NFL: Selecting the best player in each franchise’s history
By Brad Rowland
Miami Dolphins – Dan Marino
File the selection of Dan Marino as the best player in Miami Dolphins history to the “absolute no-brainer” category.
Marino retired as the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards (61,361), completions (4,967) and touchdowns (420), and he still ranks third in all three categories. Those numbers are impressive in any context, but considering the fact that Marino played in a much less pass-friendly league, the argument can be made that his statistical accomplishments are unmatched by any quarterback. Perhaps the best example of that came in 1984, when he threw for 5,084 yards and 48 touchdowns (as a 23-year-old!) at a time when that type of stat line was simply unheard of.
The former Pittsburgh Panther played his entire career, from 1983 through 1999, with the Dolphins, and that makes this choice even easier. It will always be a knock on Marino that he was unable to bring a Super Bowl to Miami, but settling for one of the best quarterback profiles ever is nothing to be upset about. Dan Marino is the best player to ever wear a Miami Dolphins uniform, and the battle for second is far less interesting than his career proved to be.
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