Tua Tagovailoa faces mounting pressure amid rocky Dolphins season
The Miami Dolphins are in the midst of a tumultuous start to the season, with the team sitting at 0-3 just three games in. The spotlight is glaring on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who is under immense scrutiny to elevate his performance and lead the Dolphins out of this early season slump.
Unique pressures in the spotlight
Former NFL quarterback Cam Newton, now a commentator on ESPN’s First Take, has weighed in on Tagovailoa’s situation, emphasizing the complexities of pressure that come with a sizable contract. Newton, who has experienced this kind of scrutiny firsthand, highlighted the dual nature of the expectations Tagovailoa faces.
“There’s two different pressures,” Newton explained. “Pressure to get paid… and then there’s also this pressure that we’re seeing Tua faced with right now: paid pressure. When you have paid pressure — I witnessed that similar to me in Carolina. I signed a $100 million contract. At that time some even questioned: ‘Cam? Y’all paid Cam that?’ The following year we went to the Super Bowl. So, for him… $53 million dollars, bro… And I list off how many quarterbacks you’re making more money than. Now you’re starting to feel like now I have to do something and that’s the pressure.”
Tagovailoa’s hefty contract
Tagovailoa inked a four-year, $212.4 million extension last offseason after a standout Pro Bowl season, which has placed him among the highest earners in the league. His average annual salary of $53.1 million ranks sixth among all NFL quarterbacks, surpassing the likes of Jared Goff, Brock Purdy, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, and Kyler Murray.
Tagovailoa responds to criticism
In the wake of the Dolphins’ loss to the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football, Tagovailoa took the opportunity to respond to Newton’s earlier critiques. With the game slipping away after a crucial interception while driving downfield, Tagovailoa expressed frustration with the ease of criticism from those not in the trenches.
“I want to see anybody on the streets come play QB,” Tagovailoa asserted. “Cam is doing his thing, but I think it’s easier to hold a clicker and talk about what someone else is doing wrong when you’re not out there having to do the same.”
The weight of expectations
The criticisms have merit, as this season has seen Tagovailoa step into a more vocal leadership role. The burden of the Dolphins’ success appears to rest heavily on his shoulders. However, the numbers reflect a challenging start: he has thrown five touchdowns against four interceptions, with those turnovers often occurring at pivotal moments, contributing to a QBR of 35.7.
As the Dolphins look to turn their fortunes around, the pressure on Tagovailoa will only intensify, with each game serving as a critical juncture in his career.
