Scott, Super MVP for ’72 Dolphins, dies
Jake Scott, the star safety who was the most valuable player in the Super Bowl that completed the Miami Dolphins’ 1972 perfect season, died Thursday in Atlanta. He was 75.
Scott died after a fall down a stairway that left him in a coma, former teammate Dick Anderson said.
Scott played in three consecutive Super Bowls, won back-to-back championship rings and made the Pro Bowl five years in a row with Miami. He intercepted two passes, with a 55-yard return from the end zone, against Billy Kilmer and Washington as the ’72 Dolphins won, 14-7, to finish 17-0.
Following retirement, Scott became reclusive and harbored hard feelings toward Dolphins coach Don Shula and his coach at Georgia, Vince Dooley. Scott lived for years on a remote Hawaiian island and traveled the world but seldom attended Dolphins or Bulldogs reunions.
He was once close to Shula, but they went without speaking to each other for 28 years, and Scott was one of only two living players to skip the 1972 Dolphins’ 25-year celebration in 1997.
The rift finally ended at a memorabilia show in 2010, where Scott and Shula had a brief conversation, shared laughs and posed with other ex-Dolphins for photos. Shula died in May.
Scott played with the Dolphins from 1970 to 1976 and remains their career leader in interceptions and punt return yardage. He also started for Washington in 1976-78 and finished with 49 career interceptions.
BROWNS EXPECT GARRETT BACK
NFL sacks leader Myles Garrett remained isolated from his teammates for the second straight day, but the Browns expect him to return today and play this weekend against Philadelphia.
Garrett, who has 9 ½ sacks, has stayed at home the past two days after not feeling well. As long as his next COVID-19 test comes back negative, the standout defensive end will be allowed back at the team’s facility and to practice.
MARYLAND-MICHIGAN ST. CANCELED
The Big Ten game Saturday between Maryland and Michigan State has been canceled after a COVID-19 outbreak on the Terrapins resulted in a positive test for coach Michael Locksley.
It’s the second straight cancellation for the Terrapins, who were scheduled to face Ohio State last week before several players on the team contracted the coronavirus. Maryland (2-1) has not played since it beat Penn State on Nov. 7.
Locksley tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday and is isolating at home.
“I am gutted for our team and for our fans,” Locksley said in a statement. “This team is eager to play and compete and continue the growth we’ve seen this season. This virus is testing our players and coaches right now, but I have no doubt that we will emerge as a stronger unit for having gone through this together.
“As for me personally, I am feeling strong, with only minor symptoms. I will continue to lead this program virtually and our game preparations for Indiana (on Nov. 28) will begin immediately.”
Over the past seven days, 15 Maryland players have tested positive. There were seven positive cases among staff over that same time period.