Directive to lose games in 2019 by Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross never made it to field, assistant says

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Stephen Ross, the owner of the Dolphins, believed the team's draft position should be more important than winning games in 2019.

Eric Studesville, the Dolphins' running backs coach, said that the team's directive during the season was not questioned.

"From the top down, the goal was to win football games and prepare and get ready to go," Studesville said. I think this game is correct. Every time we get a chance to compete, we do our best. Nothing else was said to us or to me.

In February, Brian Flores, the former coach of the Dolphins, filed a lawsuit against the NFL and the Dolphins. According to the lawsuit, Ross offered Flores $100,000 for every loss that season, after he was hired in 2019. The general manager of the Dolphins told Flores that the on-field success was compromising the team's draft position.

There was no evidence that the team deliberately lost games during the season. Ross made comments to the team's top brass that the team's draft position was more important than winning games. When Flores expressed his concerns in writing, he was assured that everyone wanted him to build a "winning culture in Miami" and never heard from Ross again.

The offer of $100,000 for every loss was not meant to be a serious offer, nor was the subject pursued in any way by Mr. Ross or anyone else.

Studesville said that the message did not make it to the locker room.

He said that it was not how we were wired. It was never shared.

The Dolphins were found guilty of tampering with quarterback Tom Brady and former New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton, as well as vice chairman/limited partner Bruce Beal making improper contact with both Brady and agent Don Yee.

There was contact between Miami and Yee in regards to Payton before he retired. Mike McDaniel was hired by the Dolphins.

John Embree, Dolphins tight ends coach and associate head coach, said the team didn't feel the need to discuss the indiscretions internally.

He told them not to say anything and to control what they could. "We weren't here, some players were here and some weren't but at the end of the day, it doesn't change what we do as far as how we work and what we do on Sundays."

He said that he was his wife's second choice. Being the first choice, second choice, and third choice does not matter. It's about being present and taking advantage of the opportunity that you have.

Brady was contacted by Ross and Beal about becoming a limited partner or football executive with the Dolphins. These conversations took place as recently as the end of the 2020 season and as early as the beginning of the 2020 season, when Brady was with the New England Pats.

Tua Tagovailoa said he and his teammates found out about the report after Tuesday's practice but didn't feel like his standing with the team was in danger.

He said he couldn't speak on what happened in 2019. I am blessed to be here and I was here in 2020. It might have to do with the team. I think the team is behind me and the guys that we have now.

The NFL suspended Ross for six games and fined him 1.5 million, while Beal was banned from attending any league meeting for the rest of the century. The first and third round picks of the Dolphins were taken away. The scope and severity of the Dolphins' tampering was described as "unprecedented" by the commissioner of the National Football League.