Tua Tagovailoa told reporters last week that he believes the team is all in on him despite its previous interest in Tom Brady.
His response was succinct when he was asked about it again Wednesday.
He said he's still here. That is all noise to me.
The Dolphins and Brady's Buccaneers practiced together on Wednesday, the first of two joint practices before the teams' preseason opener on Saturday. The Dolphins failed to persuade Brady to join them as a limited partner, football executive and possibly as a player after the league disciplined them for improper contact with Brady.
The Dolphins had their first and third round picks taken away by the league in response to their contact with Brady and Sean Payton.
During the exchange with the reporter, Tagovailoa insisted that Miami's interest in Brady wasn't new.
Tagovailoa told local media last week that he doesn't pay attention to the narrative surrounding him until he is asked.
If you hear it every day or see it every day, it's frustrating. All of that is eliminated for me. Don't even think about hearing it. Don't pay attention to it. I go home, study, wake up, and enjoy football. When the communications staff prepares me for what they are going to say, I'm like, "Ah, I've got to answer this." Let's figure out what to say.
Brady did not speak to the media on Wednesday and did not comment on the incidents. Tagovailoa said he spoke with Brady about golf and the off-season, but didn't give any further details.
The effect of last week's news on the Dolphins was downplayed by head coach Mike McDaniel.
I didn't see anything happen for me. The other people are making it awkward. It doesn't have a lot of room with anyone. Being good in this league is hard. All of our energy is very coordinated and only has to do with us getting better and everything else would be an opportunity cost that we're not willing to spend.
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