The Miami Dolphins hired Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino as a special advisor to owner Stephen Ross back in August.
Unlike his previous stint with the Dolphins were he was expected to be involved in football-related decisions, Marino’s position this time wasn’t expected to include football operations.
However, a report by Jason Cole of Bleacher Report claimed that Marino had been evaluating both quarterback Ryan Tannehill and head coach Joe Philbin at the request of Ross. The report claimed that Marino had “done a lot to develop a relationship with Tannehill. Had worked out with him, spent a lot of time with him” and was evaluating his progress.
Marino says otherwise.
According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, Marino disputes the claims in the report.
“This whole thing with the thing [Bleacher Report] said, there’s not once in this whole situation where Mr. Ross has asked me, ‘Hey you have to sit down and evaluate Joe Philbin or Ryan Tannehill,’” Marino said.
Marino restated that his role is to work more on the community relations side of the organization and not as a liaison to provide football evaluations for Ross. He also said he has only had dinner once with Tannehill and hasn’t worked out or coached Tannehill in any way.
“That’s not my role,” Marino said. “I’m going to be around and be supportive. I’m just happy to be back and be part of the organization. But none of that other stuff.”
It is an important year to evaluate both Tannehill and Philbin. Both are in their third year with the team and will have had ample opportunity to show their merits by the end of the year.
However, it doesn’t appear as though Marino will be the one making those evaluations.
