Maiami Dolphins Player With Funny Name
Miami Dolphins: The 100 Greatest Players in Team History
From left: Jim Kiick, Larry Csonka, Mercury Morris
Upon their 1966 inception, the Miami Dolphins and their quirky tropical color scheme quickly became a laughingstock around the NFL. After four dismal seasons at the bottom of the league's totem pole, Don Shula arrived and immediately transformed the team from punching bag to contender.
Since then, the Dolphins have churned out some of the greatest players in the history of the NFL, thanks in large part to Don Shula and Jimmy Johnson's legendary scouting eyes.
From the team's 1970 turnaround to their current day roster, hundreds of players have contributed to the Dolphins' rich history. Narrowing down Miami's list of players was no easy task, but these 100 stood out above the rest.
100. Lloyd Mumphord
Dolphins defensive back Lloyd Mumphord began his career with a boom. In his first two seasons, Mumphord intercepted a combined 10 passes as a starter in Miami's defense.
However, upon the emergence of Curtis Johnson and Tim Foley, Mumphord was relegated to a backup role. He still remained a viable role player, intercepting four passes during the team's 1972 perfect season.
99. Uwe Von Schamann
Uwe von Schamann kept his NFL career brief, but he made each of his six years count.
Von Scamann's first and final years with the Dolphins are his most memorable. He won Rookie of the Year in 1979, and in 1984, his final year in the league, von Schamann attempted a recorded 70 extra points, converting 66, also an NFL record.
98. Paul Lankford
Paul Lankford's name has slipped through the cracks of Dolphins history, but the former Penn State Nittany Lion was a starting cornerback on Miami's 1984 Super Bowl runnerup team.
In seven years as a starter, Lankford totaled 13 interceptions.
97. T.J. Turner
For the duration of his seven-year career, T.J. Turner alternated efficiently between defensive end and nose tackle. Turner's best year came in 1988 when he totaled five sacks.
96. Dwight Hollier
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
In seven years with the Dolphins, linebacker Dwight Hollier never achieved stardom, but he posted some impressive and underrated seasons.
Injuries and inconsistency plagued Hollier's career, but he still managed to rack up 328 career tackles.
95. J.B. Brown
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
In eight seasons with the Miami Dolphins, cornerback J.B. Brown morphed into a staple in the team's secondary.
As a starter from 1990 to 1995, Brown intercepted 15 passes.
94. Gerald Small
As a rookie in 1978, Dolphins cornerback Gerald Small started only four games, but still managed to intercept four passes. His standout play forced Miami to push him into the starting lineup in 1979, where Small would stay until 1983.
Small intercepted seven passes in 1980, and finished his Dolphins career with 23.
93. Lousaka Polite
Rick Stewart/Getty Images
His tenure with the Dolphins has been brief, but considering Lousaka Polite has been arguably the best fullback in the NFL over the past two seasons, he deserves a spot on this list.
Polite not only plays a pivotal blocking role in the Wildcat, but he has literally been unstoppable on third and fourth down and short scenarios. He converted over 20 straight such conversions before the streak was snapped early in the 2010 season.
92. Jimmy Cefalo
Jimmy Cefalo has become well-known around Miami for his role as the team's radio voice, but before he took to the airwaves, Cefalo was a very serviceable receiver for the Dolphins.
The Dolphins drafted Cefalo out of Penn State with their third round pick in the 1978 NFL Draft. He never became a full-time starter, but he was a full-time contributor. Cefalo spent his entire seven-year career with the Dolphins, totaling 93 receptions for 1,739 yards and 13 touchdowns.
The highlight of Cefalo's career came during Super Bowl XVII when he caught a 75-yard touchdown pass from David Woodley.
91. Norm Bulaich
With Mercury Morris, Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick gone, the Dolphins began a running back by committee over roughly the 15 years.
From 1975 to 1979, Norm Bulaich became a staple for Miami's rushing attack, scoring 13 touchdowns from '75 to '77. He finished his Dolphins career with 1,498 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns.
90. Charles Bowser
Charles Bowser's four-year NFL career was spent entirely with the Dolphins, who drafted him in the fourth round of the 1982 NFL Draft.
Bowser was a leader of the Killer B's defense, posting a career-high nine sacks during the Dolphins' 1984 Super Bowl run season. He teamed up with Kim Bokamper and Bob Brudzinski to assemble one of the league's best linebacking corps.
89. Mike Kolen
Mike Kolen's name is often overshadowed by the likes of Anderson and Scott, but that is why he was a part of the "No Name" Defense.
Kolen started every game for the Dolphins' 1972 perfect season at linebacker, and maintained a primary role with the defense until his retirement after the 1977 season.
88. Howard Twilley
Howard Twilley, despite finishing as a Heisman Trophy runner-up in 1965, fell to the 12th round of the 1966 AFL Draft.
Twilley became a starting wide receiver for the Dolphins in 1968 and kept his role for the 1972 perfect season, playing opposite Paul Warfield.
He retired after the 1976 NFL season with 212 receptions for 3,064 yards and 23 touchdowns.
87. Duriel Harris
As Bob Griese's career began winding down in the late 1970s and the Dolphins began to transition into a new era of players, Duriel Harris emerged and kept Miami's passing game relevant.
Harris became one of Griese's preferred targets from 1978 to 1979. The wide receiver caught a combined 87 passes for 1,452 yards and six touchdowns.
86. Jeff Dellenbach
Rick Stewart/Getty Images
For a decade starting in 1985, Dolphins offensive lineman Jeff Dellenbach became a regular along the offensive line.
Dellenbach struggled with injuries and maintaining a spot in the starting lineup, but he managed to start every game of the 1988, '89, '93 and '94 seasons.
85. Don McNeal
Don McNeal is immortalized into NFL history for the wrong reason. In Super Bowl XVII, McNeal fell victim to Jon Riggins' famous 4th-and-inches touchdown run, when his failed attempt to bring the running back down became one of the NFL's most famous photographs.
Beyond that unfortunate play, McNeal enjoyed an admirable nine-year career in Miami, including a five interception season during his rookie campaign.
84. Bernie Parmalee
Rick Stewart/Getty Images
During the Dolphins' 1990s running back shuffle, undrafted free agent and former UPS driver Bernie Parmalee had his chance to shine from 1994 to 1995.
In those two seasons as Miami's primary running back, Parmalee rushed for a combined 1,746 yards and 15 touchdowns. Parmalee played with the Dolphins for seven years before a three-year stint with the Jets. He retired after the 2000 season.
