Michael Vick gives advice to Tua Tagovailoa
Michael Vick shared some simple advice for Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa during a recent appearance on Tyreek Hill’s “It Needed To Be Said” podcast.
“I just think he’s got to bulk up a little bit,” Vick said, via Pro Football Talk. “Get a little bit bigger. Get stronger. As you grow into your man body, that’s what needs to happen. Ain’t nothing wrong with picking up another 10 pounds, 15 pounds… Don’t get hit. Don’t get knocked around.”
Tagovailoa, 25, suffered two-known concussions during the 2022 regular season. The first came in Miami’s Week 4 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, which resulted in Tagovailoa being stretchered off the field. His second confirmed concussion occurred during the Christmas Day defeat to the Green Bay Packers. Tagovailoa entered concussion protocol the following day and remained until early February.
Speaking with the media in April, the 2020 first-round selection out of Alabama admitted he considered retirement after suffering multiple head injuries this past season.
“Yeah, I think I considered it, you know, for a time, having sat down with my family, having sat down with my wife and having those kind of conversations,” Tagovailoa said. “Really, it would be hard for me to walk away from this game with how old I am, with my son. I always dreamed of growing — playing as long as I could to where my son knew exactly what he was watching his dad do.
“Yeah, I mean it’s my health, it’s my body.” he said. “I feel like this is what’s best for me and my family. I love the game of football. If I didn’t I would have quite a long time [ago].”
Jaylen Waddle describes why Tua Tagovailoa is such a special quarterback
Tagovailoa has since taken up jiu-jitsu to help learn how to fall.
“Obviously [I] learned how to fall,” Tagovailoa said. “Learned some grappling techniques. Learned some other things too that I don’t think I should disclose. But for the most part, learned how to fall. You think it’s easy. Just don’t fall and hit your head. But a lot more to it.”
Amid the head injuries, Tagovailoa turned out a productive 2022 campaign. In 13 games, Tagovailoa threw for 3,548 yards with 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions on 64.8% passing. He set career highs with a 105.5 passer rating and a 68.9 QBR.
Much of his success came throwing the way of receiver Jaylen Waddle, whom he shared the field with at Alabama. Waddle hauled in 75 passes for 1,356 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging an NFL-best 18.1 yards per reception.
Waddle, recently speaking with KPRC in Houston, spoke about what makes Tagovailoa the perfect quarterback.
“His ball placement,” Waddle said. “I think everybody sees it, knowing exactly where to put the ball where his receivers can not just catch it, but catch it and run with it. So that’s what makes Tua Tua.”