Cam Newton fires back at Tua Tagovailoa with 'Anybody can go 0-3' response in war of words
Friction between the quarterbacks escalates as Miami’s early-season slide and a high-profile contract amplify the dispute
An escalating public feud between Cam Newton and Tua Tagovailoa intensified Friday as Newton fired back at the Dolphins quarterback on ESPN’s First Take, delivering a pointed retort to Tagovailoa’s recent critique. Newton's remarks followed Tagovailoa’s comments a day earlier, when he challenged critics and framed the conversation as one about performance rather than punditry.
Tagovailoa addressed reporters at a Thursday press conference, saying, Well, anybody can play quarterback in this league then. I want to see anybody on the streets come and play quarterback. Cam is doing his thing for sure, but I think it's easier to be able to hold a clicker and talk about what someone else is doing wrong when you're not going out and having to do the same as them. I think anybody can do that. I don't think anybody can play quarterback. He acknowledged the Dolphins’ 0-3 start and the pressure that comes with his four-year, $212 million contract, while noting his own durability and preparation.
Through three games this season, Tagovailoa has completed 69.7% of his passes for 575 yards with five touchdowns and four interceptions. His early-season struggles have been the backdrop for Newton’s broader critique of expectations placed on the league’s highest-paid players, including Tagovailoa.
On Friday, Newton surfaced again on ESPN’s First Take, arguing that a high-salary contract should come with commensurate production. He said, There (were) times we’ve seen Tua Tagovailoa, and it was at a high level. You don’t make $53 million … by just being a random on the street. In this case, it should be more money, more expectations. … What you’re being paid, what you’re asked to do, what you have the capability of — from one quarterback to the other, I look at the situation like come on, dawg. Especially when you’ve got a Ferrari and a Lamborghini and other amenities that other quarterbacks wish they had. Newton also cited the assets surrounding Tagovailoa, noting the presence of Jaylen Waddle, Tyreek Hill and Mike McDaniel as coach as reasons for higher expectations.
His comments came after Tagovailoa referenced Newton by name during Thursday’s press conference, framing the conversation around accountability and the realities of elite-level football. The Dolphins, 0-3 on the season, are preparing for a Monday night clash with the New York Jets, another winless team, in what figures to be a high-profile showdown for a franchise under scrutiny for both on-field results and payroll commitments.
Tagovailoa acknowledged the frustration of the early-season results but defended his approach and the team's ongoing message that performance, not pay, will determine their trajectory. The quarterback has faced questions about his ability to maximize a roster loaded with speed and playmaking at receiver, and Newton’s pointed critique only intensified attention on a storyline that has dominated Miami’s back half of the calendar year.
As the Dolphins navigate a still-narrow path back to respectability, the public exchange between two prominent quarterbacks has underscored the sport’s broader debate over contracts, expectations and the pressure to translate talent into consistent winning moments. For Tagovailoa, the challenge remains to elevate performance in real-game contexts; for Newton, the task is to make the most of a high-price framework that increasingly invites scrutiny whenever results lag.
The unfolding exchange comes as Miami looks to break its 0-3 start against a Jets squad also seeking its first win of the season. The situation has drawn attention from fans, analysts and the broader NFL community, who are watching not only the two quarterbacks’ performances but also how teams handle the scrutiny that accompanies big-money contracts and high expectations in the league’s modern era.