Fitting into your college clothes is usually a badge of honor as you get older. For an NFL quarterback, it might be an injury catastrophe waiting to happen.
That’s Colin Cowherd’s argument after seeing the former Alabama superstar QB Tua Tagovailoa’s very noticeable slimmer build, looking more like his college days than the stockier version from last season for the Miami Dolphins.
.@ColinCowherd weighs in on Tua looking noticeably slimmer at Dolphins event...
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) June 3, 2024
"I like my quarterbacks like I like my furniture. Big and hard to move." pic.twitter.com/gHg7yQRQvR
Of course a funny comparison for NFL quarterbacks on his FS1 show “The Herd with Colin Cowherd.”
“It worries me,” Cowherd continues. “There’s never been a great skinny quarterback in league history. Mannings weren’t. Favre wasn’t. Brady was 230. Big Ben. Elway.”
RELATED: See Tua’s amazing transformation as he seeks monster contract extension
It’s an entertaining TV segment hot take, but it’s not being too skinny that matters for great QBs, especially in today’s modern NFL. It’s about being able to make dynamic plays, and if that meant Tua thought he needed to slim down, then that’s his prerogative. (Also Hall of Fame QB Joe Montana is one of the greatest to ever play for the San Francisco 49ers, and he was as skinny as they come.)
"I feel better," Tua told reporters at Dolphins’ minicamp. "Quicker on my feet. More nimble. I can extend plays more."
What’s concerning though about Tua’s skinnier frame is his extensive injury history, especially with those scary concussions that were a major concern for his overall health even after his playing days. What NFL fan will ever forget that haunting instance of him on the turf against the Cincinnati Bengals?
Interestingly, Tua’s former Alabama teammate Jalen Hurts has garnered buzz with the Philadelphia Eagles for his noticeably stronger, thicker physique.
Jalen Hurts’ arms 💪 pic.twitter.com/O9QAmkoRNz
— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) June 4, 2024
In the end, Tua knows his body better than anyone, and he made these changes with the guidance of Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, who thought it would allow him to extend plays.
With that big contract extension looming, let’s hope Tua’s bet on himself pays off.
