This week, the Vikings are set to face the Colts, and at his weekly press conference, Flores faced questions about Richardson’s controversial exit from his most recent game against the Houston Texans. To recap, Richardson sat out a play after admitting he needed to catch his breath, a decision that stoked debates among fans and media alike.
However, Flores offered a perspective that defused the controversy rather than fueling it. “Anthony, he’s a young player who’s still feeling his way through the league,” Flores remarked.
He noted Richardson’s jaw-dropping athleticism, vividly describing the play that led to the media buzz: “Did you see it? The guy shrugged off a 300-pound lineman and still made something happen.
I got tired just watching.”
Flores didn’t shy away from praising Richardson’s raw talent either, describing him as a “dangerous player” capable of changing the complexion of a game in an instant with his speed, arm strength, and off-script playmaking abilities. “He might not make every throw perfectly, but give him two or three chances at a big play and suddenly his team’s right back in it.”
This softer stance on Richardson seems distinct from the Flores who coached the Dolphins, where his strict, Belichick-like approach with Tua Tagovailoa was well-documented. Flores’ tenure in Miami saw its share of tension, with Flores openly pursuing other quarterback options and sometimes delivering tough love in a way that didn’t always resonate warmly. His history with Tagovailoa includes many discussions, even recent ones, where reconciliation seemed more perfunctory than passionate.
In Miami, these challenges came to a head amidst management’s clandestine dealings to land high-profile names like Tom Brady and Sean Payton, a gambit that ultimately backfired, costing the team precious resources.
Yet, when it comes to Richardson’s moment on the sideline, Flores took a pragmatic view: “Leaving it all on the field because you’re momentarily out of gas isn’t something to get worked up about.” After all, quarterbacks, much like their offensive counterparts, are often asked to do heavy lifting without much downtime. To Flores, a brief respite should be just another part of the game, not bulletin board material.
Moving forward, how the Vikings defense navigates these matchups under Flores’ guidance will be the true measure of his evolving coaching philosophy. Whether his current approach signals a softer side or simply a strategic adaptation, it’s clear Flores is as engaged and insightful as ever – a coach with the capability to adapt his game in meaningful ways.
