It doesn’t take much to annoy Stephen A Smith. The ESPN analyst is not mincing words when it comes to the Miami Dolphins and how they handled the head injury of Tua Tagovailoa last season. However, his frustration doesn’t stop here – he is particularly livid with head coach Mike McDaniel.
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During a recent episode of ESPN’s ‘First Take’, Stephen A Smith expressed his strong disapproval of Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. He particularly went into the criticism zone after watching a clip of McDaniel discussing Tagovailoa’s somersault performance at practice.
No Trust in Coach McDaniel: Stephen A. Smith Voices Disapproval Over Tua’s Situation
Stephen A. Smith is annoyed with the way the Miami Dolphins reacted to Tua’s head injury last season. “I don’t want to be excessive because I’m serious and I’m not joking,” Smith said while talking about Mike McDaniel’s approach towards Tua. “I don’t like listening to this man. I have an attitude when I see this man.”
Stephen A Smith Does Not Like Mike McDaniel. He says regarding McDaniel – “I don’t like listening to this Man.” pic.twitter.com/ECwhYmcCjp
— DolphinsTalk.com (@DolphinsTalk) August 1, 2023
“It’s unconscionable how you let Tua Tagovailoa on that field against the Cincinnati Bengals last year after watching him be concussed in that game Sunday. I don’t give a damn what he says. I’m talking about the veracity of the words coming out of his mouth. I just don’t believe a damn thing he says,” was Stephen’s unfiltered comments with respect to Coach McDaniel.
Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel defends the team’s decision to play QB Tua Tagovailoa days after he suffered an apparent head injury:
“If there would have been anything lingering with his head, I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if I prematurely put someone out there.” pic.twitter.com/7WhjD3cZXi
— The Recount (@therecount) September 30, 2022
Whilst the criticism on the part of Stephen seems harsh prima facie, there might be some merit to it. Chris Nowinski, the Chief Executive of the Concussion Legacy Foundation had reportedly warned the Dolphins after the first head injury that Tua suffered during the game. Chris in his tweet wrote, “I predicted this and I hate that I am right. Two concussions in 5 days can kill someone. This can end careers. How are we so stupid in 2022.”
As reported by the New York Times, he had also put up another tweet (now deleted) blaming the team for their irresponsible handling of Tua’s injury. He wrote, “You guys should go to jail for letting him play so soon after hitting his head violently in the previous game.”
Tua Tagovailoa Contemplated Retirement After Facing Head Injuries
It is agreeable that two head injuries within a few days can cause extreme damage. As upsetting as it sounds, Tua reportedly considered retirement from the NFL after what had transpired last season. In a conversation with Marcel Louis-Jacques, ESPN, Tua had stated, “I considered it(retirement) for a time, having sat down with my family, having sat down with my wife, and having those kinds of conversations.”
⚠️CONTENT WARNING | GRAPHIC VIDEO⚠️
Just days after sustaining a serious neck/head injury, Tua Tagovailoa has suffered additional head trauma and displayed the fencing response.
Tagovailoa was stabilized and stretchered off the field. Very scary sight. pic.twitter.com/ks52j4Cs2P
— Prime Time Sports Talk (@TalkPrimeTime) September 30, 2022
He went on to confess that his health, especially after the injury worried him. “I always dreamed of playing as long as I could to where my son knew exactly what he was watching, that he was watching his dad. It’s my health, it’s my body, and I feel like this is what’s best for me and my family,” confessed Tua.
Stephen A. Smith’s unfiltered criticism of Miami Dolphins’ head coach Mike McDaniel and his handling of Tua Tagovailoa’s head injury, coupled with Tua’s shocking revelation about considering retirement, sheds light on the urgent need for the NFL and other sports organizations to prioritize player safety.
