Julien Davenport – September 2, 2019
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Monday, September 2, 2019
T Julien Davenport
(Have they told you if you’re the left tackle this year? If you’re the starting left tackle this year?) – “We’re working on getting the playbook down first. As we go along and I work to improve both sides, we’ll take it as it is.”
(What was your first impression of Head Coach Brian Flores and the staff here?) – “I really like the coaches. They seem like really good guys. Talking with them on the phone and then getting here yesterday and getting to meet them all, I’m excited for the opportunity.”
(What did either General Manager Chris Grier or Head Coach Brian Flores tell you their vision for your role this year?) – “(The vision is) to come in and help the team win. We’ve got things we’ve got to take care here and now, and we’ve got to do everything we can to put some wins in the win column.”
(I know you had ups and downs during the regular season. You played well in the playoff game. What have you changed as far as technique? Is there anything that you’ve done after self-evaluating last year to improve?) – “Oh yeah, definitely. Technique is something that you can never stop working on, so that’s a continuous process to keep honing in on things, and now I’m here with Coach ‘Guge’ (Offensive Line Coach Dave DeGuglielmo) and learning how he teaches things and getting ready to excel.”
(Have you made changes in your technique since last year to try to do something different?) – “Definitely. Honing in – I wouldn’t say too much different, but just making sure everything’s crisp and a little better. Footwork, finishing, your fits, hands, all of that.”
(How crazy is it getting here and having to prepare for a new team and you also have to prepare for a hurricane?) – “Yeah, I honestly forgot about that coming down here. I was – my first year in Houston, we had to deal with (Hurricane) Harvey, so hopefully, everything is A-OK down here. Hopefully the hurricane – as I heard – is going up the shore and not too much damage is done, but you can’t stop living. We’ve still got to prepare. Hopefully, as I said, everything is good for the whole of South Florida and even the coast as the hurricane touches the coast, so I’m praying for everybody.”
(Did you study former LT Laremy Tunsil’s film last year or this offseason?) – “I saw a little bit last year. I watch a lot of the tackles in the league, see how a lot of guys do it and as I said, try to see if there’s anything I can add to my game, anything that they do very well that I could see, that I can help myself.”
(How would you assess how you played last year?) – “As you said, ups and downs; but you can always get better, and I’m looking always improve. Could be a lot better.”
Evan Boehm – September 2, 2019
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Monday, September 2, 2019
C/G Evan Boehm
(So what has the whirlwind been like?) – “It’s been a whirlwind. It’s kind of like the winds out there with this hurricane coming in, I guess. It is just a lot of fun. It’s a lot of fun. I left Indy on good terms, but I am down here with a team that needs help and wants help and hopefully I can be that guy that steps in and helps out and help this offensive line in any type of way that they need me to help out in. There is a good group of guys in the o-line room, starting with Danny (Kilgore) being the elder and the leader of the group. He has done a great job so far of just helping all of the new guys out with the calls and plays and stuff like that. It’s still a whirlwind and we’re still learning on the run a little bit, but everything is going smoothly so far. We just have to get in there and keep our noses to the playbook for this week and learn as fast as we can for this game on Sunday.”
(Did you know any players on the team?) – “I went to college with Charles Harris. We are both from the Kansas City area, so I know Charles pretty well. Rob (Nkemdiche) and I were in Arizona together our first two years. I was in camp with Josh (Rosen) last year. So, I know three or four of them.”
(So, there’s a lot of shaking hands and nice to meet yous?) – “Yeah. And then I was with Ryan Kelly (in Indianapolis) and ‘K.D.’ (Kenyan Drake) and Ryan played together (at Alabama), so there are connections all over the place.”
