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Marino says he turned down chance to play for Steelers in 2000
WFRV.COM ^ | 07/21/2005 | STEVEN WINE

Posted on 07/21/2005 5:02:57 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) Hall of Fame-bound Dan Marino says he retired five years ago only after rejecting an offer to play for his hometown team, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

When his 17-year career with the Miami Dolphins ended with the 1999 season, Marino turned down a well-publicized offer from the Minnesota Vikings. On Thursday, Marino said he also was approached by other teams, including the Steelers and coach Bill Cowher.

``I had a chance to go to Pittsburgh,'' Marino said. ``I don't think anybody knew that. ... Cowher called me about playing, but I had to make a decision within a couple of days, because he already had a guy that he was going to sign.''

Instead, the Pittsburgh native 38 years old and hampered by injuries decided against playing in 2000.

``At the time, I just kept thinking back to how my body felt the year before,'' he said. ``And to me there was something special about playing 17 years in one place. Although I was pretty close to doing it, it just didn't feel right. I probably could have played another year, no doubt.''

The most prolific passer in NFL history, Marino will be inducted Aug. 7 into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Don Shula paid tribute during a telephone conference call Wednesday and in the process took a shot at his successor as Dolphins coach, Jimmy Johnson. Shula, unable to contain his disdain for Johnson, bristled when asked if Marino benefited from having only two coaches.

``You mean he had one coach,'' Shula said. ``Look at the numbers. They speak for themselves.''

During 13 years with Shula, Marino averaged 28 touchdown passes per season, and Miami had a winning percentage of .614, plus six playoff victories. Throwing less often in his four years under Johnson, Marino averaged 17 touchdown passes per season, and Miami had a winning percentage of .563, plus two playoff wins.

In the wake of Shula's remark, Marino was asked if things would have been different had he played his entire career under the Hall of Fame coach.

``How did I know that was going to come up?'' Marino said with a chuckle. ``Would it have been different? Who knows? Coach Shula was an incredible influence on my career and a guy I respect very much, and I'm real excited that he's going to be there (in Canton) in two weeks.''


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: dolphins; ineedaring; marino; nfl; steelers
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To: mainepatsfan
I wish Barry and Chris Spielman(toughest player I've ever seen) would have gotten their rings. Those two deserved one.

Those mid 90's Lions teams were good enough to make a fan think this may be their chance, and then bow out in their first playoff game due to five picks from Scott Mitchell.

21 posted on 07/21/2005 6:45:57 PM PDT by Dan from Michigan (Member - NRA, SAF, MGO, SAFR)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

That head-game passing stunt for TD he pulled on the Jets (feigning a rundown of the clock) was the highpoint of his career.


22 posted on 07/21/2005 6:46:23 PM PDT by Petronski (So, ma cherie, you like ze boum boum?)
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To: scott says

You are correct. They remain the ONLY team ever to win three playoff games on the road to get to the SB. I'm not sure which win I enjoyed the most.


23 posted on 07/21/2005 6:46:31 PM PDT by mainepatsfan
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To: Dan from Michigan

They came closest in 1991. I loved it when they crushed the Cowboys. Unfortunately for them no one was going to stop the Redskins that year.


24 posted on 07/21/2005 6:47:38 PM PDT by mainepatsfan
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To: Petronski

I remember watching that live. My father and I laughed our asses off.


25 posted on 07/21/2005 6:48:24 PM PDT by mainepatsfan
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To: mainepatsfan

Yes, I am a diehard Cowboy fan. But Barry Sanders was probably better. But given his chaotic running style, I don't know if he was a ball control kind of guy or not. Maybe he was.


26 posted on 07/21/2005 6:49:16 PM PDT by Zack Nguyen
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To: Zack Nguyen
He left on bitter terms, but I think he was tired of the rebuilding, and the mediocre teams. 5-11, 6-10, with an occasional 10-6 or 9-7 and first round playoff exit.

If Bill Ford Sr and Chuck Schmidt wanted to, they could have built one hell of a team. The nucleus was certainly there. Barry, Chris Spielman, Lomas Brown, Robert Porcher, Herman Moore(best receiver in the game pre-injuries), and Johnnie Morton and Bret Perriman as support receivers.

And then have Wayne Fontes as a coach and Scott Mitchell as QB.

27 posted on 07/21/2005 6:51:20 PM PDT by Dan from Michigan (Member - NRA, SAF, MGO, SAFR)
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To: mainepatsfan

It was right out of "The Sting." I expected Redford and Newman to be in the booth as they went to halftime.


28 posted on 07/21/2005 6:52:08 PM PDT by Petronski (So, ma cherie, you like ze boum boum?)
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To: Zack Nguyen

If he were given a better offensive line in front of him he would have been making those great moves against the defense's secondary rather than it's front seven.


29 posted on 07/21/2005 6:52:32 PM PDT by mainepatsfan
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To: Petronski

LOL. I remember that game. Was that against Parcells?


30 posted on 07/21/2005 6:54:41 PM PDT by Dan from Michigan (Member - NRA, SAF, MGO, SAFR)
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To: Petronski

I've seen other quarterbacks have tried to replicate the play but none have pulled it off.


31 posted on 07/21/2005 6:55:29 PM PDT by mainepatsfan
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To: Dan from Michigan

No actually the Jets were coached that year by soon to be Patriot head coach Pete Carroll.


32 posted on 07/21/2005 6:56:51 PM PDT by mainepatsfan
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To: All

Just watched Manning get picked off by Rodney Harrison in the end zone to seal their playoff loss to the Pats on NFL network. I'll never get tired of watching that.


33 posted on 07/21/2005 6:58:32 PM PDT by mainepatsfan
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To: Dan from Michigan

Yep, but as a Lions fan here in DFW, I will always savor the 31-6 playoff win. (It's all we've had in God knows how many years?)


34 posted on 07/21/2005 10:03:58 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: since1868

I had thought he had an offer from the Vikings? maybe I was wrong.


35 posted on 07/22/2005 7:03:11 AM PDT by Asphalt (Join my NFL ping list! FReepmail me| Since 10/10/04)
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To: ABG(anybody but Gore); akorahil; albee; andyandval; andyland; Argh; Asphalt; b4its2late; ...

NFL PING
FReepmail me to get on or off

36 posted on 07/22/2005 7:03:38 AM PDT by Asphalt (Join my NFL ping list! FReepmail me| Since 10/10/04)
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To: Asphalt
Too bad he never got a offer from NE, if we would of stuck there for a few years he would of gotten that ring .
37 posted on 07/22/2005 7:05:20 AM PDT by since1868
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To: Zack Nguyen

The problem with Sanders, he was 90% of the lions offense.


38 posted on 07/22/2005 7:06:29 AM PDT by Perdogg
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To: since1868

could be.


39 posted on 07/22/2005 7:11:18 AM PDT by Asphalt (Join my NFL ping list! FReepmail me| Since 10/10/04)
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To: Dan from Michigan; mainepatsfan
The Packers passed up on Barry for Tony Mandarich. Can you imagine Sanders and Favre together in their prime?

Lando

40 posted on 07/22/2005 7:11:28 AM PDT by Lando Lincoln (How many liberals does it take to win a war?)
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