Since Dan Marino retired in 2000, the Miami Dolphins have been unable to find a franchise quarterback who can carry the franchise the way that he did.
The organization is hoping that it has finally found one in Tua Tagovailoa.
Marino, who has been serving as a special adviser to the team since 2014, is excited about what the young quarterback has to offer to the Dolphins.
“He’s been great. He’s been awesome. He has all the talent in the world. Now it’s just about him developing the relationship with the other players,” Marino told Cameron Wolfe of ESPN. “It’s been tough because he didn’t have OTAs last year, a lot of the summer camp or the chance to play in exhibition games. All those things delay you somewhat. I’ll tell you, he works his butt off. I’m really excited about him, his future and our future as a team.”
Tagovailoa has also expressed his appreciation for the help he has been receiving from the Dolphins legend. Moreover, Marino seems confident that the second-year passer is in for a major leap this season.
“Over the past year, Tagovailoa said he valued Marino’s occasional insight added during quarterback meetings,” Wolfe continued. “Count Marino among those who believe Tagovailoa will be much improved.
“‘As time goes on you, you get a better handle [of things]. You know your people. That’s what OTAs is about, getting your timing down,’ Marino said. ‘He played a lot last year and when he played, we won games. We almost got in the playoffs. All that is a positive. You try to build from the positives.
“‘He wants to be really good. And in time, he’s going to get there because that’s what type of kid he is.'”
The University of Alabama product is looking to make the leap in his second year in the league and lead Miami to the playoffs next season.
