Tua Tagovailoa is the future for the Miami Dolphins. The rookie quarterback is working hard to build relationships with his new teammates, notes Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post.
One of the first things Tagovailoa did after being drafted was ask the team for the phone numbers of his new teammates.
“Just creating relationships,” Tagovailoa said. “Maybe starting out with the quarterbacks and then working my way down to the linemen or starting with the linemen, but just creating relationships a little at a time. Especially during times like this, it’s hard, so I think that’d be best.”
Tagovailoa is also making a good early impression on teammate and veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick will either be the starter for week 1 or on the sideline backing up Tagovailoa. But the team-first veteran is thinking big-picture for Miami and knows any knowledge he can begin passing on now will only help the youngster’s progression.
“We’ve been going over some of that stuff, and my mind and the process and how I think through it, right or wrong, just to provide some perspective,” Fitzpatrick said. “I’m excited for him to be here. I loved watching him play in college. I think he’s going to be an awesome addition to the team for a long time.”
Here’s more Dolphins’ news to keep an eye on:
Alain Poupart of Sports Illustrated points to how active the Dolphins were in the offseason. Miami added 11 veterans via free agency and 11 more through the draft, including Tagovailoa.
Miami’s offseason moves have positioned them to take the next step in their rebuilding plans. But as Poupart points out, the Dolphins will also benefit from the return of a handful of players from last year’s injury list.
Xavien Howard and Preston Williams are two notable names to keep an eye on in Miami.
Howard missed the second half of the 2019 season with a knee injury. He’ll be returning to a secondary that went out and added free agent Pro Bowl cornerback Byron Jones. If Howard is ready to go, head coach Brian Flores will have an elite duo quarterbacks will think twice before throwing their way.
Williams showed promise last season at wide receiver for the Dolphins before injuring his knee late in the season against the Jets. The undrafted free agent impressed with his play before going down. He’s reportedly on schedule for a return to action.
