Former NFL MVP Cam Newton offered a pointed response to Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s comments after Sunday’s loss. Never one to back away from making controversial comments, the former Carolina Panthers quarterback doesn’t mince words, offering his unfiltered view of the Dolphins’ signal-caller.
Former MVP Cam Newton Chides Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa’s Postgame Comments
After the Dolphins lost yesterday’s game with less than a minute to go, Tagovailoa took to the podium and called out his teammates.
“We have guys showing up to player-only meetings late, guys not showing up to player-only meetings. There is a lot that goes into that.”
Among the loudest critics of his comments was Newton. The former Pro Bowler-turned-commentator took to his regular spot on ESPN’s “First Take,” rebutting Tagovailoa.
“When I look at Tua Tagovailoa’s performance, even though he put his team in situations to win this game, he still had three interceptions.” 👀
Cam Newton on Tua and the Miami Dolphins. pic.twitter.com/i3ESHf206Y
— First Take (@FirstTake) October 13, 2025
“I don’t like it. I don’t like talkative Tua. If you’re checking people’s attendance during a players-only meeting, what does that say about the highest-paid player in that roster? What does it say about the captain of that team? When I look at Tua Tagovailoa’s performance, even though he put his team in situations to win this game, he still had three interceptions.”
Newton takes the tact that Tagovailoa needed to omit the information about attendance in the postgame. What happens during a players-only meeting is not discussed in depth, especially attendance. However, Tagovailoa, apparently at the edge of frustration, decided to divulge that to the media.
The Dolphins sit at 1-5, in third place in the AFC East, a game ahead of the winless New York Jets. In Tagovailoa’s defense, he led the offense to 14 points in the fourth quarter, including a seven-yard touchdown pass to tight end Darren Waller with 46 seconds left, making the score 27-26. On the ensuing drive, Los Angeles took 41 seconds and six plays to drive the ball 44 yards, leading to a 33-yard Cameron Dicker game-winning field goal.
Using its NFL QB Impact metric, PFSN ranks Tagovailoa as its 13th most impactful quarterback, which measures “passing and rushing efficiency and volume.” This means that the quarterback, for the most part, played well. However, his 11.7 touchdown-to-interception ratio should raise red flags.
While offense isn’t the primary issue, the defense continues to struggle. Miami surrendered 400 or more yards to opponents in four of its six games. Now, with the season spiraling out of control and the starting quarterback starting to point fingers, what will happen?
Miami heads on the road for two games. First, they make the trip to Ohio to face the Cleveland Browns. They wind up the two-game sojourn in Atlanta to meet the Falcons. How will Tagovailoa’s team react to him and his comments in the long run?