What to expect out of Xavien Howard, plus Flores discusses a scary encounter with cops
The top headlines and insights from Brian Flores’ Friday morning news conference:
▪ While multiple NFL teams have canceled practices in response to another police shooting of a Black man — Jacob Blake, in Kenosha, Wisc. — the Dolphins are working as scheduled Friday.
However, there will be a team meeting later in the day “to talk about some things we can put into action so we can make a difference,” Flores added.
“[On Wednesday, I] addressed the Jacob Blake situation with you guys, talked to you about how upsetting it was, how frustrating it is when they see situations occur time after time. We spoke as a team. We understand there’s a lot of things that are not where they need to be right now. It pains us..”
Flores, who in the past has discussed how he has been the victim of police discrimination growing up in Brooklyn, added: “I lived this. ... I’ve had guns pointed at me by police officers. This is not something I take lightly. We need change. That’s where I’m at on that situation.”
▪ Flores said that cornerback Xavien Howard ”is ready to get out on the field. He’s progressing. We felt like he was ready to get out there, participate in practice. He’s got a long way to go from a conditioning standpoint, a drill work standpoint, communication with teammates. This is the first step.”
The team on Thursday activated Howard from both the physically unable to perform (knee) and reserve/COVID-19 lists. He has not practice since October.
▪ Flores chafed at a questioner who asked him to compare rookie Malcolm Perry to another converted college quarterback, Julian Edelman, who became one of the league’s better receivers while Flores was an assistant in New England.
“Julian’s a great player. That’s what it boils down to. I don’t like making comparisons. To compare him to Julian Edelman or any other player in the league us unfair. [Perry’s] got to continue to do what he’s doing, which is stack good days on top of each other.”
▪ The Dolphins this week re-signed two edge defenders who spent 2019 on their roster: Avery Moss and Trent Harris.
But Flores said that familiarity alone was not the reason the club brought them back.
“I think need played a big part in that,” Flores said. “We had a couple of guys banged up. We know Trent, We know Avery, but we also worked out a couple of other players. .... It doesn’t hurt at all that we know [them], but we’re always going to bring in players that help us.”
The Dolphins worked out Moss and two other defensive ends Wednesday: Trevon Hill (from UM) and Tim Bonner (FAU).
▪ The Dolphins begin the season with Bobby McCain and Eric Rowe — two converted cornerbacks — as their presumptive starting safeties. Flores said that their past experiences have helped the secondary communicate better, but acknowledged their could be some challenges in the run game.
“There’s always a little but of a learning curve,” Flores said. “I think both guys have accepted the challenge to move positions. ... At the end of the day, I think both guys are working to improve. I’m pleased with both guys.”
This story was originally published August 28, 2020 at 9:31 AM.
