Tua Tagovailoa told reporters on Monday that he and Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores have not spoken since the Miami Dolphins quarterback made critical comments regarding his former head coach's coaching style.
“There’s nothing more I’d like to add to that,” Tagovailoa said, declining to elaborate on his interview last week on the Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz during which he called Flores "a terrible person."
Flores addressed Tua's comments last week during his scheduled media availability and acknowledged he was hurt by Tua’s comments and that he took to heart the things Tagovailoa said.
"I just want to say, look, I'm genuinely happy, genuinely happy for the success that Tua's had, and I really wish him nothing but the best," Flores told reporters last week.
Flores indicated that he would be open to talking to Tagovailoa on the matter down the road. Tagovailoa said on Monday that he has not yet seen Flores' comments.
Tagovailoa was asked why he thought Flores would bench starter Ryan Fitzpatrick for Tua when he did in his rookie season of 2020 if Flores felt so negatively about the former Alabama star.
The timing was a bit odd considering Fitzpatrick was completing more than 70 percent of his passes at the time, having thrown for 1,535 yards, 10 TDs and seven interceptions through six games. The INT total certainly was high, but Miami also had won three of four prior to Fitzpatrick’s benching.
Tagovaioloa said on Monday that he has an idea why he was benched but wouldn’t share his theories on the matter.
“That’s a great question,” Tagovailoa said. “I’m not going to answer that, truthfully, right now, but I think I know why. I won’t speculate or give anyone any speculations on that. Whatever you want to create to think, think that.
“But, other than that, I think that will just stay here in the organization.”
Tagovailoa did lean into the idea that the QB-head coach relationship is crucial, having previously praised what he and current Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel have forged in their two-plus years together.
“It’s a quarterback-driven league,” Tagovailoa said. “I 100 percent think that (relationship is important). Without a good team, without a good quarterback, I don’t think you can do much in this league.
“Sure, you can have a good defense. But there’s really good offenses in this league, you’ve got to put up points and you gotta find ways to do that. I definitely believe that for sure.”