Dan Marino is likely one of the biggest quarterbacks in NFL historical past. Over his 17-year profession with the Miami Dolphins, he threw for 61,361 yards and 420 touchdowns. Whereas Marino spent his entire profession in Miami, he’s from Pittsburgh, a slight sore spot for some Steelers followers. The Steelers had the chance to draft Marino however as a substitute selected Texas Tech DT Gabe Rivera. That call haunted them for years. Nonetheless, analyst Pete Prisco isn’t certain Marino would’ve had the identical success had he performed for his hometown group.
“If Dan Marino had ended up in Pittsburgh taking part in quarterback for the Steelers, reasonably than taking part in within the situations in south Florida and Miami, he would have been a completely totally different quarterback,” Prisco stated Tuesday on the two Execs and a Cup of Joe podcast.
It’s true that Miami and Pittsburgh have vastly totally different climate. Throughout soccer season, the Steelers get style of winter. In addition they usually cope with ugly situations earlier than winter begins, with rain and chilly plaguing them. Their stadium being proper subsequent to a river doesn’t assist with that, both. Oftentimes, it takes a strong-armed quarterback to succeed with the Steelers.
Nonetheless, Marino was born and raised in Pittsburgh. He performed 4 years of school soccer on the College of Pittsburgh. At that time, he was in all probability used to western Pennsylvania climate. Additionally, Marino had among the best arms within the historical past of soccer. He had the instruments to be simply as profitable with the Steelers as he was with the Dolphins.
Prisco doesn’t imagine that’s true, although.
“He would have been totally different,” he stated. “Go take a look at his numbers at Pitt. They weren’t as nice as you assume they have been.”
In 4 years at Pitt, Marino threw for 7,905 yards, 74 touchdowns, and 64 interceptions. He additionally tried over 1,000 passes. Are these good numbers? No, however take into account that Marino performed there from 1979-1982. The sport was utterly totally different then, particularly in school.
Evaluate Marino’s stats to these of John Elway, who was the primary total decide in the identical draft as Marino. Elway threw for 9,349 yards, 77 touchdowns, and 39 interceptions. Nonetheless, he additionally tried virtually 200 extra passes than Marino. Subsequently, their numbers aren’t as far aside as they appear to be.
Elway’s numbers are higher, however it’s not like Marino was withering away at Pitt. He was nonetheless adequate to be a first-round decide, and finally, he constructed a profession adequate to get enshrined within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame.
For what it’s price, Marino thinks not taking part in for the Steelers was good for him, however not for a similar causes that Prisco suggests. Leaving house compelled him to mature. Maybe staying in Pittsburgh would’ve harm his profession, however the climate doubtless wouldn’t have been an issue.
