2025 Season – Game 15 – Bengals @ Dolphins

For those of you have been here with us for a long time, you know how excited I am about this Sunday’s game. I’ve been waiting to see this team move on from QB Tua Tagovailoa and now it’s official. I’m not going stand on top of Tua and get a 15 yard Unsportmanlike Conduct penalty flag, but I was exhausted seeing that same old tired show, knowing full well he didn’t have the mettle to win big games, shouldn’t have been given that huge 4 YR/ $212M contract but they did. That’s going to kill our cap next season and in 2027, but the important thing is, it appears as if his uninspiring play won’t have to kill us too.

Is this end of the Tua era in Miami? It’s possible, but regardless, I’m excited to see the rookie 7th RD pick Quinn Ewers play this Sunday. I don’t know what to expect, but I do know it will be different than watching Tua Tagovailoa play, and for me that’s good enough for now. So what should we expect from Quinn Ewers and the Miami Dolphins offense this Sunday? Impossible to say. We know that Mike McDaniel’s offense is very complex, and we saw how difficult it was for other QB’s to come here in and replace QB Tua Tagovailoa when he’s been injured. Now most of that was just poor planning by this organization, relying on an unprepared QB Skylar Thompson who looked like he had never seen this offense before as the backup QB, and then scrambling for Practice Squad QB’s Tim Boyle and Tyler “Snoop” Huntley. Each one got a week of practice with the starters and both QB’s struggled in their starts.

This week in particular, we’re playing the Cincinnati Bengals who have the worst run defense in the NFL. The Benglas have allowed an NFL worst 2211 yards rushing and a 5.3 yards per rush average. RB De’Von Achane is averaging 5.8 YPC in 2025 so he must be looking forward to playing the Bengals this Sunday. Achane is #3 in rushing yards with 1186 yards and is trailing #2 James Cook and #1 Jonathan Taylor by over 200 yards. This game can give him an opportunity to catch up some. Now that doesn’t mean that Achane will have 40 carries and QB Quinn Ewers will throw 12 passes or less, but I would expect a heavy dose of Achane, maybe Wright and/or Gordon.

I’m very excited to see Quinn Ewers play, because who knows? He’s got a live arm, not a Drake Maye arm, or a Patrick Mahomes arm, but he can throw the ball better than the current 2025 version of Tua Tagovailoa. I understand that’s not saying much, but I’m sure the kid can throw the ball with pace up to about 40 yards and I look forward to seeing some of that. I’m also quite sure he can run for a 1st down and slide P-A-S-T the first down marker. It’s the little things, ya know? I hope he’s practicing well, I hope he gets to digest some of the playbook, and mostly I hope he got to get in sync with his receivers, ALL of them, not just the De’Von Achane Show. RB De’Von Achane has 2 more receptions (61) than WR Jaylen Waddle (59), and Waddle has 18 more receptions than the nearest WR, slot receiver Malik Washington (41). It’s time to get WR’s back in the game. Probably not THIS game, but I want to see some downfield throws, and not “Punts” as they were called to make excuses for Tua when they were lobbed up there (The only way he can throw past 20 yards) and intercepted.

Is it possible that Quinn Ewers can show enough to consider him to be the QB next season? I’m not talking about this game in particular, but the small body of work he’ll have in this one and the next two. I think he can show enough to be considered to be in the mix, and that’s pretty much all I asked for. I just wanted to see if the kid could even be considered to be in the mix as the starter for next season. We’re not going to have money to spend, so it’s probably Tua, Ewers or some other low price veteran NFL QB, or a 2026 Draft pick. I’d love to see Ewers show well. I know the odds are not with him on that, but it happens now and then. Tom Brady was a 6th RD pick, Brock Purdy was also a 7th RD pick. I think we should draft a QB next season, but that doesn’t mean it has to be our 1st pick. We do need to address that position without a doubt.

Have we seen the last of QB Tua Tagovailoa? I would imagine he’s been humbled by this benching despite his rhetoric that “he gets to go home and be with his kids whether we win or lose”. He’s a competitor, and this probably stings. Maybe it’s a wake up call for him and he goes out and finds a new trainer and comes back next season in great shape and able to do significantly more physically and he’s once again a viable starter. That’s fine with me, but even in that scenario, he shouldn’t be gifted the starting spot, it has to be a fair competition if you’re going to go about it the right way. I’m rooting for QB Quinn Ewers to have a great first start, to get a “W” and to show us that he deserves consideration for next season.

