It's time to carry on with my quest to highlight the greatest Dolphins of all-time to wear each uniform number. You can see numbers 21-30 - as well as jump to the other numbers we've done so far - by clicking here.
Today we'll go through numbers 31 through 40. Check out my list below and then be sure to comment with your own lists.
Number 31 - Brock Marion, S, 1998-2003
I always felt like Marion was underrated by Dolphin fans during his six years in Miami. But he's a guy who averaged 88 tackles per season and intercepted 20 passes as a Dolphin - including a three year stretch that saw him intercept five passes per season. He's a 3 time Pro-Bowler in Miami as a safety and was a pretty good return man as well. He averaged 23.5 yards per return as a Dolphin - including a career-high 24.6 yard average in 1999 that ranked him in the top 10 in the league that year. Hopefully, though, rookie corner Sean Smith will take this spot away from Marion. But he'll have to be a very good player to do so.
Other Candidates: Norm Bulaich
Number 32 - Benny Malone, RB, 1974-1978
This is a number where no player stands about above the rest. But Malone gets the nod because he does have over 2100 yards rushing as a Dolphin in his five years in Miami. His best season was 1976 when he started 12 games and ran for 797 yards and 4 touchdowns. His 1977 season was also pretty decent - picking up 615 yards and 5 touchdowns despite starting only 8 games. And his 4.8 yards-per-carry average ranked Malone third in the league that year.
Other Candidates: Joe Auer, Tommy Vigorito
Number 33 - Karim Abdul-Jabbar, RB, 1996-1999
Abdul-Jabbar burst onto the scene as a 3rd round pick out of UCLA in 1996. That year, he set franchise rookie records for rushing yards in a season (1,116) and rushing touchdowns (11 - tied with Ron Davenport). His 152 yard performance that year against the Jets is the 2nd highest total by a rookie in a single game in team history. The '97 season saw his production drop off - except for his league-leading 15 rushing touchdowns. Karim's 33 career rushing touchdowns remains third all-time in team history - trailing only Larry Csonka and Ricky Williams. However, he never became the back many Dolphin fans thought he might be after his break-out rookie year and was out of the league by 2000.
Other Candidates: Sammie Smith
Number 34 - Ricky Williams, RB, 2002-2003, 2005, 2007-
This one was a no-brainer. I don't think any Dolphins running back ever had the pure talent that Ricky possessed in his prime. His 2002 season remains the greatest season a Dolphins running back has ever had - rushing for 1,853 yards (4.8 ypc) and 16 touchdowns while adding in 47 receptions for 363 yards receiving and another touchdown. That year saw Ricky set franchise records for rushing yards in a season and rushing touchdowns in a season. He also set a franchise record for 100-yard rushing games in a season with 10 in 2002. And Ricky only trails Larry Csonka for most career rushing yards and most career rushing touchdowns in team history.
Other Candidates: Woody Bennett
Number 35 - Michael Stewart, S, 1994-1996
Only four Dolphins have ever worn the number 35 for more than one season. And none of them were great players - making this a tough choice. But Stewart did start 32 games for the Dolphins in his first two seasons in Miami - averaging 90 tackles per season in those two years. He also intercepted four passes and forced two fumbles as a Dolphin - enough production to edge out Stan Mitchell, who started 11 games as a fullback for the Dolphins in the late '60s.
Other Candidates: Stan Mitchell, Irving Spikes
Number 36 - Don Nottingham, FB, 1973-1977
Nottingham was basically Larry Csonka's replacement in the '70s when Larry left the Dolphins. In his first full season with Miami in '74, Nottingham ran for eight touchdowns - which placed him 7th in the NFL. The following year was his best - running for 718 yards (4.3 ypc) and 12 touchdowns. Those 12 touchdowns ranked Don 4th in the league in '75.
Other Candidates: Stanley Pritchett
Number 37 - Andra Franklin, FB, 1981-1984
Here's one of Miami's unheralded good players. He really shined right from the start as a second round pick out of Nebraska - running for 711 yards and 7 touchdowns in '81. But the '82 season was his best - running for 701 yards and 7 touchdowns in just 9 games. He was also an important part of that '82 AFC Champions team. He ran for 112 yards and a touchdown in their first-round win over New England. He followed that up with a 96 yard and one touchdown performance the next week against San Diego. And his 1982 season was capped with a trip to the Pro Bowl.
Other Candidates: J.B. Brown, Yeremiah Bell
Number 38 - Calvin Jackson, DB, 1994-1999
Never a star but often times a reliable player, Jackson started games at both cornerback and safety. From '96 to '99, Jackson was a regular starter. Over that span, he averaged 57 tackles per year and tallied 4 sacks and 3 interceptions. Not great numbers at all. But his only competition for this spot in our rankings is Leroy Harris, a player who spent just 2 seasons in Miami playing fullback, and Patrick Cobbs, who is a very good role player but not a regular starter. Jackson was just that for four seasons - so he wins out.
Other candidates: Patrick Cobbs, Leroy Harris
Number 39 - Larry Csonka, RB, 1968-1974, 1979
Now here's an easy one. No player has ever worn the number 39 in Miami other than Csonka. His 6,737 yards rushing still stands as the most in franchise history - as do his 53 career rushing touchdowns (for now - Ricky Williams is just two behind). Larry is a 5 time Pro-Bowler and 2 time first-team All-Pro. He finished in the top five in rushing yards four different times and led the league in yards per carry (5.4) in 1971. He was also the Super Bowl VII MVP and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.
Other Candidates: None
Number 40 - Dick Anderson, S, 1968-1977
Here's a guy who never got the national respect he deserved. Dick was a 3 time Pro-Bowler and 2 time first-team All-Pro. He was also the 1973 Defensive Player of the Year. His 34 career interceptions ranks him 2nd in team history - just one behind his longtime teammate Jake Scott. Anderson's 8 interceptions as a rookie is a team rookie record. He also intercepted 8 passes in a single season two additional times - leading the league in 1973. He is also one of 18 players in the history of the game to intercept 4 passes in a game - which is the NFL record. And his 792 interception return yards is tops in team history and ranked in the top 30 in NFL history.
Other Candidates: Mike Kozlowski