Tua claps back at criticism from Cam, pundits

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- As Miami Dolphins backmost Tua Tagovailoa enactment it Thursday, talking astir playing backmost is simply a batch easier than really playing the position.

When asked astir whether he's being criticized much for his declaration than his play, Tagovailoa suggested his occupation is much hard than pundits marque it seem.

Tagovailoa was specifically asked astir Cam Newton's comments connected ESPN's "First Take" past week, pursuing the Dolphins' 31-21 nonaccomplishment to the Buffalo Bills, successful which the erstwhile NFL MVP criticized Tagovailoa's show considering the four-year, $212.1 cardinal hold helium signed past summer.

"Tagovailoa is making much than Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, Baker Mayfield, Matthew Stafford, Jayden Daniels," Newton said. "Am I pouch watching? No, I'm putting things into position present ... In this case, it should beryllium much money, much expectations. When I spot Tua Tagovailoa implicit this year, alone, I've heard him much than I ever had. That's not to accidental you can't talk, I similar quiescent Tua. Alabama Tua. Chip connected your enarthrosis Tua. Not, 'is idiosyncratic going to travel successful and ticker film.'

"What you're being paid, what you're asked to do, what you person the capableness of -- from 1 backmost to the another, I look astatine the concern similar travel connected dawg. Especially erstwhile you've got a Ferrari and a Lamborghini and different amenities that different quarterbacks privation they had."

Tagovailoa admitted helium hasn't played "anywhere near" the modular he's susceptible of, but dismissed Newton's comments successful effect to shot pundits arsenic a whole.

"Well, anybody tin play backmost successful this league then. I privation to spot anybody connected the streets travel and play quarterback," Tagovailoa said. "Cam is doing his happening for sure, but I deliberation it's easier to beryllium capable to clasp a clicker and speech astir it that mode oregon speech astir what idiosyncratic other is doing incorrect erstwhile you're not going retired and having to bash the aforesaid arsenic them.

"I deliberation it's casual to bash that, I deliberation anybody tin bash that. I don't deliberation anybody tin play quarterback."

Tagovailoa's 5 touchdown passes are tied for seventh-most successful the NFL done 3 games, but his 4 interceptions are tied for 2nd-most.

He besides ranks 29th successful backmost standing with a 35.8, and his 6.4 aerial yards per effort ranks 25th. He's turned the shot implicit successful each 3 of Miami's games this play arsenic the squad started 0-3 for the archetypal clip since 2019.

Dolphins manager Mike McDaniel said Tagovailoa tin ever amended but praised his quarterback's mentality during the team's losing streak.

"The crippled of a franchise backmost is ne'er conscionable inactive ... there's opportunities that helium needs to instrumentality vantage of," helium said. "There's besides a ton of opportunities to crook the shot implicit that helium hasn't taken. He's truly answered the doorbell for 99% of the clip ... It's not an casual task to beryllium successful his shoes, but I'm precise blessed with wherever his caput is astatine and wherever his absorption is astatine due to the fact that if helium was a weaker-minded individual, it's pugnacious for immoderate backmost during an...