Brian Flores is Taking A Different Mental Approach With the Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins have had a busy week. First, Ryan Fitzpatrick missed practice for an undisclosed reason. Then, there was the reported cut of Kalen Ballage. Followed by the last-minute swoop in the trade of Ballage to an AFC East rival Jets, none the less. Right before the team’s Saturday scrimmage, news broke that the Raiders had made a trade for linebacker Raekwon McMillian. Finally, the sad news that Fitzpatrick’s mother had passed away. A lot has happened down in South Florida.

On top of everything happening within the team, there’s everything happening outside of sports in the social and political world that serves as a distraction from the day to day football life. Rather than try and ignore the issues, head coach Brian Flores has tackled the issues head-on. It’s easy as a football player or anyone for that matter, to be going through a rough time right now. By taking the time to address the team before practices on these issues, a bond is being formed to which Flores has to be applauded.

More Miami Dolphins: It Needs to Start With Defense

With the social spectrum taking its toll on players and communities, playing football seems like a bigger challenge this season. Then throw a pandemic on top of it and it only gets worse. Where most coaches would give the “block out the noise” speech, Brian Flores rounded up his team and spoke from the heart letting them know that he “doesn’t take this lightly” as he’s lived the same fight many are currently affected by.

The gesture alone speaks volumes. Yes, this is football, and its there job to go out and play the game, but mental exhaustion has to be set in well before the physical. By taking the time to address the team and let the players clear the air, the team can clear the elephant in the room. Putting it out there on the table goes so far when it comes to a group mentality. Open expression allows everyone within the group huddle knows just exactly the pain each other is going through.

As small as that may sound, it forms a bond and a sense that everyone is in this fight together. “Blocking out the noise” sounds good in theory. However, in a game of mental mistakes having too much bottled up can be costly. Between a pandemic and racial inequality, this season will be emotionally taxing. Knowing the guy beside you is going through the same pain and the same struggles can be the difference between working harder and wanting to give up in these trying times. The change in culture for Brian Flores and the Dolphins looks to extend outside the football field as well.