There’s an abundance of pleasure surrounding the Miami Dolphins within the midst of an offseason the place, amongst different acquisitions, they introduced in coveted defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and star cornerback Jalen Ramsey as they arrive off their first playoff look in six years.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is definitely feeling the group taking one other step as he heads right into a fourth season and second underneath coach Mike McDaniel and his offense.
“I’m very excited,” a cheerful Tagovailoa stated whereas sporting a brand new mustache at his second-annual “Luau with Tua” occasion, benefitting his basis Monday night on the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood.
“I think our entire team is excited to get back out there, get to meet a lot of the newer guys. A lot of the newer guys getting to meet a lot of the guys that have been in this system for a whole year now.”
Tagovailoa, listed at 6 foot 1, 217 kilos final season, has noticeably gained muscle within the months since Miami’s 2022 season resulted in a wild-card spherical playoff loss on the Buffalo Bills on Jan. 15.
“Offseason training’s been good,” Tagovailoa stated. “Been working on strength in many areas and been chipping away at things that I felt like I needed to work on to get to where I feel I can get to in the later parts of the season.”
Part of Tagovailoa’s offseason exercises have included jiu-jitsu classes to higher shield himself towards blows to the top after two separate identified concussions triggered him to overlook 5 1/2 video games in 2022, together with the Dolphins’ playoff loss in Buffalo.
Tua’s luau concerned a variety of themes to Tagovailoa’s Polynesian, Samoan and Hawaiian tradition. Tagovailoa joked that jiu-jitsu wouldn’t be integrated into the on-stage festivities.
After McDaniel famously took half within the chants ultimately 12 months’s inaugural occasion, Dolphins Hall of Fame defensive finish Jason Taylor and Tagovailoa’s present Miami teammates in operating again Raheem Mostert, fullback Alec Ingold and extensive receiver River Cracraft went up on stage Monday.
“It’s cool,” Tagovailoa stated. “The assist that I get from my head coach, our coaches which might be coming and a variety of my teammates which might be coming, as effectively, it’s cool.
“The Polynesian culture, this is my culture, my Samoan culture that I grew up [with], that raised me. One thing that I did see a lot of growing up was giving back, giving back to the community. … That was something that I really wanted to continue on, but on a greater stage. Polynesian culture is just like football. It brings everyone together for a really good cause.”
The occasion raised funds by means of silent auctions for sports activities memorabilia. Tagovailoa spoke extra to what he’s attempting to perform along with his basis.
“The initiative of the Tua Foundation is to continue to give back to the communities that have helped me get to where I’m at today,” Tagovailoa stated. “So we do this in Hawaii, we do this in Alabama, and then, also, here in South Florida.”
Tagovailoa stated his occasion can be elevating funds for the Jason Taylor Foundation and Special Olympics.
Tagovailoa was in a joyful temper talking to reporters earlier than his charity occasion.
“I’m smiling a lot more,” he stated of how he feels now in comparison with the identical time final 12 months.
The Dolphins start their offseason exercise program every week from Monday with organized group actions slated to begin in late May.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com