Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa reported to the staff’s coaching facility when the staff started their offseason coaching program in April. Based on a report from CBS Sports activities’ Jonathan Jones, that could be concerning the extent of what Tagovailoa, coming off his first Professional Bowl choice, has carried out this offseason. “Tagovailoa has been absent for the massive majority of voluntary offseason work because the Dolphins reported again April 15,” Jones wrote Friday morning.
Tagovailoa has been a full participant within the offseason coaching program up to now. The Dolphins included the quarterback of their collage of photographs from the staff’s on-field practices early within the offseason program, releasing a submit on X on April 19:
Tagovailoa is getting into his fifth yr within the league after Miami chosen fifth general within the 2020 NFL Draft. The Dolphins exercised the fifth-year possibility in Tagovailoa’s rookie contract final yr, retaining him with the staff via the 2024 season. The staff is believed to be engaged on a contract extension for Tagovailoa, however they may fall again to utilizing the franchise tag subsequent offseason to maintain him with the staff for at the very least a sixth season.
“I believe it’s one thing that when it occurs, it occurs,” Dolphins normal supervisor Chris Grier mentioned of the contract negotiations with Tagovailoa on April 16. “We’ve had communication with him and I’ll simply go away these between the group and his illustration, and it’s been good so we’ll simply preserve working in direction of it. Him and his agent are very understanding that that is now the draft, so he’s letting us give attention to that after which we’ll flip our consideration to that after the draft finishes.”
Head coach Mike McDaniel, on March 25, spoke about Tagovailoa, the contract negotiations, and the chance of Tagovailoa taking part within the offseason program. He defined, “The contract and contract negotiations, these issues take time. I do anticipate Tua to be in OTAs solely as a result of my working relationship with Tua. For 2 years, I’ve watched Tua achieve some unbelievable residuals in direction of the season in that course of. It’s a part of the rationale Tua is who he’s as a result of he’s at all times studying, by no means staying the identical and at all times engaged on his craft. I do know the one factor that he likes to do now in his life, moreover be a kick ass dad to Ace and Maizy, is play soccer along with his teammates. That’s what I anticipate. I don’t actually put an excessive amount of thought past that. I perceive the enterprise, however I additionally perceive my job with Tua is to make it possible for his soccer is continuous to evolve and one of the best days are in entrance of him, that are each of our targets.”
Underneath the NFL and NFL Gamers Affiliation collective bargaining settlement, the offseason coaching program is primarily a voluntary interval for the participant, with no disciplinary actions licensed if a participant chooses to not present. Groups might maintain one obligatory occasion, a minicamp, late in this system. The obligatory minicamp will likely be held June 4-6 for the Dolphins. The staff may high quality any participant who doesn’t report for the minicamp.
The fifth-year possibility can pay Tagovailoa a completely assured $23.17 million this season. A brand new contract would seemingly pay Tagovailoa round $50 million per season. The Detroit Lions and quarterback Jared Goff agreed this week on a brand new four-year, $212 million contract with $113.6 million absolutely assured and a further $57 million in damage ensures. Goff’s contract has a $53 million per season common, second behind the Cincinnati Bengals’ take care of Joe Burrow ($55 million per yr).
Tagovailoa skipping the exercises may very well be an indication that he’s rising pissed off with the negotiations on a long-term contract extension.
In 4 seasons with the Dolphins, Tagovailoa has thrown for 12,639 yards with a 66.9 % completion price, 81 touchdowns, 37 interceptions, and a profession passer score of 97.1. He led the league in passer score in 2022 with a 105.5. Final yr, he threw for a league-high 4,624 yards, incomes the beginning on the league’s all-star Professional Bowl Video games occasion.
