Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is feeling really good about his surgically repaired hip. He showed off a glimpse of his recovery last week in a quick video clip. Now the likely top-5 NFL draft pick is spreading more of the confidence in his physical condition.
“I feel 100 percent,” Tagovailoa told the NFL Network this week. “I feel like if there was a game today, I’d be able to go out and perform the same way I was able to perform in previous years. I feel as mobile as possible. I feel 100 percent.”
His agent, Chris Cabott of the Leigh Steinberg agency, also declared Tua 100 percent in an interview with Yahoo Sports.
Not everyone buys it, however. The most skeptical take came from former NFL GM Michael Lombardi. He joined VSiN, a sports wagering network, and dropped this quip,
“If Tua’s passed a physical, 32 teams in the NFL don’t know about it.”
A similar sentiment was shared by another former NFL front office exec, Pat Kirwan. Now with Sirius XM NFL Radio, Kirwan expressed serious doubt that any NFL team would take Tagovailoa’s agent’s word without being able to have their own medical staff examine the oft-injured QB.
Gil Brandt, a Hall of Famer from his decades managing the Dallas Cowboys front office, also noted there is some lingering concern from NFL execs he talks to about Tagovailoa’s health,
Miami still wants Tua but it wouldn't surprise me if they took a position player first, then hope he slides. We don't have the medicals on Tua we normally would. Some think he could slide. When I saw him at combine jumping around at his medical testing he didn't look restricted. https://t.co/KIIxVDnhLv
— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) April 1, 2020
Our take
Of course Tagovailoa’s agent is going to trumpet the positive results from the doctors and the player’s recent workout. That’s quite literally his job and he’s got a vested interest in Tagovailoa being drafted as high as possible.
Those who do not have such a personal interest in what happens with Tagovailoa, all of whom have vast NFL personnel experience, effectively shot down any impact the statement from the agent or player might have on what NFL teams will do. The coronavirus pandemic has prevented interested teams from having their own medical staffs examine Tagovailoa, who has had surgery to repair his broken hip as well as high-ankle sprains.
We won’t know how NFL teams truly feel until the first round hits later this month. Don’t be surprised if Tagovailoa is still on the board after the Lions pick at No. 3 overall, though he’s certainly still a candidate to go No. 2 as well.
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