NFL Notes: Tua Tagovailoa, CBA, Bengals

Tua Tagovailoa

Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa‘s surgeon, Normal Waldrop, does not think he’s at risk of being injury-prone at the professional level. 

“I understand where it comes from,” Waldrop said, via Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald. “But he’s had some pretty significant injuries that don’t have anything more to do with him than the particular nature of the plays that occurred. While I certainly get everyone’s worries from the medical side, I have zero concerns because of his willingness to work. He’s passed every test with bells and whistles.”

Waldrop said he recently spoke with Tagovailoa and expects him to have an “exceptional recovery.” 

“He’s doing great. I have no reason to think that he’s not going to have anything but an exceptional recovery [from his hip injury]. I think Tua is an exceptional person first, an exceptionally hard worker second. Football ability is only a part of what makes him a transcendent athlete and I’m pretty excited to see how that translates to the NFL. He can throw a football through a thimble. He’s more than just an incredible quarterback. He’s a great person. He’s never let any of his injuries set him back. I don’t have any reason to think that he will have any setbacks going forward.”

CBA

• Mike Garafolo mentioned that those familiar with the new CBA negotiations feel that the deal on the table is better than the current agreement over the last decade. 
• However, Garafolo reports that players who are expected to push against the deal will argue that NFL owners are over-eager to finalize their current offer and a better deal may be attainable. 
• Garafolo also says that there is no “hard deadline” for a new deal, including the start of the league year on March 18. 
• Garafolo also reports that some within the NFLPA feel that the current offer could be the best available and risk the supplied benefits of it by waiting. 
• Tom Pelissero reports that the NFLPA’s board of representatives canceled its plan to vote on a CBA on Friday. 
• Garafolo notes that NFL owners don’t feel like there is “wiggle room for more talks” ahead of the 2020 league year.  
• Dan Graziano reports the NFL and NFLPA have agreed to meet on Tuesday, February 25 at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis and plan to vote on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.

Bengals

• Jay Morrison of The Athletic believes the Bengals gave up far too many big plays on defense last season, and that the team could benefit from targeting linebackers and defensive backs in free agency.
• Morrison mentions Joe Schobert, Blake Martinez, De’Vondre Campbell and Nick Kwiatkoski as some of the top linebackers who could be a good fit with the Bengals.
• As for defensive backs who would mesh well with the team, Morrison lists Trae Waynes, Bradley Roby, Kendall Fuller, and Logan Ryan.