But Marino also knows the pressure of replacing him has magnified as the Dolphins have failed time and time again during the past two decades to find their franchise quarterback.
But after an up-and-down rookie season , questions remain about whether he will be the right guy to lead the Dolphins to an elite level.
Both comments led to widespread criticism from multiple media outlets, but Dolphins coach Brian Flores said it was overblown: “Honestly, I just think he’s comparing last year to where he is right now, and I get it.
Wide receiver DeVante Parker said Tagovailoa’s “mechanics and footwork look different,” plus the “ball comes out faster.” Tagovailoa, listed as 6 feet, 217 pounds as a rookie, also looks stronger and bigger.
Marino, who has worked for the Dolphins as a special adviser since 2014, knows a lot about Year 2 jumps given his second season — 1984 — is considered one of the best QB seasons of all time.
“It’s been tough because he didn’t have OTAs last year, a lot of the summer camp or the chance to play in exhibition games.
“He played a lot last year and when he played, we won games.
“I look back at it sometimes and I feel like we were doing something very special back then as a group, as a team, as an offense, as individuals that no one did for 30 years ,” Marino said.
There have been 12 5,000-yard seasons, with 10 of them coming within the past decade, and Marino believes a 6,000-yard season will happen.
He lists the advanced access to doctors, health information, training techniques and food options, all of which have created the widespread perception of bigger, stronger faster players.
“How to deal with protections at the line of scrimmage — defenses have changed some with multiple blitzes and different personnel — we did some of that stuff, but it’s a lot more complicated now than it was in the early ’80s,” Marino said.
Coming off a 10-6 season in which they narrowly missed the playoffs, there’s another reason for Marino’s Dolphins optimism: Flores.
All the operations, plus playing on the real turf that was like concrete.
He’s 20 to 25 pounds heavier than his playing weight and he has a summer goal of eating better to lose some pounds.
Transitioning away from football can be a challenge, Marino admits.
I’m going through stuff with my one sister now where it’s not easy and it’s not going to be good.
Marino admits former players all talk about those scary three letters — CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
When his 1983 QB draft class that included Broncos great John Elway and Buffalo Bills legend Jim Kelly is brought up, Marino notes they don’t compete anymore at their ages .
As far as football, he gets his joy watching Tagovailoa and these Dolphins.
“Sitting in a meeting here or there, being around the coaches, being around practice, trying to impact the game any way I can.