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| Manning just finished his second-year in the NFL when Marino decided to retire. |
It was 12 years ago Miami's Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino struggled to walk away from the game he loved, retiring following the 1999 NFL season. The franchise hasn't been the same since.
Trying to find and replace a franchise quarterback may be two of the hardest things to do in sports, but replacing an icon, that's a different animal. Just ask the Dolphins. Since Marino's departure, the organization has placed 18 different quarterbacks under center only to eventually watch them fail.
Few had their day in the Florida sun, but none of them were able to sustain long-term success.
Sixteen of those 18 quarterbacks started a game or games for the Dolphins over the last 12 seasons, including Jay Fielder (59), Chad Henne (31), Chad Pennington (20), Gus Frerotte (15), Matt Moore (12) Joey Harrington (11), A.J. Feeley (8), Cleo Lemon (8), Ray Lucas (6), Trent Green (5), Brian Griese (5), John Beck (4), Daunte Culpepper (4), Sage Rosenfels (2), Damon Huard (1) and Tyler Thigpen (1).
And while Pat White and J.P. Losman never started as a Dolphin they both played in multiple games for the team.
White, who was a quarterback at West Virgina, played in 13 games for Miami in 2009. He mainly ran out of the Wildcat offense - never completing a pass in his five career attempts. Most recently, former Buffalo Bills starter, J.P. Losman appeared in two games for the Dolphins this past season, completing six of his ten passes, but didn't throw a touchdown nor an interception.
Those 18 quarterbacks have played in 192 games over that span, throwing 209 TDs and 206 INTs.
In Marino's first 192 games he had already won an NFL Most Valuable Player Award, played in a Super Bowl, threw 358 TDs and just 200 INTs. His combined record in those games was an excellent 119-73, while the most recent Miami quarterbacks are 92-100.
Throughout his 17-year career, Marino made ten playoff appearances. Since, Miami has made a total of three with their last coming in 2008.
However, this Dolphin team is close to returning and could be a Manning away from doing so.
If Manning were to make South Florida his next permanet home, he would inherit some already dangerous offensive weapons.
In his first year with Miami, running back Reggie Bush rushed for 1,000 yards (1,086) for the first time in his career and set a career-high in attempts with 216. But that didn't take away from the dynamic versatility he showcased at the University of Southern California and with the New Orleans Saints.
Bush caught 43 passes out of the backfield and scored a total of seven touchdowns in 2011.
As for the receiving corp, Anthony Fasano is no Rob Gronkowski, but is one of the most sure-handed tight ends in the game today, catching 32 passes a year ago and 164 since being drafted out of Notre Dame in 2006.
The Colts' Dallas Clark was Manning favorite target his last four seasons in Indianapolis, maybe Fasano will be his next.
Wideouts Davone Bess and Brandon Marshall continue to be one of the deadliest receiver combinations in the NFL, but with Manning they might be the best. We saw how be elevated the games of both Pierre Garcon and Anthony Gonzalez in Indy, why not them.
Bess' explosiveness make him a downfield threat every time he is lined up. He had 51 receptions for the Dolphins and added 3 TDs while Marshall caught 81 passes - six coming for a score. It was Marshall's fifth straight season with 80-plus catches.
Those four players combined for 207 of the team's 280 completions last season, scoring 21 TDs while in the process.
As for the defense, something Manning really never had in Indianapolis, Miami possess a pretty good one. Led by veteran Karlos Dansby and the hungry pass rusher Cameron Wake, the Dolphins have a mix of talented veterans and injection of youth.
However, defensive tackle Paul Soliai is a free agent and is unlikely to return. Playing in all 16 games last year, Soliai had 27 tackles, but did not record a sack or force a fumble, making his eventual exit easier to handle. His replacement might be found on draft day.
South Carolina's defensive end Melvin Ingram seems to be a favorite of most to land in Miami with the No. 8 pick, but the Dolphins should take Riley Reiff. Reiff is the second best offensive tackle in the draft behind USC's Matt Kalil, but nonetheless he is an All-American.
He could fill the Dolphin's need a right tackle, adding to a developing, but formable offensive line. Despite allowing the third most sacks in the league last year with 52, Miami's line is led by two former first-rounders.
Left tackle Jake Long and center Mike Pouncey, who is the identical brother of Pittsburgh's Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey, should be the future protectors of Manning.
However, Manning has only taken snaps from one center the last 12 years of his career. That being free agent Jeff Saturday. The five-time Pro Bowler has hinted at retirement, but what if somehow Manning can lure him down South to join forces one last time.
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| A campaign for Manning to join the Dolphins started before he was even released. |
The Dolphins have $10.2 million of salary cap to work with after not franchising any of their players thus far, but might need to resurrect some contacts if there are to pull this signing off. Although, Manning has said numerous times it's not about the money and unlikely most athletes, I believe him.
Joe Philbin is the team's newest head coach. They've had eight since Don Shula retired. So, new coach, why not a new quarterback?
The fans have already spoken launching a website and posting a billboard to promote it. The billboard consists of Manning in a Dolphins uniform that says, "Manning To Miami.com", trying to have him to take his talents to South Beach.
There will only be one Marino, but Manning will do just fine.
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