Brian Flores strode to the podium in Indianapolis and before anyone knew it, the pit broke out into a smattering of “Happy Birthday” — Coach Flores celebrated his 39th birthday yesterday. Flores smiled, jokingly shushed the media and from there, it was all business. But even in business, this was a different Brian Flores than the one who took the podium 12 months ago in Indianapolis.
In 2019, Flores was just two weeks onto the job in Miami by the time the NFL Combine rolled around. A year older, wiser and tenured, Flores’ demeanor, growth as a presence on the front lines and comfort all speak to just how far this rebuild has come in 12 months. Had Miami stumbled to a 1-15 or 2-14 season, who knows what Brian Flores’ mood looks like at the microphone. But Miami, on the heels of a strong finish to the 2019 season, did not stumble. They didn’t falter and Brian Flores’ players have bought his process.
The end result? A light-hearted Flores who provided transparency, insightful answers when possible and a few jokes along the way.
The general vibe of Miami’s leadership on Tuesday was one of excitement and optimism, even if there is still a ton of work left to do — a stark contrast to the unspoken, stoic tone of the brutal (and unenviable) task the Dolphins’ leadership was shouldered with 12 months ago.
The team will still need to get their picks right. They’ll need to be selective with how they choose to attack free agency and which players they decide to commit themselves to in the long run. But for now, the Dolphins’ returns on a drastic change in direction offer hope for real change — something more than Dolphins fans have had on their radar in quite some time.
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