying it. I think the game is evolving into that and I think quarterbacks that can run just add another dimension that’s hard for defenses to account for. It’s kind of an exciting trend to see the game moving that way and giving more guys that in the past you probably – not ignored but probably said ‘oh, he’ll be okay.’ Yeah, it’s an exciting thing for football and football fans.”
(Are you a fan of a quarterback running 150 or 200 times a year?) – “(laughter) I’m not sure how to answer that because I don’t want to – it’s been really effective for some players but it’s such a violent game, you always worry about injuries, especially if it’s your franchise guy. There’s some dynamic players that that skillset, for that team and those teams that use it, it’s what is spring-boarding them to winning, as well. You just have to understand what it is.”
(Since Adam Gase was fired and you were appointed as GM, QB Tua Tagovailoa has been linked to the Dolphins since that point. Do you think that’s kind of unfair that over the past two years that it’s been the case like that? Do you feel pressure to maybe evaluate him and draft him come April?) – “We’ll evaluate him just like every player. When people were talking about all of the stuff, we said we were never tanking. We were trying to win and build. To say one player was attached to us, you can’t control what fans and people in the media say. No, there’s no pressure for us (to draft Tagovailoa). The pressure for us is to find the right guy to be the quarterback for the Dolphins, whether it’s him or someone else. That’s the pressure of finding the right guy to lead the organization.”
(Some of the players that you drafted and have been a part of the process in drafting in recent years have found success elsewhere, such as S Minkah Fitzpatrick, T Laremy Tunsil, RB Kenyan Drake and QB Ryan Tannehill. I haven’t had a chance to ask you this but what is it like for you and how do you process that as a positive or negative? I’m just not sure how you process it.) – “At the end of the day, we did what was best for the Miami Dolphins. We always wish those guys success when they go on, but I’ve been so focused on trying to get here to build a winner here for us that – I’m happy for them; but at the end of the day, I don’t spend a lot of time worrying because there’s a lot of work to be done here.”
(I’m doing a story on Super Bowl memories, non-game related. What comes to mind with any of yours, whether it was a breakfast with the family or meeting with a different player? Anything along those lines?) – “Well the last Super Bowl I was in, we lost to Green Bay when I was in New England. I would say probably leading up to the Super Bowl, I think we had beaten the Raiders – no, that was the one before that. Memory-wise, I would say for me it was meeting Jerry Burns because my dad played at Iowa, so he knew Jerry Burns and meeting him and the Hilgenbergs, all of them before the game and talking about Iowa. It was kind of cool hearing them tell stories about my dad playing and stuff. Then the game Super Bowl memory was the Bears kicked our ass – excuse my language – in the game and I was sitting there and I had my Patriots jacket on and my head down, and then I got hit by a hamburger. Somebody threw a hamburger out of the stands and it hit my shoulder. (laughter) And I’m like, ‘Great, my dad is going to be mad, we’re getting killed and I just got hit by a hamburger because somebody was mad at my Patriots jacket.’ (laughter) That was my last Super Bowl memory.”
Chris Grier and Brian Flores – December 30, 2019
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Monday, December 30, 2019
General Manager Chris Grier and Head Coach Brian Flores
Chris Grier:
(You guys won five games and got the No. 5 pick in the draft. Was this season a success to you?) – “Yes, absolutely. I think from Day 1, we talked about Brian (Flores) coming in and creating the culture and setting the expectations for the organization and for us, I think we’re very excited about the future. I think yesterday was a culmination of the guys’ work throughout the season. They improved each week, got better and better, and so I’m excited for the future.”
(A year ago at this time, Stephen Ross ordered a rebuild. How would you describe the progress you made in 12 months?) – “Very good. I talked about laying the groundwork and the foundation of trying to build something that would win for sustained success; and for us, it was very important to do that. I think Brian (Flores) and the coaching staff have done a great job of laying that foundation.”
