DAVIE, Fla. _ If there was an issue during Robert Nkemdiche's brief time with the Miami Dolphins, it was not a behavioral issue.
Dolphins coach Brian Flores on Wednesday shared his support for Nkemdiche by dispelling an NFL Network report, one day after cutting the former first-round pick from the team.
"There were some things floating around about his behavior and those aren't true. I liked him a lot and he's a good kid. I wish him the best," Flores said of Nkemdiche.
Flores' comment comes after NFL Network said Tuesday, citing sources, that "tardiness was a bit of an issue with Nkemdiche in Miami. Unclear how much it was a factor in his release but he knew he didn't have much room for error."
The Dolphins took a flier on Nkemdiche, who was cut by the Arizona Cardinals before this season started. He worked to get back in shape while recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament tear in his knee to the point where the team appointed him to its active roster last week the morning of the Pittsburgh Steelers game.
But after playing a combined 18 defensive snaps in two games, including just three in Miami's first win of the season against the New York Jets last Sunday, the Dolphins felt like it was time to move on from Nkemdiche.
"I like Robert Nkemdiche. He's a hard working kid. We needed to make a change on the roster. It just didn't work out. He worked hard," Flores said.
The Dolphins will continue to rely on a defensive tackles unit featuring third-year player Davon Godchaux, seven-year veteran John Jenkins, rookie Christian Wilkins and second-year defensive end Avery Moss, who plays both positions.
