NFL 2024-25 Season

[Amonkey]

First off, that's awful for Tua. 4th concussion in less than two full years now. He might have to really think about his long term future.

Second, assuming he misses some time now which is expected, the Dolphins might be in some trouble. Tua was bad today but he still gives them a better chance to win games going forward than Skylar Thompson.

I'm not joking but the Dolphins should consider trading for Mac Jones. I think Mac Jones in that offense and with McDaniels' creativity can get stuff done. Skylar ain't it.

I didn't see how Tua suffered the concussion, since I had shut the game off because of how one sided tge game was. I still can't understand why the Dolphins signed Tua to a 4 year extension fir $212M with $167M guaranteed. With his concussion history, the guy could be done with football  at any moment.

If Tua retires, does he get the guaranteed money? With two kids, this guy needs to seriously think about his priorities and move on from the game.

Meanwhile Dolphins still has the offensive tools to make noise. Mac Jones might actually be a perfect QB for them.

I suppose if I were him I'd be obsessively seeking medical opinions.  I generally 'know' that the more concussions one has the more vulnerable they are to more concussions.  But I'd want to see the data and assess where I fit into that model - just how vulnerable am I after 4 (knows) concussions in 5 years, what is the likelihood it will happen again, and then, what does the data say about long-term outcomes after this many concussions.   I'd also be invested in determining whether there are protective factors - equipment or altering playing style that could decrease the likelihood of another concussion.  I just hope that the obsession that many players have about playing doesn't get in the way of using good judgment.

As I write this, I also wonder the extent to which the Dolphins will, or should, have a say in Tua's return.  At some point he'll be physically capable, but if all of the data seem to indicate that Tua playing puts him at significant risk for severe lifelong mental and physical conditions, is it ethical for the Dolphins to stand behind Tua's decision to play?

If it's a medical reason to retire, maybe it can be more of a reason to be compensated with the guaranteed money compared to straight up retiring. I don't know. The NFL pretends to care about safety unless it effects their bottomline.

[Donoghus]

This is what I was able to find.

Spotrac
@spotrac
While a full recovery is the only real focus here, in response to questions regarding Tua Tagovailoa's contract:

The deal includes $167M guaranteed for injury, $43M of which has been paid in 2024.

If he's medically cleared to return to football, but opts to retire, he will forego the remaining $124M guaranteed (barring a custom settlement).

If he's medically forced into retirement, he has a right to collect the $124M remaining.

Spotrac
@spotrac
The other side of this equation gets a little tougher. If Tua is able to pass a physical next March, the Dolphins will have the ability to release him, with "only" his $50M of 2025 compensation on the hook.

Tua's 2026 compensation ($54M) becomes fully guaranteed on March 14th.

A Post 6/1 release prior to this means $83.6M of dead cap across 2025/2026.

[Roy H.]

This is what I was able to find.

Spotrac
@spotrac
While a full recovery is the only real focus here, in response to questions regarding Tua Tagovailoa's contract:

The deal includes $167M guaranteed for injury, $43M of which has been paid in 2024.

If he's medically cleared to return to football, but opts to retire, he will forego the remaining $124M guaranteed (barring a custom settlement).

If he's medically forced into retirement, he has a right to collect the $124M remaining.

Spotrac
@spotrac
The other side of this equation gets a little tougher. If Tua is able to pass a physical next March, the Dolphins will have the ability to release him, with "only" his $50M of 2025 compensation on the hook.

Tua's 2026 compensation ($54M) becomes fully guaranteed on March 14th.

A Post 6/1 release prior to this means $83.6M of dead cap across 2025/2026.

That's interesting. I'm curious how disputes are handled, where the players doctors are saying he needs to retire and the teams doctors are saying he's healthy enough to play.  How the hell do you definitively rule on future brain health?  I'm sure that the league doesn't want to be too flexible, or otherwise guys could just collect all of their guaranteed money after one concussion.

It's why I recommended that he negotiate an injury settlement.  If he offers to accept $95 million, would the dolphins fight him on that?

All that being said, I think that he will continue to play. He is a competitive athlete in his prime, and I'm sure that despite his history he still feels invincible.

[green_bballers13]

I think its Tua's call. If he wants to retire, he should. If he wants to keep playing, he should.

At the end of the day, we all have free will. We're not here forever. If Tua is ok doing things that will shorten his life, that is his prerogative. We can't stop him from smoking cigarettes either.

[Goldstar88]

First off, that's awful for Tua. 4th concussion in less than two full years now. He might have to really think about his long term future.

Second, assuming he misses some time now which is expected, the Dolphins might be in some trouble. Tua was bad today but he still gives them a better chance to win games going forward than Skylar Thompson.

I'm not joking but the Dolphins should consider trading for Mac Jones. I think Mac Jones in that offense and with McDaniels' creativity can get stuff done. Skylar ain't it.

I didn't see how Tua suffered the concussion, since I had shut the game off because of how one sided tge game was. I still can't understand why the Dolphins signed Tua to a 4 year extension fir $212M with $167M guaranteed. With his concussion history, the guy could be done with football  at any moment.

Thing is, any player could be done with Football at any moment due to a bad injury. It?s a dangerous sport.

[SparzWizard]

And the one Tua collided with was Hamlin. Oooof.

[kraidstar]

It would be best for both Tua and the Dolphins for him to retire.

