Seemingly former Dolphins QB Ryan Fitzpatrick was on ESPN yesterday offering advice and support for starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Despite struggling with losing his starting job in 2020, Fitzpatrick said “Everything is going to be a little more comfortable this year” for Tua.
“Playing in the league is going to be a little more familiar, your routine through the week and on road games. He’s no longer trying to figure out where the grocery store is, where he’s going to live or what car he’s going to drive. All that stuff is figured out. He can solely focus on being an NFL QB.
Ryan Fitzpatrick continues to be a great mentor
“To have an offseason, to have repetitions, to have some sense of continuity with George Godsey and Eric Studesville in his ear calling the plays and working with him. All that stuff points to him having a much better season this year and continuing to progress as a quarterback. That’s the most important thing for him: progression.
“I saw Tua’s comments from the other day. The advice I would give him and what he’s going to do is put your head down, you go to work, you tune all that stuff out and you let your presence, leadership ability and play on the field doing all the talking for you. There’s always going to be rumors. There’s always going to be haters and doubters.
“As long as you have the belief in yourself and a team that believes in you because of how you carry yourself every day, that’s what matters. It gets harder and harder as social media is such a big part of everybody’s life now to tune it out, but that’s what he has to do, and that’s what I think he’s going to do.”
Ryan Fitzpatrick’s comments will further the disappointment of a large section of the fanbase who would like to see him return to the team. He has been nothing but the ideal mentor for his young successor, but it looks like his time in South Florida is coming to an end this offseason.
Having won 4 of his 7 starts in 2020, and orchestrating a miracle comeback against the Raiders, Fitzpatrick proved he still has enough chops to compete in the NFL. While he will always be a boom or bust quarterback, no one will argue he has been great for Tua.
Ryan Fitzpatrick still wants to run it out in 2021
Ryan Fitzpatrick clearly wants to suit up again in 2021, “I love being out there. I love playing. I love the grind. I love the adversity with my teammates. I love being part of a team. These decisions have become heavier in recent years with some of that stuff, but I’ve got a really supportive family and looking forward to continuing on and playing next year.
“All things being equal, I want to be out there on the field playing. It’s just a lot more fun for me to be playing than it is to be sitting and watching. I’m going to see what’s out there and make an informed decision with my family.”
However, it seems that the Dolphins will look to go younger in 2021 and appoint a backup quarterback less inclined to push for a starting role. Tua has been named the unequivocal starter for the Dolphins in 2021, a move heavily backed up by the hirings so far in January.
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