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Brian Flores responds to Tua Tagovailoa’s comments on coaching style

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Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brain Flores says he has grown as a coach and wishes quarterback Tua Tagovailoa success, a day after the Dolphins quarterback criticized Flores’ coaching style.

“I’m happy, really happy with the success that Tua has had and I really wish him the best,” Flores told reporters on Tuesday.

Flores’ comments come after Tagovailoa spoke about the contrast in coaching style between his former coach and current coach Mike McDaniels during an appearance on “The Dan Le Batard Show.” Flores was the Dolphins’ head coach from 2019-2021 and was fired in January 2022 despite finishing the 2021 season 8-1.

“If you wake up every morning and I tell you that you’re bad at what you do, that you’re not fit to do what you do, that you don’t belong here, that this other guy should be here, that you don’t deserve this,” Tagovailoa said. “And then someone comes along and tells you, ‘Dude, you’re the best for this. You’re right. You’re the best at whatever, the best at this or that — how would you feel if you listened to one or the other?'”

Flores said he has done a lot of reflection since the comments and acknowledged he made some mistakes in Miami. He did not say anything Tagovailoa said was untrue or misinterpreted, and that part of a coach’s job is to correct things about himself.

“There are certainly things I could do better and I’ve grown in that regard. I’ve tried to apply the things I could do better and the things I’ve learned over the last two to three years,” he said.

“Look, I’m human. This has affected me in a way that I wouldn’t describe as positive for me. But at the same time, I have to take that and say, ‘How can I grow from this? How can I get better?'”

The defensive coordinator added that he would be open to talking with Tagovailoa if the opportunity ever arose, but for now he is focused on the Vikings and the 2024 season.

“I’m at a point now where I’m really trying to move forward. I’m really trying to focus on the guys here,” he said. “I think at some point you have to turn the tide and that’s what I’m going to do.”

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By Olivia

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