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Greatest Dolphins of All-Time, By The Numbers: 11-20

It's time to continue on with our look at the greatest Dolphins of all-time.  But rather than just making a list, I'm going through every jersey number and picking out the greatest Dolphins of all-time to ever wear each number.

Part one of this exercise can be found by clicking here.  My picks for numbers 11 through 20 are below.  Read through them and then share your thoughts.

Number 11 - Jim Jensen, WR, 1981-1992
"Crash" was always a fan favorite.  And for good reason - he was a "jack of all trades."  He could play quarterback, running back, receiver, and cover kicks and punts.  The 1988 season was Jensen's best season - catching 58 passes for 652 yards and 5 touchdowns.  He may have never been a Pro-Bowler and wasn't ever the team's leading receiver or anything.  But he made plays when they had to be made - whether it was converting a key 3rd down by catching a pass or making a critical tackle on special teams.  His "all-out" style attracted Jensen thousands of fans and he'll forever be remembered as a legend in the eyes of Dolphin fans everywhere.
Other Candidates: Damon Huard, Gus Frerotte

Number 12 - Bob Griese, QB, 1967-1980
Considering he's the only player to ever wear the number 12 for the Dolphins, I'd say this one was easy.  Griese is an 8 time Pro-Bowler and 2 time first-team All-Pro.  He won 92 regular season games as a starting quarterback for the Dolphins.  He led the Dolphins to two Super Bowl wins and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990.  To be honest, there's no reason to go into further detail here, is there?  He's simply a Dolphin legend.
Other Candidates: None

Number 13 - Dan Marino, QB, 1983-1999
Hmmm...where do I start?  How's this - Dan Marino is the greatest player to ever put on a Dolphins' uniform.  Marino was a 9 time Pro-Bowler and 3 time first-team All-Pro.  He was the 1984 NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year.  That year, Dan threw for an NFL record 5,084 yards and a then-record 48 touchdown passes - shattering the previous record.  Marino was also named the 1994 Comeback Player of the Year and the 1998 Walter Payton Man of the Year and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005.  Currently, Dan ranks second all-time in career touchdown passes, completions, and yards.
Other Candidates: Jake Scott

Number 14 - Brian Griese, QB, 2003
When you have two Hall of Fame quarterbacks as part of your franchise, a lot of these QB numbers have few options to choose from.  This is a perfect example.  But since Griese went 3-2 as a starter for the Dolphins in his one year here, he'll get the nod for the number 14.  He completed only 57% of his passes and threw for just 813 yards.  But he did throw five touchdowns.  Griese's best game came in his first start as a Dolphin, completing 20 of 29 passes and throwing for three touchdowns in a win over the Chargers in San Diego.
Other Candidates: Scott Zolak, Doug Pederson

Number 15 - Earl Morrall, QB, 1972-1976
Morrall only started 12 games as a Dolphin, winning 11 of them.  But he filled in for the injured Bob Griese in 1972 and won nine regular season games and two playoff games for the Dolphins.  While the Dolphins didn't win because of Morrall, he still was an effective game manager.  That year, Morrall threw 11 touchdowns and 7 interceptions en route to winning the Comeback Player of the Year Award and being named first-team All-Pro.  The truth is, even being towards the end of his career when he came to Miami, Morrall was a major part of that perfect season.  Who knows how '72 would have turned out if Earl wasn't the team's backup behind Griese.
Other Candidates: Davone Bess

Star-divide

Number 16 - David Woodley, QB, 1980-1983
Woodley wasn't a great quarterback by any stretch of the imagination.  But he still won games during his four years in Miami, compiling a 27-12-1 record as a starter.  And he quarterbacked the Dolphins to Super Bowl XVII - which definitely means something.  But Woodley never had a completion percentage over 55% and never had a season where he threw more touchdowns than interceptions.  And sadly, Woodley will probably be remembered more for his post-football tragedy - drinking heavily, undergoing a liver transplant, and then dying from complications stemming from kidney and liver failure in 2003.
Other Candidates: Archie Roberts

Number 17 - John Kidd, P, 1994-1997
There really wasn't much to choose from with this number.  But I went with the punter because Kidd, in 1996, averaged 46.3 yards per punt - which led the NFL.  The other guy to consider here was Cleo Lemon, who went 1-7 as a starting quarterback in Miami and never led the NFL in anything.  Kidd's 44.2 yard-per-punt average as a Dolphin is also a very respectable number.  There's nothing respectable at all about Lemon.
Other Candidates: Cleo Lemon, Steve DeBerg

