MIAMI -- Earl Morrall stepped in when the 1972 Miami Dolphins needed him most. Discount Air Max Uk . And then he willingly stepped aside, earning enduring admiration from his teammates and coach Don Shula. Morrall, who started 11 games during the Dolphins perfect season and spent 21 years as an NFL quarterback, died Friday at age 79. He had been in failing health for some time. "There would be no perfect season, and probably no Super Bowl win in 1972, without Earl Morrall," Bob Griese said Friday. When Griese broke his ankle in 1972, Morrall came off the bench and started the final nine games of the regular season. Morrall won praise from Shula for returning to the sideline without complaint when Griese came back to play in the final two post-season games, including the Super Bowl to cap the only perfect season in NFL history. Morrall also played for the 49ers, Steelers, Lions, Giants and Colts, winning three Super Bowl rings. He came off the bench to replace an injured Johnny Unitas and help the Colts win the Super Bowl to cap the 1970 season, and he was the backup to Griese on the Dolphins 1973 championship team. Morrall also was the starting quarterback opposite Joe Namath in the 1969 Super Bowl after guiding the Colts to the conference title and winning the leagues MVP award. He struggled in that famous 16-7 loss to the Jets, throwing key interceptions, and was benched during the second half for Unitas. The 72 Dolphins were led by such future Pro Football Hall of Famers as Shula, Griese, Larry Csonka and Paul Warfield, but their season might be long forgotten if not for Morrall, then regarded as a journeyman who looked the part with his old-school flattop haircut. Thats why Shula -- who also coached Unitas and Dan Marino -- held Morrall in special regard as a quarterback. "When Bob went down, Earl stepped in like nothing happened, and we just won all the games," Shula said in a 2007 interview. "Then Griese was healthy for the AFC championship game against Pittsburgh, and I put Bob in the second half and he helped us come from behind and win the game. "Then I had a decision to make, which to me has always been the toughest decision Ive ever had to make -- who to start in the Super Bowl. Earl had done such a great job to get me there, but Bob was my quarterback going into the season, and he was my quarterback of the future. So I figured as long as Bob was healthy and ready to go, I was going back to Bob. "So Ive always said Unitas, Griese and Dan Marino are in the Hall of Fame, and Earl is in my own personal Hall of Fame." Griese said Morrall acknowledged he didnt like Shulas decision, but accepted it. "He said, I dont agree with you, but whatever you think is best for the team, Ill go along with it," Griese said. "Thats the way Earl was throughout his career. "He was the most popular guy in the locker room because of his personality. He always had a smile, a good word, a pat on the back, whether he knew you or didnt. He was just an upbeat good guy." The 1972 Dolphins finished 17-0, but Morrall said they seldom dwelled on their perfect record as the season progressed, because they were focused only on winning the Super Bowl after losing in the title game the previous year. He recalled a teammate raising the subject of being undefeated just once -- before the final regular-season game. "We were going to play the Colts, and thats the only time I heard something about it in the locker room," Morrall said in 2007. "It wasnt about going undefeated. It was, Guys, if were going to lose a game, this is the one to lose." At 38, Morrall was the oldest player on the 1972 Dolphins. He attended their 40th reunion in 2012 and said he thought most of his ex-teammates looked good. "Weve all gotten a little bigger and stronger," Morrall said with a smile. He was inducted into the Dolphins Walk of Fame that year. Morrall also attended an 80th birthday party for Shula in 2010. "Were just happy Don made it this long," Morrall said. "When he cut some of the players, they had ill feelings and might have got to him." Morrall was a Michigan native who played at Michigan State. He led the Spartans to two Rose Bowl victories, and was an infielder in the 1954 College World Series. "He was a great Spartan," current Michigan State football coach Mark Dantonio said. Morrall was the second overall pick in the 1956 draft. He was never able to hold a No. 1 job for long but developed a reputation as a super sub and was once traded for Bobby Layne, one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. In retirement Morrall lived in Naples, Fla., where former teammate Charlie Babb also lives. "I was the youngest guy on the 72 team," said Babb, a defensive back. "Earl was 37 when Im a 22-year-old rookie. He was kind of like Pops, and he was the king of the flattop. He was kind of a father figure to us young guys, until it was time to hit him. Then we didnt mind hitting him. "Earl was a gentleman and a great representative of the NFL. Hell be missed." Authentic Air Max 270 . Top-seeded Djokovic, who is making only his second appearance this year after reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, was a 6-3, 6-3 winner over 