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Tempting offer Vikings dangle chance for title run before Marino
Posted: Tuesday March 07, 2000 12:39 PM
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- After 17 years in Miami, Dan Marino might be ready to relocate. The league's career passing leader is contemplating a one-year offer to join the Vikings next season. Marino is expected to decide this week, said two sources close to the quarterback who spoke on condition of anonymity Monday. Marino would supplant Jeff George, who hasn't been offered a contract despite going 9-3 in place of Randall Cunningham last season. Marino would serve as a mentor to Daunte Culpepper, the Vikings' first-round draft pick last year. Coach Dennis Green said the Vikings' quarterback-friendly system would give Marino an opportunity "to take one more crack at winning a world championship."
Green also said the Vikings staff would travel to Florida, where Cris Carter and Randy Moss live, to help prepare Marino for their offensive system. Carter said Marino, who turns 39 this year, called him to say he's considering the offer. But Marino also is contemplating retirement. Marino became a free agent last month after voiding his contract with Miami. The Dolphins then signed free-agent quarterback Jay Fiedler to a three-year, $3.8 million deal. But Dolphins president Eddie Jones said for the first time Monday that if Marino plays next season, the Dolphins want him. "Danny has been told he can come back," Jones said. George's agent, Leigh Steinberg, said he assumed all along the Vikings would make a push for his client's return once they freed up enough cap room. Steinberg said he was flabbergasted by the Vikings' pursuit of Marino. "Do I understand what's going on in Minnesota? No," Steinberg said. "Usually, when a guy goes 9-3 and takes his team to the playoffs, the team tries to extend his contract very quickly. It seemed like a marriage made in heaven." But it's one on the rocks, at best. And Marino could make it a nasty divorce.
Cunningham, meanwhile, has refused a big pay cut and probably will be jettisoned June 1. Marino, who has not attracted much interest from other teams, threw 12 touchdown passes and 17 interceptions in 1999, by far the worst ratio of his career. He also missed five games and most of a sixth because of a neck injury. In the playoffs, Marino led the Dolphins to a 20-17 victory over Seattle in the first round. But the team was embarrassed 62-7 the next week against Jacksonville, when the Dolphins trailed 38-0 before Marino even completed a pass in the most lopsided loss in Dolphins history and the most miserable afternoon of his stellar career. "I believe Dan Marino deserves one more chance" to go out on top, Green said. But Minnesota isn't the quality destination it was just a short time ago. Pro Bowl offensive linemen Jeff Christy and Randall McDaniel recently joined rival Tampa Bay, and Green purged half his coaching staff following a season of failed expectations and spoiled team chemistry. Marino is the most prolific passer in NFL history, having completed 4,967 passes for 61,361 yards and 420 touchdowns, all NFL records. But injuries have taken a toll, and Marino's quarterback rating of 67.4 ranked 30th in the league last year. "There's no way we would want Dan Marino unless we thought he could really do a great job for us," Green said. The Vikings haven't had the money to do much in the free agent market. But Marino's agent, Marvin Demoff, had discussions with the team on a contract that would fit within their tight salary cap. Steinberg has been saying for months that George, who is younger than Marino and already knows the offense, is willing to structure a similarly cap-friendly contract. Steinberg said he turned down overtures from four other teams because George said he wanted to return to Minnesota and they thought a deal was just around the corner. "He had a fabulous year and we just assumed they hadn't offered anything because they had cap problems," Steinberg said. Steinberg isn't the only one miffed over Minnesota's flirtation with Marino. Marino is perhaps the most popular athlete ever in South Florida, and the possibility that he might soon be wearing a purple jersey upset many Miami fans. The angry fans included Frank LaBosco, 68, who said the Dolphins shouldn't let Marino get away. "They've treated him like a dog," LaBosco said. "Even if he doesn't play this year, they should keep him around and teach the kids coming up." George Zucker, 75, said Marino should just retire. "He should rest on his laurels," Zucker said. "He's not going to add to his stature any, and he's just going to get hurt. He doesn't need it."
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