MIAMI – Tua Tagovailoa says the game ball he gave Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores last week was a token of gratitude.“For me it was like, ‘Thank you for taking a shot on me,’” Tagovailoa said Wednesday. “A year ago, who would have known?”Tagovailoa is fast approaching the Nov.
16 anniversary of the hip injury that ended his final Alabama season and threatened his football career. A year later, he's 2-0 as a starter for the surprising Dolphins (5-3) heading into Sunday's showdown against another heralded rookie quarterback, Justin Herbert, and the Los Angeles Chargers.Tagovailoa is coming off a breakout performance in Sunday's thrilling 34-31 victory at Arizona.