Tyreek Hill says Tua’s response to ESPN criticism ‘fires me up,’ shows Dolphins something they’ve never seen – Yahoo Sports

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. Tua Tagovailoa began to let his guard down last season, when Mike McDaniel took over as Miami Dolphins head coach.

But this year?

I can say this year that Tua has definitely come out of his shell, seven-time Pro Bowl receiver Tyreek Hill told Yahoo Sports on Thursday after practice. After his comments yesterday to Ryan Clark? I don't think we've ever seen that side right there. I don't think weve ever seen that.

And that's the side I love right there. That fires me up right there.

Hill was referencing his quarterbacks request that ESPN's Ryan Clark keep my name out your mouth, Tagovailoas rebuke ultimately prompting the analyst to apologize Thursday morning.

Clark, a 13-year former NFL defensive back, apologized in writing and in a recorded message.

When I decided to do TV I had 2 main priorities, Clark wrote in a tweet. 1. Respect all NFL players, coaches, executives and staff members. 2. Earn and keep the respect of those very same people.

I do my best to be honest when executing my job as well as being honest when I fall short. I fell short on Monday and for that, I genuinely apologize.

Clark said in a Monday segment on ESPNs NFL Live studio show that Tagovailoa this offseason wasnt in the gym, I bet you that and was not at the dinner table eating what the nutritionist had advised. He compared Tagovailoa, who bulked up 10 pounds this offseason in hopes of protecting himself from injuries that have plagued his career, to a stripper.

I come from a Samoan family where respect is everything, Tagovailoa said Wednesday. But it does get to a point where hey, little easy on that, buddy. Because I think were pretty tough-minded people, and if we need to get scrappy, we can get scrappy, too.

Id appreciate if you kept my name out your mouth.

Hill said the comments werent just unkind they were also untrue. The receiver praised the work ethic he witnessed up close in about four joint training sessions at Tagovailoas gym this offseason.

The guy would actually put in work, said Hill, who caught 70% of targets last season for a team-best 1,710 receiving yards. He was outworking me. And Im like one of them dudes who will stay in the gym all day.

In his recorded video, Clark said that he intended his comments jokingly rather than in question of Tagovailoas work ethic and commitment. He reiterated his desire to operate with respect.

Anything contrary to that, then Ive got to check myself.

Clark said initially his response to Tagovailoas comments about getting scrappy was or what?

Man, I fed my family on violence, Clark continued. I aint tripping on that. But thats the pride that doesn't enable me to see what this dudes going through. The constant criticisms, constant scrutiny, constantly being questioned, feeling the stress of always having to prove yourself. ...

It was, what I can consider now, a bad joke. But for me, its been a lesson. Ill be better.

McDaniel, speaking in a Thursday news conference before the teams final practice of training camp, didnt directly acknowledge Clark or Tagovailoas comments. But he gave a lengthy response detailing Tagovailoas top-five offseason among Dolphins players. McDaniel emphasized that he (unlike somebody else, it seemed) could speak hard facts that Ive seen with my own eyes.

You want to talk about someone whos committed to doing what hes doing for the right reasons? McDaniel said. You want to talk about every metric that [head strength and conditioning coach] Dave Puloka and his strength staff tracks, which is pretty much everything to the degree of blinks? Every metric of strength that is measured, [Tagovailoa has] shattered his previous highs. In some instances, hes almost twice as strong with things. And thats been a daily commitment that he hasnt wavered from.

McDaniel praised how his quarterback has taken his nutrition to another level and really thought outside the box on how to prepare his body. Tagovailoa said Wednesday hed prefer to be lighter, but understands why this weight along with offseason falling practice in jiu-jitsu can help protect him following the career-threatening concussions he suffered last season.

I couldnt be happier with the work hes put in and what Ive factually viewed from my own eyes, McDaniel said. Basically youre happy for guys as a coach when you can see in the present that down the road theyre going to have no regrets. You know that, without any shade of gray, youve put your best foot forward. And he really has.

His teammates would agree: We are getting the absolute best version of Tua thats existed.

See more here:

Tyreek Hill says Tua's response to ESPN criticism 'fires me up,' shows Dolphins something they've never seen - Yahoo Sports