(How comfortable is it possible for you to be in six days?) – “It is what you do with those six days. That’s how comfortable you can get. Hopefully we can get the wordage and verbiage down. What helps me a little bit is that I was with ‘Guge’ (Offensive Line Coach Dave DeGuglielmo) last year, so I know some of his calls that he makes. I know what he wants out of pass sets and footwork and stuff like that. I’ve still got to perfect that and master that kind of stuff. I’m good there now, but it’s just diving into the playbook and learning the rules of certain plays, if we’re going to the Mike, if we’re not going into the Mike, if we’re doing this, if we’re doing that. I’m just in the books right now, just going and studying as much as I can. Like I said earlier, we are on to Baltimore right now. So, having that game plan and getting to see ‘okay, these are the set of runs that we are running against Baltimore,’ just really helps me out to say, ‘okay, we don’t need to know that one right now.’ I can just focus on getting these (plays) but I will come back to this one in the future when I have time. Danny (Kilgore) and the other guys at practice today, they were in our ears the whole time helping us out saying okay and I’m like ‘Yo, that’s a new thing. What is that?’ And he was just like, ‘you’ve got this, this is the play it is.’ It went pretty smoothly I feel like, so we’ve just got to keep on getting better and building on top of days like today.”
(What do you think of Offensive Line Coach Dave DeGuglielmo?) – “I love ‘Guge’ (Dave DeGuglielmo). He believed in me last year. When Ryan (Kelly) went down for a three-game stint – he went down and threw me in at center after been there for two or three weeks and I don’t feel like we missed a beat. I started four games for ‘Guge’ last year – three in a row and then the last regular season football game on Sunday night against the Titans. So, having ‘Guge’ – I mean, he is a smart, very smart football coach. He knows what he wants and if he doesn’t get what he wants, he will let you know about it. He will get into you a little bit; but you know what? it’s that offensive line mentality you have to have. You have got to be perfect on every play. You can’t just have one of the five guys missing a block or doing something here or there or the play is normally not going to be right. I think ‘Guge’ is a great coach, and I love being in the same room as him because I get to learn more than just football when I am in there. It is going to be a good time.”
(Where did you spend most of your time today?) – “Meetings and with position coaches.”
(What position did you work with mostly?) – “Center and Guard.”
(Did you ever get to line up against DE Charles Harris in practice during your days at Mizzou?) – “No, I was always inside and Charles was always outside but we always had those battles when they came in on a little stunt or something like that, so we saw each other every once in a while. It was always fun, but Charles is a great player. We are back together – we said that last night when I saw him – we’re back and it’s like nothing ever happened. So, it’s going to be fun to watch him do his thing out there again.”
Davon Godchaux – September 2, 2019
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Monday, September 2, 2019
DT Davon Godchaux
(That was surprising news today we got about DT Vincent Taylor. I know everyone was surprised. Your reaction emotionally when you heard the news was what?) – “I mean, it was a shock. It’s not a secret – Vince came in the same year as me and we played together for three years. He was kind of like my best friend on the team. It was shocking but at the end of the day, I can only control what I can control. I don’t call the shots here. I just go by what they say.”
(How’s DT Vincent Taylor taking it based on your conversation with him?) – “I don’t know, I haven’t even talked to him. Once I talk to him, we will sit down and talk, maybe have dinner, pick his brain and see what’s on his mind.”
(Is there a possibility that DT Vincent Taylor might come back? They haven’t taken his locker placard down yet.) – “That’s a question to ask of (Chris) Grier – that’s the GM – and Coach Flores, the head coach. Like I said, that’s not my call. I just come in and I just play.”
(How did Head Coach Brian Flores explain what is going on?) – “He really doesn’t have to – I mean if he wants to come in and addresses the team, he is the head coach and he can do that. I just come out each and every day and prepare and do what I do. Come to my locker, get ready for practice, go to O/D (offensive/defense) meetings, go to meetings (Defensive Line) Coach (Marion) Hobby, (Defensive Coordinator) Coach Patrick Graham and ‘Coach Flo.’ I just – If he addresses it, he addresses it. If he doesn’t, he doesn’t. He’s the head coach.”
(A lot of turnover on the team – Guys are saying where are the showers? They don’t even know where the showers are because they just got here.) – “There’s a lot of new faces, but John Jenkins, I had a chance to train with him coming out for the draft. A lot of guys I’m familiar with. Gerald Willis, he’s from New Orleans. We were ranked number one and two in the state of Louisiana for defensive tackles. I know both of those guys very well. The other guys – we’ve got a lot of new guys around here, but they’ve got to adapt quick.”
(Who was one?) – “(Gerald Willis) was one, I was two. Gerald is a great guy … He’s a great guy to be around.”