(You have a lot of money and a lot of draft picks to work with this offseason. Do you expect to spend the free agent money this year big or are you going to invest it in the future and build with draft picks or both?) – “Brian (Flores) and I have had conversations with (Vice President of Football Administration) Brandon (Shore) and (Vice Chairman, President & CEO) Tom (Garfinkel) and the big thing for us is we’re going to be smart about it. We’re going to build it the way we feel right and yeah, we have money and cap space, but it doesn’t mean you have to spend it all. We’re going to try to bring in a lot of players here – good players here – and keep building the roster. We’ll be very smart in how we do it.”
(I know quarterback is going to be the topic that everybody wants to talk about. When you guys look at that from the draft and free agency standpoint, how do you look at what you need to do in 2020? Do you have to get a new one or do you look at it a different way) – “No. We’re going to talk about the roster. The season just ended yesterday, so we’re going to go through it with the coaching staff and scouts. We’ll talk about it and we’ll look at everything. Like we talked about all fall, every position is important. Quarterback, we understand that’s the focus for everybody but we’re going to go through the process and make smart decisions and work through it and do what’s best for the organization.”
(Is finding a franchise quarterback the priority?) – “Like I said, it’s finding pieces everywhere. Again, I’m not trivializing the quarterback position. We’re going to investigate that hard just like every position in the draft and free agency.”
(Do you anticipate QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and QB Josh Rosen coming back next season or being on your training camp roster at least?) – “Yeah, right now. Both of those guys – ‘Fitz’ did a great job for us. Josh has worked hard, just like Brian (Flores) has been saying. We see improvement every day in practice and his growth; so yeah, we’re excited about both of them.”
(How high on the list is upgrading both lines? Do you feel like you need multiple new offensive line starters?) – “Again, we’ll go through the process here. I think we want to get better everywhere. It’s not just o-line, d-line. It’s all positions.”
(How do you view the QB Josh Rosen trade at this point? Can you consider that a success?) – “I don’t know what you consider a success or a failure. For us, we’re excited. We took an opportunity on a young player that has dealt with a lot of change throughout his college and pro career. For us, watching him grow and improve every day has been good for us. We’ll always take chances if we think it makes sense for us to try and improve the roster.”
Brian Flores:
(In general, do you have an opinion on high-priced veteran free agents? We know that a lot of those guys can contribute and help get you better faster. Do you have a general opinion on that?) – “I think anyone who can help this team get better and win, we’ll take a look at. But like Chris (Grier) said, we’ve had many conversations regarding – look, everyone thinks we’ve got all of this money to spend and blow. We’re going to be judicious and responsible with our salary cap. We’re going to make smart decisions. We’ve got a process that we go through. People see a number and they don’t really understand that there’s draft picks that are part of that. You’ve got to save some for injuries. It’s not ‘we’ve got 100 million dollars and we’re going to spend all of it.’ That’s just not how it works. So we’re going to be judicious and responsible. Chris (Grier) and Brandon (Shore), they do a great job of trying to forecast and predict the different ways we can do that. I think we’re going to make the best decisions – or try to make the best decisions – for this organization.”
Chris Grier:
(I know at one point you had said you have the tools to do whatever you want moving forward. You have the capital to do whatever you want. Are you comfortable at No. 5 or how likely are you to look to moving up or down?) – “We’re very comfortable with where we are. For us – again, we’ve made a lot of moves and again we can do a lot of stuff in free agency and in the draft. We’re excited here to get going through the offseason process and upgrading the roster.”
(Can you talk about how you worked this fall? We kept hearing there were two Dolphins scouts at this game and at that game. That’s something we haven’t heard before; I hadn’t heard before. Can you talk about – did you scout more with 14 picks or did you change plans any?) – “No. I scouted the same still. I think with that – Brian (Flores) and I had talked about it – you have 14 picks, but you still never know what’s going to happen. For us, it was for the scouts to get our eyes on as many good players as we could around the country and have multiple looks. Our scouts do a great job of going out on the road in the fall and finding guys and looking at guys. For myself and (Assistant General Manager) Marvin Allen, just getting out and seeing some of the top players throughout the fall was a pretty normal protocol.”
