The best intentions: Dan Marino, talking with GM Dennis Hickey on the sideline on Oct. 12, has been working with the Dolphins’ quarterbacks.Wilfredo Lee/AP
Unless these guys are convincing liars
and great actors, which they are not, particularly Philbin, who is quite easy to read, Dolphins coaches are not offended or feel undermined by Marino’s presence.
Publicly, Philbin has numerous times embraced the idea of Marino being around. The door is open, Philbin has said.
Sure, what’s he supposed to say, right?
Well, privately, two assistants — one on offense, one on defense — say they don’t see evidence among their peers that there is resentment toward Marino. They believe Marino is simply trying to help this team succeed.
The story is the same publicly.
“He’s been involved, but he’s not given us blitzes he would like to run or anything like that,” Coyle said. “His presence is welcomed around here. Any time you have got a guy of that caliber, a Hall of Fame guy that has seen so many things, he can certainly help in every phase.”
Well, if Marino is not setting himself up for giving Ross a thumbs up or down on coaches and players after the season, what is he doing?
“I’m going to be around and be supportive and help any way I can,” he told me last month.
That means giving advice but not orders. Being a supplemental resource. Helping while not hindering.
In short, Marino is trying not to let his best intentions get sideways.
“Dan is not punching a time clock. He doesn’t have an office. He doesn’t have a formal role,” Garfinkel said. “Zac Taylor is the quarterback coach, and Bill Lazor is the offensive coordinator. Everyone knows that. Dan better than anyone understands and respects the coach-player relationship because he lived it, and he is not getting in the way of that.
“Everyone I’ve talked to in football operations is happy to have him around. And if that wasn’t the case, trust me, I’d hear about it.”
So maybe this is the Dolphins’ shining moment when good intentions turn out … good.
