Tag: Dan Marino

Former Dolphins QB Dan Marino says he would throw for 6,000 yards in today’s NFL

Marino says he’d have even more success today.

It’s no secret that former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino was ahead of his time.

In an era of the sport where running the ball was still king, Marino was throwing for at least 4,400 yards per season with some regularity. In 1984, a 22-year-old Marino threw for 5,084 yards, a record that stood until 2011 when Tom Brady threw for 5,235 and Drew Brees threw for 5,476.

Today, the game is completely different. Football has become a game obsessed with quarterbacks and has made wide receivers the second-highest-paid position in the league.

Marino, appearing on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Wednesday, acknowledged that it’s possible that would’ve thrown for 6,000 yards in today’s NFL.

“Yeah, you do think about it,” Marino said. “The rules have changed and all that, but the one thing I would say is we were kind of a little bit ahead of our time going for 5,000 yards having [Mark] Duper and [Mark] Clayton and Dwight Stephenson as our center. We had some really good players. Do I now think that we could throw for over 6,000 yards? I don’t have to prove it… If you don’t have to prove it, you can say it. So, yeah 6,000 yards (that’s feasible).”

While it would probably difficult for many players who played in the 1980s and 1990s to thrive in the NFL today, Marino seems like one who could see a similar level of success if not more.

Dan Marino believes Dolphins can win a Super Bowl with Tua Tagovailoa

The legendary QB believes Miami can win with Tua Tagovailoa.

The Miami Dolphins, as an organization, have been fully behind quarterback Tua Tagovailoa since Mike McDaniel was hired as the team’s head coach prior to the start of the 2022 season.

McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier have done everything they can to support Tagovailoa publicly, and the same can be said for Dolphins legend Dan Marino, who currently holds a special advisor position with the team.

Speaking with Adam Schein on “Mad Dog Sports Radio,” Marino was asked if the Dolphins could win a Super Bowl with Tagovailoa, and his answer was rather simple.

“Yes, I believe so,” Marino stated.

To take the next step in his career, Marino explained that “he just needs to continue to grow, and I think he’s done that. He had the best statistical year of his career and the best in the league, I think. He just has to build on that.”

Tagovailoa led the league in passing yards this season (4,624), which was a career mark, while helping his team to an 11-6 regular season record. He also set career highs in completion percentage (69.3%) and touchdowns (29).

Unfortunately, Miami came up short of their ultimate goal of winning in the postseason, and Marino, while not wanting to make excuses, gave some reasons as to why that is.

“I’m not making excuses, but at the end of the year, we were in some tough situations on the road, and we had a lot of injuries,” Marino explained. “That all plays into it. Sometimes you just have to get in the right positions and have the right people healthy so you have a chance to get to the Super Bowl.”

In two seasons with the McDaniel-Tagovailoa pairing, with the former Crimson Tide quarterback starting the game, the Dolphins have won 19 of their 30 games. They’ve made it to the postseason in back-to-back years for the first time since 2000-01.

If they don’t win a playoff game soon, they’ll both be looking for new opportunities somewhere else. However, they have the ability to achieve some great things together.

WATCH: Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa stars in hilarious Super Bowl ad

Miami’s QB stars alongside Drew Barrymore and Sir Patrick Stewart in Super Bowl ad.

With the Super Bowl fast approaching, the famous advertisements surrounding the event have started to surface across social media, and Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa stars in one.

Promoting the streaming service Paramount+ , Tagovailoa appears alongside Drew Barrymore, Sir Patrick Stewart and a cast of other characters with the goal of scaling an icy wall.

Tagovailoa isn’t the only Dolphins quarterback to be in a Super Bowl commercial this year, as Dan Marino is appearing alongside Lionel Messi in an ad for Michelob Ultra.

Flashback Friday 1994 wild-card round: Dolphins vs Chiefs

Flashback to the last time Miami faced Kansas City in the wild-card round.

With the Miami Dolphins set to square off against the Kansas City Chiefs this Saturday in the playoffs, it may cause some feelings of dĂ©jĂ  vu, as this isn’t the first time that these two teams matched up in the wild-card round.

The last time these teams faced each other on wild-card weekend was in 1994 on New Year’s Eve. The 10-6 Dolphins, coached by Don Shula, hosted the 9-7 Chiefs, coached by Marty Shottenheimer.

