In the second quarter of Thursday Night Football’s matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins, we were reminded of the dangers of America’s favorite game and how necessary certain discussions about them are.
For the second time in as many weeks, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa took a shot that looked conducive to a concussion. This time, there was no stumbling to suggest he should be taken out of the game. He didn’t get up at all.
Tagovailoa remained on the ground with his hands stuck by his face mask. He would be taken off in a stretcher and treated at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Thankfully, he was released from the hospital and flew home with the team. Aside from the concussion he suffered, no additional concerns have arisen from his stay at UCMC.
What the hell are we doing?
I can’t sit here and tell you that I know for a fact that Tagovailoa was concussed during Week 3’s contest. I’m not privy to the proficiency in which the Dolphins and independent consultants conduct their concussion tests. I admit I’ll never know if Tagovailoa should’ve been on the field Thursday.
What I do know is that it is impossible not to ask these questions after seeing a career, a livelihood, a life, put on pause.
The NFL has a dirty history as it pertains to its players, their health, and the green paper bills that make the world go ‘round. Should we expect the NFL to be truthful? What about the Dolphins?
No, we shouldn’t.
In just over a week, Miami will play a divisional contest against the New York Jets. I can’t fathom the amount of backlash a Tagovailoa start would create. Yet, it remains a possibility. The team remains steadfast in the position that “if he’s healthy, he’ll start.” Teddy Bridgewater will start if Tagovailoa cannot. Until then, there isn’t much we can do. Let’s hope our speculation is incorrect, and if not, the Dolphins are scared straight.
(Un)fortunately, it doesn’t seem like Miami is anticipating an extended absence from their quarterback. Expect their win total lines to stay steady (though they’re temporarily taken off the board). If the inevitability of the news cycle wins again, Mike McDaniel’s +500 odds to win Coach of the Year (FanDuel) will remain a decent value.
BASIC TIPS
Betting on awards like Coach of the Year (COTY) are often considered “futures.” They are fairly simple to place, but require more patience than your typical straight bets. In the case of this article, we may take McDaniel’s +500 odds to win the award because we feel their explosive offense and exceeding of expectations is impressive.
The advantage of placing the bet now is that the odds may shorten (win you less money) once we learn more information. Pulling the trigger when you justifiably are confident in a selection is the best way to bet. We’ll have to deal with the loss of a unit (a uniform amount of money one places per bet) and sit with it for a few months. If you’re willing to take the short-term hit to your bankroll (amount you have available to spend in a sportsbook), there are many intriguing long-term options.