Who are the top 10 Dolphins of All-Time??
4- It is perhaps fitting that two wide receivers named Mark who were contemporaries, would co-share the number 4th spot on my list. The Marks Brothers as they were often referred to, were instrumental in new comer QB Dan Marino’s quick rise to fame as an all-time great.
3- What can you say about him? He only made it to one Super Bowl and lost and in his long illustrious career, would never go back to another, but that should not define he who re-wrote and redefined the the position of quarterback as the classic pocket passer. The quick release, his ability to fool defenders and keeping them off balance, while at times during his career, lacking protection up front. Someone of incredible football intellect and vision, arm strength and accuracy. Super Bowl or not, play offs or not, this football player managed to galvanize and expand an entire fan base beyond the natural borders drawn by American football’s natural audience. The town, then fans no longer care about how far we went, because we cheered for him and he was electrifying… he was quarterback Dan Marino.
2-The coach. You might’ve read my complaints on previous posts, about coaches and coordinators of today. They have a system, they implement it, and care not for the existing roster. We see it all the time, when coordinators will try to make bulky power pro-style players, fit into a more athletically demanding zone blocking or 4-3 schemes. Not the coach, he went from the power ground and pound of the perfect team into the Marino led finesse style offense of the 80’s, without making excuses and just adapting to what he had until he could draft the type of players he knew he needed like Keith Simms and Richmond Webb while still consistently putting a team on the field that was either a playoff contender or finished the season with a winning record. He is the man behind the jaw, the architect of perfection, the Don himself… Coach Shula.
1-Why him? He was the Miami Dolphins. The team has never again enjoyed the success it once did after his passing. He is the reason there even was a team called the Dolphins and that they played in Miami past their second inaugural season. He is the reason there was a Don Shula coaching in Miami and all the glory that followed. There was no stadium controversy or referendums needed. When a new stadium was needed, he built a new stadium himself. He was Joe Robbie.
