Marino's Replacement?

Manning just finished his second-year in
the NFL when Marino decided to retire.

Peyton Manning is a free agent and the Miami Dolphins should do anything and everything to sign him.

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.

A campaign for Manning to join the Dolphins
started before he was even released.

Miami could shift Pouncey to guard and present one of the best offensive lines in football to protect an aging, but more importantly recovering quarterback.

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.

No Longer Their Man

Manning's ability to manage a game from
the line of scrimmage was unlike any-
body's in league history.

A 35-year-old colt is leaving his herd, but not by choice.

It was just last July, the Indianapolis Colts signed quarterback Peyton Manning to a five-year $90 million contract extension, that seemingly put the final touches on a career that would end with a horseshoe on his helmet.

But how quickly things can change.

According to multiple team sources, the Colts will release Manning rather than give him the $28 million bonus he is due on March 8 and pick up the final four years remaining on his contract, making Manning a free agent for the first time in his career.

An official announcement is expected to be made on Wednesday in a joint press conference with owner Jim Irsay and Manning, ending his 14-year run in Indiana.

The decision does not come as a surprise after Manning missed the entire 2011 season, undergoing his third neck surgery in the last 19 months - fourth overall. It was the first time in Manning's career he missed a game, playing in 208 consecutive regular season games - 227 including the postseason.

That is the second most to Brett Favre's 321 overall.

As for the the team, the Colts took a giant gallop backwards without Manning, finishing the season 2-14. It was their worst finish since 1991, when they went 1-15. But if it meant anything, it showed how valuable Manning has been to the franchise since being selected with the No. 1 pick in 1998.

Since moving to Indianapolis in 1984 and prior to Manning's arrival, the Colts held a .395 winning percentage in the regular season, a division title, won two playoff games and have no Super Bowl appearances.

Compare that to the game's Manning actually played in.

Indianapolis has won .678 percent of their regular season games with Manning under center, captured eight division titles, accumulated nine playoff wins and played in two Super Bowls.

Drafted out of Tennessee, Manning threw a rookie record 26 touchdowns, starting what would eventually become an NFL record for the most consecutive seasons with 25-plus TD passes (13). But with that instant success came a lot of growing pains. He was also intercepted 28 times that season - the only year he has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns.

Manning would lose his first three playoff starts before finally defeating the Denver Broncos in an AFC Wild Card matchup on Jan. 4, 2004, 41-10. He completed 22 of his 26 passes that day, throwing for 377 yards and five TDs.

But then came the Tom Brady-led New England Patriots.

Manning and Co. would lose to the Patriots in consecutive AFC Championship games by a combined score of 44-17. However, both of those games were played in the snowy confines of Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA.

A trip back to the then-RCA Dome would make all the difference.

After an early round exit against the Pittsburgh Steelers the following year, the Colts returned to the AFC Championship Game in Jan. 2007, hosting it for the first time in franchise history.

Their opponent. New England.

This time Manning would finally get the monkey off his back, overcoming a 21-6 halftime deficit and rallying Indianapolis past the Patriots. He outscored Brady 22-13 in the second half in the team's 38-34 victory and their first AFC Championship title since 1970.

The win would ultimately lead to Manning's his first and only Super Bowl title thus far, defeating the Chicago Bears in a sloppy and rainy game in South Florida, 29-17.

He was named Super Bowl XLI's Most Valuable Player.

It wouldn't be until 2009 that Manning would don the Super Sunday stage yet again. This time it came with agony, losing to the New Orleans Saints, 31-17 after starting the season a perfect 14-0 before then-head coach Jim Caldwell decided to pack it in for the final two games, planning to rest his starters for the postseason - a plan that obviously backfired.

If in fact Manning is releases Wednesday then Jan. 8, 2010 would have been his last as a Colt. It was the team's most recent playoff game and defeat, when they fell to the New York Jets, 17-16. In the game, Manning threw for 225 yards and a touchdown.

He leaves Indianapolis with a 9-10 record overall in the postseason, but holds all the franchise's passing records, including career wins (141), touchdowns (399), completions (4,682), attempts (7,210) and yards (54,828).

Throughout his career as a Colt, Manning defined preparation and hard work, even developing the signature no-huddle offense back in 2001.

Manning's best season came in 2004, when he threw for 4,557 yards, a then-record 49 TDs and only 10 INTs. But 2010 wasn't bad either after setting career-highs in completions (480), attempts (679) and yards (4,700).

The 11-time Pro Bowler has been named the AP NFL MVP a record four times in his career (2003, '04, '08 and '09).

He was the fastest quarterback in league history to complete 4,000 passes and throw for 50,000 yards. Manning guided Indianapolis to the postseason 11 times in 14 years, including seven AFC South titles over an eight-year span.

Manning resurrected a franchise in need, and will now pass the torch to someone else to do the same.

With this decision the Colts are almost assured to take either Stanford's Andrew Luck or Baylor's Robert Griffin III with the first overall pick in April's upcoming draft. It's a decision the Colts faced with Manning and Ryan leaf in '98.

That time Indianapolis chose right with Manning being arguably the greatest quarterback in NFL history, while Leaf threw more interceptions (36) than games played (25).

