Dolphins Rumors: Xavien Howard Restructures Contract to Help Miami's Salary Cap
Nov 25, 2021
Miami Dolphins' Xavien Howard during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
The Miami Dolphins have reportedly created more salary-cap space by restructuring cornerback Xavien Howard's contract.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the restructuring created more than $3.7 million in space, which will help Miami "operate through the end of the season."
According to Spotrac, Howard had a potential out in his contract for 2022 but is scheduled for unrestricted free agency in 2025.
The cornerback has been with Miami since the AFC East team selected him with a second-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft. He is a two-time Pro Bowler and was a first-team All-Pro last year.
That 2020 campaign was impressive as he finished with a league-best 10 interceptions and 20 passes defended. He notched 51 tackles and a forced fumble as one of the leaders of the defense for the 10-6 Dolphins.
Howard also led the NFL with seven interceptions during the 2018 season.
He is 28 years old and theoretically in his prime. While the Dolphins have struggled with consistency this season and have a 4-7 record, Howard figures to be a key part of the secondary for years to come assuming they choose to build around him.
Miami started the season 1-7 but has momentum after three straight wins and will look to keep rolling in Sunday's matchup with the Carolina Panthers.
It also has more cap space to operate with after this move.
Dolphins Rumors: Tua Tagovailoa Wasn't Going to Be Traded If Miami Got Deshaun Watson
Nov 18, 2021
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 11: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins throws a pass against the Baltimore Ravens during the third quarter in the game at Hard Rock Stadium on November 11, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
The Miami Dolphins reportedly weren't
planning to trade quarterback Tua Tagovailoa this season, even if
they acquired Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans before the trade
deadline.
Jeff Howe of The Athletic reported
Thursday that stance could change in the offseason if the Dolphins
land a "no-doubt franchise QB," at which point they could look to
move Tagovailoa for a Day 2 pick in the 2022 NFL draft.
Miami and Houston worked toward a
potential blockbuster deal before the Nov. 2 deadline, but weren't
able to reach a final agreement.
Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson reported
Dolphins owner Stephen Ross wouldn't sign off on a trade unless the
team received protections on the draft picks it was sending to the
Texans depending on Watson's availability. The other option was for
the quarterback to settle the 22 civil lawsuits filed against him by
women alleging sexual assault or misconduct.
Watson didn't want to sign a settlement
agreement because he felt it would signal an "admission of guilt," per John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.
It's a situation that could be
revisited in the offseason depending on the status of the civil
lawsuits as well as the 10 criminal complaints filed against the Texans quarterback, including two from women who haven't filed civil lawsuits.
Meanwhile, Tagovailoa has endured an
up-and-down second season with the Dolphins after being selected with
the fifth pick in the 2020 draft.
The 23-year-old out of the University of Alabama
has completed 65.3 percent of his throws for 1,198 yards with seven
touchdowns and five interceptions in six games. He's added 62 rushing
yards and three scores on the ground.
Tagovailoa ranks 17th in ESPN's Total
QBR (53.7) and has also received a middling overall grade (71.6) from
Pro Football Focus.
The Hawai'i native has recorded a
modest 24 total touchdowns (18 passing and six rushing) across 16
career games, and the fact that the Dolphins made a serious run at Watson
suggests they aren't totally sold on Tagovailoa as a long-term,
championship-caliber franchise quarterback.
If Miami does make him available in the
offseason, he'll likely attract interest as a recent top-five pick with
some untapped potential, but getting a Day 2 selection in return as Howe
reported would be a significant drop in value.
The Dolphins will hope Tagovailoa
shines during the season's second half to either establish himself as
their franchise signal-caller or bolster his trade value.
Tua Tagovailoa to Start vs. Jets After Leading Dolphins to Win vs. Ravens in Return
Nov 15, 2021
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) aims a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
After leading the Miami Dolphins to victory in Week 10 off the bench, Tua Tagovailoa will return to the starting lineup against the New York Jets on Sunday.
"My expectation is he'll start this weekend," head coach Brian Flores told reporters Monday. "Obviously he’ll have some discomfort with the finger. Banged it the other day—we were trying to avoid that, but it happened. But he’s had some time to rest it and he’ll practice today."
Jacoby Brissett started the last two games for Miami after Tagovailoa suffered a fractured bone in his left middle finger, although both quarterbacks remained active for each game. After Brissett suffered a knee injury in Thursday's game against the Baltimore Ravens, Tagovailoa took over and led the team to a 22-10 upset win.
