Dan Marino might be the most important star in Miami Dolphins historical past. He reached rock-star stage within the Eighties and Nineteen Nineties as quarterback for Miami regardless of by no means profitable the large one. So, when Marino talks, followers often pay attention, particularly these positioned close to South Seashore. Marino joined Adam Schein on Sirius XM’s Mad Canine Radio Wednesday and sounded assured that Tua Tagovailoa could lead on Miami to a Tremendous Bowl. Nearly as good as that in all probability sounds to the fan base, the entrance workplace should have their worries.
“He simply must proceed to develop and I feel he has finished that.” -Dan Marino
Anytime a previous legend speaks positively of a group’s present key piece, particularly the QB place, it’s a time to rejoice. Based mostly on his feedback it appears like if Marino was in cost, Tagovailoa would have already got a long-term extension in place. As pleased as Miami may declare to be with Tua, displaying him the cash with an extension is proof. That doesn’t imply they shouldn’t be cautious, it simply means they need to spare us all of the nonsense.
“I consider that may occur,” Tagovailoa mentioned whereas attending the Professional Bowl video games in Orlando.
The previous two years have been the most effective statistically in most classes for Tagovailoa. That alone would warrant an extension, however as of now, the first-time Professional Bowl choice is scheduled to play the ultimate 12 months of his rookie deal with out an extension in sight. That doesn’t imply it gained’t occur, because the NFL offseason hasn’t formally begun.
It looks like Dolphins administration is ready to see extra. As if profession highs in landing passes, yards, and completion proportion aren’t adequate. Perhaps it isn’t for them. One reliable query getting into the 2023 marketing campaign was damage issues. The primary one, in fact, is concussions. After having his 2022 season shortened attributable to a number of concussions, everybody wished to see Tua keep wholesome this 12 months.
Tua didn’t solely keep on the sphere, he began all 17 video games, handed for 4,624 yards (league chief) and 29 TDs. Some would argue that with out Tyreek Hill none of this is able to be potential, and that could be true to some extent. However the reality stays, Tagovailoa completed this and to danger him going into free company after 12 months 5 could be loopy.
Doubtlessly dropping Tagovailoa (for nothing in return) and never having a backup plan could be an enormous mistake. Typically we see a generational expertise like Hill and assume a group can throw anyone on the market at QB. Till that occurs. Miami is a playoff group already (even with falling off a bit on the finish of the season) with Tagovailoa and a high-powered offense that matches up with a few of the greatest we’ve seen. If the Dolphins get extra consistency from the protection, we could possibly be seeing some lengthy playoff runs out of them quickly.
Airing it out
Marino additionally made one other look that caught people’ consideration Wednesday, and that was when he joined The Pat McAfee present for all of the Tremendous Bowl week festivities. When requested about how he’d fare in as we speak’s sport, the Corridor of Famer mentioned he’d throw for six,000 yards. It sounded a bit tongue in cheek, however there’s little doubt Marino believes it. Dazzling Dan was the primary QB in NFL historical past to go for five,000 yards again in ’84. That’s when it was a run-first league and defenses have been nonetheless allowed to annihilate the man underneath heart.
Put Marino from ’84 on this 12 months’s Dolphins and he in all probability comes near 7,000 yards. That’s how deadly he was in an period the place most QBs barely sniffed 4,000 yards. Ten gamers handed for greater than 4,000 yards this 12 months and two extra have been inside a couple of extra completions of it. The 12 months Marino went over 5,000, solely two different gamers eclipsed 4,000.
That reveals simply how a lot the sport has opened up through the years and the way the NFL has modified the foundations to the place offense is the precedence. The NFL (and most followers) need high-scoring quite than defensive-controlled contests. Issues like fantasy soccer and legalized playing have solely added to this.
In his day, Marino was a beast, which is why his endorsement of Tua means one thing in South Florida. If Tagovailoa continues enhancing and may produce even half of what Marino did in his profession, then he’ll seemingly be a Dolphins lifer, too. Get this contract state of affairs dealt with and everybody will sleep lots simpler in Miami.