Move over Dan, make room for little sister
Another Marino playing professional football?
It's possible.
Can you say Cindi Marino?
That's right. The younger sister of Pitt and Miami Dolphins great Dan Marino has considered it. Matter of fact, she has talked about it with family and friends.
Sources close to the Marino family (namely Cindi's husband and KDKA Radio morning personality Larry Richert), tell me that Cindi has talked about trying out for the Pittsburgh Passion . The Passion, a women's professional football team, will begin play in the National Women's Football League next season.
Marino, who takes boxing lessons from a guy named Joe (I am not kidding) and does aerobics, would probably play defense.
"She just wants to hit someone, " says Richert of his wife. "I worry that it's me."
Cindi Marino is about 5-foot-6. She weighs <#201> well, let's just say she's in great shape. Better shape than many, if not most, guys despite having given birth to three children (two girls and a boy).
All of which means she would probably play linebacker or strong safety.
Considering her brother's career as a quarterback, how ironic is that?
However, Cindi does have a dilemma. The tryouts for the Passion are scheduled for Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. at Dean Field under the
Bloomfield Bridge. Pitt will be hosting Temple that day at Heinz Field, and the Panthers will be honoring her brother with a salute to his College Football Hall of Fame induction set for December. What's a girl to doâ¢
Where is a sister supposed to be on such a day?
How old is Cindi Marino⢠Let us repeat. She is younger than Dan, who recently turned 40.
Did I mention that Cindi Marino's son, Zack, is a quarterback for the Pine-Richland Rams Middle School?
Did I mention he is a lefty with a very fine arm, quick release and good footwork?
Zack Richert has thrown for five touchdowns with no interceptions in seven games this season.
What am I missing?
On another front, Steelers coach Bill Cowher said Tuesday he watched bits and pieces of almost every NFL game on Direct TV this past Sunday.
"The one thing that you saw is throughout the league there's a fine line between winning and losing," Cowher said. "There's one play or one call in a game that can really influence a game."
It was not a new observation. That principle is probably true of most games at most levels of football. Cowher has repeated that fine line philosophy ad nauseum. However, this week he said it with renewed passion, and for the first time in a long time it struck a chord with me. Considering the Steelers very poor kicking game, I don't get it. I don't get why Cowher does not try to sign someone, anyone for kickoff duty.
Todd Peterson has struggled with field-goal attempts and kickoffs.
The turf at Heinz Field obviously is not up to standards despite protests to the contrary by Steelers' management. But that is something harder to control than the actual act of kicking off that turf. The Steelers have worked hard at trying to improve their home playing surface. It doesn't make sense to me that they wouldn't take similar steps to improve their kicking game.
Don't even think about having punter Josh Miller add kickoff duties to his list. Given the fine line between winning and losing, the Steelers can't afford to take a chance that one of their primary weapons in the battle for field position will pull a muscle or suffer some sort of leg injury because he is using a different set of muscles than those involved in his punting. Miller is concerned about that possibility and apparently so are Steelers. The obvious answer then is finding some one to replace Peterson. Clearly that is not easy. But it's clear to me that they need to begin the search.
