Columnist Sal DeFilippo: Marino should wrap up stellar career

Sal DeFilippo

Friday, Jan. 21, 2000 | 10:36 a.m.

Sal DeFilippo's pro football picks column appears Friday. Reach him at 259-4076 or sal@lasvegassun.com

It wasn't supposed to end like this for Dan Marino.

I know, I know, he hasn't officially retired just yet. Technically, Erik Estrada is still an actor, too. But for all intents and purposes ...

Saturday's 62-7 dismantling by Marino's Dolphins at the hands of the Jacksonville Jaguars was the consummate anticlimactic ending for one of the league's all-time greats.

Last season, en route to winning the Super Bowl for the second straight year before riding off into the Coors-filled sunset, John Elway and the Denver Broncos dispatched Marino and Miami, 38-3 -- a nail-biter compared to last week's debauchery.

Marino still feels as if he can win games, and he's right -- but he isn't surrounded by the personnel that Elway had in his twilight years, and I don't expect Miami's new coach to wave a magic Wannstedt in time to grant Marino the ultimate wish -- an NFL championship.

Ironically, it's Elway who has always been known as king of the fourth-quarter comebacks. But who holds the NFL record for most rallies in the final 15 minutes? You guessed it -- unlucky No. 13.

Most touchdown passes in NFL history? Yep, Marino. Most TD passes in one year? Marino, with 48 in 1984, a year in which he threw for more than 5,000 yards, another record. Most passing yards ever? Marino again -- with more than 60,000.

Would it be a shame for such a fantastic player to end his career with a 55-point loss, the second worst defeat in postseason history? Yes.

But it might be less painful than watching his talents deteriorate as he continues to chase a dream that has little chance of coming true.

For the record

Two up, two down against the spread and on totals last weekend, bringing each mark to a dreary 3-5 in the postseason.

Sunday's games

TENNESSEE +7 at Jacksonville, over 39 -- It's fitting that Tennessee is the lone obstacle between Jacksonville and a trip to Super Bowl XXXIV. Jacksonville is 15-0 this season against teams other than this weekend's opponent, which handed the Jaguars both of their regular-season losses. For destiny's darlings, the third time is a charm. Tennessee 24, Jacksonville 21.

ST. LOUIS -13 1/2 vs. Tampa Bay, over 46 -- Shaun King will play another smart game and the Buccaneers will run much more effectively than they did against Washington. Warren Sapp will cause problems for St. Louis with his fierce pass rush and Tony Dungy will do everything possible to keep this game from getting out of control. If Tampa Bay can do all of that, it should stay within four touchdowns or so. St. Louis 41, Tampa Bay 14.