The Chiefs’ offense opened the game firing on all cylinders, as Hall of Fame running back Marcus Allen set the tone, making plays in both the run and pass game. Kansas City quarterback Joe Montana completed all six of his passes, finishing the opening drive with a touchdown pass to tight end Derrick Walker.

It didn’t take long for the Dolphins offense to answer the call. Quarterback Dan Marino and running back Bernie Parmalee sparked an 11-play, 72-yard drive resulting in a touchdown run by Parmalee to tie the game 7-7.

It took the Chiefs just four plays to regain the lead with Montana finding running back Kimble Anders on a short route which Anders took the rest of the way for a 57-yard touchdown, putting Kansas City back on top 14-7. The teams traded field goals on the ensuing drives to make the score 17-10 in Kansas City’s favor midway through the second quarter.

With just over six minutes left in the half, Marino led the offense on an 80-yard drive to even the score. Marino worked his magic against the Kansas City defense. From the goal line, he found tight end Ronnie Williams for a one-yard touchdown to tie the game 17-17 going into halftime.

This game had the makings of an offensive shootout, as neither team punted in the first half. However, the second half was a different story.

The Dolphins received to start the second half, and Marino wasted no time putting his team on top for the first time. It took just a couple of plays for Marino and the offense to drive into the Chiefs’ red zone and score another touchdown, as Marino threw his second touchdown pass of the day, this time to receiver Irving Fryar. Miami had their first lead of the game at 24-17. The Dolphins earned one more field goal to extend their lead to 27-17.

After struggling in the first half, the Miami defense pitched a shutout the entire third quarter. The fourth quarter featured two game-clinching turnovers by the Dolphins defense.

The final quarter began with the Chiefs driving into the Miami red zone. The Kansas City offense was desperate for points after being stagnant in the third quarter. On a first-down play from the Dolphins 5-yard line, a rare mistake by Montana on a slant route resulted in an interception by Miami cornerback J.B. Brown.

After a quick three-and-out forced by the Chiefs’ defense, Montana and the offense had another chance to get back in the game. The Chiefs once again looked poised for another drive into Miami territory. However, that drive was halted when Miami linebacker Michael Stewart stripped the ball out of Allen’s hands for a forced fumble turnover.

The Dolphins maintained the lead to win the game 27-17 with neither team scoring any points in the fourth quarter. Marino finished the game with 257 yards and two touchdowns and a 125.2 passer rating.

It was the second playoff matchup between the two of the best quarterbacks of all time. The first time Marino and Montana matched up in the playoffs was Super Bowl 19 when Montana’s 49ers convincingly defeated Marino’s Dolphins 38-16. This wild-card matchup evened up the playoff series between the two legends. It would also be the final game of Monatan’s legendary career.

Best moments from sixth episode of Dolphins ‘Hard Knocks’

Here’s what we saw in the sixth episode of “Hard Knocks.”

The Miami Dolphins have been on a roll in 2023, and they picked up a win on Sunday afternoon over the Dallas Cowboys to improve to 11-4 through the first 16 weeks of the season.

And, now, they have even more attention on them, as they’re the focus of this year’s edition of the in-season version of “Hard Knocks” on HBO and Max.

The sixth episode of the season aired on Tuesday night with more to follow weekly.

Here are some of the best moments from episode No. 6 (some are NSFW):

A terrific Tuesday for Dolphins from ‘Tank’ to television

Dolphins, new and old, were providing entertainment on Tuesday.

It’s been a great start to a pre-holiday week for the Miami Dolphins and their fan base. Not only did the Dolphins shut out their AFC East rival New York Jets on Sunday 30-0, victory Monday was fantastic, but it might not compare to how terrific Tuesday was.

Many in this Dolphins universe of die-hard fans started Tuesday morning with “The Fish Tank,” a podcast hosted by Seth Levit and the 1998 NFL receptions leader, former Dolphins wide receiver OJ McDuffie.

“Marino to McDuffie” was the common phrase in the mid-late 1990s, as the Hall of Fame quarterback took his long-awaited dive into the popular Dolphins podcast.

The show was a trip down memory lane which is a must-listen for any Dolphins fan, as the trio, including Marino, talked about all things from coach Don Shula, the Marks Brothers, and in a personal favorite moment, his connection and reliance on McDuffie. Hearing Marino directly tell McDuffie about his faith in him, no doubt pulled on the emotional strings of fans of a certain age.

