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
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