Brian Flores Issues Terrible Non-Denial of Deshaun Watson Rumors
The Miami Dolphins topped the Cincinnati Bengals in their final preseason game Sunday afternoon, but after the game all anyone wanted to talk about was Deshaun Watson. Unfortunately for Dolphins head coach Brian Flores, he handled a postgame question about the Houston Texans quarterback terribly.
Last week, reports surfaced suggesting the Dolphins were interested in trading for Watson and were the frontrunners to land him. That news came despite the numerous lawsuits and potential criminal charges the 25-year-old is facing for inappropriate conduct with a string of massage therapists.
Thread. Sources tell @yahoosports the #Dolphins have emerged as the frontrunner in trade discussions with the #Texans for QB Deshaun Watson. The Texans are seeking 3 first-round picks and 2 second-round picks in negotiations, according to a team that dropped out of trade talks.
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) August 28, 2021
This, of course, is a fascinating situation, not just because Watson is facing serious criminal and civil liability, but also because Miami drafted Tua Tagovailoa with the fifth pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
After Sunday's game, Flores was asked if he was willing to say the Dolphins weren't interested in Watson. He, uh, definitely didn't say that.
Flores on if he can say the team is not interested in Deshaun Watson: pic.twitter.com/5XqX6C6LPB
— Ari Meirov (@AriMeirov) August 29, 2021
Well, that's a clumsy non-denial. He could have no-commented, said he had no control over personnel moves, or instead spoke glowingly about Tagovailoa. Instead he offered a weak, "I'm interested in the guys in that locker room" kind of response that fell completely flat. Then he bolted the podium like his party's name had been called at a crowded TGI Friday's.
I don't blame Flores. Someone with the Dolphins should have given him some kind of statement or answer, because they had to know this question was coming.