He was having a terrible game with 3 picks including a pick 6. Down 3 TDs at that point in time. On that series of downs, he missed a TD on that seam route in the middle to his receiver, high and outside, off the WR fingers. He hits that, he's not on the field for a 4th and 4.
So, he needed to make sure he got the first down. Could not afford to slide short of the first when he had the room to get it. Had to watch the replay a few times, but clearly he isn't a natural runner, in terms of having a combination of 1) having speed or elusiveness 2) vision to see where the tacklers are coming from and where the open field is 3) knowing where the line of the gain is and 4) sliding, either feet or head first depending on the situational needs.
He took a 7 step drop back to the 20, then saw the opening in the middle and took it. Hamlin was coming from his right, but his left side was more open. He should have been running away from Hamlin to avoid full contact. And once he hit the 9, which was the line of the gain, he should have been looking to get down.
Didn't look like a serious hit, but it then shows much susceptible Tua is to a concussion now. He will have made $53 mill in salary for his 5 seasons. And should pocket some of the $42 mill SB even if he opts to retire. Which should put him over $60 mill in career earnings. Money should not be a factor in his decision to retire. He's made generational money. If it's in his best interests to retire, he should. But, that's up to him.
