It was a familiar scene on Thursday Night Football. Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had to be helped off the field, suffering his third concussion in as many years. It brought back memories of two years ago, when Tua was face up on the Paycom Stadium in a feeble position. His hands frozen as he was in a daze. The week before against Buffalo, he was hit hard to the point where he was stumbling as he went to the huddle. Oddly, it was Buffalo who contributed to his third concussion.
It gets to the point when enough is enough. Tua is 26 and honestly, football should not be his priority. He has a wife and two kids to care of. The Miami Dolphins signed him to a four-year, $212.4 million contract in the off-season, so he and his family are financially set. This shouldn't be a debate. Coming out of Alabama, Tua had issues with his hip, and many believe that this would be a crutch for him in the NFL.
There are two issues that everyone will point out that has doomed him.
-The NFL has been leaning on more mobile quarterbacks for their franchises. It is a trait which makes the signal-caller not vulnerable to getting sacked. Tua is not mobile and has to rely on his offensive line to protect him. Also, the hip issue limits his mobility to run.
-The Dolphins haven't really spent the dough to get the protection for a quarterback who has had multiple concussions. They did pay Austin Jackson a significant amount as he is Tua's blind side. He has been good, it's the rest of the line that bothers me.
The hit that knocked Tua loopy on Thursday was a clean hit. It sucks because it's the nature of the game. Unfortunately, it has happened to him three times to where the violence is going to make him sick in his head or worse, could actually kill him. Is it worth it?
I forgot to mention, the man who made the hit was Damar Hamlin. You know his story. (Side note: Yous need to lay off of Al Michaels.) He also was on the turf of Paycom Stadium two years ago due to a cardiac arrest. It sucks that he had to be the one to deserve the hit.
This is way above football. This is life and death for a 26-year-old man with his being on the line and plenty of his life ahead. I pray he does the right thing.
(For more content, check out our Facebook page, our website www.realsportsmarksaz.com and the Wix mobile app)
Comments