data-mm-id=”_pwkfwla72″>The Miami Dolphins left the 2020 NFL Draft with a restocked roster and, most importantly, their QB1 of the future in the form of Tua Tagovailoa. What will inevitably get lost in history is the fact that no one, in media or in football, really knew who the Dolphins wanted heading into the main event. There were conflicting reports abound about their desire for Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, and even to move up to the third overall slot to pick a tackle. After all that, they went with the most obvious and natural pick in the lefty from Alabama. From outside the building, the pre-draft process seems to have been a master class in draft smokescreening. In Albert Breer's Monday Morning QB column, he confirmed as much, sharing a tale about how head coach Brian Flores confused even some within the organization about their intentions: ” In meetings after the season ended, Dolphins coach Brian Flores joked with his staff, “I’m gonna wear a Tua [Tagovailoa] jersey on the podium at the combine, so everyone thinks we’re taking him.” Add that to the fact that Flores was very guarded with his feelings on Tagovailoa, and the other quarterbacks, during draft prep, and it led some in-house to put two and two together and conclude that Tagovailoa was off the table. I, for one, had heard Miami wasn’t taking him, and was told that story above (it was second-hand) as anecdotal evidence of it.”- Albert BreerDisseminating conflicting information to the media is a part of the cloak-and-dagger game for NFL front offices year-round, not just ahead of the draft. But spreading that misinformation through your staff, knowing it would eventually make its way through the cracks in the franchise to the media as a part of a longer game? Flores clearly learned something while working under Bill Belichick up in New England. Between this tale and Flores' stoic demeanor, we may have our first true successor to the Belichick throne after failed attempts by dozens of his disciples. Obviously Flores has a lot of winning to do before we can officially dub him as such, but he's off to a better start than most of his compatriots.
Related Posts
Pep Guardiola admits Manchester City must accept criticism following an underwhelming start to the Premier League campaign, but he has no doubt his side will kick on.
Following a 1-1 draw with West Ham on Saturday, City have taken just eight points from their opening five league matches of the season – their lowest total at this stage of a campaign since 2014-15.
City, who face Sheffield United on Saturday, sit five points behind top-two sides Everton and Liverpool, albeit they do have a game in hand.
Matters have been different in the Champions League, however.
Ferran Torres, Ilkay Gundogan and Raheem Sterling – who with 18 goals and 10 assists has been directly involved in more Champions League goals than any other player at the club �…
Sokratis Papastathopoulos feels Arsenal have been unlucky with VAR decisions this season following Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang s red card in the 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace.
Gunners striker Aubameyang netted for the 14th time in the Premier League this season before being sent off in the second half, after Palace had equalised through a deflected effort from Jordan Ayew.
Referee Paul Tierney initially cautioned Aubameyang for his challenge on Max Meyer but, following a VAR review of over two minutes, the decision was changed to a dismissal as the Gabon international sunk his studs into the German midfielder’s ankle.
In the reverse fixture, Sokratis had a would-be winner overturned for a foul in the build-up, while Arsenal were also denied a penalty in the 1-0 los…
Antoine Griezmann scored a double, including a goal direct from a corner, as Atletico Madrid won 2-1 at Real Betis on Sunday to move up to third in LaLiga.
The visitors struggled to create chances but took the lead early in the second half when Griezmann s inswinging set-piece somehow found its way into the net, before the France international added a second following a neat move down the right.
Manuel Pellegrini will have been frustrated to lose a game in which his Betis side were arguably on top prior to falling behind, and they gave themselves hope when Nabil Fekir scored a late free-kick, but were unable to find another goal.
The win moves Diego Simeone s Atletico above Real Sociedad after their defeat at Real Valladolid on Saturday.
0 Atlético de Ma…
Mikel Arteta was unable to offer any further update on the progress of a deal to sign Martin Odegaard as the Arsenal boss defended the performances of under-fire duo Nicolas Pepe and Willian.
Media reports suggested the Premier League club could complete the loan signing of midfielder Odegaard on Friday.
