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MIAMI -- Earl Morrall stepped in when the 1972 Miami Dolphins needed him most. Jake Odorizzi Jersey . And then he willingly stepped aside, earning enduring admiration from his teammates and coach Don Shula. Morrall, who started 11 games during the Dolphins perfect season and spent 21 years as an NFL quarterback, died Friday at age 79. He had been in failing health for some time. "There would be no perfect season, and probably no Super Bowl win in 1972, without Earl Morrall," Bob Griese said Friday. When Griese broke his ankle in 1972, Morrall came off the bench and started the final nine games of the regular season. Morrall won praise from Shula for returning to the sideline without complaint when Griese came back to play in the final two post-season games, including the Super Bowl to cap the only perfect season in NFL history. Morrall also played for the 49ers, Steelers, Lions, Giants and Colts, winning three Super Bowl rings. He came off the bench to replace an injured Johnny Unitas and help the Colts win the Super Bowl to cap the 1970 season, and he was the backup to Griese on the Dolphins 1973 championship team. Morrall also was the starting quarterback opposite Joe Namath in the 1969 Super Bowl after guiding the Colts to the conference title and winning the leagues MVP award. He struggled in that famous 16-7 loss to the Jets, throwing key interceptions, and was benched during the second half for Unitas. The 72 Dolphins were led by such future Pro Football Hall of Famers as Shula, Griese, Larry Csonka and Paul Warfield, but their season might be long forgotten if not for Morrall, then regarded as a journeyman who looked the part with his old-school flattop haircut. Thats why Shula -- who also coached Unitas and Dan Marino -- held Morrall in special regard as a quarterback. "When Bob went down, Earl stepped in like nothing happened, and we just won all the games," Shula said in a 2007 interview. "Then Griese was healthy for the AFC championship game against Pittsburgh, and I put Bob in the second half and he helped us come from behind and win the game. "Then I had a decision to make, which to me has always been the toughest decision Ive ever had to make -- who to start in the Super Bowl. Earl had done such a great job to get me there, but Bob was my quarterback going into the season, and he was my quarterback of the future. So I figured as long as Bob was healthy and ready to go, I was going back to Bob. "So Ive always said Unitas, Griese and Dan Marino are in the Hall of Fame, and Earl is in my own personal Hall of Fame." Griese said Morrall acknowledged he didnt like Shulas decision, but accepted it. "He said, I dont agree with you, but whatever you think is best for the team, Ill go along with it," Griese said. "Thats the way Earl was throughout his career. "He was the most popular guy in the locker room because of his personality. He always had a smile, a good word, a pat on the back, whether he knew you or didnt. He was just an upbeat good guy." The 1972 Dolphins finished 17-0, but Morrall said they seldom dwelled on their perfect record as the season progressed, because they were focused only on winning the Super Bowl after losing in the title game the previous year. He recalled a teammate raising the subject of being undefeated just once -- before the final regular-season game. "We were going to play the Colts, and thats the only time I heard something about it in the locker room," Morrall said in 2007. "It wasnt about going undefeated. It was, Guys, if were going to lose a game, this is the one to lose." At 38, Morrall was the oldest player on the 1972 Dolphins. He attended their 40th reunion in 2012 and said he thought most of his ex-teammates looked good. "Weve all gotten a little bigger and stronger," Morrall said with a smile. He was inducted into the Dolphins Walk of Fame that year. Morrall also attended an 80th birthday party for Shula in 2010. "Were just happy Don made it this long," Morrall said. "When he cut some of the players, they had ill feelings and might have got to him." Morrall was a Michigan native who played at Michigan State. He led the Spartans to two Rose Bowl victories, and was an infielder in the 1954 College World Series. "He was a great Spartan," current Michigan State football coach Mark Dantonio said. Morrall was the second overall pick in the 1956 draft. He was never able to hold a No. 1 job for long but developed a reputation as a super sub and was once traded for Bobby Layne, one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. In retirement Morrall lived in Naples, Fla., where former teammate Charlie Babb also lives. "I was the youngest guy on the 