The 10 Best First-Round Picks in Dolphins History

(Photo: Associated Press)

Minkah Fitzpatrick became the newest member of the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night as he was selected 11th overall by the team in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Like with any other pick, first rounders are a crap shoot, but the fan base in South Florida seems pretty happy with the selection of the Alabama defensive back. Only time will tell whether Fitzpatrick lives up to his first-round hype, but for now, the pick appears to be a very good one.

As with most franchises, the Dolphins have had a number of first-round picks over the years who didn't work out, but plenty of others who did. Rather than focus on the negative, here's a look at the 10 best first-round picks in Miami franchise history:

10. Louis Oliver, S
Selected: 25th overall in 1989 (Florida)
Louis Oliver had two stints with the Miami Dolphins, spanning seven years. Over those seven seasons, Oliver led or was tied for the team lead in interceptions four times. Oliver started 89 of the 105 games he played in. Although he never made a Pro Bowl, he was a selection to the NFL's All-Rookie team in 1989, named a second-team All-Pro in 1990 and a first-team All-Pro in 1992.

9. Roy Foster, G
Selected: 24th overall in 1982 (USC)
Roy Foster started 95 of the 132 games he played in nine years with the Miami Dolphins and was part of two teams to reach the Super Bowl. Foster started all 16 games during Miami's AFC championship season of 1984 and named to the Pro Bowl in each of the following two seasons.

8. Tim Bowens, DT
Selected: 20th overall in 1994 (Ole Miss)
For a decade, defensive tackle Tim Bowens was a mainstay in the Miami starting lineup. From 1994-2003, Bowens appeared in 155 of a possible 160 games and started 153 of them. Known as a run-stuffer, Bowens finished his Dolphins' career with 296 tackles, 22 sacks, five forced fumbles and one defensive touchdown. Bowens was the Associated Press' 1994 Defensive Rookie of the Year and a Pro Bowl selection in 1998 and 2002.

7. Mike Pouncey, C
Selected: 15th overall in 2011 (Florida)
Injuries derailed the latter parts of Mike Pouncey's 7-year career with the Miami Dolphins, but Pouncey appeared in 93 of a possible 112 games -- all starts. Pouncey played in all 16 games three times for the Dolphins and made three straight Pro Bowls from 2013-15.

6. Jake Long, T
Selected: 1st overall in 2008 (Michigan)
The first overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, tackle Jake Long was a mainstay in the Miami Dolphins' starting lineup from the first day. In five seasons with the Dolphins, Long played in 74 of a possible 80 games and made the Pro Bowl in each of his first four years. Long was a second-team All-Pro in 2009 and a first-team All-Pro in 2010.


5. Bill Stanfill, DE
Selected: 11th overall in 1969 (Georgia)
Defensive end Bill Stanfill spent the duration of his 8-year NFL career with the Miami Dolphins, where he developed into one of the league's premier defensive ends. From 1971-74, Stanfill made four straight Pro Bowls as a standout member of Miami's "no-name" defense in addition to being selected during his rookie year of 1969. He helped the Dolphins reach the Super Bowl three times, winning twice.

4. Bob Griese, QB
Selected: 4th overall in 1967 (Purdue)
The first great quarterback to wear the Miami aqua and orange, Bob Griese spent each of his first 14 seasons in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins. Over those 14 seasons, Griese made the Pro Bowl eight times and was a 2-time first-team All-Pro. Although he missed eight games during the perfect season of 1972, Griese started three Super Bowls for Miami, winning two. In 1977, Griese led the NFL in touchdown passes and quarterback rating. The following year, he led the league in completion percentage.

(Photo: Miami Herald)

3. Richmond Webb, T
Selected: 9th overall in 1990 (Texas A&M)
Protecting a quarterback's blind side is one of the most important jobs in football and Richmond Webb was one of the league's best at doing so for 11 years for the Miami Dolphins. In his first eight years in the NFL, Webb missed just two games and made the Pro Bowl seven times. Webb was twice a first-team All-Pro and named to the All-1990s team by Pro Football Reference and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

2. Larry Csonka, FB
Selected: 8th overall in 1968 (Syracuse)
Larry Csonka spent two stints and eight total seasons with the Miami Dolphins. During that time, the regular season was just 14 games and Csonka split carries with Jim Kiick and Mercury Morris. Despite all that, Csonka remains the franchise's all-time leading rusher with 6,737 career rushing yards as a member of the Dolphins and 53 touchdowns on the ground. From 1970-74, Csonka made five straight Pro Bowls and rushed for at least 1,000 yards in three straight seasons from 1971-73. In all three of those years, Miami reached the Super Bowl, winning the last two. Csonka was named the MVP of Super Bowl VIII after rushing for a then Super Bowl record 145 yards in a 24-7 win over the Minnesota Vikings.

