Dolphins' Mike McDaniel pushes again on Tua Tagovailoa retirement discuss: 'Ought to be the very last thing in your thoughts'

Hours after Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa exited Thursday night time’s recreation as a consequence of a concussion, a refrain of voices — medical experts, NFL greats and even close friends of the 26-year-old signal-caller — started calling for Tagovailoa to contemplate retirement. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, nevertheless, refuses to entertain such a risk, arguing it would be hurtful “to even sniff that topic.”

“All of the science behinds concussions tells you the way delicate the time is true after an damage,” McDaniel instructed reporters Friday, “and the way necessary it’s that you do not institute additional sources of tension. So, from my vantage level, I really feel it is supremely necessary that … I am not giving off any type of vibes. I am not attempting to even have a look at, effectively, how critical is that this relative to his previous ones?

“I do know the details are it is necessary he will get wholesome daily,” McDaniel continued, “and in that, the precise smartest thing I can do will not be attempt to assess what this even means from a soccer standpoint. … It isn’t in my DNA to assume, like, hey, what does this imply? I’ve to place his well being as the first. I completely, positively is not going to do something to make something worse or damage any one in every of our gamers, particularly guys which can be in concussion protocol. Mockingly, I believe there’s lots of people which have a vested curiosity within the Miami Dolphins, those who need to assist, however fairly actually, questioning timelines, that offers forth nervousness … attempting to evaluate what this implies for enjoying. That is heavy stuff.”

McDaniel added that he understands why reporters can be curious in regards to the short- and long-term well being of his quarterback, however reiterated his perception it is counterproductive to lift such questions.

“I believe it will be so, so improper of me to even sniff that topic,” McDanel stated of a possible retirement. “And it is extra in line of truly caring in regards to the human being. … [You’re] speaking about his profession, proper? His profession is his. I simply actually, actually, actually want — I completely perceive it, and it isn’t misplaced; I completely get how that is the place folks wanna go to — I simply want that individuals would for a second hear what I am saying: that citing his future will not be in one of the best curiosity of him. So, I am gonna plead with all people that does genuinely care: That needs to be the very last thing in your thoughts.”

And but: It isn’t. CBS Sports activities HQ damage knowledgeable Marty Jaramillo, who spent greater than 30 years as a bodily therapist, athletic coach and energy and conditioning specialist, argued Thursday that Tagovailoa “would not have the luxurious of getting a number of concussions and [then thinking] he may have a protracted profession. … [It’s] not honest to himself and his household.”

McDaniel, for his half, indicated that he is gotten no such recommendation from the Dolphins’ personal medical staff up thus far, deferring to future conversations with Tagovailoa and membership docs.

“The driving pressure behind any type of transfer … is Tua, his opinion and what he desires to do together with his life and his profession, coupled with the specialists in neuroscience,” McDaniel stated Friday. “These are the driving forces behind these actions. I’ve zero concept what any type of timeline is, and I am truly extraordinarily motivated to be within the grey, as a result of I am extraordinarily motivated to do proper by [Tua].

“Me, myself? If I am a betting man, I am guessing that these two folks — I do not see how he would play the subsequent recreation,” he added. “I do not see it. However who am I to know or choose? … All I am telling Tua is: Everyone seems to be relying on you to be a dad this weekend. After which, we’ll transfer from there. … It is vitally, crucial that there aren’t added nervousness pushed onto him proper now. He simply must be.”

Tagovailoa’s concussion Thursday, which prompted the identical fencing posture related to extreme mind accidents that he exhibited in 2022, got here two years after a number of concussions overshadowed his first season below McDaniel. The quarterback, who simply signed a $212.4 million contract extension with Miami this summer season, admitted he briefly contemplated retirement following that season.