83. Pete Stoyanovich
Scott Halleran/Getty Images
From 1989 to 1995, Dolphins kicker Pete Stoyanovich was the team's leading scorer.
Stoyanovich was virtually automatic from inside 40 yards, and still maintained a big enough leg to hit three field goals of 50 yards or more twice in his career.
In 1992, Stoyanovich was named to the First Team All-Pro roster.
82. Bob Matheson
Not panning out after the Cleveland Browns selected him with their 1967 first round pick, Bob Matheson was traded to the Miami Dolphins.
Although he was not a starter, Matheson was a part of the No Name Defense, and he was on the roster for all of the team's Super Bowl appearances.
Matheson did not become a full-time starter until 1975, and he enjoyed three very successful years in the starting rotation until retiring in 1979.
81. William Judson
Rick Stewart/Getty Images
The Dolphins drafted South Carolina State cornerback William Judson in the eight round of the 1981 NFL Draft. After seeing no action during the strike-shortened 1982 season, Judson started off on an excellent seven-year career.
Judson started at cornerback for all seven years, missing only six games over that stretch. He finished his career with 24 interceptions, and despite his consistency, never earned any accolades.
80. Jarvis Williams
Allen Steele/Getty Images
After an All-American career at the University of Florida, the Miami Dolphins grabbed Gators safety Jarvis Williams with their 1988 second round pick.
Williams intercepted four passes and racked up 89 tackles during his rookie season, which may have been his peak. He still enjoyed six very productive years with the Dolphins, retiring with 14 interceptions and 513 tackles with Miami.
Williams passed away in May.
79. Hugh Green
Rick Stewart/Getty Images
Former Heisman Trophy runnerup Hugh Green became a force at linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before the team traded him to Miami in 1985.
Green missed most of the 1986 and '87 seasons, but returned in 1988 and got back on track. In 1989, Green managed 7.5 sacks, and retired after the 1991 season.
78. Don Strock
Don Strock, along with fellow Dolphins quarterback David Woodley, formed "Woodstrock." The two earned the nickname because of Don Shula's tendency to swap them in and out of the starting lineup.
Strock had been with the Dolphins as a backup since 1974, but never emerged from the shadows of Bob Griese or Woodley. Still, Strock proved time and time again that he was an elite backup. In the famous "Epic in Miami" game against the San Diego Chargers in the 1981 playoffs, Strock led the Dolphins back from a 24-0 deficit.
He finished his Dolphins career with a 14-6 record.
77. Lyle Blackwood
Lyle Blackwood came to the Dolphins after eight semi-productive years with three different NFL teams. However, he found his destiny in Miami, where he joined his brother Kyle to form the "Bruise Brothers" duo.
Blackwood also became another member of the Dolphins "Killer B's" defense. He started from 1981 to 1984, including a start in Super Bowl XIX.
76. Terrell Buckley
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Cornerback Terrell Buckley arrived in Miami in 1995 after a three year stint with the Green Bay Packers.
One year later, Buckley became the Dolphins' starting cornerback and led the league in interception return yards. He went on to post back to back stellar seasons in 1997 and 1998, intercepting a combined 12 passes.
However, upon the emergence of Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain in 1999, Buckley became a backup, and soon bolted for New England where he would win two Super Bowl rings. He returned to Miami in 2003, starting five games and intercepting two passes before once again leaving for another AFC East rival in the New York Jets.
75. Oronde Gadsden
Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images
Oronde Gadsden's NFL career was short, but spectacular. In 1995, Jimmy Johnson brought Gadsden into Dallas, but the wide receiver failed to make the team. Three years later, in 1998, Johnson gave Gadsden another shot, this time in Miami, and he delivered.
Gadsden immediately became one of Dan Marino's favored targets, and showed a knack for making unbelievable catches. He caught seven touchdown passes during his first year in the league, and caught six the following two seasons.
Just as he was beginning to look like a star, Gadsden began to struggle mightily with injuries, and they forced him to retire in 2003 after just six years in the NFL.
74. Keith Byars
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Many expected Ohio State legend Keith Byars to translate his dominant rushing style into the NFL. The Eagles selected him with the 10th overall pick in the 1986 NFL Draft, but Byars soon became one of the league's best dual-threat running backs.
Byars landed with the Dolphins in 1993, and caught 61 passes and made the Pro Bowl. He spent 2.5 more seasons with the Dolphins, posting similar numbers, before getting traded to the Patriots.
73. Don Nottingham
Perhaps anticipating the eventual departures of Jim Kiick and Larry Csonka, the Dolphins traded for Baltimore Colts fullback Don Nottingham midway through the 1973 season.
Nottingham saw very limited action during Miami's 1973 Super Bowl push, but from 1974 to 1977 he scored 25 touchdowns, and retired following the '77 season.
72. Bob Brudzinski
Four years into a very productive career with the Los Angeles Rams, linebacker Bob Brudzinski was traded to the Dolphins in exchange for draft picks.
Brudzinski became a key component in the Dolphins "Killer B's" defense. He started in both Super Bowl XVII and XIX.
Brudzinski played nine years with the Dolphins before retiring after the 1989 season.
71. Ferrell Edmunds
George Rose/Getty Images
The Miami Dolphins selected Maryland tight end Ferrell Edmunds with their 1988 third round pick in order to both protect Dan Marino and provide him with another receiving weapon.
Edmunds was elected into the 1989 and 1990 Pro Bowls, despite catching only three and one touchdown passes in those respective seasons.
During his five-year stay with the Dolphins, Edmunds was a regular starter.
70. Adewale Ogunleye
Rick Stewart/Getty Images
Before Adewale Ogunleye became a focal starter in the Chicago Bears defense, he spent three years in Miami.
The Dolphins brought Ogunleye on as an undrafted free agent in 2001, and after playing a reserve role that season, he began to see more playing time. In 2002, Ogunleye totaled 9.5 sacks, and then broke out in 2003. Ogunleye had a Pro Bowl, 15 sack season, which coincidentally led to his departure.
Miami did not cave into his new contract demands following his breakout season, and the team swapped him for Marty Booker in 2004. The 2003 season remains Ogunleye's career best.
69. Randy McMichael
Randy McMichael never played on any meaningful Dolphins teams, but that does not fade him out of the picture as one of the best tight ends in team history.
The Dolphins used a fourth round draft pick acquired in the Ricky Williams trade on McMichael in the 2004 NFL Draft. The former Georgia Bulldog caught four touchdowns during his rookie season, and maintained similar production over the span of his five year stint with the 'Fins.
Although McMichael was by no means a standout player, Miami has failed to replace him.
