The Dolphins didn’t trade for Deshaun Watson, but they still made plenty of waves in the week leading up to the deadline. By all accounts, owner Stephen Ross was eager to bring the embattled Texans quarterback to Miami, but only if certain “contingencies” were met. In short, the Dolphins were only willing to trade for Watson if his legal troubles were put behind him. 
Meanwhile, GM Chris Grier was left to field questions about Watson, the future of young signal caller Tua Tagovailoa, and what it all means for the Dolphins going forward. Here’s a look at some of the highlights, via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald:
On the Dolphins’ level of interest in Watson:
“My job as general manager is to investigate every avenue on players that may or may not be available. I don’t think it’s any different from any player on the roster. We’ve done that from Day 1. That’s how every team operates. In terms of what discussions were had and what people asked for…We decided not to make a deal.”
On whether a deal was close:
“You go through these processes and talk through these things and we go forward with the team we have. We never got to a point of where anything would be realistic as far as happening.”
On Tagovailoa’s status moving forward:
“If there is a player considered one of the top players in the NFL, you have to look at it and try to go for it. It has nothing to do with not believing in Tua. We’re very happy with Tua.”
On the potential of renewing talks in the offseason:
“You get through the season and you keep evaluating the entire roster. Once the offseason comes, we’ll make decisions.”
“We’re very happy with Tua.” Not sure Tua believes that. But this is his chance to let all that go and step up and show em he can be the man.
I like the 1st part as well “If there is a player considered one of the top players in the NFL, you have to look at it and try to go for it.’
Real confidence booster there for Tua. Basically saying he’s below Watson.
He is, and he knows that.
Watson was a top 5-8 QB, it shouldn’t be taken as an insult to Tua. It’s not like they were calling the lions about Jared Goff. When Rodgers goes on the block this off-season, the dolphins will call…coz that’s what you do, you find out what it takes to get elite talent. If you don’t ask, you are failing at your job. If Tua gets upset, so be it. If that really throws you off your game, you weren’t destined for greatness anyway
I’d be insulted in that situation. Your team says they can find better people than you to the media? That GM drafted Tua!
My point is it was a poorly handled comment from a continuing failure of a GM.
You’re mostly right fox, but “greatness” is such an ambiguous term that I don’t think we can use it here as justification for telling someone not to be hesitant.
The reason I say this is because there does need to be a certain degree of confidence in your surroundings to be able to take instructions and progress. If you don’t think your coach has your back, it’s pretty hard to trust the commands he gives you. You need to know that he wants or at least is open to you succeeding, not just biding his time to get rid of you.
Players aren’t “destined” really for greatness, they have to work at it. If that work is not productive because nobody is there to show them what works, then the player won’t even get the chance to succeed. So, yes, players need to be mentally tough and control what they can control, but if the team doesn’t show any confidence or loyalty to the players, the team will get none in return.
It’s up to Tua to show everyone he is more than good enough to be the quarterback moving forward.
It’s up to management to provide support though and Tua is handcuffed by having little of that. The Dolphins need to upgrade their OL like the Bills did for Josh Allen.
This GM spent three yes three top 5 picks on Tua and Waddle. How he hasn’t been fired yet is insane.
I think your math is off. Waddle was picked at 6 and was acquired from 12. At most they spent two top 5 picks. Still time for them to improve from the bottom 5. But how about the positives side, the same GM traded tunsil and stills and a 1st for Tua, waddle, Holland, Igbinoghene, kindley, and two 1sts
Correction, not Tua
The only error is Waddle was picked 6th. So they spent three top 6 picks on Tua and Waddle. The trade up with the Eagles to get Waddle cost an extra top pick.
We don’t know where the dolphins will be drafting yet. We are at the midpoint of the season. They still play Houston, the giants, and the jets twice…all very winnable games. They also play the struggling panthers and the pats to close out the season. They could win 4-6 more games. There are a lot of bad teams out there, anything can happen
Dolphin fans, what happened? Miami seemed to be an up and coming team, but they are plain ugly this year!
The organization strangely cut/let walk a few defensive contributors (i.e., Van Noy, Godchaux) and didn’t replace them. The line got shuffled around just immensely (I don’t think a single person is playing the position he did last year, and I think three are either rookies or sophomores), and the run game never got upgraded. Fitzpatrick is gone, so there is no veteran leadership, and Flores and Grier seem to silently run through players randomly, either cutting them or changing their positions, with entirely too much trust in their indecipherable long term plan.