Miami Dolphins At 50: Top 10 DLs
By Dan Heaning
Mandatory Credit: MiamiDolphins.com
Honorable Mention – Trace Armstrong
If Trace Armstrong spent his entire career as a Miami Dolphin, he’d definitely be a top 10 defensive lineman. However, he joined the team for his seventh season after the Chicago Bears traded him for a second round pick and a third round pick.
Armstrong spent most of his time in Miami as a pass rushing specialist. He was a starter in a few seasons and did a yeoman’s job in the starting role. But his pass rushing is why he needs to be mentioned.
Armstrong put together a 16.5 sack season in 2000 which earned him a Pro Bowl appearance. A remarkable feat considering he was 35 at the time and it was the only time Armstrong made the Pro Bowl in his career.
Despite starting only 27 of his 95 appearances in Miami, Armstrong accrued 56.5 sacks which earns him the fourth position on the official all-time list in that category. He also tacked on 187 tackles, forced 16 fumbles and recovered seven.
Mandatory Credit: MiamiDolphins.com
No. 10 – Jeff Cross
Selected in the ninth round of the 1988 NFL Draft, Jeff Cross is third in franchise history with 59.5 sacks.
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Despite that career total and only having one season with five or less sacks, Cross was only selected to one Pro Bowl. That honor came in 1990 after Cross put together his best career single season outing with 11.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and two recoveries, and 60 tackles.
After missing the playoffs in his first two seasons, the Dolphins made it to two AFC Championship games in two of three seasons (1990 and 1992).
In 1993, Cross put together another fine campaign with 93 tackles, 10.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. However, the Dolphins would miss the playoffs that year after starting the season 9-2 but lost the last five consecutive games.
From 1989 to 1993, Cross started in every game for Miami and appeared in every contest from his rookie campaign to 1993. He started 10 of 13 games in 1994 and was still able to piece together 9.5 sacks.
Cross started in every game in 1995, but while rehabbing his ankle injury in the offseason he would be cut by the new Jimmy Johnson regime effectively ending his career.