68. Jim Mandich
Before Jim "Mad Dog" Mandich became the face of Dolphins broadcasting, he was Miami's primary receiving tight end for both championship teams.
The Dolphins selected Mandich with their 1970 second round pick, and although he never quite lived up to that billing, he caught a combined 13 touchdowns from 1972 to 1974. He retired in 1978.
67. Larry Izzo
Like many players on this list, Larry Izzo was a Miami Dolphin who left for New England, where he found great prosperity. But before Izzo won three Super Bowl rings with the Pats, he was a standout special teams player for the Dolphins.
Jimmy Johnson signed Izzo, an undrafted free agent, prior to the 1996 season. Izzo failed to earn a real role in the defensive rotation, and instead became an ace special teamer. Izzo was voted into the Pro Bowl for his efforts in 2000, and earned two more bids with the Patriots.
66. Karim Abdul-Jabbar
Rick Stewart/Getty Images
The Dolphins failed to find a stable, productive running back to complement Dan Marino during the 1990s. However, they came pretty close with Karim Abdul-Jabbar.
Miami selected Abdul-Jabbar, a UCLA standout, with their 1996 third round pick. Abdul-Jabbar showed early signs of stardom. He rushed for 1,116 yards and 11 touchdowns during his rookie season, and then rushed for 892 yards and a league leading 15 touchdowns the following season.
In 1998, Abdul-Jabbar rushed for 960 yards, but scored only six touchdowns. Three games into the 1999 season, Miami traded him to the Cleveland Browns where his career fell apart. He retired after the 2000 season.
65. Lamar Smith
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Prior to joining the Dolphins in 2000, Lamar Smith was a great running back who was never given a chance. After six years in the league, five with the Seahawks and one with the Saints, Smith was given less than ample opportunity to handle a full workload.
Dave Wannstedt decided Smith deserved that opportunity, and the running back delivered. During his two years with the team, Smith rushed the ball 622 times for 2,107 yards and 24 touchdowns. He is most remembered for 40 carry, 205 yard performance against the Colts in a 2000 AFC Wild Card Game.
But count on Dave Wannstedt to completely wear a running back out. That is exactly what he did to Smith, and later to Ricky Williams. Smith spent only two years in Miami, and retired after the 2003 season.
64. Curtis Johnson
Curtis Johnson teamed up with Tim Foley to give the "No Name" defense one of the league's best duo of corners.
Johnson and Foley played alongside each other, and in the same secondary, for virtually their entire careers.
The former Toledo Rocket started in all three of the Dolphins' 1971-73 Super Bowl appearances, and finished his career with 22 interceptions.
63. Delvin Williams
After Mercury Morris left the Dolphins following the 1975 season, Miami went in search of a running back to pick up the slack left behind.
Benny Malone posted two decent seasons, but it was not until the Dolphins acquired Delvin Williams in 1978 that the team's run game was back up to par.
Williams rushed for 1,258 yards and eight touchdowns during his first year in Miami, good enough for a Pro Bowl and a First Team All-Pro bid. Unfortunately, Williams followed up his great 1978 season with two lackluster years, and his Dolphins career was over after just three years.
62. Bruce Hardy
Tony Duffy/Getty Images
In 1974, Sports Illustrated named Utah high school football star Bruce Hardy the "Best Schoolboy Athlete." Hardy never fulfilled the starlit prophecy many expected from him, but he quietly enjoyed a very solid NFL career with the Miami Dolphins.
Splitting time between tight end and wide receiver, Hardy became a reliable target for David Woodley and Dan Marino. Hardy spent his entire 12-year career with the Dolphins, appearing in 151 games, including two Super Bowls. He retired with 256 receptions for 2,455 yards and 25 touchdowns.
61. A.J. Duhe
Looking to rebuild his 1970s championship defenses, Don Shula spent a 1977 first round draft pick on LSU linebacker A.J. Duhe.
Duhe was named 1977 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year while playing defensive end. Eventually, the Dolphins moved back to linebacker where he saw equal success. He earned his only Pro Bowl bid in 1984, the final season of his career.
60. Wayne Moore
Prior to their 1970s Super Bowl runs, Don Shula and the Miami Dolphins looked to shore up the offensive line in order to keep their three-pronged rushing attack thriving.
The team picked up offensive tackle Wayne Moore from the San Francisco 49ers. He became a starter in 1973, and earned a Pro Bowl bid that same year.
59. Glenn Blackwood
An eighth-round pick in the 1979 NFL Draft, Glenn Blackwood rode the pine his rookie year until becoming Miami's starting strong safety in 1980.
Blackwood made an immediate impact and hit his peak in the 1984 and '85 seasons, intercepting a combined 12 passes.
In 1981, Blackwood's brother Lyle joined the Dolphins, and the two became known as the "Bruise Brothers." Lyle and Glenn played alongside each other at free and strong safety for four seasons.
Blackwood retired in 1987 with 29 career interceptions.
58. Tim Foley
During his 11-year career with the Dolphins, Tim Foley put up very humble statistics. In fact, Foley's best season came at the very end of his career, in 1978, when he intercepted a career-high six passes.
But numbers aside, Foley's role as one of the Dolphins starting cornerbacks during the team's three Super Bowl appearances in 1971, 1972 and 1973, cements his spot as one of the best in team history.
Foley was moved back to strong safety in 1977, and made his first and only Pro Bowl in 1979. He finished his career with 22 interceptions.
57. Jim Jensen
In the 1981 NFL Draft, the Dolphins spent their 11th round draft pick on Boston University (the now-extinct team's legacy lives on!) quarterback Jim Jensen.
Jensen served as a backup quarterback for the first three years of his career, but once Dan Marino established himself as the uncontested starter, the team began finding ways to utilize his skillset elsewhere.
Jensen became a Antwan Randle El-esque player. He was a regular special teams ace, but also appeared regularly at running back, wide receiver, and occasionally at quarterback.
He spent his entire twelve year career with the Dolphins, catching 19 touchdowns and throwing for two during that time.
56. Irving Fryar
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images
His stay in Miami may have been short, but Irving Fryar's days with the Dolphins are still memorable.
With the Marks brothers gone, the Dolphins needed a big time receiver who could keep Dan Marino happy and the team competitive. In an effort to do so, Miami shipped off some draft picks to New England in exchange for Fryar's service.
In his three years with the team, Fryar caught 199 passes for 3,190 yards and 20 touchdowns. He was also voted into the Pro Bowl in 1993 and 1994.
55. Vern Den Herder
The Dolphins "No Name Defense" earned their nickname because of players like Vern Den Herder. Den Herder attended Central College in Iowa, and was selected by the Dolphins in the ninth round of the 1971 NFL Draft.
