AFC Notes: Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Dolphins

Regarding the surge of COVID-19 cases in Miami, Dolphins HC Brian Flores said they are determining ways to “go above” guidelines to ensure player-safety. 

“As a staff, as an organization, we’ve combed through the CDC and the NFL facility guidelines,” Flores said. “And what we’ve done is we’ve thought to ourselves, ‘What can we do to go above what those guidelines are?’ We understand — I understand — players are going to be on high alert when they get here, if they get here, and we just want to put them at ease. Our goal is to make sure our facility is a place where the players feel safe.”

Flores mentioned that he’s spoken to several other NFL coaches in order to learn possible practices toward adjusting with the global pandemic. 

“I’ve talked to several coaches around the league and we’re all kind of picking each other’s brains on the best practices, the best ways to field a competitive team and keep the facility safe. Those have been ongoing conversations between myself and a few other coaches.”

Flores added that he is “cautiously optimistic” that the 2020 season will be played. 

“I’m cautiously optimistic we’re going to play,” said Flores. “I think a lot has to go right and I think we’re doing the things we need to do as an organization here to make sure those things go right.”

Jets

Jets rookie CB Bryce Hall, a fifth-round pick out of Virginia, says that he is excited to learn from DC Gregg Williams during his first season in the NFL.

“I’ve really just been trying to soak up as much knowledge and information that he’s been passing along,” Hall said on NewYorkJets.com. “I think he does a good job of just making things very clear and decisive for what his expectations are. I’ve been honored and very blessed to have him as a coach because I think he has so much experience and high levels of success…for me, I’m stepping into an amazing position, where I can just learn from all the years of experience that he’s had.”

Hall fell to the fifth round following a gruesome ankle injury that ended his college career and caused his draft stock to slip. He added that he is making “steady progress” as he continues his recovery, and is taking the time away from the field to learn the Jets’ defensive playbook.

Patriots

• Regarding Patriots’ franchise G Joe Thuney‘s $14.78 million cap charge for 2020, Mike Reiss of ESPN points out that New England gaining $6.55 million from Antonio Brown and Aaron Hernandez‘s compensation grievances lessens the blow of Thuney’s figure. 
• He also adds Thuney is represented by the same agent who represented Vikings QB Kirk Cousins when he was playing out his franchise tag saga with Washington, which could indicate how Thuney is willing to approach this. 
• Reiss says it appears both sides are willing to go year-to-year, for now.