Rex's logic to play Mario eludes me. But that doesn't mean I know for sure he was right or wrong to keep playing the guy. I do know that in some respects, I half-hearted Mario was still better than IK or any other available option.
I also know, however, that in retrospect, Sammy's call for a player--regardless of who you are--to be cut if you're not doing job...boy...wonder who he might have been talking about...? And if he was talking about Mario, then perhaps the locker room cache did exist to send a message that way.
Again, though, to what extent, I don't know. I'm not sure it would have made a difference in the W/L column for the better. It may have cost them a game, though.