Number 18 - Sage Rosenfels, QB, 2002-2005
While Rosenfels never won a game as a starter in Miami (0-2), he did come in and lead the Dolphins all the way back from a 23-3 fourth quarter deficit against the Bills in 2005 in one of the most memorable games in Dolphins history.  Rosenfels threw for 272 yards and 2 touchdowns that day in relief of Gus Frerotte.  Rosenfels also led another comeback two weeks later against the Jets, taking over at halftime for an injured Frerotte and leading two fourth quarter touchdown drives to give Miami a 24-20 win.
Other Candidates: Cliff Stoudt

Number 19 - Scott Mitchell, QB, 1994-1996
I fully expect this to become Ted Ginn's spot in a year or two.  But for now, Mitchell gets the honor.  The 1993 season was the only opportunity Mitchell got to start in Miami - replacing the injured Dan Marino.  That year, he went 3-4 as a starter, throwing for 1,773 yards and 12 touchdowns.  I will admit, though, that I was close to putting Bernie Kosar at this spot simply because he was the one who came up with the "fake spike" idea - according to legend.  But he was 0-2 as a starter down here and had more interceptions than touchdown passes.  So I just couldn't bring myself to give Bernie the nod.
Other Candidates: Ted Ginn, Bernie Kosar

Number 20 - Larry Seiple, TE/P, 1967-1977
David Overstreet was probably on his way towards locking up this spot before his tragic death in 1984.  So with nobody jumping out at me, I went with the first guy to wear the number as a Dolphin.  Seiple is an interesting guy.  Not only did he punt for 11 seasons in Miami - finishing in the top 10 in yards-per-punt four times - but he also caught 73 passes as a Dolphin as a tight end - highlighted by a 41 catch, 577 yard receiving season in 1969, catching 5 touchdown passes.  Not bad for a guy who also punted the ball 80 times that season - the highest figure in the AFL that year.  His versatility wins him this spot.  After all, how many punters in this league today could line up and also catch 40 passes in a season?
Other Candidates: Marc Logan, David Overstreet

0 recs  |  Comment 44 comments |

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Seiple - Best Play

Matti – this is an awesome series you are writing. As for Seiple, his most memorable play – the fake punt against Pittsburgh – think it was the ’72 AFC Championship Game when the Fins had to play on the road even though they had the undefeated record. What a run on 4th and long – think it was like 19 yards or something ridiculous.

I just googled a link- http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=3161854

by coloradokevin on Jun 16, 2009 1:07 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

one more point about that play – Seiple did that on his own – Shula did not call that.

by coloradokevin on Jun 16, 2009 1:12 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Come on!

Ginn should be there right now. In fact, no other player will ever wear the #19 again, I’ll guarantee it. ;)

I became a dolfan during the David Woodley years he’s always one of my favorite Dolphins. Jim Jensen was awesome too! I would get pumped up on 3rd down when Jensen was in there it seems like he made every play that he had a chance to make.

"If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, we did it. If anything goes really good you did it. That's all it takes to get people to win football games for you."

Coach Paul Bear Bryant

by AussieKen on Jun 16, 2009 1:29 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Imagine

what could have been with Marino having D. Overstreet for the remaining years of the 80s.

Miami Dolphins 2008 AFC East Divison Champions

by Phintastic on Jun 16, 2009 9:25 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Big Woodley fan here.

He was a good dual threat QB. Dolphins had great D when he played…and Andra Franklin at fullback leading team in rushing>

IAMLEGEND

by woomar on Jun 16, 2009 9:28 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

David Woodley?

Why? How? What for? He was here for only three years before we drafted a QB in the first round, cuz he was like a drag anchor for us, we might have won the SB if he wasn’t so bad 4 of 14, 1td, 1int, he never played a whole season, even though he didn’t have a lot of attempts he completed just over 50% of his passes, and only once in his short career did he throw more TDs than INTs in a season(8 to 7), and that was with P-burg, I was so happy when he started getting pulled for this QB we reached for at the end of the first round, turns out that was the best reach in the history of football:>)

by uncle finster on Jun 16, 2009 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hey Uncle Finster...

We lost the SuperBowl because of a couple reasons. The Redskins had this guy Joe Jacoby who our D line couldn’t handle. I think had 1 play really, it was called the “50 gut.” John Riggins and that O/line kicked the crap out of the Dolphins. Please don’t put that on David Woodley. They were moving in slow-motion and we couldn’t stop them at all.

