Details on Justin Herbert’s chance encounter with Dan Marino — and why it matters
Chris Grier and Brian Flores will make the final decision on the Dolphins’ quarterback, but an important reminder:
Dan remains the man.
That’s Dan Marino, Hall of Famer and Dolphins legend, of course.
And while he’s officially the special advisor to team CEO Tom Garfinkel, Marino has a big hand in the Dolphins’ football side, too.
The pre-draft interviews are a critical part of the quarterback evaluation, and Marino knows the mental makeup needed to be a winner at the highest level.
When Justin Herbert met with reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine here Tuesday, he had not yet sat down with the Dolphins. But he did have his first interaction with Marino — in an elevator, presumably at last month’s Senior Bowl.
“It was pretty cool,” Herbert said. “A brief ‘Hi, a big fan.’ Not a whole lot.”
Herbert knows that if he wants to be a Dolphin — and suggested Tuesday that he would be just fine with that — “I would have to impress him.”
Herbert added: “He’s a guy that’s done all the right things in an incredible career in the NFL, and a guy who knows what he’s looking for. I think that organization’s in good hands and they’re going to get their right guy.”
There’s a very real chance the Dolphins, if they like what the hear from Herbert this week and in the months to go, take Herbert with the fifth pick. Joe Burrow made clear Tuesday that he isn’t going to force the Bengals’ to pass on him, so the odds of a Dolphins trade-up to 1 are slim. And there remains real questions about Tua Tagovailoa’s health.
So Herbert could be the best of the Dolphins’ viable options.
“They’re in great hands” with Brian Flores,” Herbert said, who added that he has been really impressed with the job Flores has done as Dolphins coach.
This story was originally published February 25, 2020 at 10:29 AM.
