MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Tua Tagovailoa hold-in is on.
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel acknowledged at the top of his training camp kickoff news conference that Tagovailoa is expected to sit out parts of practice for the time being in protest of his contract situation.
“It’s very fluid,” McDaniel said. “We’re taking it day-by-day. Today, I’m expecting it to be kind of like OTAs, and we’ll take it from there.”
Tagovailoa in the spring went through individual and 7-on-7 drills but sat out 11-on-11s.
Tua Tagovailoa Contract Update
While Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and Philadelphia Eagles pass rusher Haason Reddick elected to hold out in protest of their contract situations, Tagovailoa decided to report Tuesday.
But that shouldn’t be a sign that his determination to get a new contract that makes him one of the highest-paid players in NFL history has waned. And he has the support of his teammates in that quest.
“I think Tua is very well deserving of the opportunity to get a contract extension,” Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert said. “He’s worked his tail off, especially since I’ve started playing with him. I’ve seen nothing but growth, and the leadership he portrays not only for the team, but the organization is definitely top notch.
“One of the best, if not the best leader in the locker room and for the organization. With that being said, I truly believe he deserves everything he has coming his way plus more.”
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Mostert later said that Tua holding in “could be the right move, and guys in the locker room definitely understand that.”
Tagovailoa has long believed he deserves a market-based contract, and couldn’t hide his frustration that he hadn’t yet gotten one when he spoke to reporters last month. That frustration has presumably grown in the time since.
Tagovailoa’s attendance at the team’s voluntary offseason program was intermittent, and when he did show up, he sat out team drills as a negotiating ploy. That was the case in the team’s mandatory minicamp, which he attended.
Tagovailoa and Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love — who is conducting a hold-in — are both looking for long-term deals that will average north of $50 million annually.
It’s possible one or both become the highest-paid players in NFL history, signing deals that exceed the $55 million AAV deals signed by Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence.
Are the Miami Dolphins hedging on Tua Tagovailoa? Mike McDaniel responds pic.twitter.com/CqRttGFMrr
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) July 24, 2024