Miami Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki is entering into a critical season with the team. The Dolphins, as an organization, are expecting big things as they come off of a 10-win season. And the offense, re-tooled with more firepower, is expecting a big role for Gesicki as well. With Gesicki coming into a contract season and with many other financial decisions looming, Gesicki’s role for the season may help go a long way in determining what kind of offer the former Penn State tight end will get from the team for a second contract.
It’s a big year in a lot of ways. But before the team even steps foot onto the practice field for their first day of training camp, Gesicki’s presence has been felt. And if it’s half as authoritative on the field as it was during yesterday’s press availability, the Dolphins will likely be ready to make sure Gesicki stays in-house beyond 2021.
Gesicki has always been a matter-of-fact personality in the press — but his defense of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is as blunt, firm and staunch of a defense as we’ve seen from any Miami Dolphins player over the course of the past year. And remember, Gesicki shared a great rapport with former Dolphins QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, too. So there’s no politics here; Gesicki just seems fed up with the noise.
“(Tagovailoa has) dealt with adversity whether it’s injury or whatever it may be. He’s fought back from that and he’s also dealt with people saying stupid, uneducated stuff about him that they’re not right about. So he’s dealing with that and he’s continuing to work and continuing to come in here each and every day, and I’m happy that he’s our quarterback,” said Gesicki, igniting interest from just about every member of the press in attendance.
“The problem with the criticism is it’s not – there’s nothing behind it. The kid came in here and people were already calling for him. He played nine games and he did a lot of really good things for us, stepped up in some big situations, made plays and I think got better each and every week. And now everybody’s been talking about his confidence and how he looks this year obviously in a couple walkthroughs and all that kind of stuff, but he still looks good. He’s been working hard and investing a lot of time into the season. I’m excited for his future.”
And given some of the flashes that Gesicki showed down the stretch with Tagovailoa in the game, he should be excited — because a bright future for Tagovailoa means a full stat sheet for Gesicki. That certainly doesn’t have to be Gesicki’s only motivation in the staunch support of his quarterback, as he’d tell you winning on Sunday is the most important thing. And you’d be wise to believe him if he did. But Gesicki never the less appears to be on the ledge of claiming a valuable leadership role within this organization and he’s not backing down from the challenge.
And if his faith in Tagovailoa is rewarded with a season filled with targets and touchdowns this fall, then a sizable contract to stay in South Florida should be the expectation.