Tua Tagovailoa had been dealing with a lot before showing up to organized team activities for the Miami Dolphins.
The former Alabama quarterback has loss weight, donned a new look, and is waiting for a new contract deal to be done.
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Tagovailoa proved to the Dolphins organization the can play a full season and avoid injuries. He started a career-high 17 games in 2023, leading Miami to the AFC playoffs in the National Football League. Tagovailoa set career highs for completion percentage (69.3), passing yards (4,624), and touchdown passes (29). He led all quarterbacks in the NFL for passing yards and tied for fifth in touchdown passes. His teammates, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, want him to get paid. Hill believes Tagovailoa should have already gotten paid while Waddle feels that Tagovailoa was the reason why he received a marquee contract extension.
The native Hawaiian is anxious to see the deal get done, but an NFL insider says he ‘should have peace’ about his agent and the Dolphins making sure it happens. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network says Tagovailoa has done everything he needs to do.
From The Insiders on @NFLNetwork: #Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa should have some peace, as he’s done everything he needs to do to get a big-time contract extension. It’s just a matter of time. pic.twitter.com/ERrCIF3390
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 5, 2024
“Tua can have some angst, he can have some frustration, obviously wants the deal done,” Rapoport said.
“He should be happy, he should be able to take solace right now because he has done his job. He has done everything he needs to do to get paid. He has proven that he is the franchise quarterback, but I know a lot of people early in his career — including in the organization — doubted that he would able to be. He has done it all, and the fact that he’s shown up to minicamp and talked to reporters about the awkwardness of not having a contract, that is basically it. There is nothing else to do but sit back, wait, let his agent — Ryan Williams — do his job, and let the Dolphins come to them. I’m not saying for sure it is going to get done, but there is some optimism that Tua will be a very happy man at some point before the season.”
He wants to paid like a big time quarterback in the league, and his teammates want it too.
Hopefully, Miami and Tagovailoa come to an agreement on a deal soon.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