1. Dan Marino, QB
Selected: 27th overall in 1983 (Pittsburgh)
Not the conventional Don Shula quarterback, Dan Marino would go on to rewrite the NFL record books and revolutionize the quarterback position. In 17 years with Miami, Marino made the Pro Bowl nine times and led the NFL in passing yards on five occasions. During his stint in Miami, the Dolphins finished with a losing record just once. While helping the Dolphins reach the Super Bowl in 1984, Marino was named the league MVP, setting single-season records for passing yards and touchdown passes. At his retirement following the 1999 season, Marino was the NFL's all-time leader in completions, yards and passing touchdowns.

Mike Ferguson is the founder of Days of Dolphins Past. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.

35-Year Phiniversary: Dolphins Draft Dan Marino

(Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-US PRESSWIRE)

"With the 27th pick in the 1983 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select Dan Marino, quarterback, Pittsburgh."

It was 35 years ago today that those words were uttered as teams gathered in New York City on April 26 for the 1983 NFL Draft. Fresh off a Super Bowl loss to the Washington Redskins, Miami took a chance on a Pittsburgh quarterback said to have some off-the-field issues.

35 Years Ago Today: Paul Zimmerman doesn't like the Dolphins pick of Dan Marino pic.twitter.com/cmppctCJa6

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 26, 2018

As most Miami fans are aware, the rest since then is history. Although Marino never won the Super Bowl for the Dolphins, he retired after the 1999 season as the all-time leader in every major passing category.

In 1984, Marino rewrote the NFL single-season records with 5,084 yards passing and 48 touchdown tosses -- eclipsing the previous mark by 12. That year would be the only one in which the Dolphins reached the Super Bowl during Marino's tenure. Although he fell short to Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XIX, 38-16, he was named the league's MVP.

Injuries forced Marino to miss significant time during the 1993 and 1999 seasons, but that didn't stop the Pittsburgh product from becoming one of the best to ever play the position while silmultaneously revolutionizing it. During the 1995 season, Marino surpassed Fran Tarkenton as the league's all-time leader in completions, yards and touchdown passes.

During his 17 years in Miami, Marino made the Pro Bowl nine times and only once over that span did the Dolphins have a losing record. Marino led the league in passing yards on five occasions and in touchdown passes three times.

Today, Marino's statue stands outside the stadium where the Miami Dolphins play their home games and his bust sits in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It all started with Marino being the sixth quarterback selected in the first round of the 1983 draft on this day 35 years ago.

Mike Ferguson is the founder of Days of Dolphins Past. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.

The Five Oldest Dolphins to Rush for 1,000 Yards

(Photo: Miami Dolphins)

One of the bigger signings of the offseason for the Miami Dolphins will bring a key veteran to the backfield.

Frank Gore, 34, is a South Florida native who played his college ball at Miami. As a member of the Indianapolis Colts in 2016, Gore became the oldest back since John Riggins in 1984 to eclipse 1,000 yards on the ground. For the Colts last season, Gore rushed for 961 yards, narrowly missing hitting the 1,000-yard mark for the 10th time in his 13-year career.

If Gore were able to build upon a strong season in 2017 and get to 1,000, the 5-time Pro Bowl running back would be the oldest member of the Miami Dolphins ever to rush for 1,000 yards. As it stands, here are the five oldest to do so:

1. Ricky Williams (2009)
Age: 32
Yards: 1,121
In 2009, Ricky Williams set an NFL record for longest stretch between 1,000-yard seasons when he was forced to carry the load for an injured Ronnie Brown. Williams was able to break that mark in a Week 15 overtime loss to the Tennessee Titans. LeGarrette Blount tied his record in 2016.

2. Lamar Smith (2000)
Age: 30
Yards: 1,139
Lamar Smith rushed for 1,000 just once during his 10-year NFL career and that came in his first year as a member of the Miami Dolphins. Expectations were low for Miami in 2000, following the retirement of Dan Marino. The defense stole the headlines, but Smith became the focal point of the offense, leading the Dolphins to an 11-5 record and an AFC East title. Smith's best performance doesn't count toward the stat sheet, but came in a 23-17 overtime win over the Indianapolis Colts in the Wild Card game. Smith rushed for 209 yards on 40 carries and a pair of scores, including the 17-yard game-winner in overtime.

