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Audio By Carbonatix
If Miami’s decisive 34-19 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium was the ice cream, triumphing over a head coach who just a few weeks ago suggested the Dolphins’ concussion-prone quarterback retire was the cherry on top.
The win inched the home team to 4-6 on the season, keeping Miami’s postseason hopes in the figurative ICU as opposed to the morgue, where they seemed bound just a few weeks ago when Tua Tagovailoa was shelved yet again as he recovered from another concussion. But the win carried an extra layer of satisfaction owing to the presence of opposing head coach Antonio Pierce, who raised eyebrows at the time with unsolicited comments in which he recommended that Tagovailoa retire.
Ironically, the loss to the Dolphins sent the Raiders to 2-8 on the 2024-24 campaign, pushing Pierce to the brink of what might be a forced retirement from head coaching.
🎥 Las Vegas Raiders HC Antonio Pierce urged Tua Tagovailoa to retire back in September:
“I’ll be honest, I’d just tell him to retire, it’s not worth it… he’s going to live longer than he’s going to play football. Take care of your family.” (@Raiders) #GoFins pic.twitter.com/8KwxV8nR8x
— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) November 16, 2024
Many around the league were asked about Tua’s situation, but Pierce’s comments stuck out. He suggested that Tagovailoa consider retiring after his third “official” concussion in the NFL, saying, “I’ll be honest, I’d just let him retire. It’s not worth it.”
While it may be commonplace for talking heads on ESPN to spout this sort of take, an opponent’s coach butting in tends to hit the wrong way. Sort of like giving your buddy’s wife relationship advice. Even if you feel a certain way, it’s usually best to keep your opinion to yourself and let them sort it out in couples therapy.
Which brings us to Sunday afternoon’s game, in which Tua threw for 288 yards and three touchdowns against the Raiders, a performance that showed him to be very much not retired, Antonio Pierce’s sympathetic counsel be damned.
Jonnu really said see ya 👋
📺 #LVvsMIA on @NFLonCBS & @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/YbSuyFfsuz
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) November 17, 2024
Up by just five points with 3:28 remaining, Tagovailoa capitalized on a huge gaffe by the Raiders defense to connect with tight end Jonnu Smith for a 57-yard touchdown that effectively sealed the contest. And with the game in hand, it was time to provide some receipts to the Raiders head coach, courtesy of the Dolphins’ troll captain, Tyreek Hill.
Never one to miss an opportunity to entertain (or to troll), Hill rubbed it in on the Raiders’ sideline.
NO WAY: Tyreek Hill TROLLED Antonio Pierce and the #Raiders after the #Dolphins scored a TD.
💀💀💀
Pierce said earlier in the year Miami QB Tua Tagovailoa should retire.@cheetah
pic.twitter.com/22VzCVrzoi— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) November 17, 2024
Now Tua and all those “In the Hunt” postseason graphics are back to including the Miami Dolphins logo. The win pushed the team to the ninth seed in the AFC playoff chase, one game behind the Indianapolis Colts at No. 8. Miami hosts New England next week – a winnable game that would boost the team’s postseason chances leading up to a crucial Thanksgiving Day matchup in Green Bay against the Packers.
All in all, Sunday was a stunning turn of events from the team’s position a mere two weeks ago, when the Dolphins languished at 2-6 with Tim Boyle under center.
None of it would have been possible had Tua Tagovailoa taken Antonio Pierce’s advice. Perhaps needless to say, but you read it here anyway.