(Is it at all demoralizing to see a lot of the top players on the team traded like we saw obviously with T Laremy Tunsil and WR Kenny Stills and many others this offseason?) – “It’s a business. I’m not surprised by anything. Tunsil was a great player for us, Kenny was a great player for us, Vincent (Taylor) was a great player for us. Guys like Akeem Spence, (he) was a good player for us last year. It’s the nature of the NFL. I always say not to put any emotions and feelings into business. You’re here today and you’re gone tomorrow.”
Raekwon McMillan – September 2, 2019
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Monday, September 2, 2019
LB Raekwon McMillan
(Do you feel like you’ve lost anything?) – “Have I lost anything?”
(In terms of rust – just from sitting out for the last four months, or were you out there today feeling, ‘I feel as good as I would if I hadn’t been out for a few weeks?) – “Yeah, I went out there today and felt real good. I got back out there with the guys and tried to lock back in and get back to where I was.”
(What’s going through – you’re not able to practice, you’re not able to be out there, so when you see all these moves being made and stuff, what’s going through your mind?) – “I’m not really worried about what’s going on on the outside. I just worry about what I can control and how I can get better.”
(And how do you think you guys are going to start the season? There are a lot of new faces in here.) – “It’ll be interesting. We’ve got a lot of new faces, like you said, but I think we’re bonding together as a team, and we’re going to put a good product out there on Sunday.”
(One thing Head Coach Brian Flores has said often and early is “selfless players.” He wants selfless guys. In this system, you have to kind of be that way, no?) – “Yeah, for sure, because you can be put in at any position, and the coaches expect there to be no drop-off. Wherever you’re being plugged in, you’ve got to go out there and you’ve got to be productive.”
(Does it take a certain mindset to be that type of player?) – “Yeah, for sure.”
(You can have the talent, but if you don’t buy into it…) – “Yeah. I feel like in this defense, you’ve really got to believe in yourself. If you don’t believe in yourself in this defense, then you’re not going to be able to play.”
(Do you have any sense of what your role will be? I assume we’ll see you a lot in three-linebacker sets. Is that your understanding?) – “I don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s just, like I said, I’m just trying to get my body back right and ready to go out there Sunday and play ball.”
(How’d it feel today?) – “It felt good. I’m back to 100 percent out there on the field, running around – just ready to go, like I said.”
(So you could play, physically, Sunday if needed?) – “Yeah, for sure.”
(So much turnover in the locker room. I overheard one guy asking somebody, ‘Hey, where’s the showers?’ You guys have so many new guys around now.) – “Yeah, we’ve got a lot of new guys looking for where to go and don’t know what they’re doing. (laughter) Half of the guys here that have been here for a while still don’t know what’s going on. (laughter) We’ll be all right.”
Brian Flores – September 2, 2019
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Monday, September 2, 2019
Head Coach Brian Flores
(What went into the decision to move on from LS John Denney?) – “Organizationally, we just felt like – look, John has done a tremendous job for this organization for a long time. I think it’s something like 224 games or something like that he’s played in a row. From a leadership standpoint, from a coming in and working every day standpoint, no one has done more than he has, so I’m very appreciative of the time I spent with him. At the end of the day, we felt like this was a move we needed to make. Again, I’m appreciative of the time I spent with him.”
(Did you know there was going to be this much change and talent leaving the roster when you took the job?) – “I think when you start something new, you never really know until you get into it. I didn’t walk into it saying, ‘Hey, we’re going to do exactly this.’ You get in, spend time with the team, make assessments and evaluations, and you do what you feel is best at the end of the day, and that’s kind of the process we’ve taken organizationally.”
(Can you talk about the challenge of getting 10 new players up to speed for the opener on Sunday?) – “It’s a challenge, but it’s something that we’ve talked about as a staff, and we have a plan in place to get those guys up to speed offensively, defensively and in the kicking game. That starts today. We’re off and running with that.”
(What have you or will you – I don’t know when the full team meeting is – what have you or will you tell the players about all that’s gone on in the last 48 hours?) – “Yeah, I’ve addressed that with the team. Again, like I’ve said many times, my conversations with the team stay between myself and the team; but yeah, I’ve addressed them (about) all of the transactions in the last 48 hours.”