The 23-year-old finished 8-of-13 for 158 passing yards and also added a rushing touchdown in the victory while Brissett was just 11-of-23 for 156 yards before coming out of the game.
Tagovailoa has been effective when on the field, totaling seven passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns in his four full games this season. Injuries have slowed him down, however, as he notably suffered a rib injury that knocked him out of his Week 2 game against the Buffalo Bills, which cost him the next three games.
The finger injury suffered in Week 8 prevented him from playing in Week 9 against the Houston Texans.
The 2020 No. 5 overall pick also suffered a hip injury in college that ended his career at Alabama.
Though he's clearly not yet 100 percent, Tagovailoa still gives the Dolphins the best chance to win after a 3-7 start to the season.
The Miami Dolphins authored one of the best defensive performances of the 2021 NFL season on Thursday night. Miami smothered Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens offense for four quarters in its 22-10 victory...
Lamar Jackson, Ravens Struggle Mightily in 22-10 Loss to Dolphins on TNF
Nov 12, 2021
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 11: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins throws a pass against the Baltimore Ravens during the third quarter in the game at Hard Rock Stadium on November 11, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
And then the fourth quarter hit like a fire alarm.
The 3-7 Dolphins shocked the NFL world, beating the Ravens 22-10 behind Xavien Howard's fumble recovery return for a touchdown and Tua Tagovailoa's game-sealing touchdown sneak, both in the decisive final frame.
The Tagovailoa touchdown nixed Baltimore's attempt to climb out of a 15-3 hole, as a Lamar Jackson touchdown pass to Mark Andrews with just over four minutes remaining brought them within five points. That was as close as they got, dropping them to 6-3 on the year.
It was an exciting finish. But this was the first three quarters:
Granted, people who hate it when teams convert third-down tries—the Ravens were 2-of-14, while the Dolphins were 3-of-13—were in absolute heaven. If you actively root against high-powered offenses, the Ravens (210 passing yards) brought the heat for you. If you aren't a big fan of efficient rushing attacks, Miami's execution (60 yards on 22 attempts) was your pigskin Mona Lisa.
To put into perspective just how much of a mess this game was, one of the most exciting plays of the entire contest was a flea-flicker that was also... a screen pass?
And then there was Robert Hunt, Miami's guard who caught a screen pass that definitely wasn't intended for him and nearly scored a touchdown after flipping into the air. Granted, he was penalized for being an ineligible receiver, but, hey, it was fun!
Ultimately, the Ravens failed to keep pace with the Tennessee Titans (7-2) atop the AFC standings. The Dolphins got a huge win they'll hope can inspire a second-half surge out of the NFL's cellar. And the rest of us are still trying to figure out what we just watched.
Key Stats
Tua Tagovailoa, MIA: 8-of-13 for 158 yards and a rushing touchdown
Albert Wilson, MIA: Four catches for 87 yards
Isaiah Ford, MIA: Four catches for 84 yards
Lamar Jackson, BAL: 26-of-43 for a touchdown, an interception and four sacks; 39 rushing yards
Rashod Bateman, BAL: Six catches for 80 yards
Mark Andrews, BAL: Six catches for 63 yards and a score
Jackson and Baltimore's Offense Was Atrocious
Coming into Thursday night, the Dolphins ranked 30th in yards allowed per game (391.9) and 27th in points surrendered (26.9). So how in the world did a Baltimore offense putting up 427.9 yards (second in the NFL) and 27.6 points (seventh) per game struggle this badly?
Maybe it was the short week. Maybe Baltimore had a poor game plan. Maybe Jackson just had one of those nights.
And credit where credit is due—the Dolphins had a great defensive game plan and played inspired football. They blitzed Jackson without fear or reservation, and it consistently paid off. Miami's defense was fantastic from start to finish.
Good for the Dolphins, obviously, but sure felt like the Ravens punted this one away for much of the night.
But for the Ravens, well, this was not the sort of performance you expect from a team with Super Bowl aspirations. There are major questions in Baltimore to be addressed after Thursday night.
Tua Tagovailoa Sure Looked Healthy Enough To Start
The Dolphins will enjoy their win, but it left them with some major questions of their own, namely at how they handled the quarterback position on Thursday.
Jacoby Brissett had to leave the game in the third quarter with a knee injury and was replaced by Tua Tagovailoa, who already was serving as the backup due to a fracture of his middle finger.
