New Dolphins DE Robert Quinn didn’t hold back Tuesday on several subjects

It’s been about a month since the Dolphins acquired DE Robert Quinn in a trade from the Los Angeles Rams and Tuesday morning, Quinn spoke to the Miami media for the first time via conference call. And lets just say, it was not a dull few minutes of Q & A.

Quinn began unloading on the Rams for how they handled (or didn’t) dealing him for a switch of draft picks.  Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald kept tabs on his comments:

Robert Quinn says he was "pretty much shocked, honestly" on being traded from the Rams to the Dolphins.

— Armando Salguero (@ArmandoSalguero) April 4, 2018

And, further on the message L.A. sent to him by dealing him?:

Robert Quinn not thrilled with the Rams: "It's like this, this is the first time I've been traded. You commit yourself to someone and you have your family turn their back on you."

— Armando Salguero (@ArmandoSalguero) April 4, 2018

Quinn will turn 28 in May and had 8.5 sacks a year ago under new first defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, as the Rams won the NFC West in 2017. The Rams had acquired DB Marcus Peters earlier in that March week from the Chiefs for draft picks. They since have traded for former Broncos DB Aqib Talib, and on Monday traded their 2018 #1 pick to New England for WR Brandin Cooks.

However, those are three players the Rams traded for, to come join their playoff caliber team.

And, you got the feeling Tuesday morning that Quinn isn’t over the rejection part of it, yet.

He is also signed for two more seasons, at $11 million per year. As we wrote in March, the Dolphins will likely try to get him to renegotiate that deal and lower his cap number for this year. Nothing new on that.

Then, the subject turned to whether Quinn would continue some form of protest, even while standing, during the national anthem this season with his new team.

BREAKING: New Miami Dolphins DE Robert Quinn explains why he protests during anthem; cites President Donald Trump https://t.co/6tgBHxftKQ pic.twitter.com/iohzgyYIN1

— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) April 4, 2018

This continues to be a “hot button” issue in the NFL and Fins owner Stephen Ross has been trying privately to mitigate or eliminate the protests moving forward. As we wrote previously, Ross made comments at an award ceremony in New York to that effect in March, but then, almost immediately backtracked and said protests could still go on with his players.

Finally, on another subject, Quinn told the media that he prefers to play right defensive end, which means he will likely rotate and share some time with former first round pick at that same spot, Charles Harris.

We’ll look to see how the veteran plugs into the Dolphins defensive line, but one things for certain, there will always be clear understanding of what’s on Quinn’s mind.