Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is one of the most polarizing players in the entire NFL.
Opinions are split greatly on him. While everyone respects his pin-point accuracy, there are some who feel he is not a true franchise quarterback, and the Fins are foolish if they think he is.
That’s not to say that Tua doesn’t have his fair share of supporters, because he certainly does. Some feel that he’s the single-most underrated and underappreciated player in the league.
Regardless of which side of the fence you fall on, the fact of the matter is Tua needs to keep on improving if Miami is ever going to be legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
Tua’s weight has always been a topic of conversation and there have been times in recent years where it seems to fluctuate greatly.
Interestingly, he decided to shed a significant amount of weight in preparation for the new season.
Naturally, Tua’s sudden weight-loss caught the attention of his teammates.
“I ain’t going to lie, when I seen Tua at the Pro Bowl I was kinda scared, dude was fat as sh*t … He had to be taking [Ozempic].” – Tyreek Hill
“I miss chubby Tua. I didn’t like it when I seen it. I told him I’m not [explicit] with it. Eat some more or something.” – Jaylen Waddle
Jokes aside, you can count head coach Mike McDaniel a fan of Tua’s weight-loss.
“His strength increased but he felt like he could have the same amount of strength, reshape his body and be a little lighter on his feet … Him being a little more limber in the pocket I think is what’s drove him to attack that.”
Miami general manager Chris Grier is also aboard the Tua train…
One notable personality who is not in love with Tua’s sudden weight-loss is FS1’s Colin Cowherd.
“I saw something this weekend where Tua Tagovailoa showed up to a promotional event and looked noticeably thin. He’s listed at 225 and he looked to be about 200 pounds. And this is a pocket quarterback,” Cowherd said on The Herd with Colin Cowherd.
“It is a little alarming. He looked really, really thin. Tom Brady lost weight when he retired, that I get, but I think Tom kept some weight on because he was a quarterback.
“Aesthetics matter and it worries me. There’s never been a great skinny quarterback in league history. Mannings weren’t, Favre wasn’t, Brady was 230, Big Ben, Elway… You think Aaron Rodgers is thin? I’m 6’1” ½, 195-ish… Aaron Rodgers is 6’1” ½, 225. Aaron is 30 pounds heavier than me and I don’t think I’m that thin.”
“I like my quarterbacks like my furniture – big and hard to move,” Cowherd continued.
“Tua is not a hyper-athletic quarterback who wants to get faster. He’s not really that mobile, he’s not big, he doesn’t have a power arm.
“I love Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence but they’re a bit on the thin side. Burrow is hurt often. Trevor Lawrence last year must have had six lower torso injuries.
“Phillip Rivers, to me, THAT’S the perfect quarterback body. 6’5”, 230. He once played 14 straight seasons of at least 16 games. He once played with a torn ACL.”
“Jared Goff is the only ‘thin’ quarterback in the league that I’ve probably only ever really liked and thought he was a top 10 quarterback,” Cowherd added.
“I understand a little with Lamar Jackson losing weight, but he’s hyper-mobile and perhaps wants to get faster; although I don’t see a lot of linebackers and safeties catching him.
“I like BIG, I like STURDY, I like ‘can play hurt’ … I don’t get it. I cannot believe there wasn’t at least one Miami Dolphin upstairs who said ‘wow, he looks thin.’
“He’s already small, he’s already got an average arm … I don’t know, it’s something,” Cowherd concluded.
Tua’s change in appearance is so great that some fans are left shocked.
Perhaps it all works out in Tua’s favor, but at least the weight-loss has led to some solid social media content…
“Tua if you’re seeing this let us know you’re okay … I don’t know who this imposter is,” one X user posted.
“I thought I knew what Tua looked like, guess I don’t,” another chimed in.
“I thought the guy in the jersey was supposed to be Tua and this was a joke. Now seeing this tweet again and the other guy is apparently Tua? What is going on?” another said.
What are your thoughts on Tua’s weight-loss?
Do you agree with Cowherd’s take? … Or do you think the weight-loss will end up being a good thing for Tua?
In the bigger picture, what are your thoughts on him as a quarterback?
Do you think he has what it takes to one day lead the Dolphins to a Super Bowl title???