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194 Responses to 2025 Season – Game 15 – Bengals @ Dolphins

  1. Krishna's avatar Krishna says:

    Thank you, Mike E!.

    No expectations, let’s just see where he’s at….give him an opportunity.

    It’s the perfect timr.

    • Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

      I hope Mike learned a little something last season with the way that Skylar Thompson and then Tim Boyle and Tyler Huntley were just so unprepared and overwhelmed. He’s got to make it easier for his new QB to succeed, and I do believe this will be part of the evaluation as to whether MM comes back next season

  2. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    Thanks MikeE! This is what I wanted to see also. I think the team comes out and plays hard for him and themselves.

    • Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

      I hope so! These guys understand why these things happen. I see some commentators saying things like the guys on the team don’t want to see Ewers taking Tua’s place and they won’t play hard. I think that’s absurd. I’m also sure there are some who welcome the change, but won’t say it publicly.

  3. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    Good article MikeE. AND I didn’t find an error. Good job! LOL

    My only complaint is the comma before the and in the last sentence….

    I hope Ewers shows some promise this Sunday. I’m not going to get too high about it though (or too low if he doesn’t)

  4. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    I wonder where Markeyh has been. Haven’t seen him on here since the Jet’s game.

    Has MikeE’s OVER-THE-TOP positivity driven him off? LOL I think MikeE said like one nice thing and then Markeyh disappeared.

  5. Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

    Rock – I wasn’t an English major, probably was high in most of my High School English classes. Not great with punctuation. lol

  6. Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

    Phel – He left though when I eased up on the negativity. I think he just wanted to be contrarian to what I was putting out. It’s all good, I enjoy when Markey is here. I’m actually curious as to what he thinks about Tua being benched, I’d like to hear his take

  7. Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

    Listened to the Joe Rose Show this morning. I’m a little surprised at their take. Joe thinks Tua is done here and the Dolphins are going to release him. Mike Florio also thinks that. It’s funny, I’m always looking to the future, and I didn’t see this take coming. Florio thinks the Dolphins are going with Ewers because if you can get anything out of him for the next 3 years, you can circumnavigate the cap issues because you’re not paying your QB a crazy amount of money. Tua’s cap hit will still haunt us through 2027, so what does releasing him accomplish?

    My feeling has been to keep Tua, but with the understanding that no matter what, whether it’s Ewers, a draft pick or some other vet brought in, that Tua would have to win a competition, a legit QB competition to earn a starting spot again. At worst if he came in to camp in better shape and hungry, he could be a solid backup QB. He doesn’t seem like the type of guy that will be a locker room cancer who would mope if he wasn’t starting, but maybe I’m wrong. What do you guys think?

    • bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

      He’s been in this situation before. First with Jalen Hurts at Alabama then with Fitz in the NFL. I see him still being a team player even if not starting. Bring in better competition. If he is still here and starting, we will see what kind of man he really is by his offseason training and his demeanor in games.

      If we get flabby don’t care Tua then embarrass him and bench him again. Of course, if he doesn’t care then he probably won’t be embarrassed. Maybe someone’s QB goes down next season and you can trade him before the trade deadline.

  8. Randy's avatar Randy says:

    Markey was Markey. I didn’t see much of a different guy. It’s all good. I never got into anything with Markey over the years. He is a great instigator…and he shakes stuff up. I kinda like it, but to each their own.

    I think the bigger point is being realistic about this team. Not having a realistic, honest evaluation of the team is how Grier, Ross and MM got here in the first place. I have no problem with enthusiastic and positive fans…as long as you’re open to the other side of the argument.

    Fans are negative because the team has been bad. Telling people things are great when they’re not is…well. Kinda goes hand in hand for some. Time to start making smarter, long term decisions.

  9. Randy's avatar Randy says:

    MikeE,

    They can’t get rid of Tua quick enough. Not just one but many players have commented on him in a negative way. Now, some of those guys may have been trying to grind an axe, but they focused on Tua for whatever reason. I find it hard to believe that’s a coincidence. He’s also shown his character by throwing others under the bus multiple times.

    When you started dating a new girl, did you make sure you kept your ex girlfriend around? Lucky! If you did…but no. Lol

    • steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

      Because the current players have more class, than Tua, you won’t hear too much about what a putz he was until he’s gone

  10. Randy's avatar Randy says:

    rich,

    Lol. I said I have no problem with them having those positive opinions….not that they weren’t completely wrong.

