Playing under intense scrutiny is nothing new in the NFL. But, as Tua Tagovailoa might tell you, working with Brian Flores could feel like the league’s toughest assignment. As locker room tensions simmer, what were once whispers are now becoming full-blown roars.

In a jaw-dropping interview with “The Dan LeBatard Show” on Monday, Tagovailoa unleashed years of pent-up frustration. He likened his experience with Flores to a daily beating: “If you woke up every morning and I told you you suck at what you did, that you don’t belong doing what you do, that you shouldn’t be here, that this guy should be here, that you haven’t earned this right…” The quarterback’s words hung in the air, heavy with implication.

This bombshell comes after Tagovailoa’s stellar 2023 season, where he led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards and notched 29 touchdowns. It’s a far cry from the uncertain rookie who was twice pulled in the fourth quarter during the 2020 season. The turnaround? A new coach with a new approach.

Tagovailoa’s NFL career has been a rollercoaster. From being drafted fifth overall in 2020 to facing trade rumors in 2021, his time in Miami has been anything but smooth. The quarterback’s resilience was tested early when he was replaced twice in the fourth quarter of games by veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick during his rookie season.

Enter Mike McDaniel, whose first move was to show Tagovailoa a 700-play highlight reel. Talk about a confidence boost! Under McDaniel’s nurturing style, Tua flourished, earning his first Pro Bowl selection in 2023 and a hefty four-year, $212.4 million extension. The contrast couldn’t be starker.

While Flores’ approach left Tagovailoa questioning his abilities, McDaniel’s method has been transformative. “I think for me, especially right now, I’m so laser-focused into what this locker room needs and this particular set of circumstances,” McDaniel said on Monday, highlighting his player-centric approach.

But hold on, rewind to September 2022. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tua’s former teammate, dropped hints about the Flores-Tagovailoa dynamic. “I think that was a huge sticking point and something that just was difficult for him in the first few years,” Fitzpatrick revealed. He praised McDaniel’s approach: “It’s gonna be, for him, decision-making. And can he process and make those decisions quick enough, and be consistent enough with his decision-making?”

Fitzpatrick, who played with Miami during Tagovailoa’s rookie season in 2020, noted the stark difference in coaching styles. “I really do think a lot of this early success, is the way he’s being coached and the relationship that he has with the head coach,” Fitzpatrick said as per NY Post, emphasizing the positive impact of McDaniel’s approach.

On the other hand, remember the 2021 season when Flores was fixated on trading for Deshaun Watson? It nearly happened before the season kicked off, contributing to Tua declining as Week 1 approached. Interestingly, back in February 2022, Flores sang a different tune. On the “I Am Athlete” podcast, he claimed, “It wasn’t strained. I think we had a good relationship.” But actions speak louder than words.

Tua Tagovailoa’s clash with the Belichick way

Brian Flores, a product of the Bill Belichick coaching tree, brought a no-nonsense approach to Miami. His journey from a rough Brooklyn neighborhood to an NFL head coach is nothing short of inspirational. As one of five sons of Honduran immigrants, Flores learned the value of hard work early on.

“My parents immigrated here in the ’70s and they came here to build a better life for me, my brothers and my entire family,” Flores shared during his introductory press conference. “My parents, my uncles, my aunts, we spent a lot of time to where maybe we didn’t have a lot of money, but we were rich in love and that’s for sure.”

Flores’ journey to the NFL began at age 12 when he discovered football through his uncle, a New York fireman. His talent caught the eye of Dino Mangiero, a former NFL nose guard coaching at Brooklyn’s Poly Prep Country Day. “From the day I met him, you knew he was special,” Mangiero said on the Dolphin’s official site. “He sat there, 13-year-old kid, sits there and is staring at you and absorbing every word you’re saying.”

This tough-love approach worked wonders in New England with Tom Brady. But Tagovailoa? Not so much. The laid-back quarterback from Hawaii seemed to wilt under Flores’ intense scrutiny. Despite the tension with Tagovailoa, Flores’ tenure in Miami wasn’t unsuccessful. He compiled a 24-25 record over three seasons, including back-to-back winning seasons in 2020 and 2021 – a feat Miami hadn’t achieved since 2002-2003.

After his dismissal from the Dolphins, Flores spent a season as linebackers coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers before becoming the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings in 2023. Contrast this with McDaniel’s “Sunshine and Rainbows” approach. “I think there’s a lot of players that have grown since I’ve been here, and that growth is all that I care about,” McDaniel shared on Monday. His focus on pushing players to be their best selves seems to resonate with Tua.

The proof is in the pudding – or this case, the stats. Under Flores in 2021, Tagovailoa threw for 2,653 yards and 16 touchdowns in 13 games. Fast forward to 2023 with McDaniel, and those numbers skyrocketed to 4,624 yards and 29 touchdowns. Talk about a glow-up! What do you think of the relationship shared between the Phins QB and Flores? Do you think their difference in approaching the game was the key polarity between the two? Let us know in the comments.