When Tua Tagovailoa dropped the crown of his helmet, it became obvious where this conversation was headed. The Dolphins quarterback rammed into Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s biceps on Thursday, suffering his third diagnosed concussion in the last 24 months.
Within minutes on social media, calls began for Tagovailoa to retire, citing his predisposition for head injuries and concern for his long-term health.
I won’t lecture him to quit. Having covered sports for three decades, I know that players are type-A personalities. Being a professional athlete is a lifestyle, a pursuit that began not long after they left diapers.
Fame is addictive. The camaraderie in the locker room is hard to duplicate. If Tagovailoa wants to play, it’s his choice, though the Dolphins could decide not to activate him in the name of safety. We all should care more about the person than the player. But the next step is up to him, not us.
While I covered Broncos receiver Wes Welker, there were moments when fans and family advised him to walk away because of multiple concussions. He never did. He was wired in a way most of us would never understand. This is why athletes must be protected from themselves. The league instituted a concussion protocol for this reason (and to cover its own backside). But unlike their predecessors from the 1960s-2000s, today’s players enter the arena with their eyes wide open.
Players, years ago, told me how they tanked the preseason concussion test to make it easier to get cleared to play if they suffered a head injury. For many, the only thing they like more than breathing is competing. They feel guilty when they aren’t there for their teammates. They say that football is what they do, not who they are. Not sure how many really believe that.
Tua will gather the facts, talk to family and weigh medical opinions, but I predict he will return. Ultimately, it’s his decision, not ours.
Tackle Box: Garett Bolles loves to fly-fish, so I figured he would take the bait. What happened with the offensive line last week? “I don’t know. All I know is that I have to play better,” Bolles, 32, said. “We have to play better.”
Bolles will make his 101st start for the Broncos on Sunday, playing through a bruised ankle suffered from getting rolled up on against the Seahawks. He prides himself on his availability. It has helped keep him around for eight seasons, leaving him the longest-tenured Broncos player. “It is weird,” he said. “I feel like the dad now.”
We Can’t C-U: Safety Shilo Sanders telling Nebraska players during the coin toss that they were going to “roll their (butts)” captures what is wrong with the Buffs. They don’t need to talk about it. They need to be about it. They have lost nine of their last 11 games, and if CSU upsets them, the national fascination with the Buffs will near its expiration date.
Murray Money: The Nuggets had no choice but to sign Jamal Murray to a max extension. It keeps Nikola Jokic’s championship window open, but it will look like a mistake if Murray and Michael Porter Jr., another max player, don’t produce career years. The Nuggets will have to trade one or the other after this season if they fail to deliver.
Mail Time
Mike McGlinchey against T.J. Watt gives me nightmares. They must double-team him with a tight end and fullback, right?
James Baxter, email
If the Broncos are employing common sense, Watt should get chipped more than my windshield on I-25. McGlinchey must be on point and should benefit from the silence of the home crowd. Playing against Watt is like golf. One bad shot can ruin a round. So can one bad snap. He will get his pressures, but they can’t let him wreck the game with a turnover.