It came full circle in talking about the current Dolphins, and, as each episode concludes with a famous end segment, it gave us all a chance to watch (and listen to) Dan the Man work one final two-minute drill.

The quarterback with 47 game-winning drives in his career, danced around the blitz of questions with 120 seconds on the studio clock, and per usual, he delivered, in typical Marino fashion.

If that wasn’t fun enough, the day turned to night, and HBO’s “Hard Knocks” took over Dolphins fans’ televisions and social media channels. Following the win, and two games removed from that miserable Monday Night Football loss to the Tennessee Titans, Tuesday’s episode was welcoming.

It featured a segment on Tik-Tok star through a relationship with Braxton Berrios, a lifelong Dolphins fan and former Jet, who signed with Miami last offseason. Staying with social media, Pinecrest Elementary school teacher Mary Martinez has been making waves in the Dolphins community with her mathematics methods, mixing Miami players in her lesson plans. The Miami-based teacher was also highlighted in Tuesday’s episode.

Martinez has been tracking Tyreek Hill’s pace to 2,000 receiving yards and integrates her class in finding the average yards needed per game to hit that magic number. Bravo to Ms. Martinez and her class and school.

Speaking of class, it was in session when Mike McDaniel hit the film in the Dolphins lecture hall. McDaniel pointed out his own and players’ mistakes, leading to a theme of accountability that even he recognizes and possesses as a head coach.

When talking about accountability, the financial focus shifts to the literal and figurative elephant in the locker room – Christian Wilkins. A polarizing player lately in terms of his value, worth and future in Miami, the main feature of “Hard Knocks” was his teammate and defensive line brother Zach Sieler.

Without any teasing of this aspect of the episode, from the Sieler family to the Wilkins comradery, just tune in if you missed it.

The duo is a team within a team within a unit, and it’s evident that they have chemistry you simply can’t buy or replicate. Yet, you can retain and build around it. The Dolphins have a major decision to make with Wilkins, as they extended Sieler earlier this season.

Wilkins is having a career year after betting on himself following a summer contract conundrum. Both he and his camp have decisions to make as well, as the combo of him and Seiler could just be too good and unique to pass up.

As the show was wrapping up with highlights of the Dolphins grounding the Jets, the night ended as the day started – with Dan Marino, who was in the locker room, celebrating the win, when from his blind side came a near-sack surprise.

Although the game was over for Wilkins, and it’s been a minute since Marino was wrapped up by a defensive lineman, the big man bear-hugged the former gunslinger for a postgame quarterback hit.

And, in pure Marino fashion, he stayed up, didn’t flinch, and delivered a touchdown pass of a podcast
despite Wilkins being all over the greatest Dolphin to ever do it.

What a day, what a night, what a team.

LOOK: The best images from Commanders vs. Dolphins in Week 13

We look back at some of the best images from Week 13.

Sunday was an ugly day for the Washington Commanders. The Miami Dolphins came to FedEx Field and destroyed the Commanders 45-15 in a game where the score could’ve been much worse. Miami head coach Mike McDaniel essentially didn’t even try to score in the game’s final 20 minutes and still managed to score another touchdown.

FedEx Field was sold out for the sixth time this season and, unsurprisingly, was packed full of Miami fans. There were some legends on hand in Landover representing each team.

Pro Football Hall of Fame head coach Joe Gibbs, the most revered figure in Washington’s over 90 years as an NFL franchise, was on the field before the game. Legendary former Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino was also present.

Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill put on a show, catching two long touchdown passes and finished with 157 receiving yards.

We look back at some of the best images from Sunday’s game.

Brock Purdy explains what it was like to FaceTime with Hall of Fame QB Dan Marino

Brock Purdy called it a “special moment” to FaceTime with the Hall of Fame quarterback.

Despite growing up in Arizona and playing college football in Iowa, Brock Purdy grew up a Miami Dolphins fan. According to the San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback, his father was a Dolphins fan from Florida and the fandom was passed on to him.

Before playing the New York Giants on Thursday Night Football last week, Purdy sat down for an interview with former Dolphins quarterback turned analyst Ryan Fitzpatrick. During the interview, Purdy got a FaceTime call from a Dolphins legend. 

