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Tua Tagovailoa did not deserve to make the Pro Bowl despite winning the fan vote

By Jonathan Smith

Dec 11, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) throws the ball under pressure from Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Kyle Van Noy (8) in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) throws the ball under pressure from Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Kyle Van Noy (8) in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tua Tagovailoa did not deserve to make the Pro Bowl. If we only looked at weeks one through 12, then you would have an argument.

The truth is that Tua is not as good, nor has he had as good a year as Patrick Mahomes, likely MVP winner, Josh Allen, or Joe Burrow. Those three quarterbacks are the quarterbacks of the top three seeds in the AFC.

They have all won more and they have put up better numbers that Tua this year.

Mahomes, Allen, and Burrow are three of the five leaders in passing yards this year. Tua is 12th.

Mahomes, Allen, and Burow are the top three leaders in passing touchdowns this year. Tua is tied for fifth.

The only leg up Tua has in terms of stats is that he has thrown less interceptions and his passer rating his higher than all three of them.

As great as that is that does not make you a pro-bowler, even if you lead in fan voting.

We have seen the Limitations Tua has these last couple weeks. He is a product of the offensive system that Mike McDaniel has put in place.

Mahomes, Allen, and Burrow are a product of their individual talent. I am not saying that Tua is not talented. He is a good quarterback. The problem is the other three guys are great.

The fact that Tua led in fan voting and did not make the Pro Bowl is very telling of how the NFL’s players and general managers see Tua.

I am not a genius, but I would bet that NFL players and general managers know more about talent and production than fans do.

Let us take a second to be honest about who Tua is and who he is not.

Tua Tagovailoa is a reliable quarterback when he is put into the right system. Tua Tagovailoa is more than capable of making all the plays you need to make in order to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. Tua Tagovailoa is having a good year. It is the best year of his short career.

However…

Tua Tagovailoa is not a quarterback who can extend plays. Tua Tagovailoa is not a quarterback who throws a great deep ball. Tua Tagovailoa is not great when plays breakdown. Tua Tagovailoa is not one of the best three quarterbacks in the AFC.

To be even more honest, he probably never will be. Dolphins fans love him because he is the best quarterback they have had since Dan Marino.

Tua has restored hope to this franchise and to this fan base.

Despite all of that, he still does not deserve to be a pro-bowler. Hopefully I am wrong and Tua comes out and shreds defenses to end the year, but I do not think I am.

If you think I am wrong I challenge you to name which of the three quarterbacks between Mahomes, Allen, and Burrow you would replace with Tua and why.

I think you will struggle to answer that.

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