(What are your thoughts on potentially drafting a player who may have suffered an injury recently or may be injury-prone. Would you be reluctant to draft a player like that or would you like to get him in the program and see how he can develop when healthy?) – “That’s always a tricky one, just because we are so far away from having all of the information. I don’t want to speculate on that because you have to go through all of the doctors and (Head Athletic Trainer) Kyle (Johnston), (Dr. John) Uribe, (Dr. Michael) Swartzon and (Dr. Gautam) Yagnik, they all do a great job of providing us information, the medical stuff. For us, we’ll investigate everything and if it gets to that point where we have to make a decision, we’ll be well-versed in what we need to do.”
Brian Flores:
(Do you expect to retain all of your assistants? Do you have any update on Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks Jim Caldwell? Do you expect him back?) – “We’re evaluating everything – players, coaches. I’m evaluating myself – I probably should’ve thrown a couple more red flags over the course of the season. Everything is being evaluated. I think that’s the right approach you need to take after a season, just to reflect and make sure you’re doing things the right way and in the best interest of the Dolphins.”
(As you build this team, is there a specific point where it needs to start from here – whether it is offensive line, defensive line or quarterback? Or is it just the best available talent and you do it like that?) – “Chris (Grier) and I, we’ve had a lot of conversations centered around exactly what you mentioned. I think it starts with the culture and bringing the right kind of guys in. Character means a lot. As far as o-line, d-line – Chris mentioned it: we’re going to try to bring in good players at all positions and try to build this thing the right way with good players who put the team first and love to compete.”
(What can you tell us about your message to the team after the season wrapped up?) – “I told them I was proud of them. It’s very similar as to what I talked about in my media session yesterday. I was proud of the way they dealt with adversity throughout the course of the season. I love the way they worked in practice, in meetings, in walk-throughs, and how towards the end, they really started trusting the process. I thought they really worked hard and they saw some of the fruits of their labor, not only yesterday, but the latter stages of the season. This team knows how to deal with adversity or they learned how to deal with adversity this season. I also mentioned that every season is a little bit different. This team is going to be different than the team we’ll have next year. That’s the business of the National Football League. I think we laid the right foundation and need to try to build on that moving forward.”
Chris Grier:
(Where do you expect to be a year from now?) – “Just keep getting better and improving each game. Trying to win every game. Again, it’s a process for us, and Brian (Flores) has laid out a great plan and vision for it, so just excited for the future.”
(Is there any expectation of being a playoff contender next year? I know you’d probably say yes, but in terms of just rebuild, Stephen Ross has spoken of multiple years. Is Year 2 of a rebuild realistic to expect to be in playoff contention?) – “We’re just going to – like Brian said – we’re just going to keep trying to bring as many good players here as possible and whatever happens, happens.”
Brian Flores:
“I would say we’re just going to take this thing one day at a time. No one’s thinking about anything – we’re just trying to improve and get better on a day-to-day basis and just try to improve and get better.”
Chris Grier:
(What can you tell us about Head Coach Brian Flores’ involvement in the 53-man roster during the season, and then as you go ahead in free agency and the draft, will it be more than head coaches that you’ve worked with previously – as much or a little bit less? How would you characterize that?) – “No, Brian (Flores) will be heavily involved. Again, I think Brian does a great job of talking about the types of players he wants. Again, even the players that we brought in throughout the season, Brian has been very open to working through the roster and waiver wires and claims we’ve been doing. Like I told you guys from Day 1, I don’t think it works without having a collaboration of working together. He’ll be very involved, as he has been through everything we’ve done.”
