Dolphins HC Brian Flores: Confidence in Tua Tagovailoa wasn't 'shaken' last season

Amid trade rumors linking Houston Texans starting quarterback Deshaun Watson with the Miami Dolphins in January, Miami head coach Brian Flores publicly backed Tua Tagovailoa even though he pulled Tagovailoa in favor of veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick multiple times during Tagovailoa's rookie season. 

Flores has now told Peter King of "Football Morning in America" that Tagovailoa is "doing everything necessary to make some improvements" and has the full faith of his coach heading into his second pro campaign. 

"Last year’s situation is . . . we’ve talked about this numerous times," Flores said. "If he had started the season, we wouldn’t have pulled him. We put him in. We’re in a playoff chase. At that point [second half in game 15, at Las Vegas, when Ryan Fitzpatrick entered in relief], it’s hey, we’ve got to do whatever we’ve got to do to try to win. But no, my confidence wasn’t shaken in him." 

Fitzpatrick left the Dolphins via free agency and signed with the Washington Football Team, where he is expected to start. Veteran Jacoby Brissett signed with Miami in March and may be hoping he'll have an opportunity to earn QB1 honors at some point this fall if Tagovailoa struggles.