Last week marked a significant moment as Tua Tagovailoa, the quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, returned to the NFL field after a hiatus since the last season due to two concussions he suffered. Fortunately, he successfully completed the concussion protocol on February 1, 2023. Miami’s confidence in his recovery remains steadfast, with expectations that he’ll be fully prepared for football-related activities later this year.

However, there’s been a recent viral clip featuring Ryan Clark from ESPN, where he engaged in body shaming directed at Tua Tagovailoa during a live television segment. The context was a discussion by the NFL Live crew regarding the QB stats for the upcoming 2023 NFL season.

Ryan Clark’s harsh words on Tua’s physique

In the ESPN Live show discussion, host Clark remarked, “I’m gonna tell you what he wasn’t doing. He [Tagovailoa] wasn’t in the gym. I bet you that.” And former safety added, “He might have spent a lot of time in the tattoo parlor.”

Clark further criticized Tua’s physique, suggesting Tagovailoa ignored nutrition advice, “He was not at the dinner table, eating with the nutritionist’s head advised. He looked happy. He’s thick. He’s built like a girl working [at] Onyx in Atlanta right now, on the bottom.”

However, amidst the criticism, one fan staunchly supported Tagovailoa’s efforts, stating, “Tua does nothing but keep his head down and work his tail off the ENTIRE off season to get his body right.” The fan also expressed disdain for Ryan Clark’s negative comments, saying, “This level of hate from Ryan Clark is unbelievable…” Suggesting, ESPN should be held accountable for perpetuating such negativity so openly.

Tua Tagovailoa’s come back

Amidst criticism, it’s important to understand that the Dolphins’ quarterback has been dedicating time to learning jiu-jitsu during the off-season. This pursuit serves a twofold purpose: enhancing his ability to land safely and reducing the risk of head injuries on the field.

Tagovailoa shared, that throughout this off-season, he had been working on my falling techniques extensively. “I’ve been falling a lot this offseason,” With jiu-jitsu training, have experienced being thrown into the air and placed in numerous uncomfortable positions. “So I mean, with jiu-jitsu, I’ve been thrown airborne, I’ve been put in many uncomfortable positions for me to learn how to fall.” This has allowed Tagovailoa to learn the art of falling and adapting to those challenging scenarios.

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Last season, as the Dolphins achieved an impressive 8-3 record, Tagovailoa led one of the league’s most formidable offenses. In this preseason, Tua Tagovailoa, after a 237-day hiatus, marked his return by participating in his first football game. During the game, he orchestrated a 93-yard drive, resulting in a touchdown for the Dolphins on their second possession. Tagovailoa completed 5 of 6 passes for 61 yards, and secured a 28-3 win over the Texans, showcasing his prowess on the field once again.

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