There’s loads of pleasure surrounding the Miami Dolphins this offseason when, amongst different acquisitions, they introduced in coveted defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and star cornerback Jalen Ramsey and are available off the Dolphins’ first playoff look in six years.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa definitely feels the group is taking one other step as he heads right into a fourth season and second below coach Mike McDaniel and his offense.
“I’m very excited,” a cheerful Tagovailoa stated whereas sporting a brand new mustache at his second-annual “Luau with Tua” occasion, benefitting his basis Monday night on the Onerous Rock Resort and On line casino in Hollywood.
“I believe our total staff is happy to get again on the market, get to satisfy loads of the newer guys. A whole lot of the newer guys getting to satisfy loads of the fellows which have been on this system for an entire yr now.”
Tagovailoa, listed at 6 foot 1, 217 kilos final season, has noticeably gained muscle within the months since Miami’s 2022 season led to a wild-card spherical playoff loss on the Buffalo Payments on Jan. 15.
“Offseason coaching’s been good,” Tagovailoa stated. “Been engaged on energy in lots of areas and been chipping away at issues that I felt like I wanted to work on to get to the place I really feel I can get to within the later elements of the season.”
A part of Tagovailoa’s offseason exercises have included jiu-jitsu classes to raised shield himself towards blows to the top after two separate identified concussions induced him to overlook 5 1/2 video games in 2022, together with the Dolphins’ playoff loss in Buffalo.
Tua’s luau concerned numerous themes with a nod to Tagovailoa’s Polynesian, Samoan and Hawaiian tradition. Tagovailoa joked that jiu-jitsu wouldn't be integrated into the on-stage festivities.
After McDaniel famously took half within the chants eventually yr’s inaugural occasion, Dolphins Corridor of Fame defensive finish Jason Taylor and a few of Tagovailoa’s present Miami teammates — operating again Raheem Mostert, fullback Alec Ingold and huge receiver River Cracraft — went up on stage Monday.
“It’s cool,” Tagovailoa stated. “The help that I get from my head coach, our coaches which might be coming and loads of my teammates which might be coming, as effectively, it’s cool.
“The Polynesian tradition, that is my tradition, my Samoan tradition that I grew up [with], that raised me. One factor that I did see loads of rising up was giving again, giving again to the neighborhood. … That was one thing that I actually needed to proceed on, however on a higher stage. Polynesian tradition is rather like soccer. It brings everybody collectively for a extremely good trigger.”
The occasion raised funds by way of silent auctions for sports activities memorabilia. Tagovailoa spoke extra to what he’s making an attempt to perform together with his basis.
“The initiative of the Tua Basis is to proceed to present again to the communities which have helped me get to the place I’m at right this moment,” Tagovailoa stated. “So we do that in Hawaii, we do that in Alabama, after which, additionally, right here in South Florida.”
Tagovailoa stated his occasion can be elevating funds for the Jason Taylor Basis and Particular Olympics.
Tagovailoa was in a joyful temper chatting with reporters earlier than his charity occasion.
“I’m smiling much more,” he stated of how he feels now in comparison with the identical time final yr.
The Dolphins start their offseason exercise program every week from Monday with organized staff actions slated to start out in late Might.
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