  11. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    Tua started the season with the same fire he’s always had, something happened to him mentally after about game 3 to 5

    now he has 1 foot out the door, not just out of Miami, out of NFL, would be shocked, if he played for another team

  12. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    Western Michigan RB Jalen Buckley is having a big game. He was on BBM’s big RB watch list for this draft until we drafted Ollie Gordon last draft. He’s 5’11, 215 though not a speed guy. He has 8 carries for 174 yards and a TD so far in the first half.

  13. Randy's avatar Randy says:

    It’ll be interesting how MM adjusts on offense. Sticking with what was designed for Tua is long gone. Can he change it up? Do we see a shift towards a more true WC offense, for instance? Does Ewers look/play a lot like Purdy?

    • steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

      MM has gotten some career years out of WRs, but he’s really a run game coordinator

      last night the Rams had a deep pass wide open, because the route was designed to have the deep safety drop down and pickup a shorter route by Puka, creating conflict with the DBs

      MMs O doesn’t do that enough, and when it does it seems 2 receivers come together to neutralize tge advantage

      MM has nothing to offer Ewers

  14. Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

    It’s not always all on the playcalling. Sometimes the QB has to make the right decisions and have confidence that he can make a throw. I think a lot of that fell on Tua where he didn’t have the confidence and decided to do something else.

    • steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

      not playcalling, play design

      of course Tua is to blame as much as anyone

      my point was MM isn’t doing him any favors with his shitty play designs

      he thinks they’re cool, but mostly they aren’t functional

  15. Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

    I want to hear from more of you as far as Tua coming back next season. I find it hard to believe that the team has decided to completely cut him loose. Not saying it’s not possible, I just think it’s unlikely.

    • steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

      surely they’ll try to cut him loose, if they can, even give up a draft pick to get rid of him

      never say never, with the Raiders out there, but no one is touching him, unless there’s some thoughts out there, that he’s injured (like hip) and he’ll be better next year

  16. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    I watched that Kurt Warner video. Man, MM’s route concepts really do suck.

  17. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:
    • Minkah Fitzpatrick (calf) will be ruled out for Sunday’s game versus the Bengals, head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters Friday.
    • Jason Sanders (right hip; injured reserve) won’t be activated for Week 16, per McDaniel.
  18. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    🤣

  19. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    Tim, I know you’re out there. Could you make it through a 34 min video on the cap? Actually, I know the answer. You wouldn’t even hit play. LOL

    I found it interesting and matches up with some of the scenarios I have come up with or heard from others. Our cap beyond 2026 looks really good to do a quick turnaround. Just need the right GM, HC and find a QB.

    • bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

      Mike E. says: December 19, 2025 at 2:19 pm

      I want to hear from more of you as far as Tua coming back next season. I find it hard to believe that the team has decided to completely cut him loose. Not saying it’s not possible, I just think it’s unlikely.

      ————

      At the very end of the video Kyle gives a scenario where we could post 6/1 release Tua and not have an extra 11m cap hit on him in 2026. It involved resigning him to where more money would come out in 2027 vs 2026. The end result would clear some cap in 2026 and 2027 but not a lot. The main thing is there wouldn’t be the extra 2026 cap hit.

      Crabbs said it was what the Saints did with Derek Carr.

  20. pheloniusphish's avatar pheloniusphish says:

    I say trade Tua if you can, cut him if you can’t. Do like Denver – Take the big hit next year and get it over with. Play next year’s rookies and street FA. Have a core in 2027 and go from there.

  21. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    CJ Bailey playing for NC State today vs Memphis. He’s on the radar for 2027.

  22. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    Coincidence or not?

    Every year Tua’s cap hit went up, his QBR ranking respectively went down.

    2022: QBR Rank 3rd, cap 8.3m

    2023: QBR Rank 10th, cap 9.5m

    2024: QBR Rank 15th, cap 9.5m

    2025: QBR Rank 30th, cap 39.2m

  23. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    what do you guys think about Marvel bringing back Robert Downy Jr to play Dr. Doom? I personally HATE the idea and think it is idiotic. WHY!?!? He is so closely tied to the franchise as Ironman. WTF? Give another actor a chance FFS.

    • CavalierKong's avatar CavalierKong says:

      I think he’d make a great Dr. Doom…if he wasn’t already firmly entrenched as Tony Stark, lol.

