DeShon Elliott tried to recruit wantaway Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson to the Miami Dolphins - despite starter Tua Tagovaiola returning in the 2023 season after he had his fifth-year option triggered.
Elliott, 25, has only been a Miami Dolphins safety for ten days and he has already upset the apple cart. He signed a one-year deal worth $1.77million (£1.4m).
And after his former Ravens teammate Jackson, who he played three seasons alongside, announced on Twitter that he requested a trade - Elliott publicly called for the 2019 MVP to join him at the Dolphins, which many say is disrespectful towards starting quarterback Tagovaiola.
Elliott’s tweet of “#CometotheDolphins” was met with some calls for the Safety to be cut. The tweet was deleted, but Elliott followed up by saying: “LMAOOO AYE ITS JUST TWITTER. Calm down.”
Tagovailoa is a very polarising player, loved by many and hated by some. One of the main criticisms of Tagovailoa is that he is not good enough to be a starting NFL quarterback for a Super Bowl contender.
The 25-year-old does, however, have the vote of confidence from head coach Mike McDaniel. He believes the quarterback will make a major jump in their second season together.
“He's doing great,” McDaniel told NFL Network at the annual league meeting in Phoenix. “He's had a really good offseason with his family and training and positioning himself to feel good moving forward. He's very healthy, vibrant, and I can see a hunger in him that I'm excited to watch play out.:
McDaniel went 9-8 in his first season, earning the Dolphins a playoff place despite Tagovailoa suffering two concussions in 2022 that cost him four games. Tagovailoa threw for 3,548 yards and 25 touchdowns on 64.8-percent passing, while allowing just eight turnovers.
“He's a younger player and he's very honest and candid,” McDaniel said. “But it also gives me a barometer. He was doing a lot, he's got a lot of room to grow, let's just say that. He did an unbelievable job being able to lead an offense in year one. That's a new language. This is his first year where he's going to have continued offense, play caller and position coach.”
