Dave Hyde: Take A Moment To See Dolphins’ Tua As The Middle-class Kid Who Achieved The American Dream

MIAMI GARDENS — Tua Tagovailoa entered the room Sunday and immediately thanked the Miami Dolphins and Jesus, because he still considers himself a middle-class kid at heart with the instilled values of his family. So, he didn’t forget his manners or his place on the day he talked about becoming the richest Dolphins player and the fourth-highest-paid NFL quarterback ever. “I want to thank Mike McDaniel,” he said next, going down the line of Dolphins coaches and executives who came with his wife and two young children to enjoy the moment And so for this moment, set aside the debate if his four-year, $212 million contact extension matches his talent, ignore the salary-cap implications and file away the demands on him that come with such a contract. For just this moment, consider this middle-class kid realizing the American Dream, if there is such a thing anymore, considering no one spends much time talking about it.