The Miami Dolphins made headlines last night for all of the wrong reasons. During last night’s loss to the Buffalo Bills, Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa left the game due to a concussion.
Tua not only left the game but also appeared to have serious concerns for his long-term health, especially when you factor in his concussion history. This has led to many fans and players calling for Tua to retire. However, Mike McDaniel does not believe this should be a vocal point at this time.
Mike McDaniel Opposes Timing of Retirement Discussion
McDaniel is obviously concerned about the health of his quarterback. Given what Tagovailoa went through last night, McDaniel previously told him that he is the “quarterback of his family” at this time. However, the concussion happening in the national spotlight resulted in fans and players alike calling for Tagovailoa to retire. With this much viral discussion, McDaniel feels like it is an inappropriate time to have this discussion.
“I totally get that’s where people want to go. I just wish, for a second, people would hear what I’m saying—that bringing up his future is not in the best interest of him.”
-Mike McDaniel
Miami Dolphins and Tua Tagovailoa’s Situation
Given that the Miami Dolphins did not score a single point last night after Tagovailoa went down, the last thing they will likely want is for Tagovailoa to retire. This is especially the case when you consider available free agents this year and which quarterbacks are likely to be free agents next year. You will see that there are limited options.
So, if Tagovailoa has to step away from football, this could set the Dolphins back for years and it would leave McDaniel coaching a team with a likely inferior quarterback. This is especially impactful when you remember there are two elite wide receivers on this team, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle respectfully.
Plus, the Dolphins would owe Tagovailoa $123 million if he was medically forced to retire. However, if Tua walks away on his own, he would be leaving close to $170 million on the table.
Looking Ahead
Despite fans and players calling for Tua to retire, the focus for now is still on recovery. In the meantime, the Dolphins have 10 days until their next game and 18 days until the game after that. This is enough time for McDaniel and the Dolphins to come up with a game plan for the worst-case scenario.
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