Dolphins coach Brian Flores urges players to be safe at George Floyd protests

After participating in a protest over the death of George Floyd, the unarmed African-American man who died while in Minneapolis police custody on May 25, former University of Indiana football player Chris Beaty was shot and killed in Indianapolis on Saturday night.

Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores, who was close with Beaty, isn't deterring his players from taking part in protests, but he also wants them to be safe.

As ESPN's Cameron Wolfe wrote, Flores spoke with reporters on Thursday and said: "My No. 1 thing for guys is they have a right to protest. That's important. Everyone's got a right to protest, but even more than that, it's about being careful," Flores said. "I want my players to be careful. I've had a lot of conversations with players over the last few days. I support those guys. I understand the emotion, what they're going through. 

"But at the same time, I want them to be smart. I care about each one of these guys. I had a situation hit home pretty closely for me, so there's some fear on my end, to be honest with you.

"We're watching. We're dealing with a pandemic. People are hungry. People are out of jobs. People are angry as well, so there's got to be time to be angry, have a platform to show their emotions. They have that with me, they have that with our coaching staff," Flores said.

"We've had conversations just like everyone else had. But at the same time, these guys they've been working also. They've been working on football. That's been a kind of a place to get away for a little bit. But, yeah, our hearts and minds are with the Floyd family and the Arbery family and Breonna Taylor. It seems like we have to share our condolences. These guys, they have my support. I know it's an emotional time."

Athletes around the world have spoken out and demonstrated over Floyd's untimely and tragic death. On Wednesday, Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien told reporters he canceled all meetings scheduled for June 9 so players and other club personnel can attend Floyd's funeral in Houston.