3. Delvin Williams (1978)
Age: 27
Yards: 1,258
Delvin Williams was 27 years old when he rushed for a then team-record 1,258 yards in 1978. In what was his fifth season in the league and his first of three in Miami, Williams rushed for what would be a career-high to help the Dolphins win 11 games and make the playoffs. Williams would rush for 1,000 yards just one other time in his 8-year career. His team record would stand for 24 years.

4. Larry Csonka (1973)
Age: 27
Yards: 1,003
One year after he and Mercury Morris became the first tandem of teammates to rush for 1,000 yards in the same season, fullback Larry Csonka became the first Miami Dolphin to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in three consecutive seasons. Csonka barely reached that mark, but the season for Csonka was one to remember, especially considering how it ended. In a 24-7 Super Bowl VIII victory over the Minnesota Vikings, Csonka rushed for a then Super Bowl record 145 yards and two touchdowns en route to being named the game's MVP.

5. Reggie Bush (2011)
Age: 26
Yards: 1,086
There weren't many highlights for the Miami Dolphins during a 6-10 season in 2011, but the team did win six of its last 10 after an 0-6 start and Reggie Bush proved to be a big positive in the process. In his first season in Miami, Bush notched his first 1,000-yard season. Bush closed the season with four straight 100-yard rushing games to eclipse the mark, including 203 yards in a Week 16 win at Buffalo.

Mike Ferguson is the founder of Days of Dolphins Past. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.

25 Years After Marlins Inauguration: MLB and NFL Shared Stadiums a Thing of the Past

(Photo: Sports Illustrated)

Now at their fancy home at Marlins Park, the Miami Marlins are celebrating their 26th season in Major League Baseball. 25 years ago in 1993, the franchise then known at the Florida Marlins began play at Joe Robbie Stadium.

In the first season of Marlins baseball, the stadium was shared by the newest team in the Major Leagues and the established NFL franchise, the Miami Dolphins. That, at the time, was the norm. For the two South Florida franchises, it was the case until 2012 when the Marlins were renamed and relocated to the state-of-the-art Marlins Park in downtown Miami.

Today, only the Oakland Raiders and Oakland Athletics share a stadium. With the Raiders set to move to Las Vegas, it won't be long before that's no longer the case either.

 In 1993 however, 12 different Major League Baseball and NFL franchises shared a stadium.

Here's a look back at which stadiums and organizations they were:

• Riverfront Stadium: Cincinnati Reds and Cincinnati Bengals 
• Cleveland Stadium: Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Browns 
• Mile High Stadium: Colorado Rockies and Denver Broncos 
• Astrodome: Houston Astros and Houston Oilers 
• Anaheim Stadium: California Angles and Los Angeles Rams
• Joe Robbie Stadium: Florida Marlins and Miami Dolphins
• Metrodome: Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings
• Veterans Stadium: Philadelphia Phillies and Philadelphia Eagles
• Three Rivers Stadium: Pittsburgh Pirates and Pittsburgh Steelers
• Jack Murphy Stadium: San Diego Padres and San Diego Charges
• Candlestick Park: San Francisco Giants and San Francisco 49ers
• Kingdome: Seattle Mariners and Seattle Seahawks

ALSO WORTH NOTING

It's also worth adding that while Lambeau Field was their home stadium, the Green Bay Packers played the 1993 opener against the Los Angeles Rams at County Stadium in Milwaukee. That was the home of Major League Baseball's Milwaukee Brewers.

Since then, three Major League Baseball teams have either relocated or changed their name. In addition to the Marlins, the California Angels are now the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Montreal Expos have since became the Washington Nationals.

When the Marlins came along in 1993, they were the only Major League Baseball team in the Sunshine State. In 1998, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks expanded the league to 30 teams. In 2008, Tampa Bay shortened its name to the Rays.

Since the Marlins' inaugural season, four NFL teams have changed their names or relocated. The Phoenix Cardinals are now the Arizona Cardinals; the Los Angeles Raiders have moved to Oakland; the San Diego Chargers have moved to Los Angeles and the Houston Oilers have become the Tennessee Titans. 

The Los Angeles Rams left the city for St. Louis in 1995 and have since moved back. The Cleveland Browns became the Baltimore Ravens in 1996 before restarting the franchise in 1999. The Ravens are one of four new franchises since then, along with the Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans.

NOTE: This post originally appeared on Marlin Memories.

Mike Ferguson is the founder of Days of Dolphins Past. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.