Dolphins' Mike McDaniel - focus on Tua Tagovailoa's health, not career - ESPN

MIAMI — Roughly 12 hours after Tua Tagovailoa was diagnosed with his third concussion in two years, Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel pleaded with fans and media members to allow his quarterback to focus on his health before discussing his career.

Speaking to local media Friday morning, McDaniel said he «totally understands» people's concern about Tagovailoa's health, but insisted that placing pressure and anxiety on the quarterback to make a decision about retiring is not what's best for him right now.

«I think it would be so wrong of me to even sniff that subject, and it's more in line of actually caring about the human being,» McDaniel said. «You're talking about his career — his career is his… I just wish that people would for a second hear what I'm saying, that bringing up his future is not in the best interest of him. So, I'm going to plead with everybody that does genuinely care that that should be the last thing on your mind because you don't, what do you think?»

Tagovailoa sustained a hit to the head during Thursday night's loss to the Buffalo Bills, when he lowered his shoulder into Bills safety Damar Hamlin. Tagovailoa's helmet made forcible contact with Hamlin's arm, prompting a fencing response as a stunned crowd at Hard Rock Stadium let out a collective gasp. Tagovailoa remained on the field for several minutes, but was able to walk off the field and into the locker room under his own power.

He was almost immediately ruled out for the remainder of the game with a concussion.

McDaniel said Tagovailoa was still asleep when he tried to call him roughly an hour before speaking with the media at 10 a.m. E.T. and had not yet undergone further testing and evaluation. When asked about the severity of Tagovailoa's