The dreams to clinch a playoff victory and win the Super Bowl were shattered again! Last season, Tua Tagovailoa and his Miami Dolphins walked off “from the bitter-cold sting of an AFC Wild Card loss” to the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Chiefs. Consequently, the Phins head coach, Mike McDaniel, picked up a ‘24’ number approach for their preparation for the 2024.

However, that’s not because of the year ‘24, it’s because the team has a long 24-year playoff win drought. McDaniel is keeping every staff meeting at “7:24 or 3:24 or 5:24,” as well as continuously reminding his team about the historical gap between them and the Lombardi trophy. Talking about the same approach, the Dolphins quarterback gave a serious warning to all the teammates recently.

Tua Tagovailoa emphasizes the focus on ending the 24-year drought!

In a recent episode of SiriusXM NFL Radio podcast on August 2, 2024, Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa joined to talk about the team’s preparation and mindset. As the regular season is not so far now, the Dolphins are viewing this year as their Super Bowl year. Therefore, when asked what he thinks about Mike McDaniel’s ‘24’ approach and their preparation this year, the QB expressed, “If you’re not helping me get to where we need to be as a team, we don’t need you, and if I can’t tell you that, get out.”

As per MLFootball on X, Tagovailoa is not just playing, his ultimate goal is to win the Super Bowl. Talking about the same, Tagovailoa said about his teammates, “It’s cool to be friendly…I think for us, I think that’s the step we took further this year as a team that I am able to look at you as my teammate and I am able to tell you what you need to work on, and you need to tell me the same thing.” And if they are not on the same page, Tagovailoa will not mind whoever leaves the team.

However, he further made sure that all his current players are moving forward with the same mindset, and everyone is eyeing the Super Bowl this year. Wow! That’s what the Dolphins need at this time if they want to end their 24 years of playoff drought.

Additionally, it will be a do-or-die situation for the quarterback, as he recently signed a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension.

With great money comes great responsibility!

If you are paid a hefty amount, you need to perform accordingly – that’s the rule in the NFL! Tua Tagovailoa’s $212.4 million deal is currently the largest contract that Miami has ever offered to their players in the franchise’s history. Hence, with such a huge amount and responsibility, criticisms naturally come in for the players. Among those criticisms, one is of First Things First sportscaster Chris Broussard’s, who in a recent episode of the show, highlighted that this year is crucial for the quarterback. He summed up the pressure on Tagovailoa with, “Heavy is the head that wears the crown.”

He emphasized that this huge extension puts a target on the quarterback’s back, as every game will be under intense scrutiny, and each loss will be a massive letdown, especially given the offensive weapons he has. Broussard further highlighted that as the highest-paid player in the franchise, Tagovailoa is expected to deliver in 2024.

With a talented offensive playcaller like Mike McDaniel and plenty of offensive weapons, there’s no excuse for Tua not to succeed. The only leeway he might get is if the defense lets him down and the Dolphins lose by a narrow margin. But McDaniel, who is looking to win a Super Bowl this year, might not settle down with that excuse too.