Brian Flores:
(I’m writing a story on the American Football league back in Honduras, and I wanted to ask you – they think you’re a role model – what do you think about that and do you think of possibly maybe you going down there and doing a clinic or something like that?) – “Well, I didn’t know they played football in Honduras. (laughter)”
(They’ve got a league.) – “They’ve got a league? All right. Well as far as being a role model, I think it’s an honor to be called that. I’ve been to Honduras many times. I love that country. It’s obviously where my parents were born, and I do plan on going back pretty soon, hopefully this offseason. So maybe we can work something out where – I love to coach, so I’ve got no problem (with that). We might have a little language barrier. My Spanish isn’t that good. (laughter) That might be something we can do.”
(What pleased you the most from what you saw this season?) – “I’ve been asked that question a few times, and I always – and I kind of mentioned it a little bit yesterday. We dealt with a lot of adversity. I really think when you deal with defeat, when you deal with disappointment; again, it either breaks you or makes you stronger, and I think this team got stronger. And I think when early in the season, when a lot of people thought we were broken, we were actually building and strengthening as a team. That’s really what, to me, the one thing that I was very, very pleased with. And I don’t think a lot of people knew that was happening. I think only the people in the building knew that, which is why I speak so much about us as a team, just blocking out anything from the outside and just really spending time just locking in on the things that are happening in the building.”
(What do you consider the turning point of the season?) – “Probably when we put ‘Fitz’ in the game (against) Washington – the fourth quarter of the Washington game. I think he really gave us a spark, drove us down the field for two touchdowns, gave us an opportunity to win at the end. We didn’t finish that game off, but I would say if there was one moment, it’s probably that one.”
(I know it’s super early in the process but I’ve got to ask about CB Xavien Howard’s arrest this morning. How does that impact you guys to start the offseason, having that happen?) – “I think we’re still gathering information on that. We take situations like that very, very seriously. We’re gathering information. It’s unfortunate. How does it impact us? It does impact us. Again, we take these things very seriously. We’ll gather all of the information and do what we feel is best for the organization.”
(Do you still anticipate CB Xavien Howard being on the team next year?) – “Look, we’re gathering (information). Again, like I said, it’s too early to tell. I haven’t even talked to him. We have a process here. We’ll go through that process. Chris (Grier), myself, Brandon (Shore), Tom (Garfinkel), we’ll talk through this. We’ll have a conversation with ‘X’ (Xavien Howard) and make a decision once we get all of the information.”
Albert Wilson – December 30, 2019
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Monday, December 30, 2019
WR Albert Wilson
(To end the season on that high of a positive note beating the defending champs in New England, what does that do for you guys as a team as a whole heading into 2020?) – “It’s always good to get a win – to end the season with a win. A lot of teams don’t do that. So to end it on a good note – I feel like the last six to eight weeks, I feel like we’ve been going on the right path. To continue to go on the right path, to end the season like that, I feel like it leaves this team in a good spot.”
(For you guys as a unit of receivers, obviously you really picked up the game the last half of the season. With DeVante Parker, to you to Isaiah Ford, what is the potential of this unit going forward?) – “It’s exciting. We’ve got a lot of good guys in this room – a lot of guys that can do a lot of things. We can stretch the field vertically, the deep ball. It will be exciting to get the guys with a whole year under our belt, and to get back in and get to work, and just see how things work out. I think the team can have a really good offense.”
(What about what did QB Ryan Fitzpatrick did for this offense as a whole? I know yesterday TE Mike Gesicki said he was starting a one more year chant for him to come back. What did he mean to this team and to this offense?) – “He means a lot. Like you said, we were a team with no identity, and he came and brought his leadership in, and it’s something we needed form the jump. He was carrying us when it was tough, so we stuck behind him and it turned out to be a good thing. We’ve got a lot of good football with him, and we appreciate the guy. He’s a baller.”
