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MIAMI - In four years with the Dolphins, David Woodley replaced a Hall of Famer at quarterback, started in a Super Bowl and lost his job to a future Hall of Famer.
Mr. Woodley, 44, died of liver and kidney failure Sunday at a hospital in his native Shreveport, La., according to his niece, Lucy Woodley. He had a liver transplant in 1992.
A former standout at LSU (1977-79), Mr. Woodley succeeded Bob Griese as a Dolphins rookie in 1980. He started in the 1983 Super Bowl, which Miami lost 27-17 to Washington. Eight months later he was replaced by Dan Marino, who went on to become the most prolific passer in league history.
"David's legacy is that he came in relatively unknown, made our team and helped us win a lot of games," former Dolphins coach Don Shula said.
Mr. Woodley's biggest asset was mobility. He had a strong but erratic arm, throwing 42 interceptions and 34 touchdowns with the Dolphins.
"He had as strong an arm as anybody I played with," said former Dolphins receiver Jimmy Cefalo. He could throw it through a house, but he didn't have the ability to turn it down a notch. It got so I wouldn't warm up with him before games because he'd hurt my hands."
Mr. Woodley was an eighth-round draft pick who became a starter in Griese's final season, and his 176 completions are a Dolphins record for a rookie. The next year, Shula alternated him and Don Strock, a better passer but less mobile QB, and they were known as Woodstrock.
Shula, Strock and Cefalo said they had not talked to Mr. Woodley in years.
"It wasn't for a lack of trying," Cefalo said. "David was an unusual guy. He didn't open up much. He was never driven by money or fame. He wasn't a typical professional football player. He wouldn't do endorsements. "When you do that, they own you,' he'd say."
RAVENS STADIUM: M&T Bank Corp. signed a 15-year, $75-million naming rights contract. M&T replaces PSINet Inc., which signed a 20-year, $105-million agreement in 1999. The Internet service provider filed for Chapter 11 protection in 2001 and agreed to take its name off the stadium last year.
DOLPHINS: Safety Sammy Knight, who made the Pro Bowl with the Saints in 2001, received a free-agent contract offer from Miami.
49ERS: Kick returner Jimmy Williams re-signed a one-year, $375,000 deal. Williams led the league in punt-return average (16.8 yards) last season until tearing major ligaments in his knee.
JETS: Free-agent tackle Brent Smith signed after missing the past two seasons with knee injuries. The 6-foot-5, 305-pound Smith had been with the Dolphins since 1997.