Miami Dolphins continue to make Mike McDaniel a human shield for ongoing questions about QB Tua Tagovailoa

Miami Dolphins head coach has never been one to be short with words.  Sometimes that's resulted in a bit of a confusing and wandering monologue during press conferences regarding some questions from the media.

On Friday morning , McDaniel was asked a couple of questions regarding Tua Tagovailoa's expected level of participation in practice, and his answers weren't particularly revealing or clear.

"As far as today, I do think he'll observe and play football in a multitude of fashions," McDaniel responded to a question.

Another reporter followed up about whether McDaniel and Tagovailoa talk each day and have a plan for the week, and the response drew an even more vague comment from the Dolphins' head coach.

"Every day.  It's important to assess all variables.  Take into consideration everyone involved as the head coach.  So, you'd love to get in front of it, but there's a lot of days that - if you're trying to extrapolate that - that you can't account for different ways the wind blows.  So, everyday assessing exactly what we're doing because we're trying to do good jobs here."

While not really telling much, it's also completely understandable in this case why McDaniel is saying what he is and where he's coming from.  He's not the one making the decision on how much to pay Tagovailoa.  As such, he's kind of along for the ride just the same as everyone else.  Waiting on a deal to get done and being unable to provide any feedback on how that stands.

In reality, it should be Chris Grier up front talking about where things stand with Tua's contract negotiations and how this affects the roster and plans.  Why he has been unwilling to come up to the point where the market says the Dolphins should be .  How they plan to handle their quarterback in the meantime.  After all, McDaniel can only cook with the ingredients and tools he's given, and right now, he's got one arm tied behind his back.

While McDaniel's responses don't really tell much, there's really not much from him to tell at this point, other than the obvious.  That Tagovailoa wants a new deal, and that everyone indeed is twisting in the wind until it gets done. From his teammates to even his head coach.

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