Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Tua remains upbeat
QB says he doesn’t ‘not feel wanted,’ as trade rumors swirl
MIAMI GARDENS — As the Miami Dolphins remain entrenched in trade rumblings for Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, the team’s current quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, answered 10 minutes worth of questions in his usual Wednesday press conference, mostly on the possibility of a trade before the Nov. 2 deadline.
Tagovialoa offered an interesting response when asked if he still feels wanted in Miami with the constant reports linking the Dolphins to Watson.
“I don’t not feel wanted. That’s what I can say,” he said, laughing off the question as he remained upbeat throughout the media session.
Dolphins coach Brian Flores affirmed Wednesday, “Tua’s our quarterback,” as he has continuously said, but he has done little to distance the team from the reported dealings. Dolphins general manager Chris Grier has not been made available to speak with reporters.
As Tagovailoa prepares to face the Buffalo Bills (4-2) in Orchard Park on Sunday, he says the trade possibilities aren’t even something on his mind.
“I really don’t think about it,” Tagovailoa said. “The only time I’m really hearing about it … if [Dolphins media relations] is kind of telling me what’s going on within the rumors or if my agent calls me, that’s really when I hear it. Other than that, I don’t really hear it.”
On Tuesday night, the Houston Chronicle reported that compensation has been agreed to between the Dolphins and Texans in the event that two major ifs occur in the Dolphins receiving legal clarity on Watson’s troubles with his legal cases involving sexual assault and what commissioner Roger Goodell
could potentially hand down as punishment depending on what is found.
On Wednesday morning, NFL Network reported that the Carolina Panthers, one of the other teams that has been mentioned along with the Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos, will no longer pursue Watson.
USA Today, on Wednesday, also countered the Houston Chronicle’s reporting, stating, “Miami’s offer still does not meet the threshold to get a deal done.”
In an ideal world for Tagovailoa, the Dolphins would come out and say they’re backing out of trade talks for Watson, but that’s simply not what Tagovailoa’s dealing with as the reports continue to come.
“For me, I don’t have control over any of that,” Tagovailoa said. “I’m just focused on the guys in the building, with my teammates. We don’t really have time as professionals, I would say, to be thinking of a lot of outside noise while we’re preparing day in and day out for opponents like we have right now, the Bills.”
Just how far is Tagovailoa’s mind from the trade reports with Tuesday’s trade deadline looming?
“Honestly, I’m not even worried about that,” he said. “I don’t even know when the trade deadline is.”
Tagovailoa remains focused on the Bills, who happen to be the team that injured him on Sept. 19 when defensive end A.J. Epenesa slammed Tagovailoa to the ground in the first quarter of what turned out to be a 35-0 loss mostly behind backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett.
The fractured ribs caused Tagovailoa to miss the ensuing three weeks.
He has since returned to throw six touchdowns and three interceptions in games against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons, both losses on last-second field goals as part of a six-game losing streak overall.
Will there be a mental hurdle for Tagovailoa facing Buffalo again so soon after his injury?
“I don’t think so,” Flores said earlier Wednesday. “He’s excited to get out to practice today, to get out with his teammates and to compete on Sunday.”
Tagovailoa reflected that sentiment and indicated there is no payback on his mind.
“I just want to win,” he said. “That’s really all that is. No matter how we get it done, I just want to win.”
Last time out, Tagovailoa threw two costly interceptions, but he responded well from them. Following the second one, he drove for two of his career-high four touchdowns, giving Miami a 28-27 lead before the defense surrendered the winning field goal as time expired.
Tagovailoa, though, would still like to correct those errors and not always have to bounce back from them, like he also did against Jacksonville with the touchdown drive that followed his interception.
“I’d just rather learn in film and not make the mistakes on the field, but unfortunately, that’s how it is, he said. “My entire career has always been trying to play aggressive, from high school and then also in college. But I would say I’ve learned a lot being in the NFL with playing aggressive whereas you’re doing too much and then kind of playing aggressive and being smart with that.”