"If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, we did it. If anything goes really good you did it. That's all it takes to get people to win football games for you."

Coach Paul Bear Bryant

by AussieKen on Jun 16, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

But we were winning the game at the time, and it was the 4th quarter

in spite of lousy play by Woodley!

And if the DB made the tackle we might have won, I think it was Judson, so don’t make it sound like we were blown off the field, our D was tired, and part of that reason was Woodley’s poor play, if memory serves he didn’t complete a pass after the first Quarter or early in the second quarter.

Besides I didn’t say we lost because of Woodley,

we might have won the SB if he wasn’t so bad 4 of 14
I said we might have won if he didn’t suck so bad, I don’t mind debating with you Ken, but your putting words in my mouth.

by uncle finster on Jun 16, 2009 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

No Uncle Finster,

I’m not putting any words in you mouth at all. Anyway….I’m just going by memory here and it was 26 years ago. We had our chances but I just remember John Riggins and that “50 gut” play. I think my point is why single one guy out and disparage him when there were so many reasons for the loss that all. Its kind of “un-cool.”

"If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, we did it. If anything goes really good you did it. That's all it takes to get people to win football games for you."

Coach Paul Bear Bryant

by AussieKen on Jun 16, 2009 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

How is it "un-cool" to say we MIGHT have won if our QB wasn't 4 for 14

and that maybe if he had completed a single pass in the second half of that game, it MIGHT have been different, how is it “disparaging” to point out facts? WTF are you talking about? It was 17 to 13 in the 4th quarter just before Riggo made that run and WE were winning.

by uncle finster on Jun 16, 2009 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Uncle Finster, your're getting out of control...

I’m not going to agrue about a football game 26 years old in any shape matter or form. I’m ejecting out of this conversation.

"If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, we did it. If anything goes really good you did it. That's all it takes to get people to win football games for you."

Coach Paul Bear Bryant

by AussieKen on Jun 16, 2009 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

You are a wild man. Nah, I’m just not here to argue like that. But, that’s when I knew I was a Dolphin fan because that run was heartbreaking.

"If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, we did it. If anything goes really good you did it. That's all it takes to get people to win football games for you."

Coach Paul Bear Bryant

by AussieKen on Jun 16, 2009 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

No hard feelings bro

its all in good fun, cuz my heart was broken right there just like yours, these are just words remember, and we can’t hear each others inflection, or read the other guy’s features, like I said earlier I don’t mind debating this stuff with you A Ken, and to me thats all this was:>)

Peace bro:>)

by uncle finster on Jun 16, 2009 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hey, I'll take a piece of that.... uh, oh, wait.... wrong blog!

30 "Phinsider Fued" Points..!!
"What's the point of getting in a sword fight with a guy you can run away from?" - Chris Doleman

by Alpha6 on Jun 17, 2009 12:00 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ah yes!! I loved Franklin

"If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, we did it. If anything goes really good you did it. That's all it takes to get people to win football games for you."

Coach Paul Bear Bryant

by AussieKen on Jun 16, 2009 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

this is the truest story ever written
The other guy to consider here was Cleo Lemon, who went 1-7 as a starting quarterback in Miami and never led the NFL in anything.

Can't stop to save my soul
I take the leash that's leading me
I'm bleeding me, whoa!

by Patssuck456 on Jun 16, 2009 10:28 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

LOL

the only problem I have with this list is that Lemon seems to be ranked over DeBerg, he started 4 games and was 2 and 2, he wasn’t great but he wasn’t a Lemon, LOL:>)

by uncle finster on Jun 16, 2009 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

He lead the League in sucking.

Just look at the money he mooched in jacksonville.

"HULU: An evil plot to destroy the world. Enjoy"

by TheTealDeal on Jun 18, 2009 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Great list Matty...

… brought about a lot of memories. There are some old players in this list.

Far and away the best blog because of you.

30 "Phinsider Fued" Points..!!
"What's the point of getting in a sword fight with a guy you can run away from?" - Chris Doleman

by Alpha6 on Jun 16, 2009 11:26 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Wow...

Lemon lost to a punter. Epic fail

by kazam92 on Jun 16, 2009 1:13 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

lmao

i thought 20 would atleast get a mention of john avery. He was fun to watch and although he may have been a ’bust" he put up good numbers for one year

Laces out!

-2008 AFC East Champions-
Suck it Pats, Bills and most of all... the god damn jets.

