Mercury Morris, 2-time SB champ with Fins, dies

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Eugene “Mercury” Morris, who starred for the unbeaten 1972 Miami Dolphins as a part of a star-studded backfield and helped the crew win two Tremendous Bowl titles, has died, the crew stated Sunday.

Morris, a three-time Professional Bowl choice, was 77.

In an announcement, his household stated his “expertise and fervour left an indelible mark on the game.”

“Past the sphere, Mercury was a loyal father, a loving brother, a loyal buddy, and a pillar in the neighborhood,” his household wrote. “His presence prolonged far past soccer, as he touched the lives of many all through his time in Miami.”

Morris was the beginning halfback and one in every of three go-to runners that Dolphins coach Don Shula utilized in Miami’s back-to-back title seasons of 1972 and 1973, alongside Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick. Morris led the Dolphins in dashing touchdowns in each of these seasons, ending with an NFL-best 12 in 1972 after which 10 extra in 1973.

These two seasons — the perfect in Dolphins historical past — simply occurred to be the perfect of Morris’ eight-year profession as nicely. He rushed for a career-best 1,000 yards in 1972 then ran for 954 extra together with a league-best 6.4 yards per carry the next season.

“I believe Shula gave everyone a distinct type of course and function being coached by this man,” Morris stated in 2008. “We have been middle-class folks and middle-class followers, and Shula was a blue-collar employee. And he had type of a piece ethic that actually allowed you to see that for those who work exhausting and also you do what you are presupposed to do, then issues are going to prove for you — not on a regular basis however you modify to that and do what’s essential to attempt to do as greatest you may.”

Morris made no secret of the truth that he was crammed with satisfaction concerning the 1972 Dolphins being the primary — and nonetheless solely — undefeated and untied crew in NFL historical past, pulling off a very good season.

He additionally tried to make this clear: No, the Dolphins weren’t rooting in opposition to the groups that got here near matching their feat of perfection or had champagne on ice ready for the second that the final unbeaten crew in a season will get defeated.

“And for the document, we DO NOT TOAST each time an unbeaten crew loses,” Morris posted on social media in 2015, when the Cam Newton-led Carolina Panthers began 14-0 earlier than shedding the next-to-last sport of their common season. “There is not any champagne in my glass, solely Canada Dry Ginger ale! Ha!”

That humorousness obtained pointed at his beloved Dolphins at occasions. When Miami was 0-8 within the 2007 season, on its solution to a 0-13 begin and 1-15 document, Morris supplied one other of his many memorable quips.

“The Dolphins aren’t embarrassing me, as a result of our document’s on the high of the heap,” Morris stated. “That is not my crew. Individuals say, ‘Your crew is doing unhealthy.’ I say, ‘My crew all has AARP playing cards.'”

Morris had some private struggles after his soccer profession ended, most notably being sentenced to twenty years in jail after his 1982 conviction on cocaine trafficking expenses. He fought the conviction, admitting he used cocaine — partly to cope with quite a few lingering accidents — however by no means offered the drug. His conviction was overturned by the Florida Supreme Courtroom in 1986, and Morris turned a motivational speaker urging folks to keep away from medicine.

“Was I bitter? Not likely,” Morris wrote in his e book “Towards The Grain,” printed in 1998. “I’d not suggest three days in jail to anybody, a lot much less three years. However I have to be sincere: I wanted to undergo what I did to develop the character I had after I turned a free man.”

Morris went into the Dolphins’ Stroll of Fame in 2013. He stays fourth on the crew’s all-time dashing listing with 3,877 yards behind Csonka (6,737), Ricky Williams (6,436) and Ronnie Brown (4,815).