Miami shocked everyone when it traded its franchise left tackle Laremy Tunsil and wideout Kenny Stills to the Texans for an assortment of draft picks on Saturday, but coach Brian Flores insists the Dolphins aren't trying to tank in 2019.
Flores told reporters Sunday that Miami is aiming to win now.
"This game means a lot to me. I wouldn't disrespect the game with that. We're not. We're going to try to win every game," Flores said when asked if the Dolphins were tanking.
Flores won four Super Bowls as a member of the Patriots' coaching staff and left his post as the teams' defensive coordinator following 2018. He's confident his new team is capable of being successful this season.
"We're going come out, work hard, we're going to fight," Flores said. "We're going to play hard and try to win every game. That's what you do. This team is motivated. We've got some talented players. We're going to go out there and try to win every game.
"I feel good about our receivers. I feel good about our offensive linemen."
The Dolphins ranked 30th in total passing yards in 2018. There's definitely room for improvement there.
Then there's Miami's two quarterbacks, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen, who are new to the team. Flores doesn't think leadership should be a problem, though.
"I think we've got a good leadership. ... Got a lot of guys who want to play with each," Flores said. Understand there are relationships that are built. But the guys in that locker room, I think they're going to band together, play together."
Flores also said that trading Stills was "not at all" related to the receiver's political differences with team owner Stephen Ross and that the trade was something the Dolphins "could not turn down."
The Dolphins went 7-9 in 2018 and missed the playoffs for the second straight season.