BREAKING NEWS: Flores fired!!

My initial reaction is: big mistake. Flores had his issues, but after 2 winning seasons I thought we were poised to make the next step.

white1 wrote:I have half a mind to join DF on the sidelines after this debacle.

Stephen Ross Zoom availability over...

Took responsibility for failure of finding the "collaboration" he so much wants.

Walked the fine line of not chasing Jim Harbaugh as long as Harbaugh intends to stay at Michigan -- which leaves door open.

Brian Flores struggled to hire and keep a good, experienced coaching staff.

He struggled to develop or nurture quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

He was hired by Stephen Ross and general manager Chris Grier but basically raised himself above Grier as the Miami Dolphins’ top football decision-maker in what seemed like odd dynamics within the organization.

And he failed to get his team ready to play early in seasons.

On its face, it is another half-measure by Ross who has a history of not making a clean start with his football team — often firing a head coach or general manager who are tied to one another but never both at the same time.

In a bit of office intrigue, Grier has been able to align himself with club president and CEO Tom Garfinkel, whom Ross values, and that has been helpful in keeping him in the owner’s good graces.

Grier, you must know, is fond is saying he functions to empower the head coach and get him the players he wants so as to succeed. He often deferred to Flores in personnel decisions, even though Flores was not necessarily hired to make personnel decisions.

But Ross apparently sees the Dolphins as a talented team that needs better coaching to succeed, a belief that suggests he believes in Grier.

It was the team of Flores and Grier who selected quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with the No. 5 overall selection in 2020, leaving Justin Herbert on the board so that the Los Angeles Chargers could take him with the No. 6 overall selection.

Herbert is better than Tagovailoa.

That was a collaborative decision made by all, including Flores and Grier.

The decision during the 2021 season to try to trade for Deshaun Watson was similarly a collaborative decision. Both Grier and Flores wanted to improve at the quarterback position, so they worked to trade for Watson, even as Tagovailoa was on the roster and starting games for the team.

The Watson chase ended when Ross stepped in and declined to let the trade proceed as long as Watson had myriad legal issues involving sexual abuse and harassment hanging over him.

The Dolphins under Grier and Flores intended to once again be involved in the chase for Watson this offseason, but that is now uncertain — to be determined by whatever decision the next head coach and his staff decide is the proper course.

Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross did not rule out another pursuit of Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson and said he fired Brian Flores because “I don’t think we were working well as an organization to win consistently at an NFL level.” Asked if he plans to pursue Watson in a trade, Ross said he did not personally intend to but quickly added “it will be up to head coach what he does with quarterback. It will depend on the next head coach and the direction he wants to take.”

“I have a lot of confidence in Tua. The next head coach will work with him or whoever else. I have a lot of confidence in him. I’ve watched him grow. He is now the quarterback and [his future] will be dependent on the new head coach.”

On his decision to retain general manager Chris Grier: “If you look at our roster, we have a very fine, excellent roster of young players. This was all done in the last three years. We had an old, aging roster before that was leading us to nowhere but mediocrity. You look at our roster, you see our cap, we are well suited for the future.”

It is unknown if Harbaugh decides to leave Michigan whether it would make him an option for Ross although sources said that isn’t happening. The door, however, cannot be completely closed.

It’s uncertain if Harbaugh or any other big-name coach would come to Miami with Grier as the GM. That is why Grier is safe at the moment.

But he’s not fully safe.

white1 wrote:You can't win without an elite QB.

JMP wrote:I'm totally on board with RPO - but you need a running game to make it effective. It's a part of most NFL offenses these days.