Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa recently fired back at those who think he has merely a product of his bona fide receiving corps, saying he “keeps receipts.”
Well, that did not sit too well with legendary tight end and current ESPN analyst Shannon Sharpe, who went off on a tirade ripping Tagovailoa this week.
“He doesn’t care but he spends 90 minutes at the podium telling you he doesn’t care,” Sharpe said on ESPN First Take. “Where was this attitude after the Tennessee loss?” That was your time! No, don’t get up there [after] you beat the Jets. You beat the lowly, pathetic playing Jets. You hang 30 on them, they get nothing, and now you want to beat your chest like you King Kong on the Empire State Building? Bro, you standing up there like you’re Dan Marino. Stop playing.”
Sharpe went on to say that Tagovailoa was a completely different quarterback before the Dolphins acquired Tyreek Hill in March 2022.
“We remember what you were before Tyreek got there,” Sharpe said. “Let me tell you how much [Miami] wanted Tyreek. Davante Adams signed the largest contract in wide receiver history … the Miami Dolphins move heaven and earth to get Tyreek — gave up major compensation — and made him the highest-paid receiver in NFL history. You want to get up here and pretend like you the driving force?
Tagovailoa leads the NFL in both passing yards (3,921) and completion percentage (71 percent) this season to go along with 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also boasts a passer rating of 106.
“These guys, they love all the praise,” added Sharpe. “They live for the praise, but they die by the criticism.”
It always seems odd when a former player turned media member—like Sharpe—rips a current player for responding to the media. Sharpe surely wouldn’t have appreciated constant jabs during his playing days like Tagovailoa has had to absorb, and to be fair to Tagovailoa, he has been pretty silent on the issue until recently.
Plus, while Hill and Jaylen Waddle are both terrific receivers and have unquestionably elevated Tua Tagovailoa’s play, he still needs to put the ball in their hands, and he is doing a fantastic job of doing just that. He leads the NFL in completion percentage for a reason, and let’s not forget that he was the fifth overall pick of the draft back in 2020. It’s not like he’s some scrub.
The Dolphins are 10-4 and will take on the Dallas Cowboys this Sunday. They have an opportunity to clinch the AFC East this weekend.
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