WATCH: Tua Tagovailoa comments on 'keyboard warriors,' criticism of arm strength
Former Alabama Crimson Tide star and Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has received plenty of criticism since last season for his arm strength, but he’s not listening to any of it. The 2020 first-round draft pick joked that the only time he sees the media or fans calling him out is when the Dolphins PR team gives him a heads up.
“For me, it’s just zone that out. We come out to practice. Everyone else — Twitter warriors, keyboard warriors, whatever you want to call them — they’re not out here practicing with us working hard,” Tagovailoa said.
Tagovailoa noted a deep pass he threw to his new wideout Tyreek Hill at Thursday’s minicamp practice. He asked if the reporters recorded it, imitating the perfect basket catch the former Chief used.
“I don’t know if you guys recorded that last one to Tyreek,” Tagovailoa told reporters. “I don’t know about you, but that looked like money.”
While the media members are not allowed to record footage during team portions of the minicamp, the Dolphins media staff posted the clip to Twitter later. Reporters estimated the deep-ball completion from Tagovailoa went roughly 45 yards through the air.
The former Crimson Tide star has received nothing but support from his new head coach Mike McDaniels. One day one of his tenure, McDaniels called Tagovailoa to tell him he wanted to build around him. He believes he has untapped skills but knows he needs more protection from the offense line. Teammates have also voiced their support, including Hill.
“Tua actually has one of the prettiest balls I’ve ever caught him in my life,” Hill said last month, via NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe. “Tua is a very accurate QB. I’m very confident in my QB… the sky is the limit for that guy. Heck of a talent. Has crazy arm strength, arm talent.”