(There’s a lot of frustrated, angry, upset fans out there that are curious as to what the future holds for this team. What will you say to the fans that wonder what’s going on?) – “I’d say we’re going to come out, practice, prepare, work and do everything we can to win this game on Sunday against Baltimore. That’s where my attention is. That’s where my effort, my energy – that’s where it’s going to be. It’s on Baltimore, and I think the more people who take that approach, the better off we’ll all be this weekend.
(What does the organization view as T Julien Davenport’s strengths?) – “He’s big, he’s athletic, he’s got good length. He’s a good, young tackle. We’re excited to have him.”
(Has the personnel standpoint of this job surprised you in any way? You knew being a head coach was different than being a coordinator, but shaping this roster and being in on trades – has any of that surprised you, or is it about as you expected?) – “I mean, I spent four years in personnel, so I kind of know what that part is like. I spent that time with guys like – well, I spent some in personnel, so I had a pretty good understanding of this process, the (waiver) claims, the 53-man (roster), the cuts, the claim process. I know what that’s about, so ‘surprised?’ No, that’s not the word. I would say that for every team in this league, you try to get better. You try to make the team better, and that’s kind of what we felt like we were doing int his situation.”
(How do you put together an offensive line with, what, six days to go?) – “We’ve got what we have, and we’re going to add (Julien) Davenport to that, and we also added two new guards. We’ll spend the next six days working those guys in different spots, position to position and trying to put the best group out there we can. It’ll be a challenge, but it’s something that we as a coaching staff, we have to meet that challenge. That’s what we have to do.”
(Has DT Vincent Taylor been cut?) – “Yeah, Vincent Taylor was cut this morning.”
(In the context of this past weekend, you still have some veterans on your roster. Do you expect them in the market to be traded, or are you guys done trading?) – “Right now, the focus is on Baltimore. That’s where our effort and energy need to be. It can’t be on anything else. Again, this is a good team. They’re tough, they’re disciplined. They’ve got playmakers offensively, defensively, in the kicking game. We need to point our attention to this team. That’s been the message. Anything outside of that is just going to detract from what we’re trying to do on Sunday afternoon. That’s kind of where we’re at.”
(Will LB Raekwon McMillan practice today, and what’s his status?) – “Raekwon is doing everything he can to get better. We’re close. We’re getting close with him. I think you’ll see a little bit of him today, but we’re getting close.”
(Two kids from Miami from college down here that were picked up – Trent Harris, what did you see last year when he was on the practice squad in New England? And Gerald Willis to the practice squad. What drew you guys to them?) – “Those are two young guys who are talented. I felt like we needed some help on the edge and inside, so they’re two young guys. We felt like they have a ceiling they can reach and they have not yet reached their ceiling, so there is some potential with both players and that is the case with every person we traded for or claimed. We’re excited about that group.”
(When LB Kiko Alonso expressed his frustration and eventually his desire to get out, what was your reaction?) – “Again, we can sit here and talk about those things and put our energy on what happened yesterday and two days ago and two weeks ago and I don’t think that is going to help us against Baltimore. I really don’t. That’s just kind of my approach and my thought process. So, what happened in that situation or in another situation is just not going to help us, so my focus is on Baltimore.”
(There was a hurricane concern for a while – did it ever reach your desk as far as things might change?) – “Oh yeah, absolutely. There is a plan in place and we are still watching the hurricane. Obviously it hit the Bahamas pretty hard. We are still in the – I don’t want to say the cone because that is the word everyone is using right now, but it is close. It’s something that we are aware of and we’ve got a plan in place if we have to make a move and hopefully we don’t and we can stay on our normal schedule.”
(Did you have a conversation with your team about all the changes that have happened and what it means for them this season?) – “Yeah, absolutely. I address the team every day. I don’t stay away from the things that are happening within the team and I don’t stay away from those things, so I try to address them. My message to them was the same thing I said to you guys: The more time we spend and the more energy we give to everything else that is going on, the less we are giving to our preparation for Baltimore. This is a good team – this is a tough, physical, well-coached team and if we don’t put all our efforts into the preparation for this game, we are doing ourselves a disservice. That was how I addressed the team.”
Brian Flores – September 1, 2019
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Sunday, September 1, 2019
Head Coach Brian Flores
(I want to ask you this right off the bat regarding WR Kenny Stills. Was any part of him being traded personal or political on the part of the team, or you or Stephen Ross?) – “Not at all. You guys saw the compensation we received in the trade. It was something we couldn’t turn down. Kenny is a very talented player, as is Laremy (Tunsil); but at the end of the day, we felt like we were doing what was best for the team and the organization.”
