Ryan Tannehill One Game from Super Bowl (in Miami!)

How to feel about this?

There’s never been a seven-year itch quite like what was caused by Ryan Tannehill’s tenure as Miami Dolphins quarterback, the itch to see something new. He was good here, but never great, and just as he started to get closer — playing at a higher level during a 8-5 start to the 2016 season under Adam Gase — he got hurt, missed a season, returned and got hurt again. So even the durability argument, the one that was always in his favor, was lost.

Remember?

***REPORT*** @3YardsPerCarry and @5ReasonsSports have learned from multiple sources that quarterback Ryan Tannehill is highly unlikely to play Sunday against the Detroit Lions, as part of a 2-3 week evaluation period.

— Three Yards Per Carry (@3YardsPerCarry) October 17, 2018

That was the shoulder, after the knee.

Most agreed that it was time to move on.

Even those who didn’t think Tannehill was terrible.

One thing to remember: it’s still OK to think that Ryan Tannehill is a good NFL quarterback AND believe that he had an absolute stinker in Foxboro. They’re not mutually exclusive. One bad game doesn’t define anyone. Nor does one good game. Remember that.

— Three Yards Per Carry (@3YardsPerCarry) October 1, 2018

I spent way too much of my life defending jarvis landry and ryan tannehill.

— josh houtz (@houtz) January 17, 2019

But now, what to make of Tannehill moving on to the AFC Championship in his first season as a Tennessee Titan, with the Dolphins paying most of his salary?

The Dolphins are paying Ryan Tannehill more than the Titans are this year.

— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) January 12, 2020

How to handle the possibility of Tannehill going on the road for a third time, now against either Kansas City or the Laremy Tunsil/Kenny Stills Houston Texans, and playing in Steve Ross’s stadium for Super Bowl LIV? And how much does it matter that Tannehill has thrown for about half as many yards in the Titans’ two playoff wins as teammate Derrick Henry has rushed for? (Check Luis Sung’s excellent column on Henry’s free agency and the Dolphins here).

Derrick Henry has more rush yards after contact (233) this postseason than Ryan Tannehill has pass yards (160). pic.twitter.com/YcaijR7oMz

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 12, 2020

Here are some of the top Tanny takes from Twitter:

The Ryan Tannehill Story is great, but let's not forget that majority of #Dolphins fans are rooting for him, happy for him

I always advocated for Tannehill. Bad coaching, poor organizational management, bad oline will make things hard for QBs

THAT was Tannehill/Mia. NOT in Ten

— Anthony DiMoro (@AnthonyDiMoro) January 12, 2020

There is a long list of people who didn’t believe in Ryan Tannehill after his 7 seasons in Miami. Adam Gase isn’t on that list. Ya’ll need to stop it.

— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) January 12, 2020

I'm not arguing that Ryan Tannehill was great yesterday, but it amuses me to remember how that vile excuse for a human Miko Grimes trashed him repeatedly. She's gone and he's still kicking. Good for him.

— Jason Cole (@JasonCole62) January 12, 2020

A meme got put to good use:

So Ryan Tannehill was a Dolphin for seven years, right? They blamed him for everything, right? And then he leaves and we’ve got the Super Bowl in Miami and then he goes and ends the Patriots and now he’s beating the Ravens and dude I think he’s gonna play in Miami’s Super Bowl… pic.twitter.com/uWyVchqUiJ

— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) January 12, 2020

There was Tua talk, of course, especially with the Alabama QB in Miami for the weekend:

folks, we all knew ryan tannehill could be good if EVERYTHING around him was great. I love the guy, but after 7 seasons he needed to go. I couldn’t be happier he’s having success, but I’m also glad he’s gone. and would take tua without a hip, over another season of tannehill.

— josh houtz (@houtz) January 12, 2020

And this from Jeff Darlington, who knows Tannehill as well as any national reporter, probably sums it up best:

Ryan Tannehill, more than anything, regardless of the outcome when it comes to this game or the next, is why we should never say anyone “sucks” in the NFL. It is a team sport that requires success from more than one position. From one game. To one season. To one era.

— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) January 12, 2020