JUST IN: 26-year-old skilled Dolphins player is keeping his offseason plans under wraps

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa shared an intriguing response when questioned about his preparations for the upcoming 2024 NFL season over the past weekend.

“I’m keeping my offseason plans private,” Tagovailoa stated, as reported by Christian Shimabuku of KHON in Honolulu. “Maintaining this privacy is part of what sets me apart. I prefer to keep things within my inner circle.”

During the 2022 season, Tagovailoa faced at least two documented concussions and acknowledged contemplating retirement due to concerns stemming from those head injuries. It was later revealed that he dedicated part of the previous offseason to jiu-jitsu training as a measure to reduce the risk of concussions. This “break-fall training” was elaborated upon in a story released in January.

Regardless of the specifics of Tagovailoa’s activities last spring and summer, they seemed to have been effective, as evidenced by him making 17 starts in a regular season for the first time in his career. As per ESPN statistics, by the end of Week 18, he led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards and held the 10th position among qualified players with a 60.8 adjusted QBR.

Tagovailoa doesn’t feel obligated to disclose specifics regarding his offseason routines, but it’s reasonable to expect someone in his position to openly discuss how jiu-jitsu training could benefit athletes across different sports. When inquired about the final year of his contract, which carries a salary-cap hit of approximately $23.171 million for 2024, the 26-year-old remained vague.

Regarding contract negotiations with the Dolphins, Tagovailoa mentioned, “They’ve been positive discussions.” He added, “At the moment, I’ve entrusted my agent to handle that aspect. My focus is on my family, self-improvement, and honing my skills. We can delve deeper into that when the time is right. Exciting times are ahead for now.”

In February 2023, Tagovailoa signed with the same agency that assisted New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones in securing a lucrative four-year contract worth up to $160 million the subsequent month. A noteworthy aspect of Jones’s contract that pertains to Tagovailoa is the provision allowing the Giants to potentially part ways with their current starting quarterback as early as the upcoming offseason.

Given Tagovailoa’s injury background, the Dolphins probably seek comparable safeguards, yet discussions on this subject between the quarterback’s representatives and the team are expected to be extensive leading up to September.