Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa caught the attention of some this week when he suggested that wide receiver Tyreek Hill still has repair work to do after he ended the 2024 season by saying, “I’m out,” in reference to his Dolphins tenure.
In the eyes of former Buffalo Bills Pro Bowler Mitch Morse, the situation is a lesson that “words carry weight.”
“It was an extremely candid answer,” Morse said of Tagovailoa’s recent comments on the Hill matter. “I think it’s a great lesson for everyone, especially the youth: Words carry weight. And the weight of ‘I’m out’ is biblical. So, I really appreciated Tua coming up and just saying how it is.
“This is something that — of course we understand where he’s coming from. I’m sure Tyreek Hill, the night after he uttered those words, wished anything he could take those back. But you can’t. It’s today’s age. So, what does that mean? Time heals all wounds, sure, but this one’s gonna take some time, and it’s gonna take some effort.
“And we heard Tyreek Hill yesterday or maybe a few days ago talk about his ability to take a step back, look inwards and intrinsically look at himself and say, ‘I wanna be the best version of myself.’ And I’m sure that this is one of those instances that led to that moment. Admirable for both guys, but we’ll see.
“Time does heal wounds, and it’s something that I’m sure that he’s trying to nurture every day.”
Hill made his infamous “I’m out” claim just after the Dolphins finished their 2024 season and missed the playoffs. That was a new experience for Hill, who had never missed the playoffs up to that point.
The veteran certainly isn’t absolved of blame for how last season went, even though he played through injury. He didn’t look like himself for parts of the campaign and finished with under 1,000 receiving yards for the first time as a Dolphin.
Now, he will need to both gain back the trust of his team and prove that he can still produce at an elite level. Neither one of those tasks is going to be particularly easy, but if he were to check both boxes, that would go a long way for the success of the upcoming Dolphins season.
Tagovailoa, meanwhile, is trying to stay healthy this coming season and remain productive. His health will be another key to both Hill’s production and the overall success of the team.
The quarterback was limited to 11 games last season. When he was available, he led the NFL in completion percentage. It has become common for him to lead the league in key categories as long as he’s on the field, so with any luck, there will be more of that to come.
As the Dolphins look to establish a better culture this season and beyond, Hill finding a way to move on from his mistake at the end of last season is going to be an important storyline to follow. In an ideal world for the squad, the stars will align and lead to a playoff victory.
