Press Release: Miami Dolphins Honor Roll

"Marks Brothers" To Be Inducted Into Dolphin Honor Roll

June 28, 2003

Former Dolphins wide receivers Mark Clayton and Mark Duper – popularly known as the "Marks Brothers" - will become the 13th and 14th members of the Dolphin Honor Roll during induction ceremonies to be held at halftime the Dolphins-Eagles Monday night game on December 15 at Pro Player Stadium. The pair will be the first inductees since quarterback Dan Marino on September 17, 2000.

"If you talk about one, the other one's name immediately comes up," Clayton said Saturday at a news conference. "I wouldn't have it any other way." "The key to it was we got to play all those years together," Duper said. "That way, I knew what he was going to be doing, I knew what I was going to be doing, and that made a big difference in a football game." "I want to congratulate both Marks on being named to the Dolphin Honor Roll," Marino said. "It’s great to be back on the same team with them.

"They both played a big role in my career, and I certainly wouldn’t have had the same success without them. They both started in the league around the same time as I did, and it didn’t take long for me to realize they were something special.

"We had some great seasons together, and I know we broke a lot of records, but what I will remember the most about playing with them is how much fun we all had. We’d got out every Sunday and know there wasn’t a defense that could stop us.

"We had a special relationship as teammates, and I’m looking forward to being a part of their induction ceremony in December. I think it’s great that their names will go up with all of the other great players in Dolphins history."

Both Clayton and Duper played their entire Dolphins careers under Hall of Fame Head Coach Don Shula, who drafted both of them.

Clayton, 42, joined the Dolphins in 1983 as an eighth-round draft choice out of Louisville, and went on to play ten seasons (1983-92) and 142 regular season games with Miami. During that time, he totaled 550 receptions for 8,643 yards and 81 touchdowns. He is the club’s career leader in receptions and receiving touchdowns, and is second in receiving yards. He owns team single-season records for receiving yards (1,389 in 1984), and both receiving touchdowns and total touchdowns (18 in 1984). He also holds the team mark for consecutive games with a reception, having caught a pass in 92 straight games from 1986 through 1992. He was a five-time Pro Bowl selection (1984-86, 1988, 1991 seasons) and was chosen to the Dolphins’ Silver Anniversary Team.

Duper, 44, was a second-round draft choice of the Dolphins in 1982 out of Northwestern (La.) State. He played in 146 regular season games with the club over an 11-year span (1982-92). He concluded his career with 511 catches for 8,869 yards and 59 touchdowns. He ranks first on the team’s all-time list for receiving yards, while he is second in receptions and third in receiving touchdowns. He also owns the club’s all-time mark for 100-yard receiving games (28), the single-season standard for 100-yard games (8 in 1986) as well as the single-game record for receiving yards (217 vs. N.Y. Jets, 11/10/85). He was voted to the Pro Bowl on three occasions (1983-84, 1986 seasons).

Combined, the duo totaled 1,030 receptions for 16,943 yards and 134 touchdowns from Dan Marino, as they accounted for almost 21 percent of Marino’s career completion total, nearly 27 percent of his career passing yards and 32 percent of his touchdown total. Clayton hauled in 538 passes for 8,468 yards and 79 touchdowns from the future Hall of Fame signal caller, while Duper snared 492 passes for 8,475 yards and 55 touchdowns. In fact, Marino and Clayton are second all-time in NFL history among quarterback-receiver scoring combinations, while Marino-Duper are tied for eighth.

MEMBERS OF DOLPHIN HONOR ROLL (Date inducted in parentheses)

Founder Joe Robbie, 1966-89 (Sept. 16, 1990)
FB Larry Csonka, 1968-74, 1979 (Nov. 19, 1990)
QB Bob Griese, 1967-80 (Nov. 19, 1990)
C Jim Langer, 1970-79 (Nov. 19, 1990)
WR Paul Warfield, 1970-74 (Nov. 19, 1990)
LB Nick Buoniconti, 1969-76 (Nov. 18, 1991)
1972 Undefeated Team (Nov. 16, 1992)
G Larry Little, 1969-80 (Dec. 13, 1993)
C Dwight Stephenson, 1980-87 (Dec. 12, 1994)
G Bob Kuechenberg, 1970-84 (Dec. 11, 1995)
Head Coach Don Shula, 1970-95 (Nov. 25, 1996)
WR Nat Moore, 1974-86 (Dec. 5, 1999)
QB Dan Marino, 1983-99 (Sept. 17, 2000)

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