Tagovailoa sorry for Fitzpatrick but excited to be named starter
Brian Flores called Tua Tagovailoa like he does most Tuesdays, but this conversation was unlike any they’ve had before.
The Dolphins’ secondyear coach, with general manager Chris Grier in the room, told Tagovailoa news that changed his life:
His days as a backup are over. It’s officially
Tua Time.
“I was very excited,” Tagovailoa said of being named the Dolphins’ starter in Week 8. “That’s news that I think that
anyone wanted to hear, being named the starter at any position.
“At the same time I also felt for [Ryan Fitzpatrick] as well,” he continued. “Me and Fitz had
a conversation, just about all of this. Like I’ve continued to say, although it kind of hurts me in a way to see Fitz hurt, I’m very, very lucky to have someone like Fitz in my corner, regardless of the situation we’re in right now. It’s like a father and son thing.”
Flores confirmed the news, which to his displeasure leaked out Tuesday, during his Wednesday morning news conference.
“We feel like that’s the best thing for the team,” Flores said. “It’s not an easy decision for me, for us as an organization.”
The decision appears to have been made by Monday night.
“We talked about it as a staff, personnel department, felt like it was the best move for the team right now,” Flores said. “That’s how we’re going to move forward.”
Two weeks ago, Flores didn’t think Tagovailoa was ready. What changed between then and now?
“It’s like any other situation. Sometimes a guy week out, two weeks out, three weeks out, we talk about situations like this on a weekly basis. This is no different than that. Through practice and meetings and walkthroughs, he’s ready.
That’s how we’re going to go moving forward.”
Was Tagovailoa caught off-guard by the news — particularly since the Dolphins had won three of four games in convincing fashion?
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKING
“You never know when your opportunity is given,” he said. “You need to be ready every time. Opportunities come when they come and you have to take them and run with them.
“I told my parents that I got a call from coach Flo and the GM was in the same room and they told me I was going to be the starter. They were excited. They didn’t believe me for a little bit. I think my Dad joked, ‘After two throws?’ ”
Tagovailoa said his mother Diane was particularly emotional, given the roller coaster she’s been through over the past year.
She watched as her son played at the top of his game as a junior at Alabama, only to suffer a catastrophic hip injury that some thought might threaten his career. And she’s watched as he’s rehabbed, was drafted, and now will start in an NFL game.
“It’s definitely been a journey,” Tagovailoa said. “I definitely think of that injury, when I got hurt, and the process leading up to being able to walk, being able to do football drills, do things in general. I definitely do reflect on that process that I went through. I’m definitely blessed to still be here and be able to play the game I grew up dreaming I’d play.”
As for Tagovailoa’s goals for 2020:
“Whatever I can do to help this team become successful. Everyone
knows Fitz has done a tremendous job. I feel like I’m definitely lucky, blessed to be in the situation I’m in with him. [And] having the mind of [offensive coordinator] Chan [Gailey], him helping put me in the offense, in a good situation. That’s
what’s going to be important the next couple of weeks and the entire season.”
Dolphins linebacker
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Jerome Baker, who also spoke Wednesday, said the team is “all excited, ready to go. We believe in Tua. He can get the job done.”
Baker added: “He’s a smart, collected young man. He’s very smart, he’s very calm. He’s definitely going to be a future great player in this league. We’re all excited. We all know what he can do.”