Tagovailoa’s Concussion History Clouds Contract Guarantees

Another concussion for Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has renewed public concern for his long-term health. The fifth-year signal-caller was ruled out of Thursday night’s 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills after making contact with Bills safety Damar Hamlin while scrambling for a first down in the red zone.

The incident has put a new spotlight on the four-year, $212.1 million contract extension he signed over the summer, which includes $167 million in guaranteed money. Generally speaking, that guaranteed money is paid out if Tagovailoa remains on a roster or is cut due to an injury. The decision to retire, meanwhile, could put those earnings in jeopardy.

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The calls for him to step away began immediately, both from online punditry and during Amazon’s broadcast of the game. “If that was my son, I would be like, ‘It might be time.’ This stuff is not what you want to play around with,” Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez said on Amazon’s postgame show Thursday night. “Tua’s future? I’m thinking retirement here.”

Tagovailoa previously said his family suggested that he should retire after the 2022 season, when he was diagnosed with two concussions—one in Week 4, and another in Week 16. “I would say for sure, especially with what happened with the concussions,” he said in an interview on The Dan LeBatard Show last month. “It was more so my mom. … You can understand why mothers are the way they are.”

On top of hip injuries and other ailments, Tagovailoa now has three diagnosed concussions during his NFL career. He also suffered one in 2019 while at Alabama, where he starred in college.

In 2022, the Dolphins were criticized for how they managed an injury that led him to stumble on the field during a Week 3 matchup against the Bills. The organization deemed it a back issue, and he was cleared to play in Week 4, only leave with a concussion against Cincinnati. Shortly thereafter, the NFL and NFLPA agreed to…


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Author : Sportico

Publish date : 2024-09-13 17:53:03

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