I apologize for the title of the article this week.
There might be no “good” from Thursday night time’s recreation. There won’t even be a “unhealthy” — though most of it was.
Thursday’s defeat by the hands of the Buffalo Payments was nothing in need of “ugly” in each sense of the phrase. Almost each single second of the competition felt cursed within the cruelest manner conceivable. Sure, the lopsided rating that was a results of the Miami Dolphins being totally dominated by their hated division rival on nationwide tv in entrance of your entire world as soon as once more actually contributes to these emotions.
Nonetheless, the true purpose for the sheer despondency emanating from the Dolphins fanbase at the moment will be instantly attributed to watching beginning quarterback Tua Tagovailoa frozen in a posturing pose on the grass of Laborious Rock Stadium, clearly displaying a terrifying fencing response after reducing his helmet in direction of the tip of a first-down scramble and putting a Payments defender (who didn’t even actually hit him again) squarely within the chest — actions that resulted in yet one more terrifying concussion for the 26-year-old sign caller.
Tagovailoa has a well-documented historical past with concussions throughout his time within the Nationwide Soccer League. It was simply two seasons in the past when the younger participant was pressured to overlook a number of video games after struggling two confirmed concussions, whereas additionally possible struggling a 3rd that was by no means correctly disclosed.
This offseason, it was revealed that Tagovailoa strongly thought of retirement after the 2022 season — with some in his household pleading with him to decide on that choice.
As an alternative, Tagovailoa selected to proceed enjoying soccer — additionally selecting to discover ways to fall correctly whereas learning jiu-jitsu. He labored so as to add measurement to his body. These choices paid off in 2023, with the quarterback having his finest 12 months but as an expert en path to an NFL passing yards crown and an enormous contract extension simply a few months in the past.
But, Tagovailoa was nonetheless not totally joyful together with his efficiency, and aimed to as soon as once more slim down in an effort to regain a few of his faculty mobility.
On Thursday, we witnessed the implications to that call.
As Tagovailoa laid on the grass being attended to by a number of members of Miami’s medical workers together with his coaches surrounding his susceptible physique and his teammates kneeling in prayer only a brief distance away, Dolphins followers all over the world, with tears of their eyes, knew that there can be no comeback on this ill-fated night time.
Now, these tear-filled eyes flip in direction of the hurting younger man. Will he ever play soccer once more? Might you even blame him if he selected to not?
These questions might be answered in due time, however for now, all of us ship our love, our hope, our prayers and positivity to somebody who even Payments’ quarterback Josh Allen known as a “nice soccer participant, however an excellent higher human being.”
Relaxation up, Tua. No matter your future holds, Dolphins followers will all the time be rooting for you.
