Marcel Louis-Jacques
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — As Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa put it Thursday, speaking about taking part in quarterback is so much simpler than truly taking part in the place.
When requested about whether or not he is criticized extra for his contract than his play, Tagovailoa steered his job is harder than pundits make it appear.
Tagovailoa was particularly requested about Cam Newton's feedback on ESPN's “First Take” final week, following the Dolphins' 31-21 loss to the Buffalo Payments, wherein the previous NFL MVP criticized Tagovailoa's efficiency contemplating the four-year, $212.1 million extension Tagovailoa signed final summer season.
“Tagovailoa is making greater than Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, Baker Mayfield, Matthew Stafford, Jayden Daniels,” Newton mentioned. “Am I pocket watching? No, I am placing issues into perspective right here. … On this case, it needs to be extra money, extra expectations. After I see Tua Tagovailoa over this yr, alone, I've heard him greater than I ever had. That is to not say you'll be able to't discuss. I like quiet Tua. Alabama Tua. Chip in your shoulder Tua. Not ‘Is any individual going to return in and watch movie.'
“What you are being paid, what you are requested to do, what you've the potential of — from one quarterback to a different, I take a look at the scenario like come on, dawg. Particularly once you've acquired a Ferrari and a Lamborghini and different facilities that different quarterbacks want that they had.”
Tagovailoa admitted he hasn't performed “anyplace close to” the usual he is able to, however dismissed Newton's feedback in response to soccer pundits as a complete.
“Nicely, anyone can play quarterback on this league then. I wish to see anyone on the streets come and play quarterback,” Tagovailoa mentioned. “Cam is doing his factor for certain, however I believe it is simpler to have the ability to maintain a clicker and speak about it that manner or speak about what another person is doing mistaken once you're not going out and having to do the identical as them.
“I believe it is easy to try this. I believe anyone can do this. I do not suppose anyone can play quarterback.”
Tagovailoa's 5 landing passes are tied for seventh most within the NFL via three video games, however his 4 interceptions are tied for second most.
He additionally ranks twenty ninth in quarterback score with a 35.8, and his 6.4 air yards per try ranks twenty fifth. He has turned the ball over in all three of Miami's video games this season because the staff began 0-3 for the primary time since 2019.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel mentioned Tagovailoa can at all times enhance however praised his quarterback's mentality throughout the staff's dropping streak.
“The sport of a franchise quarterback is rarely simply nonetheless … there's alternatives that he must make the most of,” McDaniel mentioned. “There's additionally a ton of alternatives to show the ball over that he hasn't taken. He is actually answered the bell for 99 p.c of the time. … It isn't a straightforward process to be in his footwear, however I am very proud of the place his thoughts is at and the place his focus is at as a result of if he was a weaker-minded particular person, it is powerful for any quarterback throughout any dropping streak or any no matter.
“He is targeted on being 1-0 in opposition to the New York Jets and that is why I do know he is succesful and I am excited to see his subsequent alternative that we work on all week due to simply that, of being targeted on the proper issues.”
Tagovailoa led the NFL in passing yards in 2023, in what stays the one season he didn't miss a sport. He missed a career-high six video games due to varied accidents in 2024 and insists that “getting down” and defending himself is a precedence in 2025.
