Tua Tagovailoa pushes back at Cam Newton’s critique as Dolphins start 0-3
Dolphins quarterback responds to Newton’s high-profile assessment as Miami seeks its first win and a rebound against the Jets
Miami — Former NFL quarterback Cam Newton used national airwaves to question Tua Tagovailoa's performance on ESPN's First Take after Miami opened the season 0-3. Newton highlighted Tagovailoa's four interceptions and a 35.8 quarterback rating through the first three games, and he tied the woes to the four-year, $212 million extension Tagovailoa signed last summer. "Tagovailoa is making more than Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, Baker Mayfield, Matthew Stafford, Jayden Daniels," Newton said. "Am I pocket watching? No, I’m putting things into perspective here. 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."
Tagovailoa, speaking to reporters on Thursday, acknowledged his early-season struggles but dismissed Newton’s critique as part of a broader debate among pundits about the quarterback position. "Well, anybody can play quarterback in this league then. I want to see anybody on the streets come and play quarterback," Tagovailoa said. "Cam is doing his thing for sure, but I think it’s easier to be able to hold a clicker and talk about it that way or talk about what someone else is doing wrong when you’re not going out and having to do the same as them."
The Dolphins’ 0-3 start marks their worst since 2019, with Tagovailoa turning the ball over in each loss. Miami will try to snap the skid in a Week 4 visit to the New York Jets, a team that has allowed 31 points per game this season, tied for the fourth-most in the NFL.
The Jets game looms as a critical test for a franchise under scrutiny for both its on-field performance and the public dialogue surrounding its quarterback. The clash could also shape how Tagovailoa and the organization respond to external commentary as they navigate a season with high expectations after the extension signing last year.