Did Dan curse the Jaguars?

January 15, 2000 is a day that will live in infamy for Dolphins fans. On that day, Dan Marino played in his final professional football game in the divisional round of the playoffs against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The result? A 62-7 shellacking. Not the way a hall of fame quarterback ought to go out. It was such a bad day, the Jags were leading 41-0 in the second quarter when Marino hit Orande Gadsden for his final TD and only score of the game.

But the question has since been asked...Did Marino put a curse on the Jags in repayment for such a disgraceful exit? Consider the facts:

* The worst defeat in the history of the Jaguars franchise, the one that to this day causes Jag fans like myself to awaken at night screaming in cold sweats, was the FOLLOWING weekend when the evil Tennessee Titans won the AFC title game on our turf and went on to the super bowl.

* The 62-7 victory spun the Jaguars into a tailspin of defeat. In the four years following they went 24-40. (They went 45-19 during the 4 years before Marino's last game!)

* The Jaguars have not won a playoff game since emasculating Dan.

* Dan's number was #13, which of course is an unlucky number. Thus, one could argue that his bad luck was being transferred to the Jaguars on that January day, cleverly disguised as good fortune.

* Perhaps here is the most convincing evidence that the Jaguars have been cursed by Dan: Marino rhymes with Bambino.

There you have it, folks. If the Jags have any hopes of winning the Super Bowl, they must find a way to get back in Dan's good graces. Offer him a job. Pay him off. Buy him a new Jaguar. Whatever it takes. He must be pacified.