In 1972, Den Herder became a regular starter for Miami over the next decade, starting in both of the team's Super Bowl victories.
54. Jay Fiedler
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Jay Fiedler is no household name, and his statistics are nothing to admire. But Fiedler actually had a somewhat admirable career with the Dolphins.
The Ivy League product (Dartmouth) led Miami to the playoffs in 2000 and 2001, the team's last postseason appearance until 2008. Fiedler posted a 7-3 record in 2002 and a 7-4 record in 2003, but was sidelined by injuries, and the Dolphins failed to make the playoffs without him. He eclipsed 3,000 yards passing in 2001.
Granted, the Dolphins rode workhorse running back Lamar Smith for over 300 carries both playoff seasons, Fiedler played with a true grit that allowed him to play beyond his physical structure.
53. Larry Seiple
Who said punters only kick?
From 1967 to 1977, Dolphins punter Larry Seiple dispelled all kicker stereotypes. Once the team noticed his keen field vision, Miami began to let Seiple run a variety of fake punts, and in 1969, he caught five touchdown passes for 577 yards. He was the leading receiver on that team.
After his 1969 season, defenses began to catch on, and Seiple returned to focus on punting where he averaged a respectable 40 yards per for his career.
52. Louis Oliver
Scott Halleran/Getty Images
After rising from walk-on to two-time All-American at the University of Florida, the Miami Dolphins selected safety Louis Oliver in the first round of the 1989 NFL Draft in the hopes that he could continue climbing the football ladder.
Oliver started 13 games as a rookie for the Fins, and soon became a force at safety. He started every game until 1993 when he missed five, and then left Miami for Cincinnati in 1994.
He returned to Miami after just one season with the Bengals, but started just five games in 1995 before resuming his role as a starter in 1996, his final NFL season.
Oliver finished his Dolphins' career with 24 interceptions and 449 tackles.
51. Wes Welker
A. Messerschmidt/Getty Images
One of the few diamonds in the rough the Dolphins discovered during the 2000s came in the 5'9" frame of Wes Welker. The San Diego Chargers signed Welker as an undrafted free agent in 2004, but cut him soon there after, allowing Miami to sign him.
Welker immediately became the Dolphins return man, and he immediately became a touchdown threat every time he returned a kick. Eventually, Welker earned a role in the Dolphins passing game, and became a fan favorite for his fearlessness and 100 percent effort.
Prior to the 2007 season, the Patriots sent a second round draft pick to Miami in exchange for Welker. At the time, Welker had caught only 96 passes and one touchdown over his three years with the Dolphins, but his toughness and reliability made the move an upsetting one for fans.
50. Jeff Cross
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Much of Don Shula's success as a coach stemmed from his extraordinary ability to find great players in the unlikeliest of places. Years after assembling almost an entire team of unknowns who brought him two Super Bowls, Shula began to conjure his magic up again in the 1980s.
In the ninth round of the 1988 NFL Draft, Shula selected Missouri defensive end Jeff Cross, who became a symbol of consistency for the Dolphins over his eight year career.
He retired in 1995 with 59.5 sacks and 365 tackles in just seven years as a starter. Cross earned a Pro Bowl bid in 1990.
49. Tony Nathan
George Rose/Getty Images
Much like Dolphin legend Jim Kiick, Tony Nathan never achieved sole possession of Miami's primary workload. Instead, Nathan, like Kiick, found a niche as a change of pace back whose soft hands granted him an extended role with the team.
Nathan compiled 383 receptions during his 10-year career, totaling 3,592 yards receiving. He also rushed for 3,543 yards.
Nathan earned a First Team All-Pro bid during his 1979 rookie season, and started for the Dolphins in both of their 1980s Super Bowl appearances.
48. Trace Armstrong
Like so many other Dolphins on the list, Trace Armstrong enjoyed a storied career at the University of Florida, and eventually brought his services down to Miami.
Armstrong spent the first six years of his career with the Chicago Bears, but came to Miami prior to the 1995 season. He spent six seasons with the Dolphins, and although injuries cut a few of those seasons short, his presence was felt. Literally by opposing quarterbacks.
Armstrong accumulated 56.5 sacks as a Dolphin, including a 16.5 sack campaign in 2000, granting him his sole Pro Bowl bid. Alongside Jason Taylor, Armstrong played on some of the best defenses in team history.
47. Norm Evans
Virtually every great team has a great player protecting its quarterback's blindside, and the 1970s Dolphins are no exception.
With Norm Evans locking down the left edge of Miami's line for ten seasons, Bob Griese and Earl Morrall were able to thrive on their way to a '72 perfect season and a repeat championship in '73. Evans sparsely missed a game, and was instrumental in Miami's unstoppable rushing attack.
46. Chad Pennington
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
A castoff from the New York Jets, Pennington had to fight to earn the respect of Dolfans, many of whom were reluctant to embrace the oft-injured quarterback.
Although he started only one whole season for the Dolphins, Pennington led the biggest turnaround in NFL history, resurrecting the Dolphins from an NFL worst 1-15 record to an AFC East best 11-5.
Pennington quietly posted a remarkable statistical season as well. He may have only tossed 19 touchdowns, but Pennington threw only seven interceptions, and totaled 3,653 passing yards.
45. Joey Porter
Jim Rogash/Getty Images
Looking to provide an emotional and physical spark to his new team, recently hired head coach Cam Cameron and then-G.M. Randy Mueller signed Joey Porter to a massive five-year contract. Porter, however, was a monumental bust during his first year in Miami.
But with the departure of Cameron and Mueller came the real arrival of Joey Porter. In the midst of the Dolphins' epic turnaround, Porter had 17.5 sacks, earning a Pro Bowl selection. Porter was the emotional heartbeat of that team, and he quickly became a fan favorite and one of the faces of the franchise.
In 2009, age or a lack of desire caught up to Porter and his production cut in half. He totaled only nine sacks and appeared to have simply quit on the team. He was let go prior to the 2010 season.
44. Chris Chambers
Rick Stewart/Getty Images
Chris Chambers, like many Dolphins receivers of the 2000s, was hampered by the constant rotation of quarterbacks in and out of Miami.
Chambers, however, seemed to be a rare exception to the trend. Although he clearly struggled formulating chemistry with so many different quarterbacks, he still produced at a Pro Bowl level, and by the latter part of his Dolphins career, seemed to have grown accustom to new quarterbacks.
