'72 Dolphins Stand to Lose More Than Record if Pats Go Undefeated

I just thought Mercury Morris was a crotchety old dude stuck in the '70s. Turns out, if the Patriots go undefeated, he and his 1972 Dolphins teammates stand to lose thousands of dollars. From Darren Rovell's Sports Biz blog:

In the process [of going undefeated], the fabulous money maker that has been the 1972 Dolphins gravy train will slow down.

You see, guys like Mercury Morris, Garo Yepremian and Earl Morrall make more every year off 1972 Dolphins stuff ($25,000 to $75,000) than they made when they played for Miami that year. Hall of Fame players on that team -- Paul Warfield, Nick Buoniconti, Bob Griese and Larry Czonka can clear as much as $150,000 a year, according to one insider. And Don Shula still rings the register, making about $500,000 in signings and appearances.

Just in case you needed one more reason to hate Bill Belichick: we now find out that he doesn't care about old people and wants to steal their retirement checks. Sounds about right.

Rovell also writes that helmets from the '72 team that once went for $2,500 apeice are now selling for $,1000 on the eBays. Unsurprisingly, Jeff Rosenberg of Tri-Star Productions -- an outfit that apparently schedules appearances for the 72ers -- isn't worried: "Technically this record can never be broken, it can only be tied ... And the bottom line is everyone's talking about them right now because of what the Patriots are doing."

Maybe, but somehow I doubt it. Rovell thinks the biggest beneficiaries of a Pats' undefeated season are Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Laurence Maroney and Belichick. I was just thinking the other day that what the world needs is more Tom Brady.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

12-26-2007 @ 2:31PM

bgs3402 said...

GOOD! I hope Mercury Morris never gets another dime.

He has been a total ASS about this whole thing. I am sick of his(and backwatering Shula's) attitudes. They beat a bunch of losing teams--check that out if you wish --

They could not beat Tom Brady and the Pats, except on a cold day in Hell(maybe not then either. Hopefully the Pats silence those old farts soon.

Then they can go back to interviewing Joe Namath and Anthony Smith on the value of guarateeing victories.
Joe knew, Anthony did not have a clue!!

GO PATS!!!

12-26-2007 @ 4:17PM

August West said...

The Pats and their fans continue to do the impossible: go 16-0, and make the '72 Dolphins sympathetic figures in the process.

12-26-2007 @ 10:49PM

terpsez11 said...

the asterisk will exist..in spite of the cheater patriots and their upper-caste attitudes and breeding..breaking their own snow-blower rule..
they know if anyone that technology and equipment are supposed to be equally available..and the stealing of signs by the Pats..cost them huge..so get off the denial train..

face up to it..you play you pay..personal responsibility cannot be shirked..and I am pulling for the 49ers to win another game under fellow Terp-alumni Shaun Hill..

so that pick you didn't get taken away by the Patron Patriot Goodall drops even lower the first day of the 2008 draft

12-26-2007 @ 10:57PM

Rob. said...

Just a thought!!! Since Shula brought up the asterisk thing.... IF the Pats go undefeated should not the asterisk belong to the Dolphins as theirs was a shorter season?????

12-27-2007 @ 1:38PM

czinkel said...

rob:
no because that was league-wide. video-taping opposing teams signals is not league-wide

12-28-2007 @ 12:09AM

chris said...

Rob:
Thats the same as saying Manning should still hold the record as he threw for 49 in 15 games. (Brady has 48) and Rice should still hold the record, he had 22 touchdowns in 12 games (strike season).

12-28-2007 @ 6:48AM

paul said...

Asterisk for the Dolphins.?...Let's not forget that good ole Don was deemed to be illegally negotiating w/ the dolphins while he was still on staff at the baltimore colts during the regular season...Dolphins were fined/assessed their first round draft pick for the next season...