Brian Flores’ first misstep as Dolphins coach

I promise you, there was a time when the news coming out of Davie, Florida and St. Thomas University before that, was typically about whether the Miami Dolphins finally had enough to win the Super Bowl that year. Even later on toward the end of their relevancy, the news was about hiring Jimmy Johnson, or trading for superstar Ricky Williams, or nabbing Nick Saban. Hell, I even look fondly upon the news cycles surrounding the hiring of Bill Parcells, when compared to these days.

But now? The current development of the good young talent on this team gets glossed over on a weekly basis due to the latest deaf ear moment perpetrated by this franchise and its leadership. Allow me this stroll down nightmare lane. I won’t tell you about all the other instances where the leadership of this franchise has embarrassed us fans, to not beat a dead porpoise. But I will take you through this latest moment of shame.

First, we had the team’s owner, Stephen Ross, hosting a $100,000 a plate luncheon fundraiser for the President that was sure to rankle at the very least, half of the public at large, a very large number of his fan/customer base and a very large swath of his locker room. But fine. His money, his right, right? Sure. I can get behind that. But Donald Trump is no ordinary Republican. His brand of racial politics, and the cringe worthy moments that show real racial animus, justifies the outcry /indignation that non-Trump supporters showed at the news of this event. That was predictable. Ross should have realized it.

Full disclosure, I do not own a pink pussy hat, have never used the hashtag #Resist, do not use the word “Kompromat” and hardly identify with any left wing politics. I in fact support some of the President’s economic policies, including his Trade war with China in which he declared himself “The Chosen One” in fighting it Wednesday (Yeah, he did that). Putting aside his latest buffoonish behavior, you have to be completely dishonest to not concede that the president can be characterized as racist. Can it be debated, for sport? Sure, anything can. But we all know better. It was this that compelled Dolphins receiver Kenny Stills to make comments concerning Stephen Ross’ true devotion to the cause of social justice.

Kenny Stills was 100 percent justified in doing so, even if some fans did not agree, some sending him hateful messages. But that is not where our tale of Dolphins self-flagellation ends.

Then came the Roc Nation partnership with the NFL.

Jay-Z (Shawn Carter) entered into a partnership with the NFL on the very anniversary of Colin Kaepernick taking a knee for the first time.

To which Kaepernick responded:

“Today marks the three year anniversary of the first time I protested systemic oppression,” “I continue to work and stand with the people in our fight for liberation, despite those who are trying to erase the movement! The movement has always lived with the people!”

Today marks the three year anniversary of the first time I protested systemic oppression. I continue to work and stand with the people in our fight for liberation, despite those who are trying to erase the movement! The movement has always lived with the people! ✊🏾

🎥: @REL pic.twitter.com/TAqumRfjbi

— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) August 14, 2019

Carolina Panthers Safety Eric Reid then stood in front of reporters and said: “Jay-Z claimed to be a supporter of Colin, wore his jersey, told people not to perform at the Superbowl because of the treatment that the NFL did to Colin and now he’s going to be a part owner? It’s kind of despicable,” Reid also posted a tweet on the matter from another Twitter user:

Jay-Z NEVER took a knee. The fact that he has the caudacity to to say that, “I think that we’ve moved past kneeling,” is ridiculous. He sacrificed NOTHING. In truth, he is actually capitalizing off of Kaepernick’s loss. pic.twitter.com/qruVgZx5Xo

— L E F T, PhD (@LeftSentThis) August 15, 2019

With every controversy, there comes overreach. This was it. In researching the philanthropic endeavors that Jay-Z (Shawn Carter) has engaged in, I found this: Jay-Z does a lot. More than a lot. For good. Questioning his motives, or suggesting that he is some puppet of the NFL, or a useful idiot, is downright insulting.

Then we have Kenny Stills, who makes the most reasonable, and thoughtful comments on the whole matter on a video posted by Cameron Wolfe of ESPN:

“I can go on a list of things I felt like could have been done or handled in a better fashion,” “I really don’t want to get into that but for the most part what I’m trying to say to people is that let’s work toward solutions. Let’s wait and see what goes down from this deal.”

Kenny Stills on Jay-Z/NFL paternship: "Talking about we're moving past kneeling like he ever protested… Choosing to speak for the people like he had spoken to the people… I wonder if he's read my Facebook/IG comments or what people say to me… It didn't seem very informed." pic.twitter.com/QGak3JKCcO

— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) August 19, 2019

Stills went on: “You can’t really tell right now. It doesn’t sit well with me. I don’t think it was handled the right way but you never know.”

How is this in any way offensive? Nevertheless, here came the detractors, and the Twitter hate machine to figuratively put Stills “in his place.” But that’s the Twitter cesspool. When we get back to football, all will be forgotten.

Or should have been.

But Flores didn’t leave it there.

The very next day at practice, eight consecutive Jay-Z songs blared from the field side DJ and it was later confirmed by Miami Herald sleuth Barry Jackson that Flores controls the playlist. Somebody didn’t get the memo. What possible use is there for this than to exacerbate the situation, cause more issues for his Stills, and worse, draw further attention to the owner of the team that was involved in his own controversy just 2 weeks ago.

This was not smart. Funny? Maybe. But all that was accomplished was the advancement of the narrative that your franchise cannot get out of its own way.

And here’s the thing:

This time, it is actually affecting the football side of the operation.

“Oh, shut up, it’s just music” you say? Sure. But Kenny Stills has value. Value you might want to monetize in trade for your rebuilding squad. Now, you have political considerations, as well as aesthetic considerations due to the actions of first, your owner, and now your newly minted head coach.

What possible motivation could there be for this?

Let me give it a try.

Coach Flores has, on many occasions, talked about the team being singularly focused, and he did say that he wished that Kenny had essentially kept things in house with his Ross/RISE Initiative comments. So a broad shot across the bow? For what? Doesn’t make sense.

While Flores has a reputation for being soft spoken, and is considered somewhat a “aw shucks” type character, nothing can be further from the truth. He, to not put it delicately, takes no shit. You see it in practice. You hear it in the undertones of his statements. I like him. He is the first of his kind here since Saban. No comparison here though, in that this guy (Flores) was made to coach men in the NFL and not bully college kids for rings and profit. So he gets the benefit of the doubt with me, because I am predisposed to like him. I agree with him that all this individuality/53 separate franchise jazz is a bunch of bullshit. To quote Movie Villain Gordon Gecko, “If you want a friend, buy a dog.” (or hire Adam Gase).

But I would not be honest here if I said that this should be brushed aside. I hope that Coach Flores learns from this misstep, and realizes that he should practice what he preaches. A team is a family. Things are to be kept within the family, and under this new regime, we do not pass the buck or single out players in this manner. We protect and fight for them, because they will protect and fight for you, when it’s you that’s in need.

Alfredo Arteaga (@UptownReport) is one-third of the trio that does the Three Yards Per Carry (@3YardsPerCarry) podcast.