      I’ve got a feeling I’m going to be asking myself the whole movie “Why would Tony do this? Oh wait, he’s Victor…wait, huh?”

  24. Randy's avatar Randy says:

    Rock,

    Whomever is in charge of Marvel has been slowly destroying their IPs. They make so many bad decisions.

  25. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    I already have one foot out the door as a fan of this team. If they bring back MM and keep the current combination of Brandon Shore and Champ Kelly as “co-General Managers” and bring back Tua as the starter next year. I swear I’m done. Clean break, stop following NFL completely, even stop posting on here. that’s where I’m at. Ross better get his head out of his ass because I am NOT the only fan to feel this way.

    WE WANT BLOOD

  26. Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

    Bringing back McD is a possibility. The Co-GM situation is a recipe for disaster. We need one person responsible for everything so you don’t get in the dumbass situation where we’re in now. Who’s fault was all this? I know Grier is gone, but how much influence did McD have on this roster? You need a GM with conviction who will listen to the HC but ultimately stick top his board and the players he likes, not take who the HC wants

    • steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

      its not horrible having co-GMs, unless it costs you a top candidate

      if we’re going to hire Joe Blow, which I expect, I’d rather have co-GMs

      Ideally we want a real GM, but this organization (Ross)is so clueless, they don’t know when to say when

      • Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

        steveccnv

         says:

        December 19, 2025 at 6:16 pm (Edit)

        its not horrible having co-GMs, unless it costs you a top candidate

        **************************************

        That most certainly WILL cost you a top candidate! What excellent football exec is going to want to walk into that type of situation? ZERO

      • steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

        what top GM candidate is going to want to come to Miami? None

        so now we’re back to co-GMs

  27. Krishna's avatar Krishna says:

    I have started a few companies and bought two companies….

    You keep a core and jettison the rest. The key is finding and recognizing what’s chaffe and what’s core.

    I say, start over with new leaders at the top of football operations and let them do their jobs without conditions. Let them cull the chaffe and manage the reconstruction of the Dolphins.

    This is no longer a renovation…lol

  28. Krishna's avatar Krishna says:

    2 GMs…lmao.

    • steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

      it is funny

      how’d a wife (generic question) respond to you telling her she’s going to be a co-wife? Not sure why this is any different

      let’s see if we can get Mahomes, by telling him he’s going to be co-QB

      • Krishna's avatar Krishna says:

        Uh…I have NO fucking idea how a husband and wife relationship is analogous to a co-GMs…lmfao.

        PLEASE, share your drugs…omfg

  29. Krishna's avatar Krishna says:

    Sorry CO-GMs…lmao

  30. Krishna's avatar Krishna says:

    CG never learned how to build a football team…nepotism psved his path.

  31. Krishna's avatar Krishna says:

    Under the proper conditions, a GM woud love to take over the reconstruction of the Dolphins…Iol…facts!

  32. Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

    Steve – What top exec would want to come to Miami to be the GM? Probably most of them that aren’t on track to be GM where they are because there’s a good GM in place. There are 32 GM jobs but plenty of executive positions that aren’t GM. You think they’re afraid of Ross? I think they would love the challenge of turning this franchise back into a winning franchise

    • steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

      top executive isn’t a top GM candidate, anyone that’s never GMd before would love a shot even as a co-GM

      • Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

        We’re going to have disagree on this one. There are guys that are in executive positions that have both business and scouting backgrounds. They might work for the Ravens, Chiefs, Eagles, Lions, 49ers, who knows, but they might realize that they can’t move up to the top position which would be GM because of a top GM already is in place. Anyone who is qualified to be a GM but isn’t would love to be. No, someone like that would absolutely hate to be in a Co-GM position because you would want complete autonomy over the team, you can’t share that with someone else because if the team fails it’s a pointing match between the two GM’s. Not sure how you don’t see that, but I’ll leave it alone.

      • steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

        maybe, but the job is co-GM or nothing, they’d all say ok

        I don’t think the co-GM thingy is set in stone, whether we use it in 2026 or not

        you gotta understand our FO is clueless, if we interview a GM, that is considered a good hire this co-GM thing will go away, its not like the math guy is unique and has any value over someone else

    • Krishna's avatar Krishna says:

      Lol…you owe me a beer

  33. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    who comes up with this shit? Stop trying to copy the Rams

  34. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    what happened to Ikhine, Malik, Tahj? Is Tua to blame for them too?

