Marino pulling out of NFL suit

First, he was suing the NFL. Now, he's not.

Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino said Tuesday he will withdraw his lawsuit against the league over concussion-related injuries, a day after The Inquirer reported he had filed a claim in federal court in Philadelphia.

In a statement, Marino, 52, said he has not developed any symptoms of long-term injury as a result of head trauma sustained during his 17 seasons with the Miami Dolphins. And he said he had not realized he would be listed as a plaintiff in ongoing litigation.

"I authorized a claim to be filed on my behalf just in case I needed future medical coverage to protect me and my family in the event I later suffered," he said. "I have made the decision it is not necessary for me to be part of any claims or this lawsuit."

He offered no explanation as to how his name ended up on the suit.

Sol Weiss, the Philadelphia-based lawyer representing Marino and colead counsel for more than 5,000 other ex-players in settlement negotiations with the league, declined to comment.

A spokesman representing the players' negotiating team did not return calls or e-mails for comment.

The Dolphins confirmed Monday that Marino had filed a claim in Philadelphia federal court, making him one of the highest-profile players to claim they had developed long-term neurological symptoms in their post-football careers. Marino's legal filings did not outline specific injuries.

In January, the NFL and the players' lawyers outlined a $765 million settlement agreement that would provide money for players dealing with severe impairments, testing for those who had not developed symptoms, and education for current players.

U.S. District Judge Anita Brody has declined to grant preliminary approval of the plan, expressing concern that the money set aside might not cover all of the potentially eligible former players.