Dolphins’ Flores gives no assurances that Alonso, Stills will be on 2019 roster

T.J. McDonald’s surprising release Sunday couldn’t help but send reverberations through the Dolphins’ locker room.

The message was clear: If you’re a veteran who hasn’t performed to your contract, you’re at risk, even if there are negligible short-term financial benefits to cutting you.

So if you’re Kenny Stills or Kiko Alonso, who are due $8 million and $6.5 million respectively in 2019, the next week might be an anxious one.

And Dolphins coach Brian Flores did nothing to allay any fears Monday when asked directly if both players have any assurances that they will be on the roster this time next week.

“I think at this time of year, I think each individual player has to focus on today and focus on getting better today, their technique, their fundamentals, their communication,” Flores said. “That’s really where their focus should be. We’ve talked about that as a team. That’s something I’ve talked about and harped on really since we — you guys have seen me up here. ‘Let’s focus on today. Let’s lock in on today. Let’s just get better.’”

Translation: No assurances for anyone.

Either publicly or privately, it seems.

Alonso, who declined comment in the locker room each day this week, and Stills are the two big-name players league insiders believe are most at risk to either be cut or traded.

Stills told reporters Monday that he has not spoken to Flores about his job security and didn’t really have a gut feeling either way.

“I just come to work and focus on improving myself and hanging out with the guys and trying to get prepared for Week 1,” Stills said. “I think a lot of guys are in a similar position in this locker room. We’ve got to get down to however many dudes from 90. It’s something we all go through this time of year.”

Dealing Stills would save all but $1.8 million of his $8.3 million salary cap commitment this year. There will be similar savings if the Dolphins trade Alonso.

But that’s easier said than done. A well-placed league source believes teams with need at linebacker or receiver will simply wait for those players to get cut, getting them at a discount without having to surrender an asset.

Stills is a fascinating situation, not just because of his salary. Flores called him out last week for not performing at a satisfactory level. He also has clashed with Dolphins owner Stephen Ross in recent week over Ross’ decision to host a fundraiser for President Donald Trump.

Stills, an outspoken champion of social justice who kneels during the national anthem, also said critical things about Jay-Z’s new partnership with the NFL, prompting Flores to play eight consecutive songs by the hip-hop artist before practice last week to push Stills’ buttons.

“I think he’s responded well [since then],” Flores said. “I think he’s practiced well. I think he’s a guy who’s got mental toughness and works hard. The game’s important to him.”

Stills said Monday that he does not believe his advocacy will be used against him when the Dolphins decide on their 53-man roster.

As for the team’s decision to release McDonald, Flores suggested that the Dolphins were better without McDonald on their roster than with him.

“I think with T.J., at the end of the day, it just wasn’t the right fit and we, as an organization, decided to move on,” Flores added.

Said Stills, whose 21 receiving touchdowns since 2016 are by far the most of any Dolphin: “It’s the business side of this game. All of us, any of us could potentially be somewhere else.”

▪ The Dolphins on Monday cut offensive lineman Will Holden, who did not appear in the team’s third preseason game.

This story was originally published August 26, 2019 at 11:19 AM.