(As far as T Laremy Tunsil, why couldn’t he be part of the rebuild? Why wasn’t he viewed as part of the rebuild?) – “Again, you guys saw the compensation. He was a part of that. It is one of those things that, again, he’s a very good player. I like him; but at the end of the day, we just felt like this was the best move for us. You’ve got to make tough decisions when you’re sitting in this seat. I think (General Manager) Chris Grier and (Vice President of Football Administration) Brandon (Shore) and myself, we spent a lot of time talking through and thinking about it. At the end of the day, we felt like this was best.”
(You’ve been asked this a lot this offseason, but in light of the recent moves, are you guys tanking?) – “I think you know what my response is going to be on that. Again, this game means a lot to me. I wouldn’t disrespect the game with that. Again, no we’re not (tanking). We’re going to try to win every game. I think that’s disrespectful to even say that. These guys have worked extremely hard. They’ve done that all summer, they do it all spring, and they’ll continue to do so. It’s disheartening to hear people talk about it, to even say that. For a guy who respects the game and for as much as the game has done for me, when people say that – you shouldn’t say it.”
(With that being said, when you look at the roster, I think you’re going to be the youngest team this year. You’ve gotten rid of, in my opinion, many of your best players. How can you put together a team this year that has a chance to compete?) – “We’re going to come to work every day. We’re going to coach this group to the best of our ability. We’re going to come out, we’re going to work hard and we’re going to fight. We’re going to play hard and try to win every game. I think that’s what you do. That’s kind of how I’ve been brought up. This team is motivated. I think we’ve got some talented players and we’re just going to try to go out here and try to win every game.”
(How does trading WR Kenny Stills and T Laremy Tunsil help you win every game in 2019?) – “Well, I think again, like I said earlier, these are two very talented players, but we’ve got a lot of talented players on this team. I feel good about the receivers. I feel good about our offensive linemen. These guys work extremely hard and they’re going to do everything they can to help this team win.”
(Can you put into words the larger strategy or play the Dolphins are making with these trades and other trades to – a timeline beyond this year?) – “I don’t really like to look into the future and timelines. Right now, my focus is on right now. Right now, really my focus is on the Baltimore Ravens. They’re a tough, physical, well-coached, disciplined team. They’ll be ready to play and we’ve got to kind of turn our attention to that.”
(What has Stephen Ross said to you, if anything, about – what is his reaction and his input on the direction the organization is taking, particularly given the deals in the last couple of days?) – “He’s been very supportive. We – myself, Chris Grier, Brandon Shore – as an entire organization, we’re all on the same page. He’s been supportive. We’ll continue to stay on the same page moving forward. Again, he’s been very, very supportive. I could go into detail on those, but those conversations are private, and we’re going to keep them that way.”
(What was your reaction when this particular trade combination was brought to you, including LT Laremy Tunsil and WR Kenny Stills?) – “There are a lot of conversations with a lot of teams on a daily basis. We’ve had several different offers. My reaction is always the same: does it help this team? Does it help this organization? We’ve got to put all those things – all those things factor into my feeling on a particular trade. In this instance, I felt like this trade would help this organization and this team. Myself, Chris (Grier), Brandon (Shore) – we spent a lot of time talking through this. Like I said before, we’ve got a process on how we make decisions here. I think we went through that process and we did what we felt was best.”
(Who is vying for your starting left tackle job now?) – “We’ve acquired Julien Davenport. We’re excited about him. He’s a good young player. I think his best football’s ahead of him. We’ve also acquired Evan Boehm and Dan Isidora through trades this weekend, and we’re excited about those guys as well. Again, it’s going to be a team effort. There’s 11 guys that play. The communication, the camaraderie amongst the offensive line – we’ve got to build that and try to build and improve on a weekly basis.”
(Have you spoken with LT Laremy Tunsil and/or WR Kenny Stills after the trade, and what was their reaction?) – “Yeah, I spoke to both guys; but again, my conversations with players, with other coaches about contracts – those are all private. Honestly, I just think that’s common courtesy. I try to respect the privacy of those conversations. I’m not going to go into detail about how those conversations went.”
