While we're at it, let's put an asterisk behind Emmitt Smith's rushing record because he did it behind an All-Pro offensive line, while Walter Payton had to establish his record with a bunch of no-names.

One of the unspoken assumptions when discussing Marino's 1984 record is that his record is a 'pure' or 'true' record, and the record set in 2011 is asterisked by the liberal passing rules of today's NFL. But do you know who's record he broke and when that was set? It was Dan Fouts in 1981. Before that the record belonged to...Fouts in 1980. And before that...Fouts in 1979. But prior that, the pro record was an AFL mark set by Joe Namath in 1967.

It's no coincidence that the record was set and reset in three consecutive years starting in 1979. The 1978 season was the first with modern passing rules. Most notably, contact with receivers was penalized beyond 5 yards and linemen were allowed to block with extended arms and open hands. That season was also the first lengthened from 14 to 16 regular season games. A record like 'total passing yards' is bound to be broken soon after those changes, and sure enough it was--repeatedly. The notion that the 1984 record was somehow pure or true, and the 2011 record is tainted due to rule changes is myopic in the extreme.

Marino was not a great quarterback because of his 1984 record--not at all, given that it was only 6 years after the tectonic changes of 1978. Marino was a great quarterback because he won games. But the fact that his record stood for 27 years despite more and more liberal passing is astonishing.