Instead of writing chapter three in the Joe Montana, Steve Young, Favre and Aaron Rodgers saga, Irsay opted for youth.

This is just one of the many moves and changes the 52-year-old owner decided to make this offseason. He has fired Caldwell, vice chairman Bill Polian, general manager Chris Polian and now is apparently ready to release the franchise's greatest player all within two months, living by his words "the horseshoe always comes first".

Free agency begins March 13, but if and when Manning is released he can sign with a team immediately, reminding us this is a business and everyone, including Manning, is expendable.

Fostering Him For The Long Haul

Raj-ON

Wonderless Wilt

Tek Takes Final Bow

Varitek wore the 'C' on his chest with
pride and dignity, just how like he
played the game.

Nearly two weeks after watching an emotional Tim Wakefield say goodbye, the Boston Red Sox bid another franchise legend farewell.

Longtime Red Sox backstop Jason Varitek officially announced his retirement Thursday in front of a abundance of former teammates, coaches and media members at a press conference held at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Florida.

Varitek was emotional to say the least, but who wouldn't be after a fantastic 14-year playing career.

The 39-year-old played his college ball at Georgia Tech, where he set numerous team records that still stand today, including games played (253), runs (261), hits (351) and doubles (82). Following his colligate career, Varitek was drafted in the first-round by the Seattle Mariners in 1994.

But his time in the Emerald City was short lived.

On July 31, 1997, Varitek, along with right-hander Derek Lowe, was shipped to Boston at the non-waiver Trade Deadline in exchange for reliever Heathcliff Slocumb in one of the most lopsided trades in baseball history.

This time it was the Red Sox giving away a a veteran reliever for a rising prospect, or in this case prospects, that became one of the franchise's all-time greats.

It was just seven years earlier Boston made the mistake of trading a young Jeff Bagwell to the Houston Astros for Larry Andersen. Bagwell went on to hit 449 career homes runs and become the franchise's foundation for a decade and a half.

Throughout his career, Varitek played in 1,546 games for the Red Sox -- 1,488 came as a catcher, setting the team record for the most games caught, shattering Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk's record of 990.

Varitek threw out 301 would-be base-stealers in his career, ranking him fourth on the active list. Ivan Rodriguez, who is an owner of 13 Gold Gloves, is the active leader with an astonishing 661. However, before his retirement, Varitek was the active leader in stolen bases allowed, surrendering 992. In 2009, Varitek gave up 108 stolen bases, allowing 100 for only third time in his career and led the American League, including a game in which he saw his future teammate, Carl Crawford, tie a Major League record, swiping six bags in a game.

As for his bat, Varitek help transcend his position as a switch-hitting catcher, hitting .256 with 193 HRs and driving in 757 runs.

The three-time All-Star's best all around season came in 2005 when he hit .281, adding 22 HRs, 70 RBIs and winning his only Gold Glove and Silver Slugger.

But Varitek's career was more than just about his numbers as he was the epitome of a gamer, leader and captain.

'Tek', as his teammates call him, is one of the greatest game callers in baseball history. He called a Major League record four no-hitters, catching Hideo Nomo (April 4, 2001), Lowe (April 27, 2002), Clay Buchholz (Sept. 1, 2007) and Jon Lester (May 19, 2008).

He stood put to New York Yankees and third baseman Alex Rodriguez, famously shoving his glove into Rodriguez's face that escalated into a bench clearing brawl and paved the way for Boston's improbable 2004 postseason run, exercising their playoff demons and ending an 86-year curse.

Varitek was on the field for both of Boston's most recent World Series championships ('04 and 2007) despite owning a .237 career postseason average. However, all three of the ALCS' Varitek played in against the Yankees, he delivered.

In the playoffs, he hit .279 against New York and five of his 11 postseason HRs came at their expense. Those 11 HRs are a playoff record for a catcher and his 63 career games in October are a franchise record. Varitek never hit a World Series home run, but won all eight Fall Classic games he played in.

When he came to the plate in the first inning of the series-clinching Game 4 of the '04 World Series against St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Jason Marquis, it was the first time in baseball history that two Little League World Series participants faced off against one another on baseball's biggest stage.

It could have been Varitek's shove to the
face of Rodriguez that turned the Red
Sox fortune around.

In December 2006, Varitek was named only the third captain in team history, joining Carl Yastrzemski and Jim Rice. Over the years, he proved he was worthy of that honor, playing with grit, through injuries that only the training staff knew of and being the ultimate team player.

He showed his already irreplaceable value to the pitching staff this season, especially for Josh Beckett. A year after Beckett went 6-6 and posted a career-worst 5.78 earned run average with Varitek only catching six of 21 starts, 2011 was far different.

Varitek caught 29 of Beckett's 30 starts this past season and watched the right-hander flourish. The former Florida Marlin went 13-7 and with a minimum of 20 starts, set career-lows in ERA (2.89) and WHIP (1.03).

Just like Wakefield, his presence will be missed on and off the field.

He was also a member of the 2006 United States World Baseball Classic team, hitting a grand slam against Team Canada.

Varitek and New York's also recently retired, Jorge Posada, were the Fisk and Thurman Munson of this generation and now leave the game and the only franchise's they've ever known and love behind, but legacies that will last far beyond our lifetime.

Hanniballin'