MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Brian Flores has not spoken considerably about the Miami Dolphins due to the fact joining the Pittsburgh Steelers in February.
But when he has, he’s insisted on leaving the earlier in the previous.
That could be tricky this weekend. Sunday night’s sport between the Steelers and Dolphins marks Flores’ return to South Florida for the to start with time due to the fact he submitted a course-motion lawsuit against the NFL and a few groups soon after the Dolphins fired him.
It’ll also be the very first activity quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will start considering that suffering a concussion on Sept. 29 in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals.
“I believe it’ll be great staying capable to go up versus the men that he’s coaching on that aspect,” Tagovailoa stated. “I know he is familiar with staff seriously well from being listed here with us. But I think we’re all psyched to go up in opposition to their defense.”
The Dolphins fired Flores, who is Black, in January after 3 seasons irrespective of a 24-25 record and a breathtaking turnaround in 2021 in which Miami received 8 of its closing nine game titles immediately after losing 7 straight.
A few months later, Flores sued the NFL, the Dolphins, the New York Giants and the Denver Broncos about what he alleged were racist employing procedures, indicating the NFL was “rife with racism.”
The Steelers hired Flores much less than a thirty day period later on as a senior defensive assistant doing the job with linebackers.
Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin and Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel downplayed the idea of Flores’ familiarity with the Dolphins — and Tagovailoa — remaining an advantage for the Steelers.
“In the coaching professions, we all come to feel it’s overblown, to be really straightforward with you,” Tomlin claimed. “It’s not about what coaches know. It’s about what coaches can express to players and it’s about what players can recall in an prompt in the instant ahead of a ball snaps.”
McDaniel said the game is about the players on the area.
“Defenses have tried using different points in opposition to our offense with Tua at the helm,” McDaniel explained, “and at times it performs, sometimes it doesn’t. I really don’t see a consistent theme.”
Tomlin additional that Flores, frequently explained as acquiring an austere, soldier-like presence, is a “great communicator,” a thing that has been echoed by some of Pittsburgh’s linebackers.
“You want solutions, you get immediate answers,” mentioned linebacker Devin Bush. “You really don’t truly get all the fluff.”
Lots of Steelers players have mentioned it is like having yet another head coach on team.
“Flo is a man that understands football with the greatest in the globe and he provides it in a way that it’s an open dialogue,” linebacker Rob Spillane claimed. “We chat about plays. We learn from each individual other in the position home. We are able to communicate our minds and tell him how we truly feel about particular issues. I enjoy currently being capable to operate with a dude like that. Not all coaches are like that.”
ROSS RETURNS
Dolphins operator Stephen Ross regained entire ownership privileges this 7 days right after getting suspended since August for tampering.
The NFL suspended Ross and fined him $1.5 million adhering to a 6-month investigation stemming from Flores’ racial discrimination lawsuit. The investigation identified Ross and the Dolphins experienced impermissible communication with Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and his and Sean Payton’s agent, Don Yee.
“With regard to everyone in the business, the players really enjoy him,” McDaniel mentioned of Ross, “because he enables myself, (general supervisor) Chris (Grier) and anyone else in the group to do no matter what it will take required to try out to make a winner. And he gives us all the assets attainable.”
STICKING WITH PICKETT
Steelers rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett exited last week’s upset acquire above Tampa Bay in the 3rd quarter with a concussion but is expected to get started if he clears the league’s concussion protocol. Pickett practiced for the duration of the week without limitations.
Mitch Trubisky, benched in favor of Pickett at halftime of a reduction to the New York Jets on Oct. 2, performed perfectly after relieving of Pickett but Tomlin reiterated the club stays fully commited to offering Pickett a prospect to learn on the position.
“We’re likely to be to some degree steady,” Tomlin explained. “I’ve been constant in my messaging pertaining to final decision-producing in that situation. I assume it assists these that are participating in. I think it helps the group in terms of who to abide by. We’re not likely to flip the script now.”
2nd(ARY) Serving to?
Pittsburgh’s victory more than Tampa Bay was all the a lot more gorgeous for the reason that of who the Steelers did it with in the secondary. Pittsburgh held Brady in examine in spite of not having four of its top 5 defensive backs, including star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick and cornerbacks Ahkello Witherspoon (hamstring), Cam Sutton (hamstring) and Levi Wallace (concussion) all could return to facial area the Dolphins. But the perform of substitutes Josh Jackson, Quincy Wilson and Elijah Riley presents Tomlin possibilities down the road.
“It’s a mentality that we have listed here in Pittsburgh that we do not lower price any person, that everyone inside of our corporation is viable,” Tomlin stated. “That’s just the sentiment that we consider to have at all ranges, and when guys get an possibility to ascend and make performs and positively lead to a successful effort, it solidifies that.”
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