The Dolphins are currently 1-5 and not as good as they were predicted by oddsmakers and pundits. They need to go 9-2 to reach the 9.5 O/U win goal. Tua Tagovailoa, the second-year QB and alleged franchise hero, hasn't lived up to his expectations.
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Tua isn't popping, whether it be from chronic injury, poor coaching or a higher skill level. Although I don't know the details of Tua's scheme, his longest pass is 36 yards. He has completed 13 games. That's 36th best (worst) in the league. This season, between Geno Smith (41) and Mike Glennon (35)
It's alarming to think that they traded a first round pick to draft Jaylen Waddle (Tuas college teammate and deep threat), It was smart, I thought, in the same vein that JaMarr Chase and Joe Burrow, and it could still be smart. It looks terrible right now considering that the pick would retroactively rank among the top five draft picks if the season ended today. Congratulations, Philly! You might be able to use it to draft a quarterback, as Jalen Hurts isn't.
The Tua pick is a terrible pick. However, it's premature to give up on him after he hasnt played a full season of games. Even worse, the Fins may be close to trading Deshaun Watson.
Watson is both an objectively great QB and an objectively terrible person. Watson is innocent until proven guilty. However, he would have to be proven innocent 22 times. It begs the question: What are Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and Chris Grier thinking?
Grier is now in his sixth year of running the Miamis front office. The Dolphins barely missed the playoffs last year at 10-6, and you could argue head coach Brian Flores has turned out the best of Bill Belichicks coordinators-turned-head coaches. Although that is not a huge accomplishment, one of these men has to be great.
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Trading for Watson is a panic move that risks alienating Miami's QB and worsening his already fragile confidence. Deshaun Watson, however? How the hell is that?
Watson's problems won't go away soon. And who knows if hell will even be eligible for play in the worst-case scenario legal situation. In desperate times, you need to take desperate measures. However, the Giants have not drafted Kadarius Toney while they clearly need offensive-line help. It's not only desperate, it's malpractice.
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When a GM is in charge and heaving Hail Marys, ownership across sports requires some sort of policy to freeze assets. We know that things aren't going well and you can't do your job if we cut you at the knees. But let's see how this season goes before you make it worse.
But the truth is that Watson has been coveted by Stephen Ross, Miami's owner since he requested a trade. Every other team that had a poor quarterback did the same, at least until the allegations of sexual assault and misconduct were made public. Miami, can you please take a look at the room? Watson is being sought by who else? It is absurd to give up any asset for him. The Texans had asked for three firsts and two second before the darkness was revealed. But now, they'd be lucky to get a seventh.
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Watson's chances of ending up in a league he doesn't like are likely greater than his chances of ever playing down in the NFL. Ryan Tannehill was a baited fish by the same franchise. Their early years don't always predict how their career will unfold.
Tua is the best and most reliable option.
