50 moments in Miami Dolphins history

May as well put the final Drew Brees piece on paper. As mentioned on the previous page, Drew Brees was drafted at the top of the 2nd round by the Chargers after the Dolphins passed. In 2006 the Dolphins had the opportunity to rectify a mistake. The San Diego Chargers were letting Brees walk into free agency in favor of Phillip Rivers. Brees was coming off a shoulder injury but was the highest touted quarterback on the free agent market and a desperate need of the Miami Dolphins.

Nick Saban, then head coach of the Dolphins, brought Brees in for a physical but opted to trade for Daunte Culpepper instead. Culpepper was coming off an injury of his own but Miami doctors didn’t think the injury was all that bad. The Dolphins gave the Vikings a 2nd round pick and got nothing out of Culpepper. Culpepper spent one season with the Dolphins, injured, and registered four starts for the team. He led the team to a 1-3 record while starting.

A year later Culpepper was gone and the Dolphins watched as Drew Brees led the New Orleans Saints to a 10-6 record and into the NFC Conference Championship game. The Dolphins have struggled to find a quarterback until Ryan Tannehill was drafted in 2012 while the Saints have enjoyed success with Brees leading the way. Bree’s shoulder injury? Never was a problem.

Next: another 4th quarter comeback