Coming into the game, there were questions as to why Tagovailoa was considered healthy enough to be active and the backup, but not healthy enough to start. There have long been questions about whether the Dolphins consider him a long-term answer at the position.
Loudest cheers of the night as Tua enters the game for Dolphins. Fans making clear they want to see their QB.
Tagovailoa was excellent on Thursday in relief duty. If he isn't the starter going forward, it doesn't have anything to do with his finger.
What's Next?
The Ravens will head to Chicago for a road game against the Bears on Sunday, Nov. 21, at 10 a.m. ET on CBS. The Dolphins travel to the Big Apple that same day and time to face the New York Jets on CBS.
Dolphins' Jacoby Brissett Exits TNF with Knee Injury; Replaced by Tua Tagovailoa
Nov 12, 2021
Miami Dolphins quarterback Jacoby Brissett (14) aims a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Jacoby Brissett exited Thursday night's 22-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens in the third quarter with a knee injury and did not return.
However, Fox reported Brissett was cleared to return and "frustrated" to be kept on the bench, per ESPN's Kevin Seifert. Tua Tagovailoa, who is still recovering from a broken finger, replaced Brissett with the Dolphins up 6-3 in the third.
Tagovailoa completed 8-of-13 passes for 158 yards and also rushed for a touchdown in the win.
Brissett suffered the injury on a sack by Baltimore edge-rusher Justin Houston on the first drive of the third quarter and looked like he was in a lot of pain. The veteran remained on the ground for a while before leaving the field on his own.
Before exiting, Brissett completed 11-of-23 passes for 156 yards. He also had one carry for four yards.
Tagovailoa, who was questionable for Thursday night's game, started on the bench because of a fractured middle finger in his throwing hand. He missed last weekend's 17-9 win over the Houston Texans because of the injury.
While some questioned why Dolphins head coach Brian Flores opted to insert Tagovailoa, The Athletic's Jeff Howe notes that the big concern with the second-year quarterback's fractured finger was that he couldn't make all of the throws he's typically used to, indicating that he could at least play if needed.
With Tua Tagovailoa entering for Jacoby Brissett (knee), the concern with Tagovailoa's fractured middle finger was that he couldn't make *all* the throws in the game plan. So that's why he's been the backup twice this week.
Tagovailoa also missed three games earlier in the season with broken ribs and didn't return until Week 6 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Entering Thursday's game, Brissett had started four games in place of the Alabama product. The 28-year-old went 1-3 in those starts, completing 65.2 percent of his passes for 933 yards and five touchdowns against three interceptions.
In five games this season entering Thursday night, Tagovailoa had completed 65.6 percent of his passes for 1,040 yards and seven touchdowns against five interceptions. He also had 62 rushing yards and two scores.
Deshaun Watson Trade Rumors: Dolphins Were Willing to Deal 3 1st-Round Picks, More
Nov 12, 2021
Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) looks to pass the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
The Miami Dolphins apparently were at least willing to meet the Houston Texans' asking price for Deshaun Watson.
Fox Sports' Jay Glazer (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald) reported the Dolphins were prepared to put three first-round picks and two second-round picks on the table for Watson. However, the deal was contingent on Watson settling his 22 civil lawsuits tied to allegations of sexual assault and misconduct.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Nov. 7 that Houston was looking for "five or six assets" for the three-time Pro Bowler, including three first-rounders, and that multiple teams were ready to pay up.
However, Watson's current legal situation precluded any trade from happening. In addition to his civil suits, 10 women filed complaints with Houston police that remain unresolved.
Tony Buzbee, who represents the 22 plaintiffs in the civil cases, told Fox 26 Houston that "at some point the Dolphins wanted 22 settlements." He added his clients were asked to agree to a "very, very robust non-disclosure agreement" and that he wasn't sure whether Watson or the Dolphins were behind that pursuit.
Miami general manager Chris Grier denied the team engaged in any such negotiations.
"Any suggestion that this organization would be dealing behind the scenes and trying to influence decisions is absolutely ridiculous and categorically false," he said. "So, to say that we would be involved in that is just flat wrong."
Trying and failing to land Watson has put the Dolphins in a somewhat tough position since they're less than two full years removed from selecting Tua Tagovailoa in the NFL draft. Grier denied the trade negotiations were a reflection of how the franchise views the young quarterback:
#Dolphins General Manager Chris Grier said the franchise did their due diligence on the Deshaun Watson trade and he at end of the day a deal didn’t get done, but franchise still believes in Tua Tagovailoa. pic.twitter.com/FXI9KMq7pi
But a team that has faith in its current QB presumably wouldn't pursue Watson in the first place, especially given his current situation.
