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    • Star RB on undefeated 1972 Dolphins was 77
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    Star RB on undefeated 1972 Dolphins was 77

    Vaseline Posted on

    Eugene “Mercury” Morris, a speedy running back who played eight seasons in the NFL and was a key player in the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins, has died at age 77.

    Morris teamed with backfield mates Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick as the Dolphins won back-to-back Super Bowls under coach Don Shula in 1972 and 1973.

    Morris was selected in the third round of the 1969 NFL draft out of West Texas A&M and began his professional career as a kick returner. As a rookie, he led the NFL in kickoff return yardage, returning one 105 yards for a touchdown.

    He became an effective substitute for the Dolphins, replacing the powerful Csonka, and in 1971 won the first of three consecutive Pro Bowl titles.

    Morris’ best season came in Miami’s perfect 1972 campaign. He rushed for an equal 1,000 yards as he and Csonka became the first teammates in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in the same season. He also led the league with 12 rushing touchdowns that year as the Dolphins completed a 17-0 season with a 14-7 victory over Washington in Super Bowl 7.

    Morris passed for 954 yards on 6.4 yards per carry in 1973, the best mark in the NFL, earning him another Pro Bowler and helping the Dolphins win their second consecutive Super Bowl.

    He joined the San Diego Chargers in 1976 for the final season of his career. He finished with 4,133 rushing yards and 35 total touchdowns – 31 rushing, one receiving and three on kickoff returns.

    After his retirement, Morris became one of the most prominent members of the undefeated Dolphins in their annual celebrations. He coined the term “Perfectville” to describe their unique place in history, and was perhaps the most vocal defender of their greatness compared to other dominant NFL teams that would follow.

    “I played on the greatest team ever,” Morris once told The Palm Beach Post. “We had some of the best players from 1971-74, we had the best record in history those four years.

    “We ruled the football world.”

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