Gene's off field problems were more so after he quit playing. There were a lot of guys worse than Atkins back then. Derrick Fenner is one who had a pretty serious record. Sammie Smith was locked up for a few yrs. Several yrs after he quit football, Atkins was accused of firebombing the house of a former business partner. He was acquitted. He was recently involved in some spousal abuse incident and resisted arrest. Again this is long after his career was over. At the time Shula signed him, there was no talk in the media that we'd gotten a problem child off the field. There has also been recent reports that Atkins has the early signs of dementia brought on by head injuries and concussions suffered while playing football.
Well Dan was our last true elite QB also. If you don't have the one there is no reason to have the other as those two are really joined at the hip imho.
I just realized that as I was catching up on the posts from last night and earlier this morning. And, I mean I realized it like the post before you said it. Too funny. I remember that play because I remember thinking to myself, that throw was all arm (because his legs were wrapped up). UFB throw, but just typical Marino.
In an interview a while back with Marino they were talking about this very game. The 4th and 5 topic came up and Marino said he gave Fryar "the look" as they lined up. He didnt say what the look was,but it was clear they were both on the same page. Great game,great memories.
Man I miss marino,he was the man.I still enjoy watching the fins every sunday but it is not the same since he retired.It did not matter what the score was you always felt like he would bring you back.I guess thats what the colt fans feel like.Nowdays we get behind by 2 tds now and its all over. I think henne has a chance to good but i do not think he will ever be close to the class marino was in.Man i was spoiled for 17 years it acually hurts to watch these old games feel like i am getting old.
It made me feel a little old too. Seems like forever ago when I watched it live, eight days before my 15th birthday. Henne will not be like Marino. No Quarterback will. Watch the way he can throw. Nobody can do that. You can see even in that game how linemen could be close enough to smell his aftershave and he'd have the ball out of his hands and 20 yards down the field in what seemed like just a millisecond.
Everybody talks about his quick release but you for get how great of a pocket presence he had.Even after his achillies injury you see him slide in the pocket with his quick feet and hit a strike 20 yds downfeild. Man i also forgot how frustrting it was to watch are defence give up td after td.If he only had a good not great running game and a top 10 defence he would have won 5 superbowls.
Bruce Smith says Dan Marino was hardest QB to sack (and the best QB) that he ever faced. Coming from that man is saying A LOT!
