Shortly after the Miami Dolphins moved to 3-0 thanks to a home win over the Buffalo Bills, the NFLPA requested that the NFL investigate the Fins. Why, you ask? Well, the Dolphins keep finding ways to rival Dan Snyder in how poorly they're running this organization. As it is, they're already being investigated for incentivizing losses in an effort to tank the team, among other things, and now they're in hot water because of a very serious health allegation.
In the first quarter, Tua Tagovailoa tweaked his back. Then, in the second quarter, he hit the ground and his head snapped back and hit the turf, very hard. Tua got back up, tried to jog back to the huddle, but only made it a few yards before dropping to the ground again. Teammates had to help him stay upright as trainers rushed on to the field to help. He exited the game with just over two minutes left in the first half.
And then the Dolphins put Tua back into the game to start the second half. Must have been a miraculous recovery.
The Dolphins Make Another Questionable Call
This is what happened to Tua Tagovailoa after his head hit the turf hard. Not sure how you let him back in.
(? @EmmanuelAcho)pic.twitter.com/OiAJwaN5RI
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 25, 2022
Tell me how, after watching the video, Miami can even think about allowing him to get back on the field. Everyone assumed that Tagovailoa was under concussion protocol, and would be out for the rest of the game. And yet, he re-entered anyway. Social media and my phone were blowing up. People were outraged. And yet this is what was being put out there as the narrative, according to Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet):
"My understanding of the Tua Tagovailoa situation: He tweaked his back in the 1st quarter on a sneak and didn't miss time. After the Matt Milano hit, his back locked up — leading to him wobbling. Into the locker room for a full concussion check. Fully cleared. Now on the field."
So...they were chalking that wobble up to his back injury suffered in the first quarter. But, there's something really important they seem to have forgotten or taken for granted or something. We all have eyes, Miami. There's no way Tua cleared concussion protocol that quickly. There's simply no way.
Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images
And that's why the NFLPA has petitioned the NFL to look into the Miami Dolphins, and how they handled Tua's potential concussion. We all watched as Tua hobbled, unable to stay upright, moments after slamming his head against the turf. And yet Miami wants us to believe he cleared concussion protocol with flying colors.
Maybe they did go through the proper concussion protocol here. And maybe Tua somehow came out the other end as expected. But, given their past and very recent transgressions, it seems as though something fishy transpired at Hard Rock Stadium.