At only 5'11", Chambers did not tower over many, but he still played like he was 6'4". His best year with the Dolphins came in 2005 when he caught 82 passes for 1,118 yards and 11 touchdowns, securing a Pro Bowl selection in the process.
43. Tim Ruddy
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
Tim Ruddy was to Dan Marino what Jeff Saturday is to Peyton Manning. Ruddy was a rock along the Dolphins offensive line for ten seasons, most of which came with Marino under center.
Ruddy was a gritty and incredibly gifted player. After playing a reserve role his rookie season, Ruddy went on to play 156 games until his 2003 retirement, missing only four games along the way.
42. David Woodley
The 1982 strike-shortened season allowed Dolphins quarterback David Woodley to shine in his finest hour. Woodley led the Dolphins all the way to Super Bowl XVII against the Redskins, but he flopped under pressure, leaving Miami on the losing end of the game.
Still, a Super Bowl appearance is more than most Dolphins quarterbacks can put on their resumes. Woodley, while rotating with Don Strock, bridged the gap from Bob Griese's retirement in 1980 to Dan Marino's arrival in 1983.
Woodley is arguably the most versatile quarterback in Dolphins history, and his 27-12 record as a starter speaks for itself.
41. Kim Bokamper
The Dolphins selected San Jose State linebacker and defensive end Kim Bokamper with the 19th overall pick in the 1976 NFL Draft. Bokamper started right away, and became a leader of Miami's "Killer B's" defenses of the 1980s.
Although Bokamper is rarely heralded as a star, he served the Dolphins admirably for the entirety of his nine year career, making starts in both Super Bowl XVII and XIX. He also earned a Pro Bowl selection in 1979.
Bokamper's legacy has been extended by his presence with the Dolphins as a radio and television personality.
40. Troy Vincent
Scott Halleran/Getty Images
Having traded 1991 first round draft pick Randal Hill to the Phoenix Cardinals for the seventh overall pick in the 1992 NFL Draft, the Dolphins had an opportunity to draft University of Wisconsin standout cornerback Troy Vincent.
Vincent started right away, intercepting a combined four passes during his two seasons, and then 10 during his next and final two with the Dolphins. He left Miami for Philadelphia after 1995, and proceeded to become an elite cornerback. With the Eagles, Vincent appeared in five Pro Bowls and one First Team All-Pro roster.
39. Ronnie Brown
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
He has played only one full season and eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing just once, but Ronnie Brown's prowess as a Dolphin is still impressive enough to place amongst the team's all time best.
In the wake of Ricky Williams' 2004 retirement, the Dolphins used the second overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft on Auburn running back Ronnie Brown. Despite never having carried a full workload in college, Miami put their faith in Brown to become the team's sole runner.
Brown has struggled mightily with durability issues throughout his career, but has grown into the face of the franchise since his arrival. He will always be remembered for reviving the Wildcat in 2008, the only season he was voted into a Pro Bowl.
38. Olindo Mare
Donald Miralle/Getty Images
Trivia: Who holds the Dolphins record for most career points scored? (Hint: It's not Dan Marino)
It's Olindo Mare.
It took the undrafted free agent just 10 years to rack up 1,048 points with the Dolphins, earning Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro selections in 1999. Over the vast majority of that span, Mare was incredibly reliable both from long range and in the clutch.
Mare's longevity with team eventually made him a fan favorite. However, after leading the league with a 90.5 percent field goal percentage in 2001, Mare's production began to steadily slip, and he was let go after the 2006 season.
37. Keith Jackson
Mike Powell/Getty Images
In an attempt to upgrade their tight end corps from Ferrell Edmunds, the Dolphins brought in three-time Pro Bowler and three-time First Team All-Pro Keith Jackson.
Jackson had already established himself as a stud during his first four years with the Philadelphia Eagles, and he brought that great production with him to Miami. He was with the team from 1992 to 1994, compiling 146 receptions for 1,880 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Jackson was voted into the Pro Bowl as a Dolphin in 1992, and might be the best tight end in team history.
36. Keith Sims
Throughout the duration of Dan Marino's Hall of Fame career, the Dolphins were forever trying to protect his safety at all costs.
One of the team's most sound investments came in the form of Iowa State guard Keith Sims. Miami selected the 6'3", 318 pound giant in the second round of the 1990 NFL Draft, and immediately plugged him into the starting lineup.
Sims was voted into three consecutive Pro Bowls spanning from 1993 to 1995.
35. Doug Betters
Six years into a mediocre career with the Dolphins, something clicked in Doug Betters. In 1983, Betters became a leader of the Killer B's defense, racking up 16 sacks, earning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro honors in the process.
Betters had another stellar year in 1984, posting 14 sacks.
34. Brock Marion
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
After winning a Super Bowl with the 1995 Dallas Cowboys, Brock Marion came to Miami in 1998 as the safety blanket to Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain.
Marion arrived in Miami the same year as Patrick Surtain, allowing the duo to team up and grow with corner Sam Madison to create arguably the league's best secondary from 1998 until Marion's departure in 2003.
Marion intercepted 20 passes during his five year stay in Miami. He also racked up 372 tackles and made three Pro Bowls rosters, enough to mark his legacy as one of the best safeties in team history.
33. Earl Morrall
By the time Earl Morrall landed in Miami, the quarterback had already played for five different teams over a 17-year span.
So, naturally, when Don Shula took the Dolphins job and began searching for a backup to Bob Griese, the savvy veteran Morrall made for an obvious choice. Despite Morrall's wild success filling in for an injured Johnny Unitas in Baltimore, Shula claimed his former quarterback off waivers for just $100. It was the best $100 the team ever spent.
During the Dolphins' 1972 perfect season, Earl Morrall filled in for an injured Bob Griese, going 9-0 in the process. His unlikely success is often overlooked, but without him, the perfect season may have escaped Miami's grasp.
32. Reggie Roby
If the NFL Hall of Fame voters ever decides to begin voting kickers and punters into Canton, Reggie Roby will be on everybody's radar.
The Dolphins drafted the 6'3", 250 pound Iowa Hawkeye punter with their 1983 sixth round pick. Roby used his mammoth size to send booming kicks, booting a career-long 77 yarder in 1987.
For his Dolphins career, Roby averaged 43.3 yards per punt, and went onto to earn three Pro Bowl and two First Team All-Pro selections. Roby was also named to the NFL 1980s All Decade Team.
Roby passed away in 2005.
31. Garo Yepremian
Truly one of a kind. Garo Yepremian is arguably the goofiest player in NFL history, and after he completely and famously botched the Dolphins Super Bowl VII shutout, his legacy as so was cemented.
