Johnson Cites Marino’s Bad Decisions

For 17 years, the Miami Dolphins have blamed their defeats on soft defense, a shortage of speedy receivers or--most frequently--a feeble running game. Coach Jimmy Johnson cited a new culprit Tuesday: Dan Marino.

Delivering perhaps the harshest critique of Marino’s career, Johnson criticized the future Hall of Famer’s play in a 23-18 loss Monday night to the Buffalo Bills.

Johnson said Marino often threw to the wrong receiver, hurried some passes and held onto the ball too long on a costly fumble. The result: three turnovers, one third-down conversion in 14 chances and a defeat that dropped Miami to 2-1.

Marino was at fault on all three turnovers, Johnson said, but pass protection breakdowns contributed to the quarterback’s performance.

“Dan’s got to make some better decisions,” Johnson said. “When he’s getting banged around, he made some poor decisions.”

When asked about the decisions veteran like Marino is expected to make, Johnson said, “We’re going down an avenue I don’t want to go down.”

But the message from the coach was clear: Marino needs to play better. He went 22 for 44 for 251 yards with one touchdown, two interceptions and two sacks, his first of the season. The Dolphins’ only touchdown came after a 93-yard kickoff return.

The players had Tuesday off and Marino was unavailable for comment.

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For Baltimore Raven Coach Brian Billick, it’s either wash out his mouth with soap or fine himself. One way or another, he plans to stop using foul language on the sideline.

Billick was scolded by his mother, wife and daughter after the Ravens’ 19-13 overtime victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. The television cameras showed Billick yelling obscenities at his players.

“It was a short-lived win for me. As soon as I got from the locker room to the bus, I called my mother as I normally do. I got a 15-minute butt-chewing for my foul language on the sidelines,” Billick said.

“I then go home to the refuge I go to and had my wife ream me for a good half-hour, followed by my 10-year-old daughter.”

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Pittsburgh Steeler Coach Bill Cowher dismissed suggestions that big changes are in order, such as benching quarterback Kordell Stewart and playing backup Mike Tomczak. And when asked if he could envision a scenario in which Stewart would be benched this season, Cowher said, “I can’t foresee that situation.”

Add Cowher: “If I thought it was one person, I’d make the change. I don’t care who it is, because then you’re not being fair to everybody.”

Cowher denied the Steelers (2-2) are hesitant to bench Stewart after signing him to a $27-million contract extension only last spring.

“It has nothing to do with what a guy makes or who a guy is,” Cowher said. “The fact that I haven’t made a change ought to be indicative of the fact that it’s not one person.”

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With Terrell Davis sidelined for the season because of two torn ligaments and cartilage damage in his right knee, Derek Loville will be called upon to handle the bulk of the rushing duties for the Denver Broncos. Loville has spent the last three seasons as Davis’ backup, capably filling in when needed. He has 105 yards in 21 carries this season.

NFC / Jerry Jones Suddenly Mr. Humility

Even though his Dallas Cowboys are 3-0, owner Jerry Jones has been uncharacteristically humble about it. “I don’t sense that anybody is thinking we’re world-beaters,” he said. “I don’t see anybody feeling it’s automatic when we walk out there.”

Deion Sanders, normally an all-world talker, also took a low-key approach, saying, “We haven’t played any great teams yet.”

Said Coach Chan Gailey: “You’re never as good as they say and you’re never as bad as they say. We’ve got enough veteran leaders who understand that.”

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Kent Graham will not play in the New York Giants’ game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday because of a concussion. Kerry Collins will start at quarterback. . . . Atlanta Falcon running back Jamal Anderson underwent knee surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament, which he suffered Sept. 20 against Dallas. Recovery could take nine months.