FLOWERY BRANCH -- Brian Flores, a former New England assistant who worked his way up from the scouting department, is in his third season as the Dolphins head coach.
After going 10-6 last season and narrowly missing the playoffs, the Dolphins were expected to be contenders for the AFC East title in 2021.
But they are struggling mightily. After winning their opener, the Dolphins have lost five consecutive heading into their meeting with the Falcons at 1 p.m. Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
“There is always frustration when you’re dealing with adversity,” Flores said. “That’s just, they kind of go hand in hand.”
Flores played with Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan at Boston College.
“I always wish Brian the best,” Ryan said. “I’ve known him for a long time, and you know I’m proud of what he’s done and accomplished. I wish him the best, but he also knows we’re both trying to accomplish the same thing this week and that’s get a win.”
Ryan was the scout-team quarterback when Flores was a hard-hitting senior linebacker back in the early 2000s.
“I just remember getting my (expletive) kicked most days (laughs),” Ryan said. “That’s the, you know, those are one of the years you want to like delete from your memory, right. It’s the scout team getting pushed around.”
Ryan is not surprised that Flores ascended the ranks to a NFL head coaching position.
“You knew, he always wanted to kind of go into that coaching side or personnel side,” Ryan said. “He was kind of a football (guy). It was in his blood.”
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