However, the Norway international still remains a Real Madrid player for now at least, while his prospective new club exited the FA Cup on Saturday away at Southampton.
After the holders bowed out 1-0 following a Gabriel own goal at St Mary s Stadium, Arteta revealed he expects to receive further news about potential signings.
When quizzed over the situation regarding Odegaard, he replied: I don t know. Obviously we played today.…
The sadness is great, the pain is immense and the crying is constant, he wrote.
Once again I will stop for a while doing what I love the most in life, which is playing football.
Sometimes I feel bothered by my style of play, dribbling and always end up being caught [by challenges].
I don t know if it s me or what I do on the field. It really makes me sad.
It makes me so sad to hear from a player, coach, or commentator fall down , cry baby , spoiled etc.
I just want to be happy playing football. Nothing else.
Neymar has often suffered untimely injuries at a similar time in previous seasons during his stint at PSG.
In 2018, he sustained a broken toe in February, meaning he missed almost three months of action, with PSG losing …
Ineos Group chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe has agreed to buy a 25 per cent stake in Manchester United and inject around £236million into the club, the Red Devils have announced.
Ineos, who will assume delegated responsibility for the club’s football operations, and United have entered an agreement under which he will acquire 25 per cent of the Class B shares held by the Glazer family and up to 25 per cent of the Class A shares while investing 300 million US dollars (£236.7million) into its infrastructure.
A club statement said: “Manchester United announces that it has entered into an agreement under which chairman of Ineos, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, will acquire 25 per cent of Manchester United’s Class B shares and up to 25 per cent of Manchester United’s Class A shares a…
In the summer of 2020, Matt Doherty left Wolverhampton Wanderers to join Tottenham Hotspur, and two and a half years later, he went on to Atletico Madrid on a short-term deal. With that now expired, he s back at the Molineux again.
If you re a Wolves fan, enjoy a compilation of his best goals for the club.
…
Prediction: Bayern Munich to win 2-1
Odds:
Bookmaker:
The stand out clash of the UEFA Champions League quarter finals takes place on Friday evening as Barcelona clash with Bayern Munich at the Estadio da Luz.
Two of the favourites to lift the trophy this season, a thrilling tactical battle should be in the offing.
FC Barcelona
Quique Setien s troops will be boosted coming into this clash having impressively dismissed of Serie A side Napoli at the Camp Nou 3-1 last time out and 4-2 on aggregate to reach the tournaments quarter-final stage in Lisbon. That victory also meant that the Catalans had only lost one game since the resumption of football, that solitary defeat coming against Osasuna on the penultimate matchday of the La Liga season. Throu…
Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci has completed a move to Union Berlin after leaving Juventus.
Bonucci, 36, still had one more year on his contract with the Bianconeri, but was not in the plans for the new season.
Having made more than 500 appearances for Juve over two spells, Bonucci leaves the Italian giants having won the league title eight times as well as four Italian Cups.
Remember this, Unioner. There are few people on earth who understand the art of defending better than this man. It is a great honour and a privilege to have him here. Eisern!!!
— 1. FC Union Berlin (English) (@fcunion_en)
Bonucci was part of the Italy side which beat England on penalties to win the Euro 2020 final at Wembley and hopes regular football again will help con…
Al Ahly booked a return to the CAF Champions League final with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Wydad Casablanca in the second leg of their last-four clash.
The eight-time champions took an early lead and never looked like missing out on a 13th appearance in the showpiece as they went on to seal a 5-1 aggregate triumph at Cairo International Stadium.
Just as they did in the first leg, Al Ahly quickly opened the scoring when Marwan Mohsen tucked the ball past Ahmed Tagnaouti in the fifth minute and a VAR check showed the offside flag had been incorrectly raised.
Hussein El Shahat doubled the Egyptian side s advantage when he turned Yahia Attiyat inside out, and Yasser Ibrahim s header before the hour mark effectively ended the tie as a contest.
Subst…