Mike McDaniel throws shade at Tua Tagovailoa while naming QB1 for Week 8 after benching Dolphins star vs. Browns

Mike McDaniel made a snarky comment about quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on Monday. The Miami Dolphins coach has had a troubled season, with a disappointing 1-6 record, while their quarterback has struggled to make decisive plays while leading the offense.

Even so, McDaniel retained Tua Tagovailoa as the team's starting quarterback in Week 8. However, he took a dig at his underwhelming performance.

"He is going to take snaps this week, and he's going to be our starter this week," McDaniel said during Monday's media availability. "And my expectation is that we don't throw 10 picks."

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Tagovailoa has failed to make any noteworthy impact this season. In seven games, he has passed for only 1,313 yards and 11 TDs. The quarterback has also thrown 10 interceptions while being sacked 15 times.

During their 31-6 loss against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Tua Tagovailoa went 12 of 23 for 100 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions, with Mike McDaniel benching him for rookie Quinn Ewers in the fourth quarter.

Emmanuel Acho questions Tua Tagovailoa's future with the Dolphins after disappointing Week 7 performance

In July 2024, Tua Tagovailoa signed a four-year extension worth $212.4 million with the team, according to Spotrac. However, his lackluster play this season has raised questions about his future with the Dolphins.

After throwing three interceptions against the Browns in Week 7, NFL analyst Emmanuel Acho questioned the quarterback's fit with the team in a video he shared on X on Monday.

"This might be the end for Tua. This might be the end for the Miami Dolphins," Acho said. "His face (McDaniels') says it all. ... Tua just threw an interception that only God knows.

"Like, defense is obvious. We're in the most basic version of cover three. ... We don't look nobody off, and we throw a seam to a post safety. I just don't know anymore. I mean, we're about to throw a seam to a post safety defense. I just don't know."

The Dolphins are next scheduled to take on the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. The game will be broadcast on CBS at 1 p.m. ET. Can McDaniel and his team qualify for the playoffs this season?

About the author

Priyam is a College Sports content executive at Sportskeeda with a master's in Advertising and Marketing Management and over two years of experience as a writer. When it comes to reporting, Priyam believes doing a technical deep dive is one of his biggest strengths and he loves to dissect plays on the field and factor out the strengths/weaknesses of players.

A fan of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Priyam sees Nick Saban as the greatest coach of all time. He is also rooting for Alabama quarterback Jalen Milore after following his progress over the years. The Michigan Wolverines football team is another of his favorite programs and it will be interesting to see how both these teams perform in new coaching eras.

When he’s not reporting, Priyam is usually at the gym or indulging in music. He has been a guitarist and a drummer for the past 17 years and finds his time of peace when playing music.

Know More

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Edited by Priyam Hazarika