World Courant
MIAMI GARDENS, Florida — Eugene “Mercury” Morris, who represented the undefeated Miami Dolphins in 1972 as a part of an all-star forged and helped the crew win two Tremendous Bowl titles, has died, the crew introduced Sunday.
Morris, a three-time Professional Bowl choice, was 77. In a press release, his household mentioned his “expertise and keenness left an indelible mark on the sport.”
“Off the sphere, Mercury was a faithful father, loving brother, loyal good friend and pillar of the neighborhood,” his household wrote within the assertion. “His presence prolonged far past soccer as he touched the lives of many throughout his time in Miami.”
Morris was the beginning halfback and one among 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 speeding touchdowns in each seasons, ending with an NFL-best 12 in 1972 after which 10 extra in 1973.
“Morris left an enduring impression by means of his dynamic play, persona and record-breaking accomplishments,” a Dolphins assertion on Sunday learn partly. “He liked the Dolphins, the followers and the South Florida neighborhood and can without end be remembered as one of many biggest gamers to put on the aqua and orange.”
These 1972 and 1973 seasons — the most effective in Dolphins historical past — additionally occurred to be the most effective of Morris’ eight-year profession. He rushed for a career-high 1,000 yards in 1972, then ran for 954 extra yards and a league-best 6.4 yards per carry the next season.
Morris wasted no time in making an impression for the Dolphins. In his first recreation as a rookie in 1969, he ran a kickoff 105 yards for a landing in opposition to Cincinnati. That continues to be the longest in crew historical past, and each his three profession kick return TDs and his common of 26.5 yards per return are additionally crew data.
“I believe Shula gave everybody a special route and a special goal when he was coached by this man,” Morris mentioned in 2008. “We have been middle-class folks and middle-class followers, and Shula was a blue-collar man. And he had a form of work ethic that basically confirmed you that should you work arduous and do what you are imagined to do, issues are going to work out for you — not on a regular basis, however you adapt and do what it’s important to do to make it the most effective it may be.”
Morris made no secret of his satisfaction that the 1972 Dolphins have been the primary — and nonetheless solely — undefeated, untied crew in NFL historical past to submit an ideal season.
He additionally tried to make this clear: No, the Dolphins didn’t help groups that have been near their stage, nor did they’ve champagne on ice ready for the final undefeated crew of a season to lose.
“And for the report, we do NOT TOAST each time an undefeated crew loses,” Morris posted on social media in 2015, when the Cam Newton-led Carolina Panthers obtained off to a 14-0 begin earlier than dropping the penultimate recreation of their common season. “There’s no champagne in my glass, solely Canada Dry Ginger Ale! Ha!”
That humor was additionally often directed at his beloved Dolphins. When Miami was 0-8 within the 2007 season, en path to an 0-13 begin and a 1-15 report, Morris supplied one other of his many memorable jokes.
“The Dolphins do not make enjoyable of me as a result of our report is on the prime of the pile,” Morris mentioned. “That is not my crew. Folks say, ‘Your crew is doing badly.’ I say, ‘My crew has all AARP playing cards.'”
Morris had some private issues after his soccer profession ended, most notably his 20-year jail sentence following his 1982 conviction for cocaine trafficking. He appealed the conviction, admitting that he used cocaine — partly to deal with quite a few ongoing accidents — however by no means offered the drug. His conviction was overturned by the Florida Supreme Court docket in 1986, and Morris grew to become a motivational speaker, urging folks to keep away from medicine.
“Was I bitter? Probably not,” Morris wrote in his guide “Towards The Grain,” revealed in 1998. “I wouldn’t advocate three days in jail to anybody, not to mention three years. However I’ve to be sincere: I needed to undergo what I did to develop the character I had after I grew to become a free man.”
Morris was inducted into the Dolphins’ Stroll of Fame in 2013. He stays fourth on the crew’s all-time speeding checklist with 3,877 yards, trailing Csonka (6,737), Ricky Williams (6,436) and Ronnie Brown (4,815).
Csonka mentioned, “It is a very unhappy day for me and our Dolphin household.”
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