Notizia del giorno: Marino lascia la carica.
MIAMI (AP) - Dan Marino resigned as senior vice president of the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday, only three weeks after accepting a job to return to the team he quarterbacked for 17 seasons.
"I have decided that it would not be in the best interests of either my family or the Dolphins to assume the role as the team's senior vice president of football operations,'' Marino said.
Marino played for the Dolphins from 1983-1999 and took them to the 1985 Super Bowl, where they lost to San Francisco. He holds league records with 61,361 yards passing and 420 touchdown passes.
Marino and team owner Wayne Huizenga had often discussed the notion of the franchise favorite's return to the Dolphins, and the marquee move of an offseason front-office shakeup seemed to be Marino's hiring.
"I am disappointed in Dan's decision, especially since I think he would have made an outstanding football executive,'' Huizenga said. "But I understand his reasons, and I support his decision to reorder the priorities in his life.''
A new position was created for Marino, who had planned to leave his analyst job for CBS Sports and HBO in order to come back to the Dolphins.
Huizenga said the Dolphins will begin searching for "a senior executive who has an extensive football background'' to join Miami's management team and oversee football operations. It has not been determined if that person would have the same title Marino was given in his short stint as an executive.
The organizational reshuffling came after Huizenga stripped head coach Dave Wannstedt of having final say in personnel matters, a move prompted by two straight seasons without a playoff appearance by the Dolphins.
After a lengthy search for a general manager, during which at least seven candidates were interviewed, the team chose to promote Rick Spielman from senior vice president to GM. Spielman, though, would report to Marino, who was placed behind only Huizenga and team president Eddie Jones in the Dolphins' executive hierarchy.
STATEMENT FROM DAN MARINO
"Since my retirement as a player, I approached Wayne on numerous occasions about a meaningful position in football operations with the Dolphins.
"Until recently, such an opportunity didn’t exist. When it became clear that Wayne was looking to bring in a high-level football executive, I approached him about the position. I knew it would involve a significant lifestyle change but after further reflection, it became clear that those adjustments were ones that my family and I are not prepared to make at this time. As a result, I have decided that it would not be in the best interests of either my family or the Dolphins to assume the role as the team’s Senior Vice President of Football Operations.
"I am grateful to Wayne for giving me this opportunity, and the last thing I would ever want to do would be to disappoint him, the Miami Dolphins organization, or its fans. I was looking forward to working with Dave and Rick, and I’m excited about the direction the team is headed. I will be happy to help the team out in any way if asked, and I always will be the Dolphins’ number one fan."
STATEMENT FROM DOLPHINS OWNER H. WAYNE HUIZENGA
"I am disappointed in Dan’s decision, especially since I think he would have made an outstanding football executive. But I understand his reasons, and I support his decision to reorder the priorities in his life.
"I am confident that we will be able to find a senior executive who has an extensive football background in the NFL to join the Dolphins management team over the next few months. While that individual will oversee the entire football operation, the exact title and position will depend on the background of the person we hire.
"Our franchise will continue to move forward, and Dan’s decision will not adversely affect our ability to prepare for the 2004 season. I still firmly believe in the structure that we have created, and in the people we have in place to carry out their responsibilities. I believe that splitting the coach and general manager functions is better for the long-term direction of the franchise. Dave has all the duties customarily assigned to a head coach in the National Football League, while Rick, as our General Manager, has the responsibilities associated with that position."
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