Dolphins’ risky Tua Tagovailoa-Malik Willis swap can be inflection point for both QBs
NY Post
The Dolphins thanked Tua for his service and welcomed Willis.
In a transformative first day of free agency under a new regime, the Dolphins let it be known that Tua Tagovailoa will be released later this week despite an NFL-record $99.2 million dead salary cap charge.
Miami then quickly pivoted to Malik Willis as its new starting quarterback when he agreed to a reported three-year, $67.5 million contract that includes $45 million guaranteed
Tagovailoa wasn’t out of work for long — or at all? He zeroed in on the Falcons as his new home on a one-year contract, according to ESPN, even though he won’t officially hit the free agent market until Wednesday.
There were two obvious landing spots offering the comfort of familiarity to Willis, who spent the past two seasons as Jordan Love’s backup under head coach Matt LaFleur with the Packers. He could have joined the Cardinals — coached by Matt’s brother, Mike LaFleur — or be part of the Green Bay exodus headed to Miami, including general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley.
With the Dolphins, Willis will have another Kyle Shanahan protégé (offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik) calling plays, so the system should be similar to the LaFleurs’.
LOS ANGELES — A day earlier, coach Mike Brown made an impassioned plea to his players to take care of the ball.
The Dolphins thanked Tua for his service and welcomed Willis.
PHILADELPHIA — Wins like this have been a rarity for the Rangers as of late.
TAMPA — There are players who overhaul mechanics during an offseason or spring training and then cram in every at-bat or inning they can, determined to feel comfortable before the games actually matter.
Daniel Jones received $40 million per season with the Giants.
If you like a sure thing and are uncomfortable with surprises or simply not knowing, what comes next might not be for you.
Most of the words Chris Drury said in July about defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov centered around the defensive side of the $49 million defenseman’s game. The Rangers president and general manager wanted to be better in front of their goaltenders. He wanted improved coverage in high-danger areas. And Gavrikov, inked to a seven-year deal at the start of free agency that month to pair with Adam Fox, possessed “qualities of an elite shutdown guy.”
PORT ST. LUCIE — The power has always been there for Ryan Weathers.
LOS ANGELES — Desperately searching for offense, the Knicks dusted off little-used guard Jordan Clarkson on Sunday.
LOS ANGELES — You may have noticed the recent shift in Jalen Brunson’s stat lines. It’s rather dramatic.
With about five weeks left in the NBA’s regular season, we have a pretty clear picture of the contenders for the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
The Eagles are keeping a core piece of the defense for the future.
For weeks, Vincent Trocheck spoke like a player who was prepared to be traded.