54th-ranked Istomin of Uzbekistan. "It wasnt as easy as the scoreline indicates," said Djokovic, who has won in Dubai on four occasions. Air Max Outlet Uk . "Win basketball games," Collins said. He will get at least a few more chances. Collins played the final minutes of a winning home debut with the Brooklyn Nets, who cooled off the Chicago Bulls with a 96-80 victory Monday night. http://www.fakeairmaxukoutlet.com/best-max-720-trainers-cheap-uk.html . Got Jacks? Pulling off a comeback for the ages, feisty Stephen F. Austin became the latest No. 12 seed to pull off an upset, tying the game on Desmond Haymons did-that-just-happen four-point play with 3.GLENDALE, Ariz. - For nearly five weeks, Carson Palmer couldnt throw the ball.That dead nerve in his shoulder finally came alive late in the week, and with almost no practice he threw two touchdown passes a€” one to Michael Floyd, the other to Larry Fitzgerald a€” to lead the Arizona Cardinals past the Washington Redskins 30-20 on Sunday.Im not going to say I wasnt nervous or wasnt a little on edge, Palmer said, just going into a game and really only have a quarter or maybe a half of a practice over the last five weeks.That bit of practice came last Friday, and Palmer knew he was close to coming back.You could see it in his eyes, Fitzgerald said.Coach Bruce Arians said Palmer showed some rust, but he came in and did a heck of a job for us.With the victory and Seattles loss to Dallas, Arizona (4-1) is alone atop the NFC West.The Redskins (1-5) committed four fourth-quarter turnovers, losing their fourth straight and 13th in the last 14 games.I told our team this game is not that hard to figure out, Washington coach Jay Gruden said. The team that makes plays usually wins. The team that doesnt turn the ball over usually wins. We are not doing anything. It is a broken record every time I stand up here.Fitzgerald caught six passes for a season-high 98 yards and his first touchdown of the year for the Cardinals, who bounced back from a 41-20 drubbing at Denver.Kirk Cousins was 24 of 38 for 354 yards, including a 64-yard touchdown pass to DeSean Jackson, but threw three fourth-quarter interceptions for the Redskins.The turnovers were costly, Cousins said. They just didnt give us a chance to stay on the field.Palmer had not played since damaging a nerve in his throwing shoulder in the season-opening win over San Diego. He returned to Denver after Fridays practice for a second treatment session, and was not announced as the starter Sunday until just before kickoff.Palmer was 28 of 44 for 250 yards with no interceptions. The Cardinals have not thrown an INT this season.Trailing 23-13, Washington needed just 86 seconds to go 64 yards, scoring on a five-yard TD catch by Pierre Garcon with 2:16 to play. But the onside kick was recovered by Arizonas Sam Acho.The Redskins had one more chance, getting the ball back at their 14-yard line with 29 secondss to go. Air Max 90 Wholesale Cheap. On the next play, Cousins threw the ball right to Arizonas Rashad Johnson, who made his second interception of the day and returned it 28 yards for a touchdown with 18 seconds left.A 36-yard pass interference penalty on Washington rookie cornerback Bashaud Breeland was the big play in an eight-play, 85-yard touchdown drive that ended when Palmer threw short to Fitzgerald, who dragged a would-be tackler the final five yards on a 24-yard touchdown reception to put the Cardinals up 14-7 with 31 seconds left in the first half.It was the most Fitzgerald had been featured all season. He entered the game with only 13 catches.Throughout the course of the week I definitely was much more heavily involved in the game plan. I knew I would get my opportunities, Fitzgerald said.The TD catch was the 88th of his career, moving him into 12th on the all-time list.But a 33-yard pass-and-run play from Cousins to Roy Helu Jr. helped the Redskins go 55 yards in 29 seconds. Kai Forbaths 43-yard field goal with 2 seconds left sliced the Arizona lead to 14-13 at halftime.Jacksons first of two big gains came when he beat Patrick Peterson for a 64-yard touchdown on the second play of the second quarter.On Washingtons next possession, the Redskins converted on a fourth-and-inches play from their own 47, then Cousins threw short to Jackson, who evaded tacklers for 42 yards and probably would have scored a touchdown had he not banged into teammate Chris Chester. Arizonas defence held and Forbaths 28-yard field goal put Washington up 10-7.NOTES: Outgoing Navajo Nation president Ben Shelly, wearing a Redskins hat, sat for part of the game with Washington owner Daniel Snyder. ... Redskins starting CB David Amerson left in the first half with a concussion. ... Arizona was penalized a season-high 14 times for 108 yards. ... Arizona rookie kicker Chandler Catanzaro is 14 for 14 on field goals. ... Washingtons Brian Orakpo dropped a sure interception early in fourth quarter. ... Arizona was without DT Calais Campbell, who injured his knee on a chop block by Denvers Julius Thomas. ... Arizonas Alex Okafor, starting after last weeks injury to Matt Shaughnessy, had two sacks.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '