As an alternative of speaking concerning the Dolphins’ offense and his targets for the 2023 season, Tua Tagovailoa fielded questions Wednesday about some criticism fired in his path, particularly about his offseason conditioning and total exercise plan. As you possibly can think about, Tagovailoa did not admire the remarks, and he let everybody know that.
Tagovailoa responded to latest criticism from former NFL security and present ESPN analyst Ryan Clark. On Tuesday, Clark took a not-so-subtle shot at Tagovailoa’s offseason coaching and whether or not or not he took the recommendation of a nutritionist.
“He most likely is aware of extra about me than I learn about myself,” Tagovailoa mentioned, via NFL Media. “I do not know. Ryan’s been out of the league for a while. I do not know. It is a little bit bizarre when different persons are speaking about different individuals they usually’re not that individual. So, I do not know. It is just a bit bizarre.
“My background, I come from a Samoan household. Respect is every thing. However, , it does get to a degree the place, hey, a little bit bit simple on that, buddy. I feel we’re fairly tough-minded individuals, and if we have to get scrappy, we are able to get scrappy, too. Simply saying.”
Amongst Tagovailoa’s plans this previous offseason was to construct up muscle to higher defend himself, particularly when he will get thrown to the bottom. It seems that Tagovailoa has carried out that, albeit considerably reluctantly as he mentioned on Wednesday that he would favor to be lighter.
“I feel all of us labored exhausting all through the offseason,” he said. “I am not somebody to speak about myself the complete time, however it takes loads. You suppose I needed to construct all this muscle? To some extent. I needed to be a little bit lighter. There is a combination of issues that folks do not perceive that folks do not learn about which can be talked about that go behind the scenes.
“I might admire for those who stored my identify out of your mouth. That is what I’d say.”
The very best revenge resides properly, nevertheless, and that is what Tagovailoa has carried out all through coaching camp. By all accounts, the previous fifth total decide has loved a strong summer season of coaching that included his efficiency in Miami’s latest preseason game in Houston, when Tagovailoa led a 14-play, 93-yard drive that was capped off by a Raheem Mostert landing run. Tagovailoa went 5 of 6 on the drive that included three third-down conversions.
Throughout Tuesday’s follow, Tagovailoa confirmed off his deep ball accuracy when he hit Tyreek Hill for 2 large performs. These performs have been reminders of what Tagoviloa’s success on deep passes final season; his eight landing passes of 40-plus yards was greater than anybody else within the NFL.
The previous Heisman Trophy winner is hoping to construct off of a 2022 season that noticed him lead the NFL in landing/interception ratio. Tagovailoa additionally went 8-5 as a starter whereas enjoying an integral position within the Dolphins making the playoffs for the primary time in 5 years.
The 2022 season additionally noticed Tagovailoa undergo a number of head accidents that included a scary second throughout Miami’s Week 4 loss to the Bengals. Tagovailoa was inactive for Miami’s last three video games that included the Dolphins’ 34-31 postseason loss to Buffalo within the wild-card spherical.
Tagovailoa seems to be wholesome now as he enters his fourth NFL season. He additionally seems to be extra motivated than ever to have success whereas silencing his critics on the skin.
