DallasDolfan
Practice Squad
"To say that Dan Marino caught the entire NFL off guard in 1984 is a major understatement. Who could have possibly envisioned a second-year quarterback setting single-season league records for yards and touchdowns --- marks which still stand today?
It's even more remarkable when one considers that the Miami Dolphins entered the previous year's draft ready to take a defensive lineman. Oh, we knew Marino was something special. We had Dan ranked as the No. 2 quarterback that year, right behind John Elway. But what were the odds that someone that talented would be there with the 27th overall selection?
Incredibly, as our pick drew closer, Marino was still on the board. How? Well, though he enjoyed an outstanding junior year at the University of Pittsburgh, Marino didn't have the same success his senior season. Because of that, there were some rumors about off-the-field activities that probably hurt his standing in the draft.
But when it looked like we had a chance to land Marino, I switched gears. The defensive lineman could wait. I immediately called Dan's college coach, Foge Fazio, and asked him what was happening. Foge couldn't believe it either. He said Marino was a wonderful kid, came from a great family and gave him every possible recommendation. That was enough for me. Time and again, for the duration of my coaching career, Marino would reward that faith.
From the moment Dan stepped on the field at our first minicamp, we knew it was only a matter of time before he ran the offense."
Don Shula
It's even more remarkable when one considers that the Miami Dolphins entered the previous year's draft ready to take a defensive lineman. Oh, we knew Marino was something special. We had Dan ranked as the No. 2 quarterback that year, right behind John Elway. But what were the odds that someone that talented would be there with the 27th overall selection?
Incredibly, as our pick drew closer, Marino was still on the board. How? Well, though he enjoyed an outstanding junior year at the University of Pittsburgh, Marino didn't have the same success his senior season. Because of that, there were some rumors about off-the-field activities that probably hurt his standing in the draft.
But when it looked like we had a chance to land Marino, I switched gears. The defensive lineman could wait. I immediately called Dan's college coach, Foge Fazio, and asked him what was happening. Foge couldn't believe it either. He said Marino was a wonderful kid, came from a great family and gave him every possible recommendation. That was enough for me. Time and again, for the duration of my coaching career, Marino would reward that faith.
From the moment Dan stepped on the field at our first minicamp, we knew it was only a matter of time before he ran the offense."
Don Shula
