The Dolphins are winless entering Week 4, and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa knows he hasn’t met expectations. But when veteran NFL player and analyst Cam Newton questioned his performance and pay, Tua didn’t hold back. What followed was a sharp exchange, and Newton didn’t let it slide.

Sharing Tua’s video on X, Newton teased his upcoming appearance on First Take with a sarcastic poll: “Which version of Cam should respond tomorrow?” He listed options like “Former Player Cam,” “Distinguished Cam,” “Petty Cam,” “Podcast Cam,” and finally, “All of the above.”

It was a playful but pointed way of saying: I can be respectful, sharp, or brutally honest, and maybe all at once.

The tension began when Cam Newton questioned Tua Tagovailoa’s performance and salary, saying, “Tagovailoa is making more than Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, Baker Mayfield, Matthew Stafford, Jayden Daniels,” Newton said.

He continued, “Am I pocket watching? No, I’m putting things into perspective here. In this case, it should be more money, more expectations. … What you’re being paid, what you’re asked to do, what you have the capability of — from one quarterback to the other, I look at the situation like, come on, dawg. Especially when you’ve got a Ferrari and a Lamborghini and other amenities that other quarterbacks wish they had.”

Newton made his point while Tua’s numbers against the Bills, 22 completions in 34 attempts for 146 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception, stood as evidence that expectations are high. Still, Tua has a right to defend himself.

Aware of his slow start, Tua responded, “I haven’t played anywhere near what I expect to play.” Then, when asked directly about Newton’s remarks, he didn’t hold back, “Well, anybody can play quarterback in this league then. I want to see anybody on the streets come and play quarterback.”

That was an unexpected reply, especially considering who he is talking about. Newton was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, led Auburn to a national title, won the Heisman, and earned Rookie of the Year honors with 4,051 passing yards and 21 touchdowns. By 2015, he was league MVP, guiding the Panthers to a 15-1 season and a Super Bowl berth. It’s the kind of resume that commands attention.

While Newton speaks from experience, head coach Mike McDaniel is focused on the present. He is backing his quarterback to turn things around and prove he is still the right guy for the job.

McDaniel is backing Tua Tagovailoa despite struggles

With Miami sitting with a shaky 0-3 start, all eyes are on head coach McDaniel. His seat is getting hot, and he knows it. One key to cooling things off is Tagovailoa. If the quarterback can find his groove, McDaniel’s Dolphins can stabilize quickly. The coach hasn’t been shy about breaking down the quarterback’s role.

“The game of a franchise quarterback is never just still,” he said during a team press conference. He emphasized that Tua faces a lot of challenges but also has opportunities to make plays and avoid turnovers.

“I think all things throwing the football, he is capable of, and there’s opportunities he needs to take advantage of. There’s also a ton of opportunities to turn the ball over that he hasn’t taken.” Essentially, McDaniel sees potential, but he wants Tua to execute at a higher level.

It’s clear McDaniel still trusts Tagovailoa, despite the pressure. “It’s not an easy task to be in his shoes. I’m very happy with where his mind is at and where his focus is at because… he’s focused on being 1-0 against the New York Jets. I know he’s capable.”

However, Miami has a chance to turn things around against the struggling Jets.

New York is dealing with its own changes, with Justin Fields at quarterback and Aaron Glenn stepping in as head coach. Meanwhile, as Week 4 nears, McDaniel will be watching closely, hoping Tua Tagovailoa can step up and give Miami the boost it needs.