Yepremian may be most famous for that debacle of a play, but he still had a stellar career with the Dolphins. Upon joining Miami in 1971, Yepremian quickly became one of the league's best kickers, nothing a First Team All-Pro selection that season.
Yepremian went on to play in two Pro Bowls and earn another First Team All-Pro selection during his eight years in Miami. Most notably and impressively, Yepremian was named to the NFL 1970s All Decade Team and won Pro Bowl MVP honors in 1974. He finished his career as the leading points scorer and team history, and his record was broken by Olindo Mare almost 30 years later.
30. Tim Bowens
Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
After finishing the 1993 season with a mediocre 14th ranked rushing defense, the Dolphins looked to the draft to shore up their defensive line. With the 20th overall pick, Miami selected Ole Miss defensive tackle Tim Bowens, who would soon prove to be the solution to all of their problems.
Bowens started all but one game for the team during his rookie season in 1994, and was named Defensive Rookie of the Year.
He became a cornerstone in the Dolphins defense, missing only six starts from 1994 to 2003. Bowens earned Pro Bowl bids in 1998 and 2004, and was the unsung hero of defenses featuring Jason Taylor, Zach Thomas, Sam Madison and other Dolphin greats.
29. Ricky Williams
Say what you want about Ricky Williams. His healthy appetite for marijuana, his odd and reclusive lifestyle and his abrupt retirement from football in 2004 made him a punching bag for jokesters around the league for years, but once he returned with a vengeance in 2008, everybody was reminded of just how dominant he once was.
The Dolphins shipped off two first-round draft picks to New Orleans in exchange for Williams, who quickly found Hall of Fame-esque success with the Dolphins. In his first two seasons with the 'Fins, Ricky rushed for a combined 3,225 yards and 25 touchdowns. However, the scary part, and a possible reason for his early retirement: 774 combined carries over two years.
Then-head coach Dave Wanndstedt literally relied on Williams to be his entire offense, but it proved to be overwhelming for the former Heisman Trophy winner.
Williams returned to the team in 2007, but suffered a season ending shoulder injury in his first game back. Finally, in 2008, Williams teamed up with Ronnie Brown and returned to form. In 2009, Ricky took over for an injured Brown, rushing for 1,121 yards and 11 touchdowns.
He has a troubled past, but Ricky Williams may have actually given years off his life for the Miami Dolphins.
28. O.J. McDuffie
Tom Hauck/Getty Images
The Miami Dolphins have spent four first round draft picks on wide receivers throughout the duration of their existence. All have been horrible (See: Hill, Randal / Green, Yatil / Ginn, Jr., Ted). Except for one. O.J. McDuffie.
Miami selected him with the 25th overall pick in the 1993 NFL Draft, and after two mediocre seasons, McDuffie caught a combined 16 touchdowns from 1995 to 1996. He amassed 29 for his career, racking up 415 receptions for 5,074 yards in the process.
Dan Marino favored McDuffie during his eight seasons in the league, but injuries for the receiver to retire in 2000.
27. Bryan Cox
Al Bello/Getty Images
Bryan Cox's outspoken and zany attitude led him to become a journeyman during his NFL career. But before Cox began swapping jerseys so often, he was a sack and tackle machine for the Dolphins.
Miami drafted him in the fifth round of the 1991 NFL Draft, placing him in the starting lineup immediately. Cox had a lackluster rookie campaign, but he burst onto the national scene in 1992 with 14 sacks and 127 tackles, good enough for a Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro bid.
He went onto to enjoy three more very fruitful years with the 'Fins (two of which were Pro Bowl seasons), but Cox bolted for Chicago after the 1995 season. For some reason, his production plummeted after he left Miami, and Cox never again amassed more than 70 tackles.
26. Ed Newman
Ed Newman was one year late to the Dolphins' perfect season party, drafted in the sixth round of the 1973 NFL Draft. Newman was on board to celebrate the team's second championship in '73, but he was hardly a role player.
It was not until 1979 that Newman became a regular starting guard along the Dolphins offensive line, and it was not until 1981 that he hit his stride as a player. Starting in '81, Newman began a streak of four consecutive Pro Bowl appearances while blocking for Dan Marino. He was also named to the the 1984 First Team All-Pro roster, his final season in the NFL.
25. Mercury Morris
No member of the Miami Dolphins undefeated 1972 championship team has taken so much public pride in his team's unmatched success. Morris, as most of you probably remember, made several public appearances bashing the Patriots during their 2007 run at perfection, making something of a fool of himself in the process.
Set aside his boasting, Morris was the Dolphins' primary running back for their Super Bowl victories, dethroning incumbent starter Jim Kiick prior to the 1972 season. Although Shula's decision to name Morris the starter angered Kiick, it payed dividends on the field.
Morris rushed for 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns in 1972, and earned a spot on three consecutive Pro Bowl rosters starting in 1971.
24. John Offerdahl
Perhaps known today more for his south Florida restaurant chain (I love their sandwiches) than his playing days with the Dolphins, John Offerdahl's name is recognized for one reason or another in the Miami-area.
Offerdahl was selected by the Dolphins in the second round of the 1986 Draft, and he wasted no time in making his presence felt.
The linebacker was voted into five straight Pro Bowls staring with his rookie season in '86, and earned a First Team All-Pro selection in 1990.
23. Manny Fernandez
Manny Fernandez was one of the many rag-tag, blue collared players on the Miami Dolphins 1970s championship teams, but his play was nothing short of elite.
Fernandez clogged up space as the Dolphins starting nose tackle from 1968 to 1974, but his athleticism and nose for the ball carrier made him such a deadly player. His most memorable performance came during Super Bowl VII, when he racked up 17 tackles and a sack. Jake Scott was given MVP honors for the game, but many believe Fernandez deserved the nod instead.
Fernandez was never elected into a Pro Bowl or a First Team All-Pro team, but clearly, he deserved more praise than he received.
22. Bill Stanfill
With the 11th overall pick in the 1969 AFL-NFL Common Draft, the Miami Dolphins selected University of Georgia standout, Bill Stanfill.
Stanfill quickly molded into a standout defensive end in the NFL as well, earning an AFL All-Star Game selection in his 1969 rookie season. Playing alongside Vern Den Herder in the Dolphins No Name Defense, Stanfill went on to earn four more Pro Bowl selections, including a First Team All-Pro nod in 1972.
21. Patrick Surtain
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
One year after selecting cornerback Sam Madison with the 44th overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft, the Dolphins selected another cornerback with the 44th overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft: Patrick Surtain.
