Tua on Dolphins’ Brady interest: ‘I’m still here’

TAMPA, Fla. — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa instructed reporters final week that he believes the group is “all in” on him regardless of its prior curiosity in Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady.

His reply was much more succinct Wednesday when requested once more about his response to that curiosity.

“Yeah, I imply, I am nonetheless right here,” he mentioned. “To me, that is all noise at this level.”

Tagovailoa and the Dolphins practiced with Brady’s Buccaneers on Wednesday, the primary of two joint practices earlier than the groups’ preseason opener Saturday at Raymond James Stadium. The timing of their joint apply coincidentally comes one week after the NFL disciplined Miami for impermissible contact with Brady in 2019 and 2021 — failed efforts to steer him to hitch the Dolphins as a restricted companion, soccer govt and presumably as a participant.

The league fined Dolphins proprietor Stephen Ross and restricted companion and vice chairman Bruce Beal a mixed $2 million and stripped the Dolphins of their 2023 first-round draft decide and 2024 third-round decide in response to their contact with Brady and impermissible contact with then-New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton earlier than his retirement in January.

Tagovailoa had an prolonged change with the reporter who requested him about his response to the league’s investigation, throughout which he insisted that Miami’s curiosity in Brady was previously.

Chatting with native media final week, Tagovailoa mentioned he typically retains a decent circle round him and would not take note of any narrative surrounding him till he is requested.

“I might say the one factor that will get irritating is in case you hear it day by day or in case you see it day by day,” he mentioned. “For me, I remove all of that. Do not hear it. Do not see it. I am going residence, go to my household, research, get up the following day, come again and luxuriate in soccer. I hear every thing clearly from the media after which when [the communications staff] preps me for no matter you guys are going to say, then I am like, ‘Ah, I’ve received to reply this. All proper, let me determine one thing politically right to say.’”

Brady was not made obtainable to the media Wednesday and has not issued a public remark concerning the tampering incidents. Tagovailoa mentioned he spoke with Brady on the Bucs’ facility Wednesday — primarily concerning the offseason and golf, though Tagovailoa mentioned he requested the seven-time Tremendous Bowl champion for some soccer perception, however did not specify any additional particulars.

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel downplayed the influence of working towards with Brady and the impact final week’s information has on his group.

“For me, nothing occurred. Everybody else is the one making it awkward,” McDaniel mentioned. “It would not occupy a single iota of area with anyone. It is arduous sufficient to be good on this league. Because the Miami Dolphins, all of our vitality could be very coordinated and solely has to do with us getting higher and every thing else could be a possibility price that we’re not keen to expend.”