Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, in his first organized press convention since his 2022 season was lower quick as a result of a second stint in concussion protocol, admitted Wednesday that he gave thought to retirement on the finish of the previous season.
Tagovailoa, in the end, opted towards it, and he’s set to return to the Dolphins for a fourth NFL season in 2023, plus no less than a fifth after Miami picked up the 2020 first-round choose’s fifth-year possibility on his rookie contract.
“I thought-about it for a time, having sat down with my household, having sat down with my spouse and having these conversations. “But, actually, it will be exhausting for me to stroll away from this recreation with how outdated I’m, with my son. I all the time dreamed of taking part in so long as I may to the place my son knew precisely what he was watching his dad do.
“It’s my health. It’s my body. And I feel like this is what’s best for me and my family. I love the game of football. If I didn’t, I would’ve quit a long time ago.”
Tagovailoa’s final concussion got here on Dec. 25 when his head hit the bottom on what gave the impression to be a routine takedown within the Dolphins’ Christmas Day loss to the Green Bay Packers. The concussion was not acknowledged till the next day at workforce amenities, and Tagovailoa was positioned within the league’s concussion protocol for 37 days earlier than being cleared.
The quarterback missed the ultimate two regular-season video games after which Miami’s wild-card spherical playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills on Jan. 15. Tagovailoa didn’t seem to come back near being cleared in time for the postseason recreation, contemplating his final clearance got here on Feb. 1.
“I am not sure,” the 25-year-old Tagovailoa stated. “I was going through my process with [trainer Kyle Johnston] and just trying to do everything I could to get better. But, at any point, whenever the team, [coach] Mike [McDaniel] or [general manager Chris] Grier would’ve approached me and asked me if I were ready, there’s no question, no doubt in my mind that I would’ve stepped up to the plate and answered the call.”
Tagovailoa stated it was exhausting not with the ability to end out final season, however added, “This is a new year for us, this is a new team that we have. We’re really excited.”
The latter concussion adopted the one he suffered in a Sept. 29 loss on the Cincinnati Bengals. In that Thursday night time recreation, Tagovailoa lied immobile on the sector after he was slammed to the turf by the Bengals’ Josh Tupou. He was carted off and admitted to a neighborhood hospital that night time and missed the next two video games. Four days earlier than that occasion, he wobbled after being pushed to the bottom in a win over the Bills however was cleared to return to recreation motion.
Tagovailoa stated he was instructed by neurologists that he’s not at higher danger for future concussions eight months faraway from the 2022 occurrences when subsequent season begins, neither is he at higher danger for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. He defined that his understanding is that CTE comes extra usually from fixed, repeated blows to the pinnacle which might be extra widespread for linebackers and linemen.
Tagovailoa, final week, additionally spoke briefly to the media at his charity luau occasion and stated offseason exercises have been going properly as he seems to strengthen his physique whereas additionally taking jiu-jitsu classes to discover ways to fall in a way that protects his head.
He stated he and his jiu-jitsu coach watched the movie of his hits that resulted in blows to the pinnacle and assessed manners wherein they might’ve been prevented.
“It wasn’t tough to watch,” Tagovailoa stated. “I wish to get higher at every thing that I can do to assist the workforce win video games, and I do know the most important factor is my well being.
“Strength work has been really big throughout this offseason for me with getting my legs under me, building my upper body, building around my neck, my core.”
The quarterback additionally revealed a few of his early learnings in jiu-jitsu.
“Learned how to fall,” Tagovailoa stated. “Learned some grappling techniques, some other things too that I don’t think I should disclose. But, for the most part, learn how to fall. You think it’s easy. Just don’t fall and hit your head, but there’s a lot more to it.”
Among the methods, he’s engaged on tucking his chin and getting his physique into a correct posture to reduce influence on the pinnacle. He needs it to grow to be second nature when he’s getting tackled in video games.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com