Marino and Young Enter Football Hall
Four Quarterbacks, Led by Dan Marino and Steve Young, Enter Pro Football's Hall of Fame

CANTON, Ohio Aug 7, 2005 — The eyes that stared down defenses betrayed Dan Marino on Sunday. They were wet with tears as he took his place among the legends of football.
Marino, the NFL's most prolific passer, joined Steve Young, Fritz Pollard and Benny Friedman in the Hall of Fame. - NFL Football -
Marino suspected he might break down and cry during his emotionally charged acceptance speech. He did so even before then, after his oldest son Daniel's introduction.
None of that on-field stoicism for the Miami Dolphins great, at least not on this sun-splashed day in front of thousands of fans in No. 13 jerseys, and amid chants of "D-A-N-N-Y."
"I'll remember this day for the rest of my life," Marino said.
Then he capped it by throwing what else? a perfect spiral into the audience to his former receiving partner, Mark Clayton. - NFL Football -
"Go deep, Mark," Marino said as he licked the fingers on his right hand, a trademark of his 17-year career. - NFL Football -
Paying tribute to his Western Pennsylvania roots, Marino noted that John Unitas, Joe Namath, Joe Montana and Jim Kelly all came from the region. All are Hall of Famers.
"When I was younger, there's no doubt I thought about being Joe Namath," Marino said, adding that joining them in the Hall "definitely makes an impact on you."
Young suggested it was the first time only quarterbacks entered the Hall in one class, and he was partly right. Pollard was a running back who sometimes played QB.
"I'm proud to be part of this with Dan and the Pollard and Friedman families," Young said. "We are quarterbacks and that's what is neat about this position."
While Marino and Young had diverse styles, they both spent years at the top of their profession. Marino set NFL marks of 4,967 completions, 8,358 passes, 61,361 yards (nearly 35 miles) and 420 touchdowns. His record of 48 TD passes in the 1984 season, when he was MVP, was broken by Peyton Manning last year. - NFL Football -
He also owned 21 NFL marks when he retired, including most seasons with 3,000 yards or more passing (13); most yards passing in one season (5,084 in '84, the only year he won a conference championship); and most games with 300 yards or more passing (63).

BARRY WILNER