The Dolphins are, for lack of a better phrase, a hot mess right now.
And it just so happens, their last quarterback to be taken seriously is out of a job.
So the speculation that a return of Dan Marino might help the team out of its current jam is natural.
As mentioned by Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, the Dolphins had reached out to Marino about a job with the organization as recently as 2012. Whether they’d want to renew those talks is unknown.
Likewise, it’s unclear if Marino wants such a job, or whether he’d lend gravity or just a cheap P.R. boost.
It’s worked out well in Denver, with John Elway lifting the Broncos out of the mire and into consistent contender status, while recruiting one of the game’s best quarterbacks of all time to come work for him.
But at the time he took the job, there was plenty of skepticism as to whether Elway was just there for show, or whether he was willing to do the pack mule work required of an NFL personnel executive.
He’s sufficiently quelled those concerns, and a recent contract extension and addition of General Manager to his title has firmed up the fact he’s trusted to put in the work.
The Dolphins could certainly use the bump Marino would provide with their local consumers. But unless he’s willing to grind away like Elway has in Denver, it might not make much of a difference.