January 2, 1998

"It's time, Dan. Go out with a little pride. Retire while you can still walk (sort of)." I've heard it all, and I answer those calls by saying, "55,141 yards 385 touchdowns and 132 victories."

You probably know that Dan Marino holds all the important Records - that he's well respected and guaranteed to enter the hall of fame. However, there's one award that Marino doesn't have: a Super Bowl ring. In all likelihood, this is what's keeping him in the game. He's a man who has played football in the NFL for 15 years - taking tremendous hits from men like Bruce Smith, Reggie White and Lawrence Taylor - and he's waiting around for a piece of jewelry. Of course what he's really waiting for (in my opinion) is immortality. The fact that you've thrown over 3,000 yards in a season 12 different times is important only to die hard Dan fans.

Ask the typical football fan who the best all-time QB is, and you'll most likely get Joe Montana (a damn fine QB in his own right). And why is that? He's sportin' several of those rings. So how do you ask Dan Marino, literally a living legend, to accept second place? To get out while the gettin's good. You don't. Why not give it one or two more years. Dan has always been a force to contend with all on his own, and with JJ behind the 'fins the rest of the team could be up to par soon enough. If you ask me, Dan is already the best quarterback to ever play the game. With a Super Bowl win, everyone will know it. Go for it Dan!

J.D. Ashcraft Born in 1880 to a coal miner and an alligator wrestler, I came to Orlando after the great depression to take part in the new media revolution that was television. Now, some 50 years later, I am still active in new media via The Slant. Der wiesel ist in der flub!. Other Articles I've Written