Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is attacked by “ESPN” analyst Ryan Clark. However, the 25-year-old firmly rejects the harsh criticism of his preparation for the new season and his fitness level.

After suffering several concussions in the preseason, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has fully recovered and is preparing for the new season at full speed with the Miami Dolphins.

However, the 25-year-old’s fitness level was sharply criticised during the preseason game against the Houston Texans (28-3) at the weekend.

“He hasn’t been in the gym, I bet. He may have spent a lot of time in the tattoo parlour. He didn’t sit at the dinner table and eat what the nutritionist recommended,” “ESPN” analyst Ryan Clark said on the “NFL Live” show. “He looks happy. He’s fat.”

Serious accusations that even the usually taciturn player could not let stand. “I would appreciate it if he didn’t put my name in his mouth,” Tagovailoa declared Wednesday when asked by reporters.

Tua Tagovailoa defends himself against fitness allegations – Clark calls it a “joke “

However, the issue did not end there.

“I mean, he probably knows more about me than I know about myself,” the Dolphins star continued in a rather sarcastic undertone. “Ryan hasn’t been in the league for a while. I don’t. It’s a little weird when persons talk about other people when they’re not that person.”

Clark played 13 years himself as a defensive back in the NFL for the New York Giants, Washington Redskins and Pittsburgh Steelers before ending his career in 2015 and moving to the media side.

Pretty much….do you have any idea the world you’re living in? Just take accountability for the BS that comes out of your mouth

– TheLeftArmofGOD (@SamoanSniper_1) August 23, 2023

Even a day before Tagovailoa’s response, the 43-year-old had spoken out again on “X” (formerly “Twitter”). “I take 100 percent responsibility for this!!! I say and mean that!!! It was a joke!!!” the analyst still tried to deflect the rising shitstorm on the social media platform:

“If I was asked by Tua why I said it, I would tell him. I have zero problems looking a man in the eye and telling my truth. I accept any consequence,” Clark further wrote.

Tagovailoa sees line crossed and demands “respect “

Tagovailoa has faced critical questions about his physical toughness throughout his young NFL career.

However, Clark has crossed a line with accusations that the fifth pick in the 2020 draft has not worked hard to get in shape in preparation for the new season. “I come from a Samoan family. Respect is everything,” Tagovailoa elaborated.

In order to better protect himself in case of falls and avoid head injuries like in the preseason, the quarterback spent a lot of time in the offseason training sessions in the martial art Jiu-Jitsu and thus built up additional muscle mass. According to “nfl.com”, the playmaker now weighs just under 103 kilograms.

“I think we all worked hard in the offseason. I’m not one to talk about myself all the time, but it takes a lot. Do you think I wanted to build all that muscle? To a certain extent, I wanted to be a little lighter,” Tagovailoa pointed out.

At the same time, the Hawaiian took another shot at Clark: “There are a number of things that people don’t understand and don’t know about. But that is what is being talked about, even though it is going on behind the scenes. “