The Miami Dolphins are set to begin team drills on Monday as part of their voluntary organized team activities (OTAs), but uncertainty about whether starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will participate. Sources close to the situation revealed that Tagovailoa has been absent from most voluntary offseason activities since the team reconvened on April 15. This is a departure from his consistent attendance in previous seasons, raising questions about his future with the team.

Tagovailoa’s absence appears to be contract-related. Currently playing under his fifth-year option worth $23.171 million, the former fifth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft is seeking a long-term contract extension that has yet to materialize. As the going rate for top-tier NFL quarterbacks approaches $50 million annually, Tagovailoa’s current deal leaves him underpaid.

Last season, Tagovailoa demonstrated his potential by playing in all 17 games for the first time in his career, throwing for a career-high 4,624 yards and earning his first Pro Bowl selection. Despite these achievements, questions about his durability persist, stemming from injuries during his college career and early NFL seasons.

The Dolphins, who picked up Tagovailoa’s fifth-year option last March, have expressed a desire to keep him long-term. General manager Chris Grier said that in January, there was ongoing positive dialogue with Tagovailoa’s agent, focusing on maintaining a solid relationship between the quarterback and the team.

Tagovailoa’s strategy of using his absence from voluntary workouts as leverage for a new contract is not uncommon in the NFL. While he did make an early appearance at the Dolphins’ facilities in April, his continued absence could signal impatience with the contract negotiations. If this standoff extends into training camp, the financial penalties could grow, although the Dolphins might choose to waive or reduce these fines.

Securing a deal for Tagovailoa could provide the Dolphins with financial flexibility, allowing them to manage their salary cap more effectively and retain key players. This offseason, Miami faced cap constraints, losing valuable contributors like Christian Wilkins and Robert Hunt.

Recent deals have reshaped the market for quarterback contracts, including record-breaking agreements for players like Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert, who were drafted in the same year as Tagovailoa. These contracts, characterized by high average annual values and substantial guaranteed money, set a challenging benchmark for the Dolphins’ negotiations.

As the Dolphins begin their OTAs, they will focus on the field and Tagovailoa’s contract saga. How the team addresses this situation will have significant implications for its competitive future and the stability of its roster.

The NBA decided to host an All-Star game this season, and influential star LeBron James is opposed to having the game.

The Los Angeles Lakers star is not happy with the league after it has decided to hold an All-Star Game. James told reporters following his team’s Thursday win over the Denver Nuggets, “I have zero energy and zero excitement about an All-Star Game this year.” James added, “I don’t even understand why we’re having an All-Star Game.”

Earlier this season, the idea of an All-Star Game was in doubt. It has been canceled due to the spread of the coronavirus. However, that is no longer the case. The NBA and the Players Association reached an agreement to hold the game. The event will be held on March 7, in Atlanta.

James is without a doubt the most influential NBA star who is upset by this agreement. The 18-time All-Star was hoping that he and his teammates would use the five-day break to rest but that is no longer the case.

The star highlighted that the pandemic is still ongoing, and that the league should not have decided to still move forward with the decision. The location of the game does not help because the city has fewer restrictions since the Atlanta Hawks allow a limited number of fans to attend games. “We’re still dealing with everything that’s been going on, and we’re going to bring the whole league into one city that’s open?” James said.

While he is not happy about the All-Star Game being held, he will still participate if he were to be selected as an All-Star. The reason why he would still participate is that the Players Association agreed for the All-Star Game to be held in Atlanta. “I’ll be there if I’m selected, but I’ll be there physically, but not mentally,” the four-time NBA champion said.