Marino, Young lead QB group into Hall

CANTON, Ohio -- He licked his fingers, a trademark of his 17 seasons as the NFL's most prolific quarterback, then turned to one of his favorite receivers, Mark Clayton, in the audience.

"Go deep, Mark," Dan Marino commanded.

Clayton sauntered up the aisle, turned and latched onto -- what else? -- a perfect spiral.

"Of course, in the end, every quarterback wants one more Sunday with a football in his hands and going deep," Marino said.

And that's exactly what he did this Sunday, wrapping up his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the best way possible: with a long completion.

Thousands of fans clad in No. 13 Dolphins jerseys shook Fawcett Stadium with cheers, remembering how sweet it was to see Marino setting all his records.

"I'll remember this day for the rest of my life," Marino said.

Marino joined Steve Young, Fritz Pollard and Benny Friedman in the shrine.

Paying tribute to his Western Pennsylvania roots, Marino noted that John Unitas, Joe Namath, Joe Montana and Jim Kelly all came from the region. All are Hall of Famers.

"When I was younger, there's no doubt I thought about being Joe Namath," Marino said, adding that joining them in the Hall "definitely makes an impact on you.

"I've accomplished many things, but what I cherish more than any record I hold, fourth-quarter comebacks or any wins I was involved in, is the relationships."

That, of course, also included his family, and his oldest son, 20-year-old Daniel, presented Marino for induction. It was then that he was betrayed by the eyes that stared down so many defenses -- they were wet with tears as he took his place among the legends of football.

Young suggested it was the first time only quarterbacks entered the Hall in one class, and he was partly right. Pollard was a running back who sometimes played QB.

"I'm proud to be part of this with Dan and the Pollard and Friedman families," Young said. "We are quarterbacks and that's what is neat about this position."

While Marino and Young had diverse styles, they both spent years at the top of their profession. Marino set NFL marks of 4,967 completions, 8,358 passes, 61,361 yards (nearly 35 miles) and 420 touchdowns. His record of 48 TD passes in the 1984 season, when he was MVP, was broken by Peyton Manning last year.

He also owned 21 NFL marks when he retired, including most seasons with 3,000 yards or more passing (13); most yards passing in one season (5,084 in '84, the only year he won a conference championship); and most games with 300 yards or more passing (63).