Supporter of the Bash Brothers- Wilson and Bell.

by BSerious72 on Jun 16, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Avery spent one year in Miami and averaged 3.5 ypc.

That’s not enough to get a mention over the guys that I listed above him.

The Phinsider: SBN's Miami Dolphins blog
36.5 "Phinsider Feud" points!!

by Matty I on Jun 16, 2009 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

This was fantastical

-"No excuses, No explanations"
-RIP John "Fumbles" Beck, you will be missed
-Dolphins Bubble > all other bubbles

by MiamihastheDolphins.... on Jun 16, 2009 4:09 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

i wonder who you going to pick for 99 and 54......hmmmmmmmm

-"No excuses, No explanations"
-RIP John "Fumbles" Beck, you will be missed
-Dolphins Bubble > all other bubbles

by MiamihastheDolphins.... on Jun 16, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

btw The Sun Sentinel did the same type of thing

and they chose Cleo Lemon as the best to don 17

-"No excuses, No explanations"
-RIP John "Fumbles" Beck, you will be missed
-Dolphins Bubble > all other bubbles

by MiamihastheDolphins.... on Jun 16, 2009 4:15 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

and Teddy for 19

-"No excuses, No explanations"
-RIP John "Fumbles" Beck, you will be missed
-Dolphins Bubble > all other bubbles

by MiamihastheDolphins.... on Jun 16, 2009 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

and why isn't Arturo Freeman not even mentioned for #20

i think he should be competing for the best…but u don’t even have him as a candidate

-"No excuses, No explanations"
-RIP John "Fumbles" Beck, you will be missed
-Dolphins Bubble > all other bubbles

by MiamihastheDolphins.... on Jun 16, 2009 4:18 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

#13

This is a nice trip down memory lane, but I do have one quibble:

I am in full agreement that in the end Dan Marino deserves the nod for #13, but I think you do all Dolphin fans a disservice by not mentioning that it’s a harder choice than one might first think. The fact that the other memorable player to wear #13 for the Dolphins was Jake Scott, who was a crucial member of the undefeated 1972 team (which happens to have been the greatest team that ever played the game), deserves, at the least, some note. This is particularly true since Scott was also the Super Bowl MVP for Super Bowl VII at the end of the undefeated season, with two interceptions in that game, along with 63 return yards. He also played in the Dolphins’ second Super Bowl victory the next year, where he recovered a fumble.

So by all means, your praise for Marino is well placed, but let’s not forget Scott; he deserves an honorable mention at the least.

by Old Dolphin Fan on Jun 16, 2009 8:57 PM EDT reply actions   1 recs

Fair point.

Of course, Manny Fernandez should have been the MVP of that game. He had like 15 tackles (or something ridiculous) and was the main reason the Skins couldn’t run the ball effectively.

The Phinsider: SBN's Miami Dolphins blog
36.5 "Phinsider Feud" points!!

by Matty I on Jun 16, 2009 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Your 100% right

he deserves a sentence at least, Matty is correct that it is a one horse race, but Jake Scott’s contributions to this team deserve some recognition. rec’d:>)

by uncle finster on Jun 16, 2009 9:38 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I want a recount

Marino for #13? Really?

I am glad to see Scott Mitchell still makes the list. I loved Scottie. He did great things for us once upon a time.

And, anything that can get Bernie Kosar a mention is awesome. Just think, he’s a QB who was actually SLOWER than Danny.

****Keeper of the Phinsider Goo Cannon****
Phinsider's 2008 Jake Long Rookie Blogger of the Year and Zach Thomas Leadership Award Winner
I have 19 Phinsider Feud Points
So, we now have Jason Taylor back for $1.1-1.5 million - AND we get Washindton's 6th round pick next year - AND we got Pat White with the Skins' pick this year? I LOVE THIS FRONT OFFICE!!!!!

by Mosul_DolFan on Jun 16, 2009 9:49 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

#11

Jim Del Gaizo

We're talkin' about PRACTICE....practice!

by hotrod43 on Jun 17, 2009 12:45 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

lol

what about him? he threw 9 passes as a Dolphin.

The Phinsider: SBN's Miami Dolphins blog
36.5 "Phinsider Feud" points!!

by Matty I on Jun 17, 2009 1:44 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

LOLOLOL!!

… was that in a game or just in practice..?

30 "Phinsider Fued" Points..!!
"What's the point of getting in a sword fight with a guy you can run away from?" - Chris Doleman

by Alpha6 on Jun 17, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

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