Let’s address the 800-pound gorilla in the room.
What’s Tua Tagovailoa’s happiness level going to be if he doesn’t have a contract extension when the Dolphins open training camp in late July?
What is the Miami quarterback’s participation level going to be at training camp if he doesn’t have a new contract?
And, if Tua has limited participation in training camp, how long would it last, and could it affect the Dolphins’ offense in the Sept. 8 season opener against Jacksonville?
Yes, once again we’re talking about Tagovailoa, his contract extension and training camp, which begins in five or six weeks.
Those elements could be on an early August collision course.
On the other hand, Tua and the Dolphins could agree on a contract extension in the next few days and all of this is moot.
Here’s how it breaks down…
Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, who was drafted a year after Tua, reportedly agreed to terms Thursday night on a mammoth five-year, $275 million extension ($55 million a season in average annual value) with $200 million guaranteed.
This comes on the heels of Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff’s four-year, $212 million extension ($53 million AAV) with $170 million guaranteed last month.
Tua told us during minicamp that he wants his contract extension. Now.
That makes these questions even more relevant as the Dolphins enter that transitional time between, “We still have a long time before the opener,” and “Wow, the opener is only a few weeks away!”
We can answer the first question about Tua fairly easily.
He won’t be happy if he reports to training camp without a contract extension.
We saw Business Tua during minicamp.
He wasn’t happy. He termed it as being “antsy.”
Business Tua spoke from the heart.
He was opinionated, strong-minded and determined.
Business Tua probably left the Dolphins longing for the days of Chubby Tua.
At least Chubby Tua was happy.
So there’s that question answered.
As for what Tua’s participation level would be at training camp without a contract extension? I hope it’s limited.
I hope Business Tua rocks the Dolphins’ boat.
I hope Business Tua stands up for himself and makes a bold, declarative statement that he should have a contract extension.
As a reminder, I think the Dolphins should make Tua play this season on his fifth-year option.
It’s business, not personal.
I think the starting quarterback market is out of control. Starting quarterbacks are way overpaid compared to their results, and the Dolphins need to lead an effort to re-set the quarterback market.
I’ve been crystal clear about that.
If I was running the Dolphins, I wouldn’t give Tua an extension until after this season.
I need to see him stay healthy and lead the Dolphins to a playoff victory.
I’m dug in on that.
At the same time, I’m a player empowerment guy.
I’ve always been that way.
Tua has an opportunity to swing a hammer.
Tua should swing that hammer hard and be disruptive.
Players don’t get this opportunity many times in their careers.
Tua should make some type of protest statement during training camp.
A hold-in.
You report, as opposed to a hold out when you stay home, but you have limited participation.
Tua didn’t participate in 11-on-11s at minicamp.
Something along those lines would be a good protest for training camp.
But what’s the turning point?
If Tua doesn’t get a contract extension during training camp, when does Business Tua go back to being regular Tua?
As a starting quarterback there’s a point where your absence in 11-on-11s, or whatever your protest is, hurts the team.
Most likely a pivotal checkpoint comes in the second week of training camp, or right around that time.
That’s early August, about a month before the Sept. 8 opener against Jacksonville.
More importantly, Miami and Atlanta have joint practices scheduled for Aug. 6-7, in advance of their Aug. 9 preseason opener at Hard Rock Stadium.
No one expects Tua to play in that preseason game.
However, everyone expects Tua to participate in those joint practices.
The joint practices are when veterans get the majority of their meaningful training camp work nowadays.
If Tua doesn’t fully participate, the joint practices against Atlanta are a waste of time for Miami’s offense.
By the way, no one knows why Tua’s contract extension hasn’t happened already.
Is there debate over the total amount?
Are they haggling over the guaranteed money?
Is there disagreement regarding the number of years?
Is there a holdup about an injury/participation clause?
We don’t know.
What we do know is that this situation bothers Tua greatly.
He’s already taken his objection to the field by not participating in 11-on-11s during minicamp.
If Tua doesn’t have a contract extension by the time training camp starts, I’d expect him to continue showing his displeasure in some fashion.