Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is the unquestioned (present and) future of the franchise, thanks in part to his breakout 2023 season and the wealthy contract extension he signed a few weeks ago.

But the 2020 NFL draft first-round pick wasn't always a slam-dunk choice, especially early in his pro career.

Tagovailoa shared what has changed since then in a far-ranging interview with Dan LeBatard and his multi-platformed sports show.

LeBatard asked Tagovailoa to explain the difference between his current head coach, Mike McDaniel, who seems to be fervently behind his quarterback, and the previous Miami head coach, Brian Flores, who didn't exactly go out of his way to show support for his lefty under center.

"To put it in simplest terms, if you woke up every morning and I told you that you suck at what you did, that you don’t belong doing what you do, that you shouldn’t be here, that this guy should be here, that you haven’t earned this, right?

"And then someone come and tells you, ‘Dude, you are the best fit for this. Like, you are accurate, you are the best. ...' How you that make you feel, listening to one or the other?”

Well, sounds like one place is a bit more of a healthier work environment, no?

Tagovailoa said that when you constantly hear that messaging, whether positive or negative, you begin to believe it. We can only imagine what he heard last season as he led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards.

Flores led the Dolphins from 2019-21, winning 49% of his games (24-25) and sued the team and the NFL in a class-action lawsuit, claiming racial discrimination after his was fired. The Miami portion of that case ended in arbitration while other parts of the suit remain in federal appeals courts.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tua Tagovailoa shares why he's no fan of ex-coach Brian Flores