Second-year Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores detailed in a virtual press conference with media on Thursday the need for attention to move away from New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and back to George Floyd, the latest victim of police brutality.
Flores, via Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald, said,
“For me the spotlight needs to be on George Floyd, justice for George Floyd. Condolences for his family. We’re in agreement. It’s not often that everyone is in agreement on a topic.”
“They have a right to protest and I support their right to protest,” Flores said. “Even more than that, it’s about being careful. I want my players [to] be careful.”
Flores doesn't want to weigh in on kneeling right now. "For me the spotlight needs to be on George Floyd, justice for George Floyd. Condolences for his family. We're in agreement. It's not often that everyone is in agreement on a topic."
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) June 4, 2020
Brees spoke out on Wednesday how it would be disrespectful for NFL players to return to kneeling during the national anthem, claiming offense on behalf of the U.S. military. This past week, Americans marched in every major city and all 50 states demanding justice for Floyd and other victims.
Floyd, a Houston native and African-American man living in Minneapolis, was killed in police custody on Memorial Day, with the incident recorded on camera and broadcast around the world.
The Dolphins' Flores, one of only three active African-American head coaches in the NFL, had to comment on the Brees matter as nearly every individual involved in the professional sport has done over the last 24 hours. Flores instead wanted to shift focus and discussions away from Brees, who made a mistake with his hurtful comments — even in his teammates' eyes — and back to the injustice Floyd and others have faced.
Brees apologized via social media on Thursday morning.
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