Surtain became half of one of the best cornerback tandems in the NFL from the late 1990s into the early 2000s. The former Southern Mississippi Golden Eagle notched three Pro Bowl and one First Team All-Pro bid during his days in Miami.
After his third Pro Bowl appearance in 2004, Surtain left Miami for Kansas City, where he failed to replicate the dominant play he possessed in a Dolphin uniform.
20. Sam Madison
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Teaming up with Patrick Surtain for the better part of his 12-year career, Sam Madison became one of the NFL's most efficient lockdown cornerbacks. In his prime, Madison was arguably the league's best cornerback, playing his way onto four Pro Bowl and two First Team All-Pro rosters from 1999 to 2002.
Madison ended his Dolphins career with 31 interceptions, placing him third in team history behind Dick Anderson and Jake Scott. Although he teamed with Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor to anchor some of the league's best defenses from the late 90s to the early 2000s, mediocre offenses denied him a chance at a Super Bowl rings.
However, Madison won a Super Bowl with the New York Giants in 2007.
19. Bob Baumhower
From 1977 to 1986, Miami Dolphins nose tackle Bob Baumhower wreaked havoc on opposing offenses. Baumhower used his 6'5" frame to smash through offensive lines, consequently allowing the likes of Kim Bokamper and A.J. Duhe to thrive around him.
Baumhower was selected to five Pro Bowls during his nine-year career, and started for the Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX. In 2006, the team enshrined him into the Ring of Honor.
18. Nat Moore
His records may have become overshadowed and surpassed through the years, but when Nat Moore retired in 1986, he was arguably the best in Dolphins history.
Miami selected the Florida Gator with their third round pick in 1974, and he progressed rapidly, earning his first and only Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro bids in 1977.
Moore's consistency year in and year out made him such a special player. He was blessed with two Hall of Fame quarterbacks in Bob Griese and Dan Marino. Moore did not produce enough to earn a spot in Canton, but he was inducted into the Dolphins Ring of Honor.
17. Jim Kiick
Drafted in the fifth round of the 1968 AFL Draft (two rounds after Dick Anderson), University of Wyoming running back Jim Kiick quickly found his niche with the Miami Dolphins. Kiick established himself as a bruising runner, but he also possessed unique abilities as a receiver which eventually preserved his role on the team.
He earned back to back AFL All-Star Game selections in 1968 and 1969, but once Don Shula took over the Dolphins, things got rocky.
Kiick remained an integral part of the offense, but once Mercury Morris dethroned him of the starting running back job in 1972, Kiick became disgruntled. His great hands and goal-line prowess kept him on the field often, but after the 1974 season, Kiick, along with Csonka, bolted for the World Football League.
Still, Kiick was a special player who helped guide both Super Bowl teams to victories. He scored the go-ahead touchdown against the Redskins in Super Bowl VII.
16. Mark Duper
Rick Stewart/Getty Images
Before Chad Johnson legally changed his name to Chad Ochocinco, Miami Dolphins receiver Mark Duper legally changed his name to Make Super Duper. Chad is not as original as you think he is.
Duper teamed up with fellow wide receiver Mark Clayton to assemble the "Marks Brothers." Clayton may have ultimately earned more accolades, but Duper posted a stupendous career.
He earned three Pro Bowl and two First Team All-Pro selections. Duper peaked in 1986, catching 11 touchdown passes, and eventually finished his Dolphins career with 59.
15. Richmond Webb
Rick Stewart/Getty Images
Rather than literally take out an insurance policy on Dan Marino, the Dolphins decided to do the next best thing in the 1990 NFL Draft: draft offensive tackle Richmond Webb.
Webb came in at a monstrous 6'6", 325 pounds, and he put his build to good use. He served as Dan Marino's personal body guard for the duration of his 11-year career, making 118 consecutive starts in the trenches for Miami.
Webb was voted into seven consecutive Pro Bowls, five First Team All-Pro rosters and the NFL 1990s All Decade Team. In 2006, the Dolphins enshrined Webb into the Ring of Honor.
14. Dick Anderson
Next to Bob Griese, Dick Anderson is one of the few members of the early 1970s Dolphins who was actually highly touted coming out of college.
Miami selected Anderson in the third round of the 1968 AFL Draft, and the rookie did not disappoint. He intercepted eight passes as a rookie with the Dolphins in 1968 and started off on a storied career that would bring him two Super Bowl rings, three Pro Bowl appearances and two First-Team All-Pro honors.
Anderson was also named AFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1968, earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1973 after intercepting a league-high eight passes and was even elected to the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team.
Anderson was an integral leader of the "No Name" defense that brought the Dolphins a perfect season and two Super Bowl rings. The team has honored him thoroughly, making Anderson the first defensive back on the Ring of Honor.
13. Jake Scott
Before Dan Marino sent the No. 13 into immorality, Jake Scott made a strong case to have it retired in his honor.
The Dolphins selected Scott in the seventh round of the 1970 NFL Draft. The former Georgia Bulldog and BC Lion started immediately, intercepting five passes his rookie season before earning league-wide recognition in 1971. From 1971 to 1975, Scott made five consecutive Pro Bowl appearances and earned a spot on the 1973 and 1974 All-Pro First-Team rosters, as well as the 1972 and 1975 All-Pro Second Team.
Scott's biggest feat came in 1972 when he was named Super Bowl MVP in the Dolphins' perfect-season-capping win over the Washington Redskins. He intercepted two passes.
Perhaps one of the biggest Hall of Fame snubs of all time, Scott may have to wait for the Senior Committee to vote him into Canton. He still holds the Dolphins' career interception record with 35, and combining that with his infinite list of accomplishments makes him the best defensive back in Miami Dolphins' history.
12. Jim Langer
Jim Langer
Jim Langer was just one of the many castoffs Don Shula ingeniously scavenged prior to the Dolphins early 1970s dominance.
Langer was cut by the Cleveland Browns (the same team who would trade Paul Warfield to the Dolphins) in 1970, but quickly found his way onto Miami's roster, eventually earning a starting job in 1972.
Paving the way for Csonka, Kiick and Morris, Langer earned six consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 1973 to 1978. He was also selected four First Team All-Pro rosters, three of which came consecutively from 1973 to 1975.
Langer was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1987, polishing off one of the most decorated careers in Miami franchise history.
11. Nick Buoniconti
New England Patriots fans might remember Nick Buoniconti for his domineering days with the Boston Patriots in the 1960s, but Miami Dolphins fans remember him for anchoring the No Name Defense of the 1970s.