  35. Krishna's avatar Krishna says:

    Let’s put 2 chefs in the kitchen…lmfao

  36. Krishna's avatar Krishna says:

    So fucking stupid!

  37. Krishna's avatar Krishna says:

    I am still trying to figure out the husband-wife analogy to co-GMs of a football team.

  38. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    I forgot Mateer broke his thumb this season

  39. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    I will say it one last time. Notre Dame should be in the CFP, not Alabama.

    • steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

      was thinking same

      they say you shouldn’t be punished for playing in a conf championship, which is BS, so you only benefit from playing in a conference championship?

  40. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    pheloniusphish

     says:

    December 19, 2025 at 3:19 pm

    I say trade Tua if you can, cut him if you can’t. Do like Denver – Take the big hit next year and get it over with. Play next year’s rookies and street FA. Have a core in 2027 and go from there.

    ————-

    I absolutely concur with your sentiments. Rip the band-aid off, instead of the slow, painful peeling. Chew the aspirin, instead of waiting for it to dissolve in the stomach.

    And at the end of the ’26 season? We just might have a top-5 pick in a Draft that should be relatively heavy with potential franchise QBs.

    Hate seeing another season go down the drain in ’26, but we need to play the LONG game if our franchise is to once again become a perennial playoff contender.

  41. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    would any call Judon:

    Former Dolphin Pro Bowl Player Signs With Bills

  42. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    IF Capri McD is retained for the ’26 season (and most assuredly we let Zach Wilson walk to FA, right? We’d BETTER!), I could see us trading a day 3 pick to Cleveland for Dillon Gabriel.

    Why? Gabriel is the closest thing to a healthy Tua there is right now: VERY quick release and generally out within 2.2 seconds, he’s another first-read QB, he processes quickly like healthy Tua, and Gabriel does have a deep ball like healthy Tua.

    Dillon can scramble, he’s southpaw like Tua, he’s Hawaiian like Tua, and Dillon is far healthier than Tua will ever be.

    NOW THEN… even though I could see this happening, do I endorse as much? NO. Dillon is even smaller (height and weight) than Tua.

  43. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    couple of stupid plays, guy that blocks the punt falls on the ball instead of picking it up and running it guy that sacks the quarterback doesn’t try and knock the ball out when it’s just dangling in front of him

  44. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    Mike E.

     says:

    December 19, 2025 at 2:19 pm

    I want to hear from more of you as far as Tua coming back next season. I find it hard to believe that the team has decided to completely cut him loose. Not saying it’s not possible, I just think it’s unlikely.

    ————-

    I find it to be unlikely as well, though I agree with Phelon that we SHOULD do what Denver did with Russell Wilson (but TRY to trade him first) and cut him if we have no suitors.

    ‘Capology’ has truly advanced/progressed and gotten creative over the last several years, so perhaps there’s a way we could minimize the dead cap hit? I dunno… modern day ‘capology’ has gone over my head and I’m not trying to keep up with it any longer.

  45. Randy's avatar Randy says:

    How can you have 2 guys who have the final say? When a decision is to be made, who makes it? I assume most decisions are a process involving lots of people, but eventually there are decisions that one person needs to make. This guy or that guy. This trade or that trade. This much money or that much. Teams do this?

    • mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

      Randy, this is the bureaucracy that Steve Ross has imbued. Remember the map-chart of responsibility posted just a few years ago? To many chiefs, not enough indians.

  46. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    steveccnv

     says:

    December 19, 2025 at 9:26 pm

    I agree, if we keep that shitty O, we should at least get a QB, that can run it

    ———–

    Yup! I remember Kurt Warner’s first video breakdown of our Offense earlier in the season and I posted it here. Obviously, many of you have been keeping up with Warner since (NICE!).

    Yes… our Offense — at least in terms of receiver routes and their relative proximity to one another — is a travesty. It’s amazing Tua doesn’t have 15 more INTs. Kurt Warner ROCKS!

    Thought (thinking aloud)… we didn’t seem to have those problems when Wes Welker was our WR coach, did we? NOT that Welker designed plays for Capri McD, of course… but we seriously seemed to execute far better when Welker was with us.

  47. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    Mike

    I want Tua to come back next year. I think that cannot is too high – I don’t care what Denver did.

    my ideal situation is a 3 man competition in August: Tua, Ewers and A rookie that we draft sometime in the first 4 rounds

    I really don’t think we achieve anything by waiving Tua

    we still have to find our franchise QB

    • mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

      I understand your take… and it’s not wrong.

