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End of an era Dolphins' Marino to announce retirement Monday
Posted: Sunday March 12, 2000 10:43 AM
ATLANTA (CNNSI.com) -- Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino will announce his retirement Monday, rather than accept an opportunity to play for the Minnesota Vikings, CNN Sports Illustrated has learned. A source close to the Miami quarterback has told CNN Sports Illustrated that a press conference will be held Monday at the Dolphins' facility. 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. He threw 12 touchdown passes and 17 interceptions for the Dolphins, whose 62-7 playoff loss to Jacksonville sent coach Jimmy Johnson into retirement. Marino, however, had been courted by Minnesota coach Dennis Green for one last shot at a championship ring. Green reportedly even offered Marino the Vikings' starting job.
Minnesota coach Dennis Green, in Tampa for a meeting of the NFL competition committee, told the Star Tribune of Minneapolis that Marino called him this morning to say he planned to retire. "We felt we had a good chance to convince Marino to join our team, because of our great wide receivers and our great offensive team," Green said. "But I'm not surprised that he decided not to play. We had to give it a try." In recent days, however, the Dolphins had some renewed interest in re-signing Marino. But it appears Marino will spurn both the Vikings and the Dolphins in favor of retirement. The Vikings wanted Marino to replace Jeff George as their starting quarterback. Marino earlier decided against remaining with the Miami Dolphins after concluding that new coach Dave Wannstedt didn't want him back. George apparently is still in the picture in Minnesota if he agrees to a one-year deal, Green said. "We are not in a position to offer George the multiyear contract he is asking for," Green said. "We feel Daunte Culpepper is our quarterback of the future. We like Jeff George and we feel he likes us. But we're not in position to give him a multiyear contract." Marino, who attended a Bruce Springsteen concert Thursday night with Dolphins quarterback Damon Huard, hasn't spoken publicly in nearly three weeks. He was playing golf Friday in a private charity event held by Greg Norman in Hobe Sound, Fla. Marino, 38, would follow Johnson into retirement. They clashed frequently during the Dolphins' disappointing 1999 season, and Johnson publicly criticized Marino for poor decisions and costly turnovers. Their final bid to win a Super Bowl together ended with a 62-7 playoff loss at Jacksonville, the most lopsided defeat in franchise history. Marino voided his contract in February and became a free agent. When the Dolphins signed free agent quarterback Jay Fiedler to a three-year, $3.8 million contract, it was clear Marino had likely played his last game in Miami. Friends said Marino was angry about the way the Dolphins treated him in recent weeks, but he declined to complain publicly. "I've been a Dolphin for 17 years, and I'll be a Dolphin for the rest of my life," he said in February. "That will never change." Marino holds NFL career records with 4,967 completions for 61,361 yards and 420 touchdowns. "Dan Marino will go down as the greatest player in the history of the game," former NFL coach Mike Ditka once said. In 1984, his second season, Marino threw for 5,084 yards and 48 touchdowns, league records that still stand. But that season ended in disappointment as Miami lost to San Francisco 38-16 in the Super Bowl. Marino spent the next 15 years trying unsuccessfully to return to the title game. Injuries took a toll in recent seasons, and Marino's play declined sharply in 1999. He threw 12 touchdown passes and 17 interceptions, by far the worst ratio of his career, and his quarterback rating of 67.4 ranked 30th in the league. The neck injury hindered Marino's arm strength after he returned. He won only two games after Oct. 10, and the Dolphins lost five of seven games after he rejoined the lineup. Marino was the last active member of the quarterback class of 1983, which also included John Elway, Jim Kelly, Ken O'Brien, Todd Blackledge and Tony Eason. All were drafted before Miami coach Don Shula took Marino with the 27th pick in the first round. 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. "He should rest on his laurels," Dolphins fan George 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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