Purdy got to meet and chat with Dolphins Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino via FaceTime while Fitzpatrick watched. During a recent press conference with members of the media, Purdy explained what it was like to talk with the Hall of Fame gunslinger. 

“Yeah, it was sweet. It was special. Fitzpatrick pulled out the iPad, FaceTimed Dan Marino. I was like, ‘What?’ But basically I told him like, ‘Hey, I wear 13 because of you and my dad obviously loved watching you play.’ So it was a special moment for sure. He’s a legend.”

Via @NFLonPrime on Twitter:

Purdy made his debut with the 49ers last season against the Dolphins after Jimmy Garoppolo exited the game in Week 13. Purdy went 25-of-37 passing for 210 yards and two touchdowns while leading the 49ers to a 33-17 win over his childhood team.

In 2023, the Dolphins and 49ers are two of the three NFL teams to start the new campaign 3-0.

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! 

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An interview with Dolphins Hall of Fame QB Dan Marino, Pepsi’s QB1

The legendary QB will be part of a special promotion this weekend.

Miami Dolphins fans attending the Week 3 home opener this Sunday against the Denver Broncos are in for a very special bonus feature. In big news that dropped Thursday morning, recently “unretired” Dan Marino will once again be a “QB1” and lead the charge at Hard Rock Stadium when the brand new Wynwood Walkthrough, presented by Pepsi, debuts.

The new concession storefront will allow fans to grab and go without stopping for checkout, which is a first at Hard Rock Stadium. The game plan is simple, the Wynwood Walkthrough will have fully stocked shelves with chips and sips from PepsiCo beverages and Frito-Lay snacks, utilizing Amazon’s “Just Walk Out” technology, to get fans back to their seats quicker than ever.

Marino has had a long-standing relationship with Pepsi and was the perfect man to lead a team of legends that includes Randy Moss, Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith.

“The topic of unretirement is fun for fans and media to talk about and certainly something I’ve thought about a few times since I retired, but I’m proud to say I left everything I had on the field playing for the best fans in the NFL,” said Marino. “But, when Pepsi offered me the chance to be part of gameday as their QB1 to quarterback the opening of the new, fast high-tech shop and give back to the fans, it was an opportunity I couldn’t refuse.”

I had the amazing opportunity to discuss this venture with No. 13 on a Zoom call on Thursday. Marino shared some thoughts on the Dolphins current wide receiver duo, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, in comparison to his famous targets, the Marks Brothers, in Clayton and Duper. An admittedly easy question, I certainly wasn’t throwing this legend a hardball…

Marino will be there on Sunday to celebrate the grand opening of the Wynwood Walkthrough presented by Pepsi, and he’ll be signing autographs for the first 50 fans in Section 142 on the 100 level after the stadium gates open at 11 a.m.

The 2-0 Dolphins will have Marino rally the crowd in hopes of helping see a 3-0 start for the second time in as many seasons for Miami. That would mean it’d be the first pair of consecutive 3-0 starts since 1994-96.

Marino finished his career in 1999 after 17 seasons, 420 touchdowns, 61,361 passing yards, and he arguably set the stage for the passing game for the 21st century. At the time of his retirement, he was the record holder in nearly every significant statistical quarterback category.  He was 147-93 as a starter and led 33 fourth-quarter comebacks (eighth in league history) coupled with  47 game-winning drives which is fifth-best all-time.

He was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005 and can be very heavily credited for painting the football world aqua and orange with his play in the 1980s and 1990s, spreading the fanbase across the country and internationally, unlike any individual player had done for a football franchise.

Let’s all raise a Pepsi for “QB1,” and on behalf of Dolphin fans around the globe: “Thank you, Dan.”

NFL fans laughed so hard at Sunday Night Football comparing Tua Tagovailoa to Dan Marino

Uh … is this really true?

I’ll say this: Tua Tagovailoa is better than any of us thought.

But comparing him — even his throwing motion — to Dan Marino? Nope. Gonna go ahead and disagree with you there.

That’s what NBC’s Sunday Night Football did toward the end of the first half of their broadcast of Week 2’s Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots tilt.

They did a little side-by-side of Marino and Tagovailoa, showing their throwing motions, and Cris Collinsworth discussed how they kind of look alike. Heck, they even flipped the photos of them since one — Marino — is a righty and Tua is a lefty.

Fans roasted the segment: