Fan Pulse: It’s Marino, and it’s not close

By Neal Coolong  |   Wednesday, July 16, 2008  |  Comments( 7 )

Miami Dolphins
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The most recent Approximate Value All-Franchise Team released by Pro Football Reference has Dolphins Hall of Fame QB Dan Marino as the AFC East's greatest player.

And as far as other AFC East quarterbacks go, it wasn't even close.

Marino amassed a 146 in their Approximate Value formula, scoring 44 points higher than Bills QB Jim Kelly (102). Patriots QB Tom Brady is third at 91 and Jets QB Ken O'Brien brings up the rear at 71.

Bills DE Bruce Smith is second in the overall scoring at 139. Dolphins LB Zack Thomas is third at 111 (and highest among current players) and Bills RB Thurman Thomas is fourth at 110.

Even with getting two of the top four players in the division's history, one Dolphins fan isn't satisfied.

"Bill Stanfill and Mercury Morris are conspicuous by their absence from the Miami team."

PFR doesn't say if the AV method takes charges of capital crime into account, but Thomas scored 23 points higher than fellow Hall of Fame Bills RB O.J. Simpson. One poster opined on the difference.

"I find it a bit strange that Thurman comes out ahead of O.J. for the Bills RBs, yet the OL is more members of the Electric Company than the 90s line. Hull’s the only one from the bunch. On the other hand, I’m surprised at Devlin over Jones and either one of them over Howard Ballard."

With Sam Cunningham (60) and Tony Collins (47) being at the top of the Patriots' running backs list, the team scored the lowest in the franchise RBs category.

"It’s surprising how poor the Patriots running back history is. Kids who break down, veterans finishing up, & guys who never quite made it - you’d think the team stank."

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About Neal Coolong

Neal Coolong is a freelance sports writer with contributions to Scout.com, AOL and Steelers Live. He lives with his fiance in St. Paul, Minn., and saves every dime (that she knows about) for their wedding next June. He's already made the prediction that the Steelers 2007 draft class will be one...
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