February 26, 2002

DAN MARINO AND BOOMER ESIASON JOIN CBS SPORTS AS STUDIO ANALYSTS ON "THE NFL TODAY"

Former Quarterbacks Join Jim Nantz and Deion Sanders in Pre-Game Studio

Former NFL quarterbacks Dan Marino and Boomer Esiason join CBS Sports as studio analysts for THE NFL TODAY, the CBS Television Network's NFL pre-game show. The announcement was made today by Sean McManus, President, CBS Sports.

"Having watched almost everything Boomer and Dan have done on television this past year, the idea of having these two charismatic and entertaining stars on THE NFL TODAY is really exciting," says McManus.

Marino, who holds 25 NFL regular season records and is tied for five others, quarterbacked Miami for 17 years, positioning the Dolphins as perennial championship contenders throughout his career. Upon retirement following the 1999 season, Marino became a co-host for HBO's "Inside the NFL," cable television's longest-running series, and will continue for his third year this season.

Esiason, whose career spanned 14 years with the Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals, headed straight for the broadcast booth upon retiring after the 1997 season. He made his debut as a commentator for ABC's NFL "Monday Night Football" and called MNF games for two years. For the past two years, Esiason has called games for Westwood One/CBS Radio Sports' "Monday Night Football" broadcasts with Howard David. Esiason also served as an analyst on FOX Sports Net's "NFL This Morning" this past year. In addition, Esiason is also co-host of Westwood One's weekly NFL preview show "In The Huddle" with Chris "Mad Dog" Russo.

Marino, a first-round draft pick by the Miami Dolphins in 1983, became an instant NFL sensation setting the standard for quarterback excellence. He became the only rookie ever to start the Pro Bowl (1983) and was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player in his second season (1984). The nine-time Pro Bowler (1983-87, 1991-92, 1994-95) played in 18 post-season playoff games and led the Dolphins to the Super Bowl in 1985 against San Francisco. Marino won the Dolphins MVP Award 12 times, and the team has since named the award after him. Among the NFL records Marino holds are most passing yards (61,361), most completions (4,967) and most passing touchdowns (420). In the 1984 season alone, he completed an incredible 48 touchdown passes and had the most prolific season by a passer in NFL history with 5,084 yards.

Marino played college football at the University of Pittsburgh, where he earned a degree in communications and graduated as the Panthers' record holder in passing yards for a season and career, passes attempted for a season and career and touchdown passes for a season and career. Marino and his wife, Claire, are active in raising money for and awareness of childhood autism and have started The Dan Marino Foundation. One of three players ever to do so, Marino twice won the Dolphins Community

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Service Award (1996 & 1998) and was named the NFL Man of the Year in 1998. He was born Sept. 15, 1961 in Pittsburgh and he now lives in South Florida with his wife and their five children.

After an All-America career at the University of Maryland, Esiason was selected in the second round of the 1984 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals and became one of the most successful quarterbacks in NFL history. In 1986, he earned his first Pro Bowl bid while leading the NFL's most productive offense. In 1988, he led the NFL with a 97.4 passer rating and helped the Bengals win the AFC Championship before bowing to San Francisco in Super Bowl XXIII. That year, Esiason was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player by the Pro Football Writers of America and the Associated Press. He again was the NFL passing leader in 1989 as Cincinnati claimed another division title. In 1993, after a trade to the Jets, Esiason became a Pro Bowler for a second time. In only three seasons with the Jets, he became the team's fourth leading passer all-time. After a year playing for the Arizona Cardinals, he returned to Cincinnati where he ended his career with 2,969 completions in 5,205 pass attempts (57 % completion percentage) for 247 touchdowns and 37,920 yards.

Throughout his career Esiason, along with his wife, Cheryl, has been a committed and very active member in many charitable causes, including the Boomer Esiason Foundation, founded in 1993 in an effort to eliminate the threat of cystic fibrosis after his son Gunnar was diagnosed with the disease. Esiason was born April 17, 1961 in West Islip, N.Y., and now lives in Plandome, N.Y., with his wife, daughter, Sydney, and son.

CBS Sports Contacts: LeslieAnne Wade    Robin Brendle           Jerry Caraccioli
                        (212) 975-5171  (212) 975-1533  (212) 975-7466
                        lwade@cbs.com   rlbrendle@cbs.com       gwcaraccioli@cbs.com