He’s a creating expertise, a well-liked teammate, a tough-minded quarterback who examined simply wonderful in his profession cameos.
Mike White suits that approach because the Miami Dolphins most necessary signing this offseason.
He’s a hometown title, an area sensation, a Pembroke Pines child who grew up a couple of miles from the stadium he’ll now play.
White coming dwelling works in that warm-hearted approach, too.
Finally — and that is necessary — nobody outdoors White’s household and buddies received overly enthusiastic about him signing Monday with the Dolphins. He’s not Tom Brady and even Jimmy Garoppolo, who had been amongst these loudly reported to be Dolphins targets in ways in which threatened the cocoon of confidence constructed round Tua Tagovailoa.
There’s nothing loud about White’s signing. He isn’t even a veteran starter like Teddy Bridgewater, who kick-started a nationwide debate final offseason on if he was higher than Tagovailoa upon his signing. White brings no debate with him. Even the previous New York Jets fan base that thought of him a savior for 2 eye-batting weeks paid scant consideration whereas toe-tapping impatiently for the arrival of Aaron Rodgers.
Can White save the Dolphins season if it falls on the backup once more? That’s the true query contemplating the true concern over Tagovailoa’s well being.
The reply: You belief Mike McDaniel in the event you’re a Dolphins fan. That’s why he’s right here. He solved Tagovailoa final 12 months. He should assume White suits this technique, too. You don’t need to be overly enthusiastic about this signing any greater than if the Dolphins received Andy Dalton, Gardner Minshew, Baker Mayfield or any of the total shelf of second-tier of quarterbacks on the market.
White has performed in eight NFL video games. He’s began seven, together with 4 final season with the Jets. That’s not a lot of a easy dimension and even that’s truncated by damage. White began in December wins whereas passing for 315 yards in opposition to Chicago and 368 yards in opposition to Minnesota. He then was sacked laborious sufficient to interrupt a rib in opposition to Buffalo and gutted out his approach by means of that and one other loss.
That’s actually all there’s go on past the perseverance of his soccer journey. That exhibits who he’s. His high-school coach on the University School in Davie, Roger Harriott, factors to White’s switch in faculty after an unlucky teaching change at South Florida turned a passing system right into a working one.
“His transition from USF to Western Kentucky showed his resilient spirit and ability to make the most of an adverse circumstance by leading his team to a conference championship, bowl win and setting passing records.,” stated Harriott, now the St. Thomas Aquinas coach. “He thrives through challenging transitions.”
It’s clear why White wished to come back to the Dolphins. It’s dwelling. It’s an awesome system for a quarterback with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle working huge open most Sundays final 12 months. He additionally received a two-year, $16 million contract the place there’s the true chance of a taking part in alternative.
Tagovailoa hasn’t performed a full season going again to varsity. His two — in all probability three — concussions stay a critical concern. That’s why he’s taking jiu-jitsu to discover ways to fall correctly and why a lot dialog has been round this place.
The Dolphins performed good in selecting up Tagovailoa’s fifth-year possibility on his contract. That appears as a lot about that cocoon of confidence as something. If Tagovailoa has an enormous season, that possibility can be ripped up and he’ll signal a mega-contract. If he suffers extra concussions, the Dolphins should begin throughout at quarterback.
They’re pushing all their chips to the center of the desk that claims it’s this 12 months or bust. Vic Fangio, the star of a defensive coordinator, was made the highest-paid NFL assistant. Star cornerback Jalen Ramsey was bought greater than traded for from the Los Angeles Rams.
Monday introduced the quieter signing of White. But let’s be clear: There gained’t be a extra necessary signing this offseason. The season might fall to him. You hope for Tagovailoa’s sake it doesn’t. You belief McDaniel’s resolution if it does.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com