The Hip Injury To Tua Tagovailoa Could Be The Ultimate Blessing In Disguise
We never want to see a player get hurt. The injury to Tua Tagovailoa is devastating. Hip injuries are no joke for any athlete. We don’t even have a real timeline for recovery. So far, the initial reports are really encouraging. The doctors have claimed that Tua will make a “full recovery”.
“Tua’s prognosis is excellent, and we expect him to make a full recovery,” Alabama orthopedic surgeon Dr. Lyle Cain said in a statement. “He will return to Tuscaloosa in the next several days to begin his rehab.”
Maybe that’s just wishful thinking. If those sentiments are true, this hip injury could be the best thing to ever happen to him.
Where you get drafted has such an impact on your NFL future. Sam Darnold is awesome. Thus far, he’s not good enough to overcome the Jets’ dysfunction. Baker Mayfield isn’t as talented as Darnold but has a much supporting cast and he can’t overcome Cleveland. Josh Rosen was given to the death sentence of the NFL. Arizona to Miami. He’s a nobody. Lamar Jackson isn’t this good. He was just given Baltimore and everything they offer. Tom Brady isn’t Tom Brady without New England. Patrick Mahomes isn’t 50 touchdowns in a season good without Andy Reid. It makes a world of difference. Nobody can really win by themself, although, Russell Wilson is making it look like that.
Nothing would be worse for Tua than being drafted by a team like Cincinnati, Miami, or Washington. It’s close to career suicide. Now he’s going to slide in the draft. I want to preface this by saying I wouldn’t pass on him but that’s what teams will do. How far he slides? I don’t think anyone really knows yet. What if the Patriots take him? How about the Steelers? What about New Orleans? Imagine what Tua can be with a great franchise. Someone that otherwise would have had no chance to take him will now get the opportunity. It’s almost like Aaron Rodgers slipped in the draft again for no reason.
Tua also has incredible leverage. If he goes to a team that he doesn’t want to play for, he can sit out the season and reenter the draft the next year. He can bo totally upfront with any interested team and say “no thanks, Cincinnati”. Tua as the heir apparent to Big Ben would be fun. I’d love to see him in New England. Can you imagine the firework show that would be. This hip injury could be the best thing to ever happen to him.
