MIAMI GARDENS — Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel called franchise quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's whopping contact a "cool moment" that resulted in "high fives" before everyone moved onto the next practice.

"I'm happy but I also expected it to get done and now that it's done it's about moving forward," McDaniel said Sunday before the Dolphins first practice in front of fans. "It's maybe a handshake and a smile but it's not a celebration.

"I'm fired up for the organization, really fired up for Tua and the work he's done to receive something like that. It's a cool validation of that."

Tua signed for four years and $212.4 million, with $147.2 million guaranteed, making him the fourth-highest paid player and quarterback in the NFL based on average annual value.

Tagovailoa, 26, has played four seasons with the Dolphins since he was the fifth overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.

McDaniel's first reaction when seeing Tua after the deal was to embrace his quarterback. It was a surprise attack.

"My hug surprised him," McDaniel said. "You know because he spilled his coffee."

More: Miami Dolphins' Tua Tagovialoa contract details revealed

McDaniel added Tua is "coordinated enough" not to spill the coffee and that McDaniel spilled on himself.

The stakes now have been raised; with generational wealth comes sky-high expectations, something McDaniel said the former Alabama quarterback realizes.

"It's a pretty hot place to be, quarterback in the National Football League," McDaniel said. "You get a lot of reps to see how people respond to things. That is the nature you should expect and Tua is very aware of that.

"They already have pressure and expectations for themselves. Tua has shown me throughout the entire offseason he knows what time it is."

Tua has losing record vs. winning teams and no playoff wins

Although Tagovailoa is 7-14 in his career against winning teams and he has yet to lead the Dolphins to a playoff victory, he has thrived under McDaniel. He led the NFL with 4,264 passing yards last season and led the NFL with a passer rating of 105.5 in 2022.

McDaniel was asked about his quarterback's personal journey since McDaniel took over in 2022.

"It's one of the absolute main reasons you get into coaching," he said. "You hope that you can help people realize their best selves. For him to be at this part of his journey with the growth, that's why you do what you do."

Tom D'Angelo is a senior sports columnist and golf reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Tua Tagovailoa's contract has Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel excited