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Miami Dolphins Mount Rushmore

By Brian Miller

KEYSTONE, SD - OCTOBER 01: Mount Rushmore National Memorial towers over the South Dakota landscape on October 1, 2013 near Keystone, South Dakota. Mount Rushmore and all other national parks were closed today after congress failed to pass a temporary funding bill, forcing about 800,000 federal workers off the job. A bulletin issued by the Department of Interior states, 'Effective immediately upon a lapse in appropriations, the National Park Service will take all necessary steps to close and secure national park facilities and grounds in order to suspend all activities ...Day use visitors will be instructed to leave the park immediately...' (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
KEYSTONE, SD - OCTOBER 01: Mount Rushmore National Memorial towers over the South Dakota landscape on October 1, 2013 near Keystone, South Dakota. Mount Rushmore and all other national parks were closed today after congress failed to pass a temporary funding bill, forcing about 800,000 federal workers off the job. A bulletin issued by the Department of Interior states, 'Effective immediately upon a lapse in appropriations, the National Park Service will take all necessary steps to close and secure national park facilities and grounds in order to suspend all activities ...Day use visitors will be instructed to leave the park immediately...' (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) /
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The Miami Dolphins last week asked “who would be on your Miami Dolphins Mount Rushmore and why?” Our staff answered that question.

Honestly it’s not a very tough decision. Dan Marino and Don Shula are both no-brainer’s. Larry Csonka is as well. With Jason Taylor being inducted into the Hall of Fame this August, it’s pretty safe to say he deserves a spot on the mountain.

And there are your four. Case closed and done. But that doesn’t seem to be the case as our staff have some differing opinions. While most agree on two or three, there are some choices that might surprise.

Eric Frosbutter

  • Marino – You know why.
  • Csonka – One of the most punishing runners to play the game.
  • Shula –  Coaching winning teams over the span of multiple decades? Shula is one of few coaches on that list.
  • Zach Thomas – Greatest LB in team history. One of the most tenacious individuals to play the position.

Matt Stevens – Matt had his answers published last week on MiamiDolphins.com you can read his there.

Scott Lascari

  • Joe Robbie: Attorney hired to represent  businessmen interested in bringing an NFL expansion team to Philadelphia later became the founder and long time owner of one of the most successful NFL teams, particularly during his ownership.
  • Don Shula: After paying a tampering penalty of the team’s 1970 first round draft pick, Joe Robbie hired the man who became the winningest coach in NFL history and brought Miami its only two Super Bowl titles.
  • Larry Csonka: after being picked Number 1 by the Dolphins in 1968, Csonka set upon a career in which he was one of the most durable and feared rushers in the NFL, setting the tone for the ball control Dolphins, leading the NFL in rushing in 1971 and 1972, rushing for a career best 1,117 yards in 1972, becoming the Super Bowl VIII MVP, and being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.
  • Dan Marino; The sixth and final QB taken in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft, Marino was selected to the Pro Bowl as a rookie, broke six single season records the next year while leading the Dolphins to Super Bowl XIX, reaching the post season 10 out of 17 seasons, selected to play in 9 Pro Bowls, All Pro 8 times, All AFC 6 times, winner of NFL MVP (1984), NFL Comeback Player of the Year (1994), and NFL Man of the Year (1998), and being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005.

Ryan Davis

  • Don Shula is the winningest coach of all-time in the NFL with 347 wins, the coach of the only undefeated team in NFL history and a two-time Super Bowl winner. He made the Dolphins relevant over 3 decades and he would always adapt his style to get the most out of his players. He won with a bruising running attack that included Larry Csonka, Mercury Morris and Jim Kiick, a pass happy offense with Dan Marino and the Marks Brothers, and the Killer B’s defense and David Woodley at quarterback. One of the greatest coaches of all time.
  • When Dan Marino retired from football he held all the major records for NFL quarterbacks with 420 TDs, 61,361 yards, 4,967 completions and 8,358 attempts. He had 155 wins as a starting quarterback with 36 fourth quarter comeback wins. If the Dolphins were down by 4 points and Marino had the ball with 2 minutes left in the game, as a Dolphins fan, you knew the Dolphins would win that game. Marino is the greatest Dolphins player.
  • Dwight Stephenson was a five-time Pro Bowler, a five-time First-Team All-Pro and the center on the NFL 1980s All-Decade First Team. He is a Hall of Famer and considered one of the greatest centers and offensive lineman in the game’s long history.
  • Larry Csonka epitomizes the Dolphins of the 1970s with their tough running offense and stout No-Name Defense. He was a five-time Pro Bowler, a three-time First-Team All-Pro, a Hall of Famer and a member of the 1972 undefeated Dolphins.

Dale-Paul Jordan

  •  Dan Marino: This should be self-explanatory.  Marino has been the best players the Dolphins have had.  His rookie year was something of a fantasy, which thereby led him to his one and only superbowl.  As passionate he was for the game on the field, the same presence was felt off the field.  I know first hand, how his foundation has helped people re-group after a hurricane. Marino is a class act and deserve all the success he has obtained.
  • Jason Taylor: Similar to how Marino led the offence, Taylor was the voice of the defence. Once Marino retired, it was Jason Taylor team, everyone knew that and he made sure opposing team felt his presence.  Even after a previous front office thought it was best to trade Jason, a year later, he came back and joined the Dolphins and ended his career the same way he started it.
  • Ricky Williams  was the Miami Dolphins identity during the Wanny era.   William led the league in rushing and was considered the best player in the league during his prime years.  Yes, he left the Dolphins high and dry, but similar to Jason Taylor, he returned and provide instant value to a team that had no identity.  For all the suffering that RW created, his tenure as a Miami Dolphin was simply amazing.
  • Sam Madison: The Patriots were going into the super bowl with an undefeated record, with the potential of joining the 72 Dolphins as the only team to complete an undefeated season, even though Madison played for the Giants and defeated the Patriots from joining the Dolphins as the only undefeated team, he did pour some champagne on the filed for the Dolphins and ended his career with a ring.  Madison was everything for the Dolphins during his tenure in Miami, and one can start talking about a Dolphins Mount Rushmore without his name.

Brian Miller – Well let’s just say I added mine at the top and kept it old-school.

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