      The decision is not to be taken lightly what with all of the dead $$$ involved.

      I’m still willing to cut him if we can’t trade him, but ONLY because I’m sold it’s his hip (not going to get better). Hey, if I’m wrong and Tua can rebound, I’d be wrong to outright trade/cut him.

      We just don’t know what we don’t know. This is very interesting and curious, regarding Tua… and feelings are being caught in the middle of it.

    • Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

      The only thing you get by cutting Tua is a less complicated situation. I don’t think Tua will be a problem if he doesn’t play, but the media will be there to stir shit up no matter what, even if Tua is a good soldier. Maybe they just might not want the distraction. I get that too, I definitely do. Otherwise, I think we’d keep him and se if maybe he comes back with a better attitude and in better shape ready to compete.

      • The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

        fuck the media

        I’m sure Hill will post some cryptic tweeet too .,.:lol

        it doesn’t matter. It’s annoying, it’s a fly in your ear.

  48. rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

    I’m sticking to my guns. Tua needs to go, MM needs to go, and they need to trade any valuable players that won’t be in their prime in 2-3 years. I don’t care if 1/2 of our cap is dead money in 2026!!! Bring in a skeleton crew, as many UDFAs as needed, cheap FAs, and draft, draft, draft…. If there is a QB they love, show conviction and go get him. I don’t care if you need to trade players and picks to do it. I’m so sick of this crap and this franchise year after year…25 years actually.

  49. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    mf13ss

     says:

    December 19, 2025 at 9:54 pm

    …This is very interesting and curious, regarding Tua… and feelings are being caught in the middle of it.

    ———

    I’m talking about Tua’s feelings. ‘Reek posted that he’s out after Tua was benched, then Tua and Ramsey were caught on video laughing it up just after we were mathematically eliminated by the Stealers*.

    Seems to me that Tua is being pressured to walk after being benched by two overly paid knuckle-heads in ‘Reek and Ramsey.

    Point: Tua may actually want OUT now.

  50. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    I wanted to draft a QB last year too

    I apply the same logic this year

    Tua is not a guy who makes your franchise

    but he can steady the ship while you find that guy

    that said, this season he didn’t anything but steady the ship – I think there’s a possibility that with an offseason he can return to his old form – as intense as his decline has been – his old form was not good enough to win big games / but it should be good enough to be a game manager

    • steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

      I hope so, we might actually be able to trade him

      I don’t think hus heart is in it though, I see what Randy did, but about a month ago

  51. Randy's avatar Randy says:

    Tua’s play clearly indicated he wanted out. A rat jumping ship. Let him skitter away.

    • The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

      I don’t think his play showed his intentions

      it showed his limitation

      I think he was trying – I just think he failed

  52. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    anyone else watching Simpson v Mateer tonight?

  53. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    Ewers could not have drawn a better game to get his feet wet

    the Bengals are the worst defense in football

    I think Achane runs for 200 Sunday

  54. Randy's avatar Randy says:

    piggy,

    I disagree. I saw a guy eventually not even trying last game. The intent wasn’t there. It was like he’d thrown in the towel. MM too for that matter. I usually have no problem with Tua’s effort but I did last game. That’s just me…if others saw something different…it’s cool.

  55. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    OUs last TD put pressure on the D making the safety have to choose which receiver to take, leaving a wide open WR

    even college coaches are better play designers than MM

  56. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    there shouldn’t be any more team restrictions on Tua, if he plays next year, because no one will care, if he gets hurt

  57. rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

    Congrats to Alabama for the road win.

  58. Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

    Rich – I hear ya man, and I have no problem with that at all. I definitely don’t think Tua will ever be regarded as the franchise QB here again. It’s also why the “stay healthy” bullshit has bothered me this entire season. He’s by far NOT the most important player, and maybe if he dove head first and got a few of those first downs when he went down on his ass SHORT of the first down it was so infuriating. If he got hurt, he got hurt, so what? That old bullshit about needing him was really stale, maybe Mike McDaniel should have clued him in on that we needed to win, not stay healthy.

  59. ElephantRider's avatar ElephantRider says:

    Tua didnt look any different in the Pittsburgh game than he has in all the important must win games hes played in. It was just same ol same ol. Maybe it’s just the few left with blinders on finally have to accept it.

    Hes never been that guy even during his best.

