Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa Fires Back at Cam Newton With Strong Statement

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In last Thursday's 31-21 loss to the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa threw a costly fourth-quarter interception that landed him on the receiving end of criticism from former MVP Cam Newton.

During an appearance on First Take, Newton criticized the loss, as well as Tagovailoa's play through the early stretch of the season, as the Dolphins find themselves 0-3.

As he explained, Tagovailoa makes more than players like Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson. Because of that, he expects more from the 2023 Pro Bowler.

Ahead of Monday's clash with the New York Jets, Tua Tagovailoa fired back during Thursday's media availability:

"Anybody can play quarterback in this league, then. I want to see anyone on the streets come play quarterback. Cam's doing his thing, for sure, but I think it's easier to be able to hold a clicker and talk about it that way or talk about what someone else is doing wrong when you're not going out and having to do the same as them.

"It's easy to do that. I think anybody can do that, I don't think anybody can play quarterback."

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While Tagovailoa, who led the league in passing yards in 2023, has shown he has what it takes to be one of the best quarterbacks in the league, he's coming off a 2025 season where he played just three games.

Since returning to action at the start of the year, the 27-year-old has thrown for at least one interception in each of the team's first three games.

As he explained during Thursday's media availability, he hasn't played to the level he knows he's capable of.

"I haven't played anywhere near the standard that I've played in years past and knowing the standard that I can play to. It starts with me, with the offense, getting our guys going. And then the defense being able to feed off of that as well, right? I wouldn't say that I've been playing my best football yet."

Whether he and the Dolphins can pick up their first win of the season on Monday, only time will tell.