72 team," said Babb, a defensive back. "Earl was 37 when Im a 22-year-old rookie. He was kind of like Pops, and he was the king of the flattop. He was kind of a father figure to us young guys, until it was time to hit him. Then we didnt mind hitting him. "Earl was a gentleman and a great representative of the NFL. Hell be missed." Kennys Vargas Jersey . Chris Heisey followed with a two-run triple and Billy Hamilton added an RBI double, all but sealing Cincinnatis fourth straight victory and seventh in eight games. Brandon Phillips, celebrating his 33rd birthday, hit a go-ahead homer in the ninth for the Reds before pinch-hitter Buster Posey tied it with an RBI double off hard-throwing closer Aroldis Chapman in the bottom half. Rod Carew Jersey . Vettel only needs to finish fifth or better Sunday to wrap up the championship with three races remaining, and bettered his own lap record to claim his third straight pole at Buddh International Circuit. http://www.twinsrookiestore.com/Twins-Eddie-Rosario-Kids-Jersey/ . Canadas Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse will reunite at this weekends season-opening World Cup at Canada Olympic Park as they begin their buildup to the Winter Games in Sochi.PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Flyers have turned their season around by playing smart hockey. Some good luck hasnt hurt, either. Matt Read scored a pair of goals to lead the Flyers to their fifth win in six games, 4-1 over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night. "Were having fun out there, doing simple things, not turning pucks over and just playing simple hockey," Read said. "Were a good team, and it just takes a matter of time and a couple of lucky bounces to get a positive atmosphere and get things clicking and going our way." Vincent Lecavalier also scored and Scott Hartnell added an empty-net goal for the Flyers, who set a season-high with 46 shots. Philadelphia began the season by losing seven of its first eight games. "Theyre playing good hockey," said Flyers coach Craig Berube, who replaced the fired Peter Laviolette after Philadelphia began the season with three losses. "There are things they can improve on. Youre always working to get better, and thats what were going to do." Reads goals came 1:40 apart late in the second period. Steve Downie and Sean Couturier assisted on both tallies for Philadelphia (9-10-2), which outshot Buffalo 46-30. Tyler Myers netted the lone goal for Buffalo, which is 1-3 under interim coach Ted Nolan and an NHL-worst 5-18-1 this season. "We have to play a certain way, and by doing stupid things like we have been, its going to be ugly games," Nolan said. "Ive seen enough in four games. We have to change some things, and players have to do it or its going to be a long year. "You have to do simple things. You cant have turnovers, cant have foolish penalties, cant be muscled off the puck." The game was the first between two Firrst Nations head coaches. Zach Duke Jersey. . Nolan is Ojibwe, and from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and Berube is part-Cree and from Calahoo, Alberta. Myers beat Ray Emery from close range in the first period to stake Buffalo to a 1-0 lead. But it was all Philadelphia from that point. "We have to grind it out," Nolan said. "It cant be a sometime thing, it has to be an all-the-time thing. We have to look ourselves in the mirror and get a certain mindset." Read tied it with a one-timer from the slot with 6:51 left in the second and gave Philadelphia a one-goal advantage by deking goalie Ryan Miller, while all alone in front of the crease, and putting a highlight-reel shot into the top of the net with 4:11 remaining in the period. "You cant get down on yourself or your teammates," Read said of the Flyers poor start. "We have a great team. Now its about having fun and keep playing hard." Berube said there cant be any letup from his players. "You have to stay on it all the time," he said. "You cant take a break. You have to be really smart out there. You have to keep working at it. If you want to be a really good team in this league, it takes a lot of work and a lot of preparation." Lecavalier one-timed a slap shot from the right circle midway through the third to make it 3-1. Ville Leino and Tyler Ennis had assists for Buffalo, which has lost three straight. NOTES: The Flyers have outscored opponents 24-8 over their last six games. ... Philadelphia won for the first time this season when it allowed the first goal. . The Flyers have won five straight against the Sabres at home. . Reads first goal snapped a 132-minute, 52-second scoreless streak for Philadelphia against Buffalo. 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