Current:Home > MarketsDolphins’ Tagovailoa says McDaniel built him up after Flores tore him down as young NFL quarterback-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Dolphins’ Tagovailoa says McDaniel built him up after Flores tore him down as young NFL quarterback
View Date:2024-12-23 23:52:16
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Tua Tagovailoa left no doubt he likes playing for Mike McDaniel a lot more than he did Brian Flores.
Fresh off signing a four-year contract extension last month, Tagovailoa said he appreciates McDaniel’s positive coaching style after dealing with Flores’ negativity during his first two seasons in the NFL.
“To put it in simplest terms, if you woke up every morning and I told you you suck at what you did, that you don’t belong doing what you do, that you shouldn’t be here, that this guy should be here, that you haven’t earned this right. ... And then you have somebody else come in and tell you, ‘Dude, you are the best fit for us, you are accurate, you are the best.’ How would it make you feel listening to one or the other?” Tagovailoa said in an interview that aired Monday on “The Dan LeBatard Show”.
Tagovailoa said the criticism beat him down to the point that he began to believe it. He was the No. 5 overall draft pick in 2020 and won the starting job, but he was pulled twice in the fourth quarter of games for Ryan Fitzpatrick.
The following season Tagovailoa’s future with the Dolphins was in doubt amid speculation they were seeking a trade for Deshaun Watson.
“I don’t care who you are. You can be the president of the United States. You have a terrible person that’s telling you things that you don’t want to hear or that you probably shouldn’t ever hear, you’re going to start to believe that about yourself. And so that’s sort of like what ended up happening,” Tagovailoa said.
The Dolphins fired Flores and replaced him with McDaniel for the 2022 season. Tagovailoa said it has taken two years to train the negative thoughts out of his head. With McDaniel devising schemes to suit Tagovailoa’s skills, the Dolphins averaged an NFL-leading 401 yards per game last season. Tagovailoa threw for 29 touchdowns and a league-best 4,624 yards.
Asked about Tagovailoa’s comments Monday, McDaniel said, “I am not spending much time patting myself on the back for much. I think there’s a lot of players that have grown since I’ve been here. And that growth is all that I care about.”
Flores, now the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive coordinator, is scheduled to meet with reporters Tuesday.
Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said he wouldn’t comment on a matter involving another team.
“I can just tell you, I know the players ‘Flo’ works with, he’s got great relationships here. He really has,” O’Connell said. “I know you guys have heard a lot of them talk about how much they enjoy playing for him and how much I enjoy working with him every day, and that’s all I can really comment on.”
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
veryGood! (9)
Related
- Roster limits in college small sports put athletes on chopping block while coaches look for answers
- 'Wanted' posters plastered around University of Rochester target Jewish faculty members
- Quincy Jones' cause of death revealed: Reports
- Burt Bacharach, composer of classic songs, will have papers donated to Library of Congress
- A Pipeline Runs Through It
- Manhattan rooftop fire sends plumes of dark smoke into skyline
- Mike Tyson is expected to honor late daughter during Jake Paul fight. Here's how.
- Louisiana man kills himself and his 1-year-old daughter after a pursuit
- A herniated disc is painful, debilitating. How to get relief.
- Georgia House Democrats shift toward new leaders after limited election gains
Ranking
- Birth control and abortion pill requests have surged since Trump won the election
- 5-year-old boy who went missing while parent was napping is found dead near Oregon home, officials say
- High-scoring night in NBA: Giannis Antetokounmpo explodes for 59, Victor Wembanyama for 50
- New Orleans marks with parade the 64th anniversary of 4 little girls integrating city schools
- Eva Longoria Shares She and Her Family Have Moved Out of the United States
- Brianna LaPaglia Addresses Zach Bryan's Deafening Silence After Emotional Abuse Allegations
- Ex-Phoenix Suns employee files racial discrimination, retaliation lawsuit against the team
- Jake Paul's only loss led him to retool the team preparing him to face Mike Tyson
Recommendation
-
Powerball winning numbers for Nov. 9 drawing: Jackpot rises to $92 million
-
Hurricane-stricken Tampa Bay Rays to play 2025 season at Yankees’ spring training field in Tampa
-
Jennifer Lopez Gets Loud in Her First Onstage Appearance Amid Ben Affleck Divorce
-
Mississippi expects only a small growth in state budget
-
Jamie Lee Curtis and Don Lemon quit X, formerly Twitter: 'Time for me to leave'
-
Conviction and 7-year sentence for Alex Murdaugh’s banker overturned in appeal of juror’s dismissal
-
Judge weighs the merits of a lawsuit alleging ‘Real Housewives’ creators abused a cast member
-
Japan to resume V-22 flights after inquiry finds pilot error caused accident