(Will there be any lobbying on your behalf to help make his decision whether he’s going to come forward or play for another season?) – “That really doesn’t have anything to do with us. We love the guy. He’s a baller. I’d love the guy to be back, but that isn’t my decision.”
(As a fellow wide receiver, what was it like to watch WR DeVante Parker do his thing against Patriots CB Stephon Gilmore yesterday?) – “It was exciting. The kid’s a baller. He had a really good offseason and just stayed consistent all through the season, and it showed up. I can’t be more proud of him. It’s just starting for him. It’s just starting for a lot of guys on this team. That’s what makes it more exciting about this receiving corps.”
(Can you talk a little bit about your relationship with Head Coach Brian Flores and how it progressed throughout the year?) – “Like with everybody else, a lot of guys didn’t have much of a relationship with him. But him coming in and him taking the lead role and just demanding – just to follow his leadership. I feel like everybody felt that he had a strong plan and it is working and we’re with him 100 percent.”
(Can you summarize this season and what it’s mean to you and the team? How would you summarize that up?) – “That’s a good question. We’ve been making huge strides to get to where we want to go. We’ve been doing it week after week. We’ve got a young team, and the future has a lot for us and we’re all excited for it.”
(What has the team told you or what have you discussed with them about your future?) – “My exit meeting is at 10:30 a.m. It’s only 10:15 a.m. (now), so I don’t know.”
(Would you like to continue your contract and remain here next year?) – “No question. I came down here for a reason.”
Christian Wilkins – December 30, 2019
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Monday, December 30, 2019
DT Christian Wilkins
(We were talking about ending this season with an exclamation point, especially after how you guys started. What was that like?) – “It’s definitely the way you want to finish, being able to go on the road into a tough environment against the champs and get a win. We talked about it all week – that’s what we were going up there to do and I’m glad we were able to do that. It’s encouraging definitely for years to come. That’s definitely the beginning of what we want to do here.”
(How have guys bought into what Head Coach Brian Flores has been giving you guys this year?) – “I feel like guys definitely started believing in him and his vision. We got a good bunch of guys in this locker room who are good, tough hard workers who want to be the best for themselves and for this team and for this organization.”
(How would you describe what the win yesterday did for you guys in terms of sending you into the offseason on a good note?) – “You always want – The way the season has gone, we know we’re not going to make the playoffs, but you want to finish strong and we were able to do that. Against the Patriots, that definitely feels good and it’s encouraging for our future for sure.”
(Your assessment of your rookie season – are you please with what you’ve put on tape?) – “I’m never pleased. Even if I had the greatest rookie season of rookie seasons, I’m never going to be satisfied. But I’m definitely encouraged by a lot of things I’ve done this year. I feel like I belong in this league and I could play at a high level in this league, so I’m definitely looking forward to Year 2 and hopefully years after that.”
(Here’s a key question: has the trash talking between you and DT Davon Godchaux started yet about the LSU-Clemson College Football Playoff National Championship game?) – “No, not yet. I think he knows better. (laughter) I’m just kidding. It’s going to definitely come. He likes to run his mouth. He loves him some LSU and I love me some Clemson, so the trash talk is definitely going to be there.”
(Any expectations for next year?) – “Not really. Not yet. I definitely want to – it’s just the beginning of the end of the year, so I definitely want to take some time to get away. Then I’ll get time to reflect and make some goals and things like that for myself and for the team.”
(Has you relationship with Head Coach Brian Flores changed from the start of the year until now?) – “I feel like me and him have a better understanding of each other like any relationship when you’re around each other a lot. You get to learn and know things about each other. You get to learn some things about each other and just grow. That’s kind of where our relationship is. I’ve got a lot of respect for him and I feel like he has a lot of respect for me. We have a good, strong working relationship.”
(Are you planning on attending the game, the national title game?) – “Absolutely. I can’t wait to go see my guys down in New Orleans. I’m really excited and looking forward to it. I think it’s going to be a good game.”
