No matter what happens with Tua Tagovailoa today, let’s go Dolphins!
By Matt Serniak
Today is an important day for the Miami Dolphins and Tua Tagovailoa. Today is the day we find out if Tua has progressed through the concussion protocol to the point where he can start doing football-related activities(as if he hasn’t been throwing passes already) which then leads to being fully cleared to play on Sunday up in Buffalo in the Dolphin’s first playoff game since 2016.
I’m not sure when the news, one way or the other, will be released so I imagine you, me, and everyone invested in Sunday’s game will be refreshing Twitter every 45 seconds.
I wrote after the Dolphin’s win against the Jets that I figured Tua would end up getting cleared and play on Sunday. I have exactly zero sources on this and it wasn’t the Southern Tier 2XMas talking. It was just a feeling then and it’s just a feeling now. I still think we hear today that Tua has progressed through the protocol.
My stance on the whole thing was if Tua got cleared to play and he wanted to play then he should go out and play. But, if the Miami Dolphins didn’t want to risk the chance of Tua hurting himself again that they have the right to not put him out there. That decision would certainly cause a negative uprising, I would think, but I would understand it.
I gotta say, I feel for the Dr. who has the responsibility of deciding on Tua. No matter what that person does, he will be criticized.
Selfishly, I want Tua to play. I want the Miami Dolphins to beat the Buffalo Bills and I think they have the best chance of doing that with Tua as their quarterback. I don’t think I’m breaking any news there. But, I also am not a freak who doesn’t have compassion for these players as people.
We just went through potentially the 2nd biggest country uniting situation in my lifetime in Damar Hamlin getting seriously, life-threateningly injured last week. Everyone, unless you were a dirtbag, wants what’s best for Damar going forward in his life. The same should be true for Tua. I get that the injuries are a bit different with one of them being the type that required CPR, but you should be able to have compassion for Tua to have a normal life when he’s older even though we’re talking about concussions.
If Tua doesn’t get cleared then it will probably be Skylar Thompson again. I don’t have to get into detail yet but if that’s the case I don’t like the Dolphin’s chances. Even with Tua, I have a hard time seeing a solid path for the Dolphins to win but with him, they have a shot.
No matter who the quarterback is on Sunday, I will be rooting for the team I love to do the impossible and shock the world. That doesn’t mean I would bet on Miami to win. I will be invested in every snap during the game and will begin to convince myself around Thursday that if everything works out perfectly for Miami that they can win regardless of who the quarterback is.
There will be plenty of time after the game to chastize the Dolphins. Now, is not the time for that. Now is the time for Mike McDaniel to get the team in the best possible position to succeed. Fins Up.
By the Way- Sorry for not getting a 3 things we learned article out this week. Got a bit more busy than usual.
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