The Latest Words on Marino

Pittsburgh kept blitzing but Dan Marino kept firing and Roy Foster said he’d never seen anything like it.

Foster, former USC All-American who plays guard for Miami, marveled at the sights and sounds of frustration among the Steelers between plays Sunday.

“The defense is so hungry to sack him, just once,” Foster told Joe Gergen of Newsday. “You’d think he was golden or something. It’s as if they feel if they just touch him, then they can go home and tell their wives and family about it. He’s the most wanted man in the NFL.”

Marino is the least-sacked quarterback in the league. At the same time, Miami is the least-penalized team. How has Don Shula pulled it off?

“It’s a matter of concentration,” Foster said. “When we hold in practice, he makes it sound like the end of the world. It’s like he’s going to take your first-born or something.”

Add Marino: Said veteran Pittsburgh center Mike Webster after the game: “Normally, I sit down when the other team has the ball. Today I stood on the sideline. I kind of like to watch him work. I appreciate great performances.

“The guy is phenomenal. And he’s a great guy, too. Not like some of these bleeps. He’s got it all, baby. And good-lookin’, besides. Can’t see why he’s gettin’ married.”

Said Pittsburgh Coach Chuck Noll, when asked if he would do anything differently if they met again: “We did everything. He scored against a zone, a man, a double and a blitz.”

Said cornerback Dwayne Woodruff: “I don’t think there was a defense made that we didn’t try. We tried zone, man-to-man. We even tried playing street ball.”

He added: “This was a lot different than playing the 49ers. Miami scores a lot quicker than any team we played against.” Said guard Craig Wofley: “We’ve got as good a defense as there is in the league, but boy, oh, boy. You’re talking about one guy who’s taking quarterback to a new level.”

Said Chicago Coach Mike Ditka, picking San Francisco in the Super Bowl: “The 49ers have a much better defense than they get credit for. San Francisco will have its hands full with Marino and all those receivers, but in my mind, the 49ers just have too much ammunition for them.”

Note: The Dolphins are 4-0 against the 49ers, including a 20-17 win last season at Candlestick. Miami is the only NFL team San Francisco never has beaten.

Denver Gold Coach Mouse Davis said he wanted to draft University of Hawaii quarterback Raphel Cherry in the USFL draft, but couldn’t come to terms with Cherry’s agent, Harry Henderson.

“We gave him a better offer than anybody else,” Davis said. “The kid wanted us, but he got a sleaze-bag agent. Harry Henderson’s from Louisiana. He kind of slimed up from the bayou.”

Note: Cherry’s stock may have taken a dive in the Hula Bowl when he completed only 9-of-24 passes for 102 yards and had two intercepted.

For what It’s worth: Natick High School of Massachusetts, Doug Flutie’s old school, was 10-0 this season and finished 10th in the National Sports News Service Ratings. Cincinnati Moeller (10-1), Gerry Faust’s old school, was ninth.

Ranked first, for the third time, was Valdosta, Ga., High (15-0). Tops among California schools was Riverside Poly (13-1), ranked 17th.

Quotebook

San Francisco Coach Bill Walsh, announcing that the 49ers would use their regular practice facilities for the Super Bowl: “We’ve got our meeting rooms, lockers and training facilities. Plus, there’s a good deli right near by.”