With the 2021 trade deadline passed, Miami is unable to return to the bargaining table until the offseason.
Report: Jacoby Brissett to Start for Dolphins vs. Ravens Over Injured Tua Tagovailoa
Nov 11, 2021
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) throws the ball to Miami Dolphins quarterback Jacoby Brissett (not shown) as Brissett warms up before going on the field during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday Nov. 7, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Doug Murray)
Jacoby Brissett will reportedly start for the Miami Dolphins for Thursday's game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reported Tua Tagovailoa, who is dealing with a fractured middle finger in his left hand, will serve as the backup.
Brissett will be starting his fifth game of the 2021 season, as Tagovailoa previously missed time with a hamstring injury. He's thrown for 1,127 yards and five touchdowns against four interceptions while leading the Dolphins to a 1-3 record.
Miami is coming off a 17-9 win over the Houston Texans that might have been the sloppiest game of the season. Brissett turned the ball over three times and the two teams combined for nine turnovers as the Dolphins earned their first win since Week 1.
Baltimore enters Week 10 at 6-2 but has only recorded seven turnovers as a defense. It's possible that the Dolphins will be able to play this game closer than its 8.5-point spread.
Dolphins Rumors: Tua Tagovailoa Out vs. Texans with Finger Injury; Brissett to Start
Nov 7, 2021
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 19: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins looks to pass against the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on September 19, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua
Tagovailoa will miss Sunday's game against the Houston Texans with "a small fracture in the middle finger of his throwing hand," per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Jacoby Brissett will start in his place.
Tagovailoa previously missed three
games while recovering from fractured ribs he suffered during a Week
2 loss to the Buffalo Bills. The team went winless during his absence
before he returned to the active roster for a Week 6 clash with the
Jacksonville Jaguars.
The 23-year-old Hawai'i native missed one game during his rookie season with a thumb injury.
His collegiate career with Alabama came to a premature end
in 2019 because of a serious hip injury that raised questions about
his draft stock, but Miami still selected him fifth overall in 2020.
Tagovailoa has compiled a 65.6 percent completion
rate for 1,040 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions in five appearances in 2021.
Tagovailoa is still in the process of
trying to establish himself as the Dolphins' long-term franchise
quarterback, and staying healthy will be a key factor in that effort.
Dolphins' Chris Grier Denies Asking Deshaun Watson Accusers to Sign NDAs
Nov 3, 2021
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 24: General manager Chris Grier of the Miami Dolphins looks on prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Hard Rock Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier has denied the organization had any involvement in the discussions about having Deshaun Watson's accusers sign a non-disclosure agreement.
"Any suggestion that this organization ridiculous and categorically false," Grier told reporters on Wednesday. "To say we would be involved in that is flat wrong. That pisses me off."
Watson is facing 22 civil lawsuits and 10 police complaints from women accusing him of sexual assault or misconduct committed during massage sessions. Two of the police complaints are from women who are not known to have filed lawsuits.
Per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Miami's trade talks with the Houston Texans for Watson broke down after the Texans increased their asking price when they "caught wind of the growing possibility that the 22 civil lawsuits would be settled."
According to Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports, there were questions raised within Watson's camp "about whether a settlement with an NDA of his civil suits would be viewed by the NFL as an admission of guilt, thereby triggering a violation of the league's personal conduct policy."
The FBI has also investigated the allegations against Watson. The Harris County District Attorney's Office has opened a grand jury investigation to determine if there is sufficient evidence to bring charges against the Texans quarterback.
The Dolphins were reportedly heavily involved in talks with the Texans prior to the trade deadline.
John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reported last week that the two teams agreed to the compensation in a potential deal, but he added the Dolphins wanted Watson's legal issues resolved before finalizing the trade.
Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross received permission to speak with Watson on Monday.
"As complicated a deal as this is, that wasn’t enough time," Rapoport added about why no trade came together.
Tua Tagovailoa remains the Dolphins starter. The No. 5 pick in the 2020 NFL draft has a 1-4 record in five starts this season. He is completing 65.6 percent of his passes for 1,040 yards and seven touchdowns.
Watson has been on Houston's 53-man roster all season, but the team has made him inactive for each of its first eight games.