He's not a SB-caliber QB, and he's just going to keep getting hurt.

Mike McDaniel looked completely defeated yesterday,  and that was BEFORE the concussion. That team is cooked and needs to find another path to contention.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

I feel bad for Tua, but he really needs to consider retirement. And I think the correct football move for the Dolphins is to release him ASAP, because they could very well end up with little ROI.

[Donoghus]

I feel bad for Tua, but he really needs to consider retirement. And I think the correct football move for the Dolphins is to release him ASAP, because they could very well end up with little ROI.

They're not gonna outright release him right now. The cap hit would be crippling with the dead money.

[Roy H.]

It would be best for both Tua and the Dolphins for him to retire.

He's not a SB-caliber QB, and he's just going to keep getting hurt.

Mike McDaniel looked completely defeated yesterday,  and that was BEFORE the concussion. That team is cooked and needs to find another path to contention.

How many SB-caliber QBs are there, would you say?

If Brock Purdy and Jalen Hurts can lead a team there, I think a healthy Tua could, as well. 

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

I feel bad for Tua, but he really needs to consider retirement. And I think the correct football move for the Dolphins is to release him ASAP, because they could very well end up with little ROI.

They're not gonna outright release him right now. The cap hit would be crippling with the dead money.

I admit that I don't know much about NFL cap rules, which seem confusing as heck, but wouldn't it be financially bad for Miami no matter what? Either they release him and have lots of dead money, or they don't release him and instead pay him tons to not play/play at a diminished capacity due to all the concussions?

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

It would be best for both Tua and the Dolphins for him to retire.

He's not a SB-caliber QB, and he's just going to keep getting hurt.

Mike McDaniel looked completely defeated yesterday,  and that was BEFORE the concussion. That team is cooked and needs to find another path to contention.

How many SB-caliber QBs are there, would you say?

If Brock Purdy and Jalen Hurts can lead a team there, I think a healthy Tua could, as well.

I'm not sure either of those guys is a SB-caliber QB. They might be, but they have so much talent around them that I think it makes their jobs a lot easier, and makes it harder for me to tell how good they really are. Joe Flacco and Brad Johnson won Super Bowls, but I don't see them as "SB-caliber QBs." I think they were just fortunate to have lots of talent around them, including really good defenses.

That said, I agree with you that a healthy Tua?surrounded by guys like Hill, Waddle, Mostert, etc., and a good defense?is good enough to help a team to a SB.

[Roy H.]

It would be best for both Tua and the Dolphins for him to retire.

He's not a SB-caliber QB, and he's just going to keep getting hurt.

Mike McDaniel looked completely defeated yesterday,  and that was BEFORE the concussion. That team is cooked and needs to find another path to contention.

How many SB-caliber QBs are there, would you say?

If Brock Purdy and Jalen Hurts can lead a team there, I think a healthy Tua could, as well.

I'm not sure either of those guys is a SB-caliber QB. They might be, but they have so much talent around them that I think it makes their jobs a lot easier, and makes it harder for me to tell how good they really are. Joe Flacco and Brad Johnson won Super Bowls, but I don't see them as "SB-caliber QBs." I think they were just fortunate to have lots of talent around them, including really good defenses.

That said, I agree with you that a healthy Tua?surrounded by guys like Hill, Waddle, Mostert, etc., and a good defense?is good enough to help a team to a SB.

I guess that's my point.  Tua is capable of making the SB with a good team.  How many QBs are there who can win without great talent.  Mahomes.  Maybe Josh Allen, but that's debatable.    Anyone else?  Lamar?

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

It would be best for both Tua and the Dolphins for him to retire.

He's not a SB-caliber QB, and he's just going to keep getting hurt.

Mike McDaniel looked completely defeated yesterday,  and that was BEFORE the concussion. That team is cooked and needs to find another path to contention.

How many SB-caliber QBs are there, would you say?

If Brock Purdy and Jalen Hurts can lead a team there, I think a healthy Tua could, as well.

I'm not sure either of those guys is a SB-caliber QB. They might be, but they have so much talent around them that I think it makes their jobs a lot easier, and makes it harder for me to tell how good they really are. Joe Flacco and Brad Johnson won Super Bowls, but I don't see them as "SB-caliber QBs." I think they were just fortunate to have lots of talent around them, including really good defenses.

That said, I agree with you that a healthy Tua?surrounded by guys like Hill, Waddle, Mostert, etc., and a good defense?is good enough to help a team to a SB.

I guess that's my point.  Tua is capable of making the SB with a good team.  How many QBs are there who can win without great talent.  Mahomes.  Maybe Josh Allen, but that's debatable.    Anyone else?  Lamar?

Mahomes, for sure, and I think he might be alone in that category.

[Vermont Green]

I did not see the play for this Tua concussion, but I recall the last one didn't seem like that much of a hit either.  If he is getting concussed just with these relatively minor hits, what is going to happen if he takes a real hard shot to the head, inadvertently or otherwise?

I think he is a good, above average, NFL QB, but not great or top tier.  You can get to the super bowl with that level of QB.  Of course you need the rest of the team and the coach to be very good, you can't have any holes or weakness, no matter how good the QB is.  A CBS Sports QB Power Ranking had Tua at #10, right in there with Prescott, Stafford, Burrow, Herbert, and a few other good QBs.  That might be a little high, but not too far off.