(There are going to be some guys in the locker room who are sad, and there are going to be some guys in the locker room who are mad. Tell me how you plan to deal with that.) – “I think we’ve got a good locker room. I think we’ve got a lot of guys who care about each other, work hard and want to play for each other. I understand there are relationships that are built over the course of years; but at the end of the day, the guys in this locker room – I think that they’re going to band together and play together, and at the end of the day, we’ve got to play for one another.”
(How important is it for this organization to win in 2019?) – “It’s always important to win. I’ve always believed that. I think to take any other approach, that’s just not how you coach the game. That’s not how you play the game. To take any other approach is disrespectful to the game, so it’s very important.”
Ryan Fitzpatrick – August 29, 2019 (Postgame)
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Thursday, August 29, 2019
Postgame – New Orleans
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (Transcribed by New Orleans Saints)
(You are the Miami Dolphins starting quarterback, and you feel how about that?) – “I’m excited. I’m excited to get out there and lead this team and do the best I can out there. It’s a situation I’ve been in for multiple franchises. I’ll lean on my experience a little bit and try to get the guys out there, everybody on the same page and great communication and playing with a lot of excitement.”
(How do you feel you took control to be named the starting quarterback?) – “I think there are a lot of things that go into being a professional quarterback. In digesting this offense – together – it’s a new offense for everybody. We’re trying to get everybody on the same page through the offseason, all the OTAs. Through training camp, I was just trying to be the best version of me I could be every day and trying to be a guy that could lead us and make sure to be the best communicator out there and all those things. I’m really excited for the opportunity.”
(Was there ever a time there was a doubt in your mind or a question in your mind?) – “About?”
(About winning the starting job?) – “I know I have more confidence in myself than anybody else in this world, so sometimes that’s a detriment but a lot of times, that works in my favor. I am always confident in who I am and what I am as a player. This is where I wanted to be, and what I worked to get.”
(Do you feel like it gets easier now or harder now?) – “Playing quarterback is very hard in the NFL. I’m still doing this, I’m still playing because I want to be out there on the field, and I want to be in those tough times in the huddle when we’re facing adversity and trying to figure things out together and work through things. That’s the joy that I have in this game. It is never easy out there. Even sometimes when it looks easier when you have a good game, it is never easy. It’s a difficult game. I’ve spent the last 14 years trying to figure it out, and still every week is a new challenge that’s presented. It’s the beauty of the game. The appeal, too, is just the challenge of it and that it’s so difficult to master every week.”
(This is obviously one goal that’s been achieved. I’m sure you have goals beyond that. What do you want to accomplish this year?) – “All my stuff is so short-sided in what I want to do. It’s a week-to-week league in terms of the success and the failures. My focus is on Week 1 and the Baltimore Ravens and getting us ready to play and putting us in the best position to win a football game.”
(You started very hot last year. Is there a secret to doing that?) – “No, if I could figure that one out, I’d probably be… I think the biggest thing last year was just we made some big plays, and we had great preparation in the offseason. Just getting on the same page with guys – I feel like there’s been a lot of that that’s been done here. Obviously [this is a] new year, new team, new opponent, but I’m excited to see what is to come.”
(Have you started – or if you have, when did you start preparing for the Baltimore Ravens as the starting quarterback?) – “We’ve looked at them very superficially. We don’t have a game plan in place yet, but that will come in a few days. As we move forward we’ll get all that figured out and we’lll get it practiced and ironed out. We’ve definitely looked at some tape already.”
(When did you find out? What was that conversation like with Head Coach Brian Flores?) – “I found out before you guys did and (it was) just a quick conversation with Coach ‘Flo’ (Brian Flores). He’s been great throughout the whole process – not just with starter and non-starter, but just in terms of being upfront and just letting guys know how he sees things and what he feels. That’s very appreciated as a player when you have a coach like that. We had a good conversation.”
(You said quick conversation – this wasn’t just like, 15 seconds or something. “You’re the starter.” “OK, bye.” It wasn’t anything like that, right?) – “No, no (laughter).”
