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Usually, when football players don't attend Organized Team Activities (OTAs), it's because they're in a contract dispute with their team. While Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is currently looking to sign a long-term extension, there's another reason he didn't attend OTAs Tuesday.
The Alabama alum had a previously scheduled commitment to go to Nick Saban's golf tournament on Monday, via NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe.
“Tua Tagovailoa won’t be at Dolphins voluntary OTAs today,” tweeted Wolfe. “But it’s not contract related. He had a previously scheduled commitment and communicated it with Mike McDaniel. Tua is at Nick Saban’s charity golf tournament. He was here for Day 1 yesterday.”
Tagovailoa and Mark Ingram, two Crimson Tide legends both coached by Saban, were seen together at the event, via Tuscaloosa News' Nick Kelly.
Tua and Mark Ingram here for Nick’s Kids golf tournament pic.twitter.com/1EFzLO60uI
— Nick Kelly (@_NickKelly) May 21, 2024
Nick's Kids Golf Tournament is a part of Nick's Kids Foundation, a nonprofit organization that Saban founded to help the community in Alabama, via nickskidsfoundation.org.
“The Nick's Kids Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and resources for deserving organizations throughout the state of Alabama and Southeast,” the website said. “As the official charity of Nick Saban and his family, Nick and Terry invest their time and energy hosting luncheons, golf tournaments, scrimmages and other events to benefit the cause.”
Tagovailoa did miss voluntary workouts in April but doesn't appear to be doing a long-term holdout. When will the fifth-year veteran agree to terms with Miami?
If Tagovailoa stays healthy, it's only a matter of time until the Dolphins extend him
Tagovailoa is coming off of a career year in which he led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards, to go with a personal-best 29 touchdowns. The southpaw also earned his first Pro Bowl bid, and most importantly, played in every game of the season for the first time in his career.
Although he hasn't been fully present at team activities this offseason, he's still invested in his growth as a player. Tagovailoa lost around 10-15 pounds to increase his mobility and agility ahead of next season, traits that have never been his strong suit.
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel doesn't seem concerned with Tagovailoa's absence, via NFL.com's Eric Edholm.
“I think (what is) important in the player-coach relationship is communication,” McDaniel said. “I think however things play out, as long as we're communicating and we're on our Ps and Qs in what we need to get accomplished, then we have a fighting chance. It's been a good exercise in our relationship this offseason.”
If Tagovailoa's production last season and his slimmed-down figure aren't enough to land him the deal he's looking for right now, continuing his momentum into the 2024 campaign will certainly do the trick. Miami could be nervous about investing in the 26-year-old, given his extensive injury history. The organization may want to make sure last year wasn't a fluke before handing him the keys.
Tagovailoa is currently slated to play on the fifth-year option on his rookie deal this year, which is worth $23 million.
