‘There’s something about him’: Tua Tagovailoa already making an impression on his Dolphins teammates
It’s only been a matter of days since they actually met in person for the first time this week after being restricted to virtual meetings since the end of April.
But it seems like Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tua Tagovailoa have already hit it off.
So much so, they have already had the conversation that may seem the most uncomfortable to have for other football players in their scenario heading into the Miami Dolphins’ 2020 football season.
“I don’t know how much time it will be before Tua is in the lineup. I know that I’m the placeholder. And we’ve already had that conversation,” Fitzpatrick said on Saturday about eventually surrendering his role as the team’s starting quarterback for Tagovailoa.
“Whenever it is that Tua gets his chance — whether it’s early or late or whenever it is — I’m going to be his biggest cheerleader. That’s what I said earlier.
“But I think I have a unique perspective just from the career that I’ve had. I was excited they drafted him. Since meeting him in person the other day, I’m really excited. We’ve hit it off. I am an old geezer but we’ve meshed personality wise, and I’m excited to work with him.”
The Dolphins may have the most harmonious quarterback competition in all of football.
Fitzpatrick, 37 years old and entering his 16th NFL season, understands while he will get the first chance to hold the Dolphins’ starting job again, he is the bridge quarterback as Tagovailoa begins his first training camp preparing to take the reins.
Tagovailoa, the team’s top pick in April’s NFL draft, still needs to improve his overall conditioning and get into South Florida football shape, while Dolphins coach Brian Flores and team doctors are eager to see how his hip responds to such work at this stage of his recovery.
All of this while third-year quarterback Josh Rosen, the former No. 10 pick who the Dolphins traded for a year ago, also sits in the same quarterback room, too, vying for his chance to make a statement to the team’s coaches as well.
Still, Fitzpatrick maturely approaches his role with veteran moxie, comfort in one’s abilities, and the desire to also pass along the knowledge he has gained through the seasons to both Tagovailoa and Rosen.
“It’s not all that difficult for me. I’m going to go out there and compete every single day as I know the younger guys are,” Fitzpatrick said of his unique role.
“In the meeting rooms, I’m not going to keep anything to myself either. I’m going to make someone tell me to shut up because I’m going to talk as much as I can and share as much as I can with the intimate knowledge I have of this offense, being in it for five years [with offensive coordinator Chan Gailey], and really just the experience since I’ve been in the league.”
As for Fitzpatrick and Tagovailoa’s relationship, they seem to have already connected on a personal level, which could further the fruits of their working relationship as Dolphins training camp and their first season together gets underway.
Tagovailoa’s reputation from Alabama precedes him, yet not in an alarming or confrontational manner some players may bring into a locker room upon joining a team as a high draft pick.
Both have easy-going personalities, which could see Dolphins players take to Tagovailoa just like they gravitated toward Fitzpatrick during Miami’s 5-11 season last year.
“He’s a really interesting guy. He’s got a lot of energy to him. And you can tell guys are going to gravitate to him,” Fitzpatrick said glowingly about Tagovailoa.
“There’s something about him that is just very likeable. I can already tell he’s going to get along with everybody, that guys are going to want to follow. He just has that kind of air about it. And part of it is the way that he played in college, and just the name and reputation he’s built for himself.
“But there’s not a lot of ego involved. He’s very likeable so I don’t know. The general conversations, whether about football or life, they’ve been really fun so far.”
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