Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is not letting his uncertain contract situation affect his commitment to the team.
The 2023 Pro Bowler has attended the team’s voluntary organized team activity session at Baptist Health Training Complex in Miami Gardens, Florida, this week and appears to be in solid physical shape.
“He has been here for offseason activities,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said. “He has not been here for offseason activities. He has been both. I think important in the player-coach relationship is communication and I think however things play out, as long as we’re communicating and we’re on our P’s and Q’s on what we need to get accomplished, then we have a fighting chance and it’s been a good exercise in our relationship this offseason.”
Last season, Tagovailoa had a breakout performance, throwing for a league-high 4,624 yards with 29 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions—all career-highs. He also led the NFL’s 2023 Pro Bowl Games fan vote.
This offseason, Tagovailoa has worked hard and showed up for the voluntary workouts 10 to 15 pounds lighter, which could help his speed and agility. McDaniel has been impressed by his new physique.
“I think any time that you have—that was a big year this past season for Tua, being able to play the entirety of it at the professional level as well as having two years in a row with the same offense and play caller,“ McDaniel said. ”And in that process, you get to find out on your own exactly where there are different areas where you can improve your game. That’s something that we directly relate, him and I, in terms of looking for those competitive advantages so I think he identified that as one for himself and has—I think the results speak for themselves. He’s svelte.”
The Dolphins drafted Tagovailoa with the fifth overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft. By Week 8 of his rookie season, he was named the starter and finished the year with 1,814 yards passing with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions, but the Dolphins missed playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.
The following year, he threw for 2,653 yards with 16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions and the Dolphins swept the Patriots for the first time since 2000.
McDaniel is staying out of Tagovailoa’s contract negotiations. Those discussions are between Tagovailoa, his agent, and Miami general manager Chris Grier.
“I don’t want any of that burden in my life,“ McDaniel said. ”I’m an asset—this is what’s great about the orchestration of our organization. I think it’s important that the player-coach relationship is put on a pedestal where you don’t tinker with that. My job is to get him better.
“His job is to communicate with me how I’m doing in that process. I think we’re in a safe zone where when he’s talking to me about my expertise and not about stuff that is not my expertise, so we try to stay true to that and that’s paid us dividends this offseason.”
The Dolphins have not won a Super Bowl title since they won back-to-back titles in 1972 and 1973. Miami has not won an AFC Championship since 1984 but the Dolphins have a loaded roster heading into this season and have the potential to wear a crown.
The team added Odell Beckham Jr. to its high-powered arsenal of wide receivers for Tagovailoa. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill led the NFL with 1,799 yards receiving and was tied with Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans with a league-high 13 touchdowns.
Miami had the NFL’s top passing attack with 265.5 yards per game.
“I think we did a great job last year,“ wide receiver Braxton Berrios said about the Dolphins’ passing attack. ”Correct me if I’m wrong, but we led the league in yards most of the way—I don’t know if we finished that way, but most of the way. It’s really now with the third year in the offense, second for some guys like me and obviously the rookies, it’s their first year, but it’s about the finer details now.
“We know we can do it. We know we can get it done when everything is not perfect. Now it’s about trying to be perfect and seeing where that can go.”
Tagovailoa has endeared himself to his teammates for his aggressiveness and toughness on the field and his demeanor and leadership in the locker room. His teammates expect that he can lead them to a championship.
“I love Tua,“ safety Jordan Poyer said. ”I love Tua. That’s one of the big reasons why I’m here. He is who he is. And Josh is—I’ve been his teammate for seven years. I’ve seen so many plays that he has made. You could argue Aaron Rodgers, Tua, Josh [Allen] whoever you want to argue.
“At the end of the day, that’s my dawg. I love Josh, I cannot wait to play him. But I love Tua, too. This offense is a high-attack scoring offense. My job on the other end is to get Tua the ball back as fast as I can to let Tua score some points.”
