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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Brian Flores hasn’t spoken a lot concerning the Miami Dolphins since becoming a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers in February.
However when he has, he’s insisted on leaving the previous previously.
That is perhaps troublesome this weekend. Sunday evening’s recreation between the Steelers and Dolphins marks Flores’ return to South Florida for the primary time since he filed a class-action lawsuit towards the NFL and three groups shortly after the Dolphins fired him.
It’ll even be the primary recreation quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will begin since struggling a concussion on Sept. 29 towards the Cincinnati Bengals.
“I feel it’ll be cool with the ability to go up towards the blokes that he’s teaching on that facet,” Tagovailoa stated. “I do know he is aware of personnel rather well from being right here with us. However I feel we’re all excited to go up towards their protection.”
The Dolphins fired Flores, who’s Black, in January after three seasons regardless of a 24-25 report and a shocking turnaround in 2021 through which Miami received eight of its last 9 video games after shedding seven straight.
Three weeks later, Flores sued the NFL, the Dolphins, the New York Giants and the Denver Broncos over what he alleged had been racist hiring practices, saying the NFL was “rife with racism.”
The Steelers employed Flores lower than a month later as a senior defensive assistant working with linebackers.
Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin and Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel downplayed the concept of Flores’ familiarity with the Dolphins — and Tagovailoa — being a bonus for the Steelers.
“Within the teaching professions, all of us really feel it’s overblown, to be fairly trustworthy with you,” Tomlin stated. “It’s not about what coaches know. It’s about what coaches can convey to gamers and it’s about what gamers can recall instantly within the second earlier than a ball snaps.”
McDaniel stated the sport is concerning the gamers on the sphere.
“Defenses have tried varied issues towards our offense with Tua on the helm,” McDaniel stated, “and typically it really works, typically it doesn’t. I don’t see a constant theme.”
Tomlin added that Flores, usually described as having an austere, soldier-like presence, is a “nice communicator,” one thing that has been echoed by a few of Pittsburgh’s linebackers.
“You need solutions, you get direct solutions,” stated linebacker Devin Bush. “You don’t actually get all of the fluff.”
Many Steelers gamers have stated it’s like having one other head coach on employees.
“Flo is a person that understands soccer with one of the best on the planet and he presents it in a method that it’s an open dialogue,” linebacker Rob Spillane stated. “We speak about performs. We be taught from one another within the place room. We’re in a position to converse our minds and inform him how we really feel about sure issues. I like with the ability to work with a man like that. Not all coaches are like that.”
ROSS RETURNS
Dolphins proprietor Stephen Ross regained full possession privileges this week after being suspended since August for tampering.
The NFL suspended Ross and fined him $1.5 million following a six-month investigation stemming from Flores’ racial discrimination lawsuit. The investigation discovered Ross and the Dolphins had impermissible communication with Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and his and Sean Payton’s agent, Don Yee.
“With regard to everybody within the group, the gamers actually recognize him,” McDaniel stated of Ross, “as a result of he permits myself, (normal supervisor) Chris (Grier) and everybody else within the group to do no matter it takes essential to attempt to produce a winner. And he provides us all of the sources doable.”
SECOND(ARY) HELPING?
Pittsburgh’s victory over Tampa Bay was all of the extra beautiful due to who the Steelers did it with within the secondary. Pittsburgh held Brady in verify regardless of not having 4 of its prime 5 defensive backs, together with star security Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick and cornerbacks Ahkello Witherspoon (hamstring), Cam Sutton (hamstring) and Levi Wallace (concussion) all may return to face the Dolphins. But the play of substitutes Josh Jackson, Quincy Wilson and Elijah Riley provides Tomlin choices down the street.
“It’s a mentality that we have now right here in Pittsburgh that we don’t low cost anybody, that everybody inside our group is viable,” Tomlin stated. “That’s simply the sentiment that we attempt to have in any respect ranges, and when guys get a possibility to ascend and make performs and positively contribute to a successful effort, it solidifies that.”
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