Bills AFC East Review: Tua Trashes Former Dolphins Coach

Having a strong-willed coach has its advantages for NFL teams.

The Buffalo Bills know that very well with Sean McDermott.

Not every team has the balance of a strong-willed coach and a leader who commands the respect of his players through communication and support, though.

The easiest comparison of that just happens to be in Buffalo's top rival for the AFC East crown - the Miami Dolphins. When Tua Tagovailoa was drafted with the fifth-overall pick in 2021, his relationship with former head coach Brian Flores deteriorated quickly.

Now, after becoming one of the highest paid signal-callers in the game today, Tagovailoa is coming clean about just how bad things got with Flores.

“Well, to put it in simplest terms, if you woke up every morning and I told you you suck at what you did, 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, and then you have somebody else come in and tell you, you are the best fit for this, you are accurate, you are the best whatever, how would it make you feel listening to one or the other?” Tagovailoa said on the Dan Lebatard show with Stugotz.

Tagovailoa's relationship with Mike McDaniel has been far improved over a guy like Flores but success has been fleeting in every matchup with the Bills.

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Buffalo has won the last four division championships in the AFC East - with a playoff win even coming over the Dolphins.

Perhaps tougher coaching from Flores could have given the Dolphins the edge they needed over Buffalo?