Miami Dolphins at 50: Top 10 TEs
By Dan Heaning
The Miami Dolphins signed Jordan Cameron this offseason before parting ways with Charles Clay. This roster activity follows a trend of out with the old and in with the new at tight end. Since Joe Philbin was hired, Miami has run through Anthony Fasano, Dustin Keller, and Clay at the position with Cameron filling in as the fourth different tight end in as many years.
Since the team has gone through so many and the position’s importance keeps increasing, it’d be interesting to go back and analyze just who would qualify as the top 10 TEs in the franchise’s history.
The tight end is a position that requires a combination of size, strength, and skill. In order to be a truly great tight end, the player must balance between protecting quarterbacks, making holes for running backs, blocking linebackers and defensive ends, and getting in on the offense by catching passes, particularly in the red zone.
So with that in mind, let’s take a look at the very best tight ends in the history of the Miami Dolphins starting with a few honorable mentions.
Honorable Mentions
Mandatory credit: MiamiDolphins.com
Quite possibly the best player in franchise history to wear the number 87 on his jersey, Dan Johnson was a role player at the position.
A starter for two seasons, Johnson put together an impressive 1984 campaign with 426 receiving yards on 34 receptions.
Johnson finished his career after five seasons with the Dolphins with 94 receptions, 1,012 receiving yards, and 16 touchdowns. Those numbers are good for ninth in receptions, eighth in yardage, and sixth in touchdowns all-time among tight ends.
Mandatory credit: MiamiDolphins.com
Back in the good old days when it was common for football players to hold multiple positions, Larry Seiple was not only a tight end for the Dolphins in the late 60’s and early 70’s, but he was the punter too.
As a tight end, Seiple had one truly great season in 1969. Seiple caught 41 passes for 577 yards while he punting for a career high of 80 times that same season. He tacked on five touchdowns, easily a career best, on eight starts.
For the rest of his career, Seiple was rarely used as he only hauled down 31 more receptions for 357 additional yards.
However, Seiple’s 1969 campaign is the tenth best single season outing in franchise history. Impressive considering the team’s struggles, shift of the modern era to more of a passing game, and the fact that he was also the punter.