Brian Flores – August 29, 2019 (Postgame)
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Thursday, August 29, 2019
Postgame – New Orleans
Head Coach Brian Flores (Transcribed by New Orleans Saints)
(Opening Statement) – “Before we start, I wanted to get this out in the open, I told you guys when we made a decision on our starting quarterback that we would let you know. So, we are going to name Ryan Fitzpatrick our starter for game One. (I) Told both quarterbacks, (I) feel like that’s the best situation for the team, puts us in the best position to win. That’s how we are going forward.”
(On the decision to start QB Ryan Fitzpatrick in Week 1) – “Well, like I’ve said all year long, after a thorough evaluation of OTA’s, training camp, games, practice, we felt like this was the best move for this team going into this season. Ryan has done a really good job from a leadership standpoint, from an execution standpoint, and we feel like that’s the best thing for this team.”
(When was the decision reached?) – “We made the decision – again, I would say the conversations that we have as a staff and the decisions we make – those are internal. I would say it was made over the course of the last week or so. Again, we are always going to do what we feel is in the best interest of the organization, and that’s where we’re at right now.”
(What does QB Josh Rosen need to do to get to the point where you’re comfortable playing him?) – “I’ve said multiple times, I think he’s improved greatly over the course of training camp. This is a young kid who works extremely hard. It is important to him. He’s talented, but playing quarterback in this league – it takes some time. He’s in a new offense, and I think he’ll get there. I do. I really do. That’s a conversation we had. I think he’ll get there at some point. When? I don’t know, and a lot of that’s up to him. He knows that. No knock on him, but he has worked extremely hard, but I think he will get there. This is a talented player. We’re excited about him.”
(How did both quarterbacks react when you told them QB Ryan Fitzpatrick was starting?) – “They both handled it well. These are two of the most professional guys I have been around. They both handled it really well. Obviously, ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) was excited. Josh was a little disappointed, but at the same time, he looked at me and said… well, I will keep that conversation between he and I (laughter).”
(Do you think there is a necessity to look at QB Josh Rosen as a starting quarterback at some point for a particular amount of times – six games, eight games, something like that?) – “No, that’s not something that’s – ‘Fitz’ is our starter. You don’t go into one of these, saying, oh, he’s going to start for this amount of games, and then we’re going to… that’s not how you do this. We feel comfortable with him as the starting quarterback. He brings the leadership, the experience and just an overall knowledge and ability to manage and run this offense, and that’s what we are looking for. I think he will do a good job.”
(With this move, do you think this can help QB Josh Rosen with his confidence?) – “His development is what we are… well the development of every player on this team is our priority, his specifically. When we talk specifically about Josh, his development is something that we as an organization – it’s a top priority. I think sitting at times helps your development. Hopefully that will be the case here.”
(For QB Josh Rosen to get the starting job, he’s got to show you through practice and studying habits…) – “Exactly. Exactly. Right now ‘Fitz’ (Ryan Fitzpatrick) is the starter. ‘Fitz’ is the starter, and obviously, we feel really good about Josh Rosen. We really good about all our quarterbacks. Jake went out there and played really well tonight. I can’t say enough good things about him and the way he has practiced and performed and when we gets in there and gets his opportunities, he takes advantage of them. I like our quarterback room. Hopefully we continue to grow and build as a unit and hopefully that transcends over to the entire team.”
(Is this a week-to-week decision?) – “Ryan Fitzpatrick is the starting quarterback and that’s how I see it.”
(Going in another direction, T Laremy Tunsil his name has been out there – the trade rumors. Have you talked to Laremy, and is there a possibility could be traded in the next few days?) – “Yeah, I talk to Laremy every day. There is no trade in place for him. Look, the conversations I have with players – like I’ve said many times – are between myself and the player. Those are private. We’re going to keep them private. Same thing goes for any conversations we have or don’t have as an organization. They’re private. We’re going to keep them private.”
(When do you expect to start making cuts? Will some come tomorrow, or will all of them Saturday?) – “Between tomorrow and Saturday. Obviously, this is a tough time of the year. That group – they went out there and battled tonight. I thought they played really well. I thought we’re really coming together as a team. You see the guys that weren’t out there encouraging the players who were out there. I thought we made plays in all three phases. I thought they really tried to play together tonight. That was good to see. This group has worked extremely hard over the course of training camp. It’s been hot. We’ve practiced in pads. I’m not an easy guy to deal with all the time, so they dealt with that. I’m really appreciative of the hard work that they’ve put in. I’m proud of this group.
