This wasn’t pretty.
It’s always fun to open up the week with a bit of drama, so long as it isn’t your team beneath the spotlight. For Green Bay Packers fans and all NFL fans, alike, the week began with the release of a brutally-honest answer to a question from current Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
When appearing on the Dan Le Batard Show, Monday, Tagovailoa was asked about his experience being coached by his former head coach and current Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator, Brian Flores.
Tua would go on to say a few things, but none more newsworthy than describing how Flores made him feel on a daily basis.
It’s safe to say most NFL fans watching an interview like this had to feel for Tua, especially considering what type of person he is. Tua is known for being a stand-up guy who is very likable. He’s always done a great job with the media and handles himself in a professional manner.
To hear how he was treated was a bit alarming.
Then, Tuesday came. Flores was scheduled to speak with the media and, when he did, the question about Tua’s comments was asked. With that question came an opportunity for Flores to apologize, explain himself or even embarrassingly backtrack.
He didn’t exactly do any of those things.
Brian Flores refused to apologize to Tua Tagovailoa
“I just want to say, look, I’m … I’m, I’m genuinely happy, uh (stammers) genuinely happy for the success Tua’s had, and I really wish him nothing but the best … (stammers and pauses again) … You know, I think, you know, player relationships are very important to me … I got into coaching because I was impacted by my high school coach …”
Flores would go on to mention his aim was to make players the best version of themselves and how that’s always been his goal in coaching. He again wished Tua “the best,” before turning the conversation to being “focused on the Vikings.”
Throughout Flores’ response, he was hesitant. He paused. He stammered. He seemed to have no idea what he was trying to say, yet at the same time, Flores seemed to know one thing and one thing for certain:
He wasn’t apologizing.
“If you woke up every morning and I told you that you suck at what you did, that you don’t belong, that you shouldn’t be here, that you haven’t earned this…
and then someone come and tells you, ‘You are the best fit for this…How you that make you feel?”
– @Tua describes the… pic.twitter.com/bBHI6IsVlj
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) August 19, 2024
This type of behavior from a coach, and previous head coach, is a far cry from where the Packers sit with their leadership. Packers fans can not only gain a chuckle out of Flores’ word salad and fumbling, but also stay thankful they have a coach like Matt LaFleur.
Unlike Flores, LaFleur does a fantastic job not just pushing his guys to be better, but praising his players.
Take, for example, LaFleur’s postgame comments on Jordan Love following last season’s playoff win over Dallas.
You all remember that moment: “He’s a dude … he’s a real dude.”
Yeah, those comments.
LaFleur has made sure to do an admirable job not only coaching Love, but supporting him and praising him in public. That’s what a good coach does. He defends his men.
It seems like Flores could look across the Minnesota-Wisconsin border and learn a thing or two from his NFC North peer.