The Marino Curse

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The Marino Curse is a superstition cited as a reason why the Miami Dolphins haven't been able to find a stable quarterback after Dan Marino's retirement after the 1999 season. Dan Marino, or course, is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time. He was drafted to Miami in the 1983 season and played his entire career there, gaining 61,361 yards through the air, which was a league record (it was broken in 2007 by Brett Favre) and another lead record of 420 touchdowns (also broken by Favre in 2007.) He also led the Dolphins to a Super Bowl in 1984, which they lost to the 49ers. After his retirement, every quarterback that played for the Dolphins have either played horribly or became seriously injured during the season. Some victims of the curse include Daunte Culpepper, Trent Green, Jay Fiedler, Cleo Lemon, and more.

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[edit] 2000

After Marino's retirement, head coach Dave Wannstedt announced that the team's new starting quarterback would be Jay Fiedler. That season Jay Fiedler played exceptionally well, gaining 2402 yards through the air and 14 touchdowns, and leading the Dolphins to an 11-5 finish and took first place in the AFC East division. They made it to the Divisional Playoff round, but lost to the Raiders 17-0.

[edit] 2001

After that season, it looked as though that there was no curse as Jay Fiedler was a great quarterback. It was said in 2001 too when he threw for 3290 yards and 20 touchdowns, leading the Dolphins to the playoffs once again that year, but ended up losing in the Wild Card round to the Baltimore Ravens.

[edit] 2002

2002 was the year that the curse started to take it's toll. The now favorite starting quarterback Jay Fiedler played only 10 games that season. He threw 2024 yards and 14 touchdowns. When he went down with injury, back-up quarterback Ray Lucas stepped in. Ray Lucas played horribly, throwing for 1045 yards, 4 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. That year, they didn't make the playoffs

[edit] 2003

After the 2002 season, the team fired Ray Lucas and hired Brian Griese. Brian Griese played with the Denver Broncos from 1998 to 2002. He was the man that was said to replace John Elway in Denver, but after 5 seasons, they decided to part ways. This time, Jay Fieder and Brian Griese would compete for the starting job. It was announced that Fiedler won the starting job for the regular season. He only played 12 games that season, and played the worst that he ever did. He threw for 2138 yards, 11 touchdowns, but 13 interceptions. After his horrible playing, head coach Dave Wannstedt pulled him out and put Brian Griese in. Brian Griese also didn't play well throwing 6 interceptions in 4 games. After the first two seasons were great in Miami, the curse was starting to set in.

[edit] 2004

Brian Griese was released and ended up playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They decided to hire A.J. Feeley in his stead. A. J. Feeley played for the Eagles from 2001 to 2003. And in the 2002 season when the star quarterback for the Eagles Donovan McNabb got injured, A.J. Feeley stepped in throwing for 1011 yards and 6 touchdowns leading the Eagles to the playoffs. In 2004, he and Jay Fiedler would compete for the starting job. A.J Feeley would start for the first half of the season, but his playing suffered. He threw for 1893 yards and 11 touchdowns, but he also threw 15 interceptions. After the season started 1-8, head coach Dave Wannstedt was fired and the defensive coordinator Jim Bates would start for the rest of the season. He then made Jay Fiedler the new starter. Jay Fiedler threw for 1186 yards and 7 touchdowns, but 8 interceptions. The Dolphins finished 4-12, the franchise's first bad record since 1969.

[edit] 2005

In 2005, the Dolphins hired Nick Saban as their new coach. He swore to turn this franchise around. The Dolphins fired both Jay Fiedler and A.J Feeley, and hired Gus Frerotte. Frerotte was the starter for the Washington Redskins from 1994 to 1999. He then went to the Lions as the starting quarterback, but only played one season there. He went to the Broncos for the 2000 and 2001 seasons as a backup, only to go to the Cincinnati Bengals in 2002 where he threw 5 interceptions and only 1 touchdown in 4 games. He was them picked up by the Minnesota Vikings in 2003 and there he revived his career throwing 7 touchdowns and 2 picks in only two seasons. He came to Miami being the new starting quarterback. Gus Frerotte is often called "The Marino Survivor", as many feel he was the only quarterback to play for Miami and not be effected by the curse. He threw for 2996 yards and 18 touchdowns with only 13 interceptions. The same couldn't be said for his backup Sage Rosenfels who played four games throwing three picks and only 462 yards. Although Frerotte was seen as the favorite for Miami, he was released after the 2005 season and went to St. Louis. That year the Dolphins finished 9-7 and it would stand as their last great record.

[edit] 2006

After the franchise decided Frerotte and Rosenfels wasn't good enough, they signed Daunte Culpepper and Joey Harrington. Daunte Culpepper was the starting quarterback for the Vikings from 2000 to 2005. There he was a pro bowl quarterback who threw for 4717 yards and 39 touchdowns in the 2004 season. But in 2005, he threw 12 interceptions and only 6 touchdowns before being injured. He demanded more money to stay there, but the Vikings released him after saying no. Joey Harrington was the first round draft pick for the Detroit Lions in 2002, but he was often seen as a bust. He was their starter for 4 seasons. In those 4 seasons he threw 60 touchdowns and 62 interceptions. Culpepper was bothered by his leg injury he suffered the year before and only played 4 games that year throwing 3 picks and 2 touchdowns. Harrington was to take the reins as quarterback. Harrington threw 15 picks and only 12 touchdowns that season. The Dolphins went 6-10 and Nick Saban quit afterwards. Culpepper and Harrington were also fired as the Dolphins continued to find a quarterback

[edit] 2007

The Dolphins hired Cam Cameron as their head coach after Saban quit. Cameron was the offensive coordinator for the Chargers from 2002 to 2006. Many said he was a genius for this work there. The Dolphins also acquired Trent Green through a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs and they dubbed Green as their new starter. Trent Green was drafted to San Diego in 1993 but went to Washington in 1995. He played his first game in 1997. In 1999 he went to the Rams as the starting quarterback, only to go to Kansas City Chiefs in 2001. In Kansas City, Trent Green threw for 21,459 yards and 118 touchdowns. But the year before, he went down with an injury and the Chiefs felt that they didn't need him anymore. They also acquired John Beck in the NFL draft that year. Green threw 7 picks and 5 touchdowns in 5 games. He then was out for the rest of the season with an injury. Cleo Lemon would then step in. Cleo Lemon led the Dolphins to their only victory in week 15 against the Baltimore Ravens. Lemon finished with 6 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. John Beck finished with 1 touchdown and 3 interceptions. Head Coach Cam Cameron was fired after the season and new coach Tony Sparano was introduced. The questions remain about 2008 and many wonder who will be the next victim.