New Viking Defends Brian Flores
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa called Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores a “terrible person” this week in an interview with The Dan Le Batard Show.
New Viking Defends Brian Flores
“To put it in simplest terms, if you woke up every morning and I told you you suck at what you did, that you don’t belong doing what you do, that you shouldn’t be here, that this guy should be here, that you haven’t earned this right, and then you have somebody else come in and tell you, ‘Dude, you are the best fit for this,’” Tagovailoa told the show’s hosts on Tuesday, namelessly labeling Flores as the culprit.
“How would it make you feel listening to one or the other, you see what I’m saying?”
“Then you hear it, no matter what it is, the good or the bad, you hear it more and more, you start to believe that. I don’t care who you are. You could be the president of the United States, you have a terrible person telling you things that you don’t want to hear or probably shouldn’t be hearing, you’re going to start believing that about yourself,” Tagovailoa added in a brutal assessment of Flores.
Well, a man with a front-row seat to Tagovailoa + Flores relations weighed in this week — new Vikings outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, who played with the two during the 2020 and 2021 campaigns, the two referenced by Tagovailoa.
“He’s the reason I’m the player that I am today. I’m just going to leave Tua’s comments to himself. I wouldn’t be here without Flores at this point in my career,” Van Ginkel told FOX9’s Jeff Wald on Wednesday.
In defense of Flores, Van Ginkel probably wouldn’t have followed him from Miami to Minnesota if he were truly a terrible person.
Meanwhile, Flores personally took the high road regarding Tagovailoa’s allegations.
After Tagovailoa’s sharp words, Flores spoke to reporters in Eagan. Flanked by Flores’ coworkers Josh Metellus and Harrison Phillips, who wanted to show support for their leader, Flores talked about the comments. “I just want to say, look, I’m genuinely happy, genuinely happy for the success that Tua’s had, and I really wish him nothing but the best,” Flores replied.
“I think player relationships are very important to me. I think that’s kind of the foundation of coaching. I got into coaching because I was impacted as a young guy by my high school coaches, my college coaches, going all the way to Pop Warner,” Flores added.
“I got into coaching because I wanted to make that same kind of impact — positive impact — pour into young people, help them become the best versions of themselves. That’s really my goal always in coaching. So, I wish nothing but the best to Tua.”
Flores also said he wouldn’t oppose making amends with Tagovailoa, though no timetable was set for any kumbaya.
Van Ginkel is listed as a starter in Flores’ 2024 defense, and the regular season is 18 days away.
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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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