Tua Tagovailoa wants pundits — especially former three-time Pro Bowler Cam Newton — to know that playing the quarterback position is easier said than done.
During an episode of ESPN’s “First Take” last week, Newton, the former Panthers star QB, criticized Tagovailoa’s play so far this season in relation to the four-year, $212 million extension the Dolphins quarterback signed last summer.
Newton called out Tagovailoa for a few lackluster performances to open the 2025 season, where the 27-year-old has already thrown four interceptions with an abysmal 35.8 quarterback rating.
“Tagovailoa is making more than Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, Baker Mayfield, Matthew Stafford, Jayden Daniels,” Newton said. “Am I pocket watching? No, I’m putting things into perspective here.
“In this case, it should be more money, more expectations. … What you’re being paid, what you’re asked to do, what you have the capability of — from one quarterback to the other, I look at the situation like come on dawg. Especially when you’ve got a Ferrari and a Lamborghini and other amenities that other quarterbacks wish they had.”
Tagovailoa is aware of his down play to start the year, telling reporters Thursday that he has not played “anywhere near” his expectations.
He did, however, dismiss Newton’s remarks and brought up football pundits as a collective.
“Well, anybody can play quarterback in this league then. I want to see anybody on the streets come and play quarterback,” Tagovailoa said. “Cam is doing his thing for sure, but I think it’s easier to be able to hold a clicker and talk about it that way or talk about what someone else is doing wrong when you’re not going out and having to do the same as them.
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“I think it’s easy to do that, I think anybody can do that. I don’t think anybody can play quarterback.”
The Dolphins’ 0-3 record marks their worst start since the 2019 season, and Tagovailoa has turned the ball over in each of Miami’s losses.
They’ll next face the Jets, who have allowed 31 points per game, tied for the fourth-most in the NFL.
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