Buoniconti is the only member of the No Name Defense to be enshrined into the NFL Hall of Fame. The undersized linebacker was elected to six AFL All-Star games, two Pro Bowls and five First Team All-Pro rosters. In 1973, Buoniconti recorded an unofficial 162 tackles.
10. Zach Thomas
Because he retired just this summer, Zach Thomas' legacy with the Dolphins is far from cemented. Canton probably won't carve a bust for him, but Thomas' longevity, impact and production with the Dolphins is almost unparalleled.
Thomas was a diamond in the rough, selected in the fifth round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He wasted no time in establishing his dominance in the pro ranks, racking up a career high 120 tackles in his first NFL season. The undersized linebacker went on to earn five First Team All-Pro selections, two Second Team All-Pro selections, seven Pro Bowl selections and a spot on the NFL 2000s All Decade Team. His record 1,041 career tackles with the team will remain intact for a very, very long time.
Thomas is truly everything a franchise desires from a player. He was an absolute class act and will always be remembered as so.
9. Bob Kuechenberg
Like so many of his 1970s Dolphins teammates, Bob Kuechenberg came out of nowhere. Literally.
One year after the Philadelphia Eagles drafted the offensive lineman with their 1969 fourth round pick, Kuechenberg quit. He proceeded to play one season in the semi-pro Continental Football League, whose games were played in empty stadiums.
Don Shula scooped Kuechenberg up as a free agent in 1970, and the rest is history. Kuechenberg earned six Pro Bowl and one First Team All-Pro selections in his 14-year career, spent entirely with the Dolphins.
8. Mark Clayton
Mark Clayton
What is Dan Marino without Mark Clayton, and what is Mark Clayton without Dan Marino?
Luckily, we never have to answer these challenging questions because Clayton and Marino teamed up for almost an entire decade, stretching from 1983 to 1992. Little did the Dolphins know that the player they selected seven rounds after their future Hall of Fame quarterback would become a five-time Pro Bowler.
Clayton formed the other half of the "Marks Brothers," alongside Mark Duper. Clayton caught 81 touchdown passes in his Dolphins career, the most in team history.
7. Bob Griese
Bob Griese
Bob Griese may have been sidelined for a majority of the Dolphins' perfect 1972 season, but that should not diminish his outstanding legacy.
Griese was the first piece to the puzzle Don Shula had to solve in order to propel Miami from laughing stock to contender. Fortunately for Shula, Griese had already been around for three years prior to his arrival, making the transition run exponentially smoother.
Griese is arguably the most decorated player in Dolphins history. He has two Super Bowl rings, six Pro Bowl selections, two AFL All-Star selections, two First Team All-Pro selections and a spot in the NFL Hall of Fame to his name. The Dolphins also retired his No. 12.
6. Larry Little
Larry Little
Don Shula's scouting prowess peaked with his acquisition of San Diego Chargers backup offensive guard Larry Little. Upon his arrival in 1969, Little literally became a cornerstone for the Dolphins, missing only six starts out of 159 games.
Little paved the way for Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick and Mercury Morris to thrive as a trio during the Dolphins Super Bowl runs, and his play did not go unnoticed.
He earned five Pro Bowl selections, one AFL All-Star selection, a spot on the NFL 1970s All Decade Team and a Hall of Fame induction in 1993.
5. Dwight Stephenson
Dwight Stephenson
University of Alabama legend Paul 'Bear' Bryant called Dwight Stephenson the greatest football player that he ever coached. That is all you really need to know about Dwight Stephenson.
After earning the starting center job in 1982, Stephenson anchored every Miami Dolphins offensive line until his retirement after the 1987 season. During that span, Stephenson earned five Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro bids, and later a spot on the NFL 1980s All Decade Team.
Offensive linemen seldom earn the respect they deserve, but Stephenson earned his upon his induction into the Hall of Fame in 1998.
4. Jason Taylor
Jason Taylor
Yes, everybody is really pissed at Jason Taylor right now, but once he sends in his retirement papers and throws out that horrid green and white jersey, he will be welcome back in Miami with open arms.
Taylor led some of the greatest defenses in both Dolphins and NFL history with his unique blend of power, technique and speed that allowed him to terrorize quarterbacks for 12 years. He was the heart and soul of countless Miami Dolphin teams, so often restricted by poor coaching and limited offenses.
J.T.'s 124 career sacks not only gives him the most in Dolphins history, but it doubles Jeff Cross' second-place 59 sacks. Taylor is a mortal lock for the Hall of Fame, and the Dolphins Ring of Honor.
3. Paul Warfield
Paul Warfield
Lacking the speedy wide receiver the Dolphins would need in order to reach a Super Bowl, Don Shula shipped a draft pick to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for Pro Bowler Paul Warfield.
It was a match made in Heaven.
Warfield exploded into stardom upon his arrival in Miami, earning Pro Bowl selections from 1970 to 1974, including First Team All-Pro selections in '71 and '73. The Dolphins may have relied heavily on Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick and Mercury Morris to drive their offense, but without Warfield, those three would never have enjoyed such grand success.
Warfield was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1983.
2. Larry Csonka
Larry Csonka
Larry Csonka defined an era of Dolphins football. Many may have scoffed at the upstart team's tropical colors, but Csonka led a roster of brute men to glory in the 1970s.
The Dolphins selected Csonka out of Syracuse with the eighth overall pick in the 1968 Draft, and the rookie quickly showed that there was no learning curve necessary. After posting two solid years to kickoff his career, Csonka was elected into five straight Pro Bowls from 1970 to 1974, also earning two First Team All-Pro selections.
Csonka left Miami after the 1974 season for the World Football League, which soon folded. He returned to the NFL in New York Giants blue, until returning to the Dolphins in 1979 for his final NFL season.
He still holds virtually every Dolphins rushing record.
1. Dan Marino
Dan Marino
As if you did not know this was coming.
Few players have held such profound effects on an organization. Not only was Marino the team's most valuable asset for the duration of his 14-year career, but his shadow has loomed over the franchise since.
Although he never captured that coveted Super Bowl ring, Marino is arguably the greatest quarterback of all time. He was voted into nine Pro Bowls and onto three First Team All-Pro rosters, retiring with all-time records in touchdowns, most passing yards in a season, most games with four or more touchdown passes and the first-ever 5,000 passing yard season.
He was plagued by inefficient defenses, lethargic offenses and misguided coaching at separate points in his career, but that did not stop Marino from cruising to an immortal position as the greatest player in Miami Dolphins history.
Source: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/492349-the-100-greatest-players-in-miami-dolphins-history
0 Response to "Maiami Dolphins Player With Funny Name"
Post a Comment