  60. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    Refs let a lot go last in last nights Alabama/Oklahoma game. I saw Alabama LT Kadyn Proctor hold Oklahoma Edge R Mason Thomas at least 4 times that didn’t get called.

    On the flip side, I saw one Oklahoma edge line up in the neutral zone 3-4 times that didn’t get called.

    I don’t like Proctor as a LT prospect. I think he gets beat by most anyone with speed on the edge. Thomas beat him quite a few times last night. I do think he would make one hell of a LG.

    • rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

      Yeah, I never thought of Proctor as a LT. I didn’t even have him on my RD 1 favorites. Fano is my favorite for the right side of our line.

      As for the refs, they have been bad in both college and the pros. I’d rather they let a lot go vs. throwing ticky-tack flags. That ruins games in a hurry, imo.

    • rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

      With that said, I really like R Mason Thomas from Oklahoma and Germie Bernard from Alabama. Both are looking like very good 2nd round picks.

  61. Randy's avatar Randy says:

    How did Simpson look last night?

    • rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

      He had a slow start, made some good throws, missed some throws, and had a few drops. He got the win, so I would say above average overall, but not his best this year. Oklahoma has a very good defense, so I would be happy overall if it was my QB.

  62. rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

    My top 3 QBs haven’t change, it’s Dante Moore, Fernando Mendoza, and Ty Simpson.

    • rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

      I think it’s a very good LB class at the top. There’s lots of versatility with Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, and CJ Allen. Speaking of Allen, that dude is going to be a stud in the NFL. I wouldn’t hesitate to draft him no matter where we pick in the 1st.

  63. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    LOL at the announcer who said Carson Beck is accurate as anybody with a clean pocket or something like that.

    Beck’s 1st drive on 3rd and 5, he throws a yard behind the WR on a short crossing route.

    • rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

      A favorite of mine in Chase Bisontis is playing LG for A&M, so I’m watching the OL a little more than usual.

      • rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

        Players like Chase Bisontis, Germie Bernard, and R Mason Thomas are reasons why I wouldn’t mind trading down and collecting more 2nd round picks.

        That’s if one of the top QBs is out of reach.

  64. rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

    Very sloppy play for A&M overall, but still a 0-0 game.

  65. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    Beck with another clean pocket deep ball overthrown by several yards. Then a strip sack fumble, recovered by Miami though.

    If we draft him, I will be sick. lol

  66. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    Rich, I am watching him also. Him and RT Mauigoa.

    • rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

      Yeah, Mauigoa at RT would be nice, but he will probably be drafted in the top 10. I think he’s definitely a 1st-round talent, just not top 10 imo.

      • rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

        Same with Bain, a 1st-round talent no doubt, but he will probably be drafted higher than I would rank him.

  67. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    Ohio State is lucky as hell they get to play the winner of this game.

  68. rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

    The A&M student before the game came closer to making a fg than that last attempt. LOL

    0-0 at halftime, but still enjoyable first half.

  69. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    Rich, I would not draft Bain in the top 25. He is not elite. He’s big and slow for an edge. His only move is power which has been stifled this game so far. He did have a nice setting of the edge/TFL. Another time I saw him set the edge on a run up the middle that went for about 9 yards. He didn’t try to shed and pursue, he just turned and watched.

    I would never draft an edge in the top 20 who is as inconsistent as him.

    • rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

      I agree; I wouldn’t put Bain in the top 15-20 either. I would feel better in the 20s, but honestly I don’t think I would draft him there either. The thing is I have a small list of players, meaning I only have about 10 guys I would like to draft in round 1 and maybe 5-6 guys worthy of the top 10.

  70. Randy's avatar Randy says:

    I haven’t seen much of Bain, but he sure doesn’t make much effort to get in on plays or tackles. He doesn’t appear to chase down much of anything.

  71. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    Just tuned into the Miami-Texas A&M game. I see Bain has 3 sacks today.

  72. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    Canes score the TD to take the lead!

  73. bookman11's avatar bookman11 says:

    If Toney would have sat down at the one, Miami could have kicked a FG on the last play.

  74. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    Canes WIN!!!

  75. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    For whatever it’s worth, I’ve chimed in on Bain several times recently… I’m not big on him either.

    I need to see the situation/circumstances by which he got his 3 sacks today.

    Just thought it was funny after reading up the board how Bain is so vastly over-rated by some of y’all, only to tune in and see he had 3 sacks today! LOL

    • mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

      … and I still believe he’s vastly over-rated. JMO.

      • rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

        I can’t account for the other 2 sacks, but there was one where Mesidor and Scott made the QB reverse field, and he ran right into Bain. The play was made by those two more than Bain; as for the other 2 sacks, you’ll have to look at replays.

  76. rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

    LOL, at Notre Dame and some of the fans. Instead of whining about Miami and Alabama, you should have been aiming your anger at James Madison!!!!

  77. rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

    Just make the playoff 16 teams already. The top 8 seeds have a home game, then rounds 2 and 3 can be the Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Cotton Bowl, and Peach Bowl. Rotating which Bowl gets round 2 and who gets round 3. Then have the final 2 teams play in the championship game. If this would have happened this season, Alabama, Miami, Notre Dame, Texas, Vanderbilt, Tulane, and James Madison would have made the playoff!!!!

  78. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    I haven’t seen much of Bain, but he sure doesn’t make much effort to get in on plays or tackles. He doesn’t appear to chase down much of anything.

    —————-

    That’s 100% of what I see. Absolutely no pursuit. He did have 3 sacks. One was as Rich said. The other 2 were off using just power. He has no other moves. Though one was a nice sack.

    I hope he does go top 5. That means we won’t be the ones taking him.

  79. ElephantRider's avatar ElephantRider says:

    Now they are releasing reports the Phins offered 4 first round picks in 2020 to move up for Burrow. Is this narrative going to ensure Tua is dumped now next year? Team never really wanted him?

  80. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    watching the highlights I only saw 2 Bain sacks, they were both athletic sacks

    the only mentioned above where the QB was forced to him, I don’t agree, he made an athletic sack

  81. rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

    GO DUCKS!!!!!!

  82. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    I agree with making the playoff 16 teams, that way the first week won’t have 6 of the 12 with a bye

  83. jspnoza934's avatar jspnoza934 says:

    nice work Mike, it’s a shame. To be fair our offense in 2023 was phenomenal. Probably the offense we’ve had the last 25 years. I feel like with MM and a better qb, a qb that actually gives a shit about winning, we could have that again. That’s the only thing MM has going for him. The 2023 offense.

    • steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

      it was phenomenal against bad competition, like Oregon is facing tonight

    • steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

      MM is to HCs as Tua is to QBs

      they’re great at some things, but overall they’re a liability

      Tua could be useful as a 1st and 2nd down QB, when the game is tied or we have the lead

      MM could be useful as a special asst OC

  84. jspnoza934's avatar jspnoza934 says:

    this is Boulder idk what happened there with WordPress

  85. bookman11's avatar bookman11 says:

    Go Bears!

  86. rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

    Yeah, Dante can throw the deep ball.

    • steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

      in the NFL can he read a D?

      is he fast enough to be effective running the ball?

      does he have Tua-itis with his size?

      will he be accurate enough?

  87. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    ND and TX should’ve been in, instead we have to watch Tulane and James Madison

    not watching any more of these BS teams try to compete

    NFLs version of team diversity

    • bookman11's avatar bookman11 says:

      The argument about Miami or Alabama versus Notre Dame being in was stupid. The real issue was Tulane and James Madison being in. I don’t remember the outcry about that.

  88. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    in the NFL can he read a D? is he fast enough to be effective running the ball? does he have Tua-itis with his size? will he be accurate enough?

    ———

    Not sure about question 1, that’s for the experts who get to evaluate him 1 on 1. Question 2, he is not fast, but he is elusive and only been sacked 12 times in 13 games. Question 3, he’s 6’3. Question 4, he completed 72.5% of his passes in the regular season.

    • rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

      Just to follow up, he does spread the ball around, going to his third and fourth reads in games. The kid is smart, very mature for his young age, and seems to be relaxed when playing. Think of Mahomes with his running; he’s not fast but can get 1st downs with his legs. He can get around the corner like tonight with his rushing TD. Yeah, he’s listed at 6’3″, but we’ll see for sure at the combine. That’s if he declares. As for being accurate, he’s over 72% on the year, and he’s 50% on passes over 20 yards.

  89. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    Jordan alive is concussed

  90. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    Malik Willis is a free agent at the end of the season

  91. CavalierKong's avatar CavalierKong says:

    In OT since the Bears chose to kick, didn’t the Packers have the choice of direction? Why did they choose to play into the wind?

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