- Philadelphia Eagles. DeVonta Smith and his cold reaction after the Super Bowl: Is the Vince Lombardi Trophy no longer exciting?
- Kansas City Chiefs. Chiefs will be at major disadvantage this offseason that could shape their NFL future
The Miami Dolphins won six of their last nine games of 2024, finishing the season with an 8-9 record after an awful 2-6 start.
Part of the reason of the dissapointing season for the Dolphins was the fact that star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa missed six of the 17 games due to a head injury after suffering a concussion against the Buffalo Bills in week 2.
"I feel like this has a lot to do with myself obviously putting myself in harm's way in the second game, going down -- basically leaving my guys out to dry, that's what I would say," Tagovailoa lamented ahead of Miami's Week 14 game against the New York Jets.
Tua enjoys the offseason sharing time with rival quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa is enjoying his time during the offseason hanging out with Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, who took his team to the NFC wild-card game only to fall to the Washington Commanders and their rookie sensation QB Jayden Daniels.
A video posted online shows Tua and Baker singing to "Party in the U.S.A." by Miley Cyrus as they dance along with their families while riding a boat. "I need this day on repeat forever." posted Brooke Miranda on her Instagram story. She's the wife of Miami Dolphins linebacker Quinton Bell, who was also in the party.
Despite playing for different teams, Tagovailoa and Mayfield have built a strong friendship that goes way beyond competition in the NFL. It could be the fact that both have had to deal with the pressure of being in the spotlight as leaders of two franchises.
Dolphins move hints at Tua's uncertain role with them
The Miami Dolphins find themselves at a pivotal juncture with Tua Tagovailoa, whose long-term role in the franchise appears to be in question. Despite handing the 26-year-old quarterback a four-year, $212.4 million extension in July 2024, the largest in team history, the team declined to restructure his deal this offseason, a move that could have saved them $19 million in cap space.
For a team navigating financial challenges and seeking to bolster its roster, this decision is curious. Restructuring would have provided immediate financial relief but increased Tua's cap hit in the latter years of his contract. By keeping the deal intact, Miami has preserved the flexibility to part ways with Tagovailoa after the 2026 season, incurring just an $8 million dead cap penalty.
This financial strategy seems to reflect caution on the Dolphins' part regarding Tagovailoa's long-term viability as their franchise quarterback. Although Tua demonstrated his potential by completing his only full season in 2023, his history of injuries, particularly concussions, remains a significant concern.