The Miami Dolphins reaped double trouble in their critical loss to the Green Bay Packers with a severely hurt chance to make the postseason and Tua Tagovailoa suffering his 2nd (or 3rd) concussion on the season. Not only is this quite a mouthful, but sadly it is also a typical Phins narrative. The concussion is obviously a terrible thing for Tua and his long-term health after football, but at least there’s a small consolation for the kid giving him a legitimate reason for his stark collapse in the 2nd Half. The big problem with this consolation for both Tua and the Phins is there are now huge medical concerns for his future in football this season and beyond. So, while the short term received some clarity, the mid- and long-term prognosis of the Dolphins franchise has become very complicated.
Again, how very Miami Dolphions.
The main question now isn’t about talent
The two sides on whether Tua is this or that as a quarterback will likely rage until the end of football talk on the planet earth… without the two sides agreeing. But, while it’s clear at this stage he isn’t in the elite class, he has proved better than plenty quarterbacks in the league, so he doesn’t totally suck as many have claimed. You can bet with the best pay per head that the biggest elephant in the room now on a football level is the health of Tua and his ability to be available.
Injuries to the body are one thing, head injuries are a whole different animal because you don’t ever fully recover or work hard to prevent. In fact, the more concussions you get the more you are likely to get with less impact. The hit Tua took is routine, and he’ll see plenty of those going forward. You can play and live on bad knees or with pain. Dan Marino is a testament to this reality. But you can’t play or live well with a damaged brain.
Tua & Phins are in a very tough spot
Can you really let Tua play again this season given how vertical our passing game is and how porous our O-line is? Tua was just married and has a young baby, so there way more on the line than just him. And even if you do or he wants to can you expect him to stay healthy? Then there is his future as the Phins quarterback.
Tua is entering his final year of his contract and will need an extension or a 5th year option to keep him onboard, both of which are very expensive options. Given his health, Miami can’t invest that much into him in good conscience. And even if he came cheap, again the dependability would demand a very high-level backup, and this becomes a problem in itself for many reasons. The worst part is it’s no longer about ability on the field that Tua can control. This is about a situation that the kid can work or tough himself out of.
We have two games left to see what becomes of this season. Maybe Teddy or Skylar rises up and we get a storybook ending? And sadly, we’ll need a near fairy tale close to the 2022 Season to not have one of the most uncertain off seasons this franchise has ever had. And that’s saying a ton considering how many ugly ones the Phins have had! Here’s to dreams coming true. Go Phins!!!
Happy Holidays to you and your family! The team needs to move on from Tua. Aside from the obvious areas of lack in his game (non-NFL quality arm, average pocket awareness), Tua’s long term heath is at stake. I think his NFL days may be over. Anyway, the team needs to pursue Lamar Jackson extremely hard!! May need to trade players like Howard, etc. in a package deal for a 1st round pick if possible. The problem is that teams like Atlanta, Carolina, Tampa, need a QB too. I said that if this team got the Tua/Herbert pick wrong it would set them back! Have a lot of other pieces, but without an elite QB, making the playoffs and beyond is extremely tough. I fear no playoffs this year which will help with the draft. Same old Dolphins December swoon right out of the playoffs! Team is SO hard to watch each season!
Happy holidays to you too, brother!!! I think with Tua it is all about health… we screwed up the install of him every way possible! At this point, the head trauma is a bridge too far especially considering he’s up for a new contract. We are in a huge hole… HUGE. Think this could slide into a long and cold winter for a few years again. Sad, but we had a ton of capital and went all in for a madd dash to the finish… and it will likly end up in a total car crash. Have a Happy New Year, brother… hope we somehow turn it around!!!
MJ,
Happy Holidays to you and your family! The team needs to move on from Tua. Aside from the obvious areas of lack in his game (non-NFL quality arm, average pocket awareness), Tua’s long term heath is at stake. I think his NFL days may be over. Anyway, the team needs to pursue Lamar Jackson extremely hard!! May need to trade players like Howard, etc. in a package deal for a 1st round pick if possible. The problem is that teams like Atlanta, Carolina, Tampa, need a QB too. I said that if this team got the Tua/Herbert pick wrong it would set them back! Have a lot of other pieces, but without an elite QB, making the playoffs and beyond is extremely tough. I fear no playoffs this year which will help with the draft. Same old Dolphins December swoon right out of the playoffs! Team is SO hard to watch each season!
Happy New Year!
Stephen Fabrizio
Happy holidays to you too, brother!!! I think with Tua it is all about health… we screwed up the install of him every way possible! At this point, the head trauma is a bridge too far especially considering he’s up for a new contract. We are in a huge hole… HUGE. Think this could slide into a long and cold winter for a few years again. Sad, but we had a ton of capital and went all in for a madd dash to the finish… and it will likly end up in a total car crash. Have a Happy New Year, brother… hope we somehow turn it around!!!