Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa spoke at his press conference on Wednesday with a level of outwardness not all that often seen from the even-keeled signal caller.  

Tagovailoa met with the media on Wednesday and admitted he has been "keeping receipts" as far as commentary and criticism about him only being productive when WR Tyreek Hill is on the field.  He also added further that he doesn't care about the criticism.

Those comments caught the attention of Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe on ESPN's First Take on Thursday, who unloaded on the Dolphins' franchise quarterback. 

"He doesn't care, but he spends 90 minutes at the podium telling you he doesn't care" Sharpe said. "Where was this attitude after the Tennessee loss?  That was your time.  You beat the Jets.  You beat the lonely, pathetic-playing Jets.  You hang 30 on them, they get nothing.  And now you want to beat your chest like you're King Kong on the Empire State Building?  You're standing up there like you're Dan Marino. Stop playing.  We remember what you were before Tyreek got there.  Let me tell you how much they wanted Tyreek.  Davante Adams signed the largest contract in NFL history as a free agent.  The Miami Dolphins moved heaven and earth to get Tyreek.  Gave up major compensation and made him the highest paid receiver in NFL history with years on his contract, something we don't normally see.  And you want to get up here and pretend like you're the driving force?  Really, Tua?  That's what we're doing right now?" 

'He's never done anything but play at an incredibly high level'

Former Detroit Lions QB Dan Orlovsky quickly jumped to Tagovailoa's defense.  

"But this is why he's saying what he's saying, Shannon, "Orlovsky said.  "What is the criticism behind the Tua stuff?  I've never understood it.  The player has never done anything outside of a brief period of time in the NFL when, in my opinion, the handling of him was completely improper.  He's never done anything but play at an incredibly high level. Freshman year at Alabama to the national championship moment, the way he plays at Alabama for the majority of his career, he's dealt with so many injury things.  And the conversation around him, 'is he ever going to actually become the player that he can become?' And 'Tua's injury prone and soft', and all that. And then all that he does last year is he leads the number one offense in football.  When he played, it was the number one offense in football.  And all he's done this year is lead the number two offense in football behind the San Francisco 49ers."

While it's understandable to hear Orlovsky back up a fellow quarterback, he is correct in that when Tua has been on the field, Miami's offense has been highly effective. 

The numbers prove Tagovailoa has been accurate with the football

And Sharpe's focus on Tagovailoa's performance before and after Hill's arrival is misplaced.  It's taken quality throws and good touch in order for that offense to make plays.  Through 15 weeks, Tagovailoa is tied for fourth in the NFL with 29 big time throws per Pro Football Focus, "which are defined as a pass with excellent ball location and timing, generally thrown further down the field and/or into a tighter window."  Tagovailoa has the highest PFF passing grade in the league entering Week 16 with a score of 90.9.  

The numbers simply prove that Tagovailoa just isn't a guy who's a total product of immaculate talent around him.  Average quarterbacks aren't putting up those numbers even with outstanding talent around them.  That talent has taken off because of Tagovailoa's high level of play. 

'I think Mike McDaniel has come in and restored his confidence'

But it was the comments of former Super Bowl champion Damien Woody that really hit home why Tagovailoa has become a good quarterback over the past two seasons since Tyreek Hill came on board, and it has everything to do with another major factor who arrived not long before Hill. 

"I think my bigger point we talk about Tua and the way Tua was talking at the podium, it's really a byproduct of what Mike McDaniel has done with Tua as far as rebuilding him as a player," Woody said. "Rebuilding his confidence.  Because it was never about his talent.  Tua is one of the most talented quarterbacks that we have in this league.  

"The question about Tua since he's come in the league is what?  Injuries.  It's been health.  When Mike McDaniel came in, there's been two things that he's done.  Number one, he's tried to prioritize keeping Tua upright.  Number two, and more importantly, rebuilding the person, the man in Tua.  His confidence.  Because he saw, like most of us saw, how talented this guy is.  This is one of the most accurate quarterbacks that's come into the National Football League in quite some time.  And I think Mike McDaniel has come in and has rebuilt Tua and his confidence.  And to me that's what I saw at the podium."

Woody's comments are what really hit the nail on the head.  Tagovailoa made reference recently when talking about Austin Jackson about Brian Flores' poor treatment of players.  Heck, even former Dolphins QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, who was with Tagovailoa in Miami under Flores, talked about how Flores shredded Tagovailoa's confidence.  

Now, with a positive influence in the locker room and a genius of a play caller guiding him in McDaniel, Tagovailoa is thriving in this offense.  Whether or not the naysayers choose to recognize his high level of play is on them.  The Dolphins' star signal caller is just fine with it. 

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