I encourage everyone to watch Stephen Ross’s full press release announcing the firing of Brian Flores. It’s only about 7 minutes.
After watching this a few times, it becomes increasingly obvious that Brian Flores was not fired for his coaching flaws or football knowledge. This is clearly about attitude and personality.
It is painfully obvious that Flores and Ross did not get along, and certainly Flores did not get along with Chris Grier. That being said, I think this was a drastic step to fire Flores. Is it REALLY necessary to “get along?” If someone is a good coach, I’d let him stay even if I can’t stand him. For too many years, the Dolphins have fallen prey to the scenario of “If we disagree, you’re cut.”
All Pros like Minkah Fitzpatrick and Jay Ajayi and Kyle Van Noy, etc., were sent packing because they disagreed with coaches. Can we really afford to send talented players packing? I say no.
You guys know I have criticized Flores a lot, but to fire him because of “corporate communication” as Ross mentioned several times? That seems extreme. Does Ross want a head coach who will immediately acquiesce to whatever Chris Grier says? Maybe so.
Also, play attention to when Barry Jackson asks Ross straightforward: Did you call DeShaun Watson. Ross snickers, and then ignores the question!
Sports Illustrated just posted a really nice article that sums it all up. Definitely worth a read.
https://www.si.com/.amp/nfl/2022/01/11/brian-flores-firing-nfl-owners-order-of-operations
Great article. I see it daily at my day job. The person who has the boss’s ear usually succeeds. It’s a cold reality of weak bosses.
Yes, you can listen to the person in your ear…but then you MUST also allow others to weigh in. Allow yourself to hear two or three other versions of what person #1 already told you. We don’t know the details, but I don’t Ross invited Flores into his office and said, “Make a case for yourself. Why should I keep you when Grier says to fire you.”
Look, I said it before and I’ll say it again.
Ross said Philbin, the coach at the time, only answers to him. No other other NFL franchise period was told some BS like that by the owner.
Yes, and then Ross went the opposite direction (I think) and butted out, allowing Grier to manage Flores. it seemed to be working. At least Flores got us two winning seasons in a row. That’s why this is so baffling.
Since we’re on the topic of coaches…which one was worse Philbin or Gase? I really can’t decide as I hated both with a passion. Flores was the best we had since Shula. The Bears are gonna get him and become a dynasty, just watch.
I’d say Philbin was worse. At least Gase had a vision, no matter how wrong he was about certain things. Philbin was more clueless without a plan. Gase got us to the playoffs. Philbin had us at 3-0 and then blew it. I remember the stat at the time was like 90% of 3-0 teams go on to the playoffs. Nope, not us.
Ya, a vision of ghosts
We were 3-0 with gase in 2018 and missed the playoffs as well. Lol only dolphins could start out 3-0 twice and miss playoffs right.
JIMBO, yesterday the Bears fired their head coach who got them to the playoff two (2) times in the four years he was there. I think the Dolphins should get him. As for who was a worse head coach between Philbin and Gase?.. Gase was. Remember, Gase came to the Dolphins organization and told the players they’re gonna put up with things his way, or they can hit the highway. And Gase was a head coach who did even play football at any level and that includes pee wee!
Phil- I live in the Chicago metro area so have Bears fans all around me. Trust me we don’t want Nagy.
A head coach has soooooooooo many more duties than a coordinator. That’s where Flores was in over his head at times, but the more experienced he got, the better he became. Did Nagy get enough experience in Chicago to make him a better head coach in Miami? Maybe. We’ll see if someone picks him up. So far, he is not on the Dolphins short list.
But did he get that much better? I think the Titans game sunk him because they were completely unprepared and didn’t adjust their game plan even though the weather was horrible. Sure you can blame the OC’s but it’s up to Flo to straighten those idiots out. Not hard to say run the damn ball it’s working!
I would have been ok with one more year for all of them but if they can find a good offensive HC then maybe just maybe they’ll improve overall. Still think it should be someone with experience if they grab that kid from the niners and he’s clued out over his head then we’re in for another 3 years of learning all over again. I don’t like that he’s not calling plays either just like philbum. Dabolls at least been around for a while and is still young enough to be innovative although I’d prefer someone from the NFC instead of always sticking within the AFC.
Well JIMBO, some people in Chicago need to realize that George Halas ain’t coming back.
It’s disheartening (but not surprising) that Ross mentioned nothing about the fans or the standard “We will find the right man this time around.” It was more like, “Yeah, dismissing Brian is something we had to do”
Ross didn’t mention the fans at this press conference because he couldn’t care less about us. We are an afterthought. He doesn’t even live in Miami. He is a New Yorker through and through. His loyalties lie with his hometown, the University of Michigan and the Almighty Dollar…in that order. He’s the kind of owner who wouldn’t even care if the stadium is filled with a majority of the OTHER team’s fans as long as all the tickets are sold, the concessions/parking turn a profit and the value of his franchise goes up. I was shocked by how many Patriots fans were are the Stadium on Sunday and how loud they were. As a Dolfan, that saddened me, but for Ross, it means most of the tickets were sold so who cares which team they cheer for. Hell, let’s schedule another game in London!
Moonbear, I’m in your lane- why was this team the lead for games played in the UK? Ross. Ross cares abt UMich first, NY real estate also first, Dolphins last. It’s a trinket for him to hang with the other billionaire owners. Ross makes long time fans like myself and many others want to give up on this team. He is so out of his league…too bad the other owners can’t vote him out.
Wherever Flores gets a HC job, he likely will succeed and we will be witness to it. It’s what happens.