MIAMI -- Earl Morrall stepped in when the 1972 Miami Dolphins needed him most. 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." Nike Air Max Plus Günstig . -- Andy Granatelli, the former CEO of STP motor oil company who made a mark on motorsports as a car owner, innovator and entrepreneur, has died. Nike Air Max Billig . Geovany Soto had an RBI for the Cubs. Carlos Silva gave up one run on three hits over six innings to pick up the win. Josh Willingham drove in the lone run for the Nationals, who had just four hits. http://www.shopairmaxschweiz.com/air-max...llig.html."; The game can be seen live on TSN starting with Monday Night Countdown at 6:30 p.m et/3:30 p.m. pt. The Patriots, who had a bye in Week 10, will look to continue the offensive success they had a week earlier when New England scored 55 points and racked up 610 yards of total offense in a 55-31 drubbing of the Pittsburgh Steelers. 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Jordan Ratliffe carried 24 times for 116 yards for Whitewater, which got a pair of clutch field goals by Lake Bachar. Seventeen straight Mount Union points gave the Raiders a 31-30 lead late in the third quarter. But 15 seconds after Edward Ruhnkes 29-yard field goal, the Warhawks jumped back in front with Dennis Moores 75-yard touchdown catch. Bachar kicked a pair of field goals in the fourth, and Mount Union got a 36- yarder from Ruhnke, but Kevin Burke was intercepted by Zach Nellis with less than two minutes remaining to end the Raiders comeback effort. Burke threw for 323 yards and three touchdowns but was picked off four times. This was the ninth Stagg Bowl meeting between the two schools in the past 10 seasons. Whitewater improved to 6-3 in those games. Lance Leipold, who recently accepted the head coaching job at the University of Buffalo, leaves Whitewater having won 32 straaight games.dddddddddddd Mount Union hadnt trailed all season, but it found itself down 13-0 after a pair of first-quarter touchdown passes by Behrendt. The Warhawks drove 78 yards on consecutive drives around a Mount Union punt. Behrendt capped the games opening series with a 12-yard touchdown to Justin Howard and found Ricky Finco from seven yards out. Will Meyer had his extra point blocked following the first score. Burke quickly moved the Raiders down the field later in the first. A 31-yard completion to Roman Namdar led to his 26-yard scoring strike to Luc Meachem. The ball was knocked loose at the end of the play, but officials gave Meachem the score regardless. Brady Grayvold intercepted Burke and ran it back for another Warhawks TD at 5:51 of the second quarter. Mount Union wasted little time responding, as Burke found Taurice Scott from five yards out less than three minutes later. But Scott lost a fumble late in the half and Behrendt capitalized, tossing a 17-yard TD to Jake Kumerow on the very next play. Then, an interception led to Bachars 23-yard field goal that sent the Warhawks into halftime leading 30-14. Mount Union scored 17 straight with a pair of touchdowns and a field goal in the third to climb in front. Burke and Namdar hooked up for a 29-yard score, Logan Nemeth found the end zone from three yards out and Ruhnke made it 31-30 with a 29-yard kick. ' ' '