Tua slams analyst Ryan Clark: Keep 'my name out your mouth'
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa offered a fiery response to ESPN NFL analyst Ryan Clark during his media availability Wednesday.
Clark, a former 13-year NFL defensive back, accused Tagovialoa of not working out or following recommendations from the team nutritionist on "NFL Live" earlier this week, according to Hal Habib of The Palm Beach Post.
"Let me tell you what he wasn't doing: He wasn't in the gym, I'll bet you that. … He is thick," Clark said.
"He probably knows more about me than I know about myself," Tagovailoa said Wednesday, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel's David Furones. "Ryan has been out of the league for quite some time. It's a little weird when other people are talking about other people and they're not that person."
The 25-year-old passer added, "I think we all work hard in the offseason. I'm not someone to talk about myself the entire time, but it takes a lot."
Ryan also took aim at Tagovailoa's arm tattoo, which the quarterback said represents his first child.
"I come from a Samoan family. Respect is everything," Tagovailoa said. "But it does get to a point where, 'A little easy on that, buddy.' Because I think we're a pretty tough-minded people. If we need to get scrappy, we can get scrappy, too."
"I'd appreciate if you kept my name out your mouth," he added.
After sustaining at least two concussions during the 2022 season, Tagovailoa took up jiu-jitsu to learn how to better protect himself when he falls. He also switched his helmet to a quarterback-specific design and said he lifted heavier weights in the offseason to stay healthier.
Doctors and specialists reassured Tagovailoa this offseason that he's not at a greater risk for CTE or head injuries.
The Alabama product missed the team's playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills due to a concussion. Tagovailoa led the NFL with a 105.5 passer rating and guided the Dolphins to a 9-8 record and a first playoff appearance since 2016.
The 6-foot-1, 227-pound passer posted career highs in his first year under head coach Mike McDaniel. He passed for 3,548 yards and 25 touchdowns, with a 64.8% completion rate in 2022.