Pro Football Talk has been running polls for each team on twitter, asking fans who are the faces of their respective franchise.

After Marino and Shula, who is Miami's? Csonka? Griese? Warfield? Taylor and/or Thomas? It's a tough question after Marino and Shula IMO. You can make compelling arguments for a lot of guys, not an easy one to answer definitively though. Thoughts?

Marino Griese Thomas Czonka

Edit: had to pick four. Also read truth's post. I agree with the coach aspect.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/07/2013 10:21AM by Odenn.

Pick only 4

Shula Marino Little Robbie

Shula amongst greatest coaches, hof.
Little - one of the greatest guards ever. 5X all pro, HOF Paved road for zonk, merc and kick. Protected Griese like a bodyguard.
Marino - nuff said
Robbie - started the whole damn thing


Griese - good not really great. Morral showed any qb could run the '72 O

Zonk - I love the guy and respect him for what he did but he left the team. Gotta take points away.

Thomas & Taylor never got us to the AFC championship no way in hell.

Shula, Marino, Mandich, Little

Call it Mount Robbie


Beyond that every person in the ring of honor should have his statue holding a team flag at the entrance to the stadium.

I'm not putting a coach on my list, and if you aren't in the HOF you don't get consideration.

So for me its: Marino, Stephenson, Greise, Warfield

dolphaholic Wrote:
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> Pick only 4


That's TOUGH. But Mine would be:

Marino
Thomas
Csonka
Mandich

GO DOLPHINS!!!!

Shula
Marino
Griese
Csonka

These guys were the faces of our franchise for many years.

Hmmm Mt Robbie and I'm pro players over coaches too!

Marino
Little
Langer - gets nod over Stephenson because of Super Bowl wins
Webb - over Tim Bowens, the man in front of Marinos success.

Wow all offense and 3 O linesmen but that's how I see it

I started to add Warfield but he cut town too. Griese still does not make it. Mandich psssh talking doesn't get you in.

the HOFer's are
Warfield, Csonka, Langer, Griese, Little, Shula, Stephenson, Buoniconti and Marino....

Zach and Taylor have a shot as well at the HOF... Hard to limit it to just 4 with so many HOFers//

although I like Monte's MT, I have to give some respect to Robbie for bring the franchise to Miami and building the stadium we stil call home..

If I have to go 4 it would be the 2 QB's the owner who got it all going, and the winningest coach in all of football..

Marino, Griese, Shula, Robbie

the alternate would be Csonka

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All things are subject to interpretation whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power and not truth.
Nietzsche

If Shula isn't considered a face of this franchise, then who is?

Shula

Marino

Csonka

Buoniconti

mizzou15 Wrote:
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> Shula Marino Little Robbie
>
> Zonk - I love the guy and respect him for what he
> did but he left the team. Gotta take points away.
>
>

You know, that's not a bad rule....at the very least, it helps one whittle down the list.

Shula, Marino, Mandich, Zack Thomas....
Thomas played elsewhere at the end of his career but he didn't leave.

Mandich gets up there in my book because of his complete devotion to the team during and after his career as a broadcaster.

marino & shula, no explanation needed.

No Coach


Marino
Csonka
Little
Thomas

We all have our list of favorite players for various reasons, but the intent of this is the 4 most recognizable faces of the franchise, for that reason, mine are:
Shula
Marino
Csonka
Griese

Crowder52 Wrote:
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> the HOFer's are
> Warfield, Csonka, Langer, Griese, Little, Shula,
> Stephenson, Buoniconti and Marino....
>
> Zach and Taylor have a shot as well at the HOF...
> Hard to limit it to just 4 with so many HOFers//
>
> although I like Monte's MT, I have to give some
> respect to Robbie for bring the franchise to Miami
> and building the stadium we stil call home..
>
> If I have to go 4 it would be the 2 QB's the owner
> who got it all going, and the winningest coach in
> all of football..
>
> Marino, Griese, Shula, Robbie
>
> the alternate would be Csonka


That works for me too

Without coaches (if you do you have to put in Shula), Griese, Marino, Csonka, and Zach Thomas (representing the modern era, or as close as you can get).

Honorable mention: Duper-Clayton, Warfield, Griese's offensive line, the No-name defense.

JC Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> mizzou15 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Shula Marino Little Robbie
> >
> > Zonk - I love the guy and respect him for what
> he
> > did but he left the team. Gotta take points
> away.
> >
> >
>
> You know, that's not a bad rule....at the very
> least, it helps one whittle down the list.
>
> Shula, Marino, Mandich, Zack Thomas....
> Thomas played elsewhere at the end of his career
> but he didn't leave.
>
> Mandich gets up there in my book because of his
> complete devotion to the team during and after his
> career as a broadcaster.
>
> marino & shula, no explanation needed.

**************************************************

True, Zonk left the team, but in the circumstances back then, who wouldn't have?

The World Football League was offering money that was unheard of in the NFL (especially Robbie). Robbie basically "dared" Zonk, Kiick, and Warfield to leave, which they did.

The trio didn't have much success in the WFL, but where you can put the "he left" tag on Zonk is when the WFL folded and he chose to play for the Giants and Arnsbarger.

Zonk came back and finished his career with Miami and was their leading rusher, but that wasn't saying much at the time. I believe he gained 800+ yards his first year back, but scored 12 TDs.

He "retired" from football over a squabble of about $2,000 in the contract. His wife told him he was an idiot for that. Lol.

Winners are....

Shula, Marino, Csonka and Taylor

Perfect.

.....................................................................................
“I'm here" You're welcome!" - Kenny Powers

Zach Thomas needs to be there.

GO DOLPHINS!!!!

TreasurecoastPhinsfan Wrote:
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> Zach Thomas needs to be there.


Over who?

Little gets screwed.

During my time I have traveled pretty much around this country and the names I hear the most when people talk Dolphins are Marino, Warfield, Little and Griese. As I mentioned before Taylor and Zach could not lead this team to an AFC championship game. They don't deserve to be there over Little.

mizzou15 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Little gets screwed.
>
> During my time I have traveled pretty much around
> this country and the names I hear the most when
> people talk Dolphins are Marino, Warfield, Little
> and Griese. As I mentioned before Taylor and Zach
> could not lead this team to an AFC championship
> game. They don't deserve to be there over Little.


Its a tough call Mizzou.

its even tougher if you put a non player or two int he top 4 like Shula and/or Robbie.

For me, I'm not putting a non player in the top 4 and I'm not putting a guy who isn't int the HOF on my list over people who are.

As far as players go for me, Marino is #1.

Czonka has to go on it. He was the foundation of our great 70's teams.

Dwight Stephenson is the best O-lineman we've ever had, followed closely by Larry Little. I put Stepehnson on my list.

The 4th spot comes down to Greise, Warfield and Little for me. Its easy to pick the QB, and Little probably has the better resume, but I think Warfield was the best WR of that era in the entire NFL. He just had the misfortune of playing a team that not only didn't feature him, but preferred to throw the ball 10-20 times a game on most days.

So for me its Marino, Czonka, Stephenson, Warfield.

They are followed by Little and Greise.

If/when Jason Taylor makes it to the HOF he probably jumps over Warlfield in my mind.

Tough indeed I would give Little the edge over Stephenson because of length of service.Stephenson was the best center that I ever saw in the nfl. The only guard imo that was better than Little was John Hannah.

I am still blocking Warfield and Zonk out for leaving.

dolphaholic Wrote:
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> TreasurecoastPhinsfan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Zach Thomas needs to be there.
>
>
> Over who?


Over Shula or JT. Take your pick. Love JT but Zach has more Pro Bowls, , he's 3rd on the list of most tackles ever in the NFL. AND he never left the Team voluntarily and more important .......he WAS NEVER A JET. I'm sorry that disgraces you from Mountain IMO. weather he did it for money /Superbowl, or just to say FU to Parcells, he negates ay hero status in my book.

Shula was a coach not a player. So I'm iffy on that one. If your gonna go that route then Joe Robbie should be there as well. And since there are only 4 spots I think it should have been left to players only.

GO DOLPHINS!!!!

TreasurecoastPhinsfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> dolphaholic Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > TreasurecoastPhinsfan Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Zach Thomas needs to be there.
> >
> >
> > Over who?
>
>
> Over Shula or JT. Take your pick. Love JT but Zach
> has more Pro Bowls, , he's 3rd on the list of most
> tackles ever in the NFL. AND he never left the
> Team voluntarily and more important .......he WAS
> NEVER A JET. I'm sorry that disgraces you from
> Mountain IMO. weather he did it for money
> /Superbowl, or just to say FU to Parcells, he
> negates ay hero status in my book.
>
> Shula was a coach not a player. So I'm iffy on
> that one. If your gonna go that route then Joe
> Robbie should be there as well. And since there
> are only 4 spots I think it should have been left
> to players only.


Valid points about JT leaving for the Jets. And I understand people not wanting to include non-players, but the whole concept of this (in my mind anyway) is who are the 4 most reconizable faces of this franchise, it's not a ring of honor for the 4 best players, how could Shula NOT be considered?

In my mind, we have a good problem of having too many guys to choose from, there are some teams that don't even have 4 solid names.

dolphaholic Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> TreasurecoastPhinsfan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > dolphaholic Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > TreasurecoastPhinsfan Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > > > Zach Thomas needs to be there.
> > >
> > >
> > > Over who?
> >
> >
> > Over Shula or JT. Take your pick. Love JT but
> Zach
> > has more Pro Bowls, , he's 3rd on the list of
> most
> > tackles ever in the NFL. AND he never left the
> > Team voluntarily and more important .......he
> WAS
> > NEVER A JET. I'm sorry that disgraces you from
> > Mountain IMO. weather he did it for money
> > /Superbowl, or just to say FU to Parcells, he
> > negates ay hero status in my book.
> >
> > Shula was a coach not a player. So I'm iffy on
> > that one. If your gonna go that route then Joe
> > Robbie should be there as well. And since there
> > are only 4 spots I think it should have been
> left
> > to players only.
>
>
> Valid points about JT leaving for the Jets. And I
> understand people not wanting to include
> non-players, but the whole concept of this (in my
> mind anyway) is who are the 4 most reconizable
> faces of this franchise, it's not a ring of honor
> for the 4 best players, how could Shula NOT be
> considered?
>
> In my mind, we have a good problem of having too
> many guys to choose from, there are some teams
> that don't even have 4 solid names.


Nobody was more anti-Taylor after he chose to sign with the Jets than I was.

But that doesn't change the fact that he's the best defender this franchise has ever had.

If loyalty is a criteria for consideration then he's off the list.

If its just about talent then he's at the top of the list of defenders.

THE Truth Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > Nobody was more anti-Taylor after he chose to sign
> with the Jets than I was.
>
> But that doesn't change the fact that he's the
> best defender this franchise has ever had.
>
> If loyalty is a criteria for consideration then
> he's off the list.
>
> If its just about talent then he's at the top of
> the list of defenders.


With More Probowls, 3rd on the list of most tackles in NFL history , I believe that puts Zach Thomas on the Mount before JT on
performance alone. Underlying Loyalty just puts him over the Top.

Face of the Team theory.......

OK I'll go that route as well. Marino of course. Csonka , Mandich , and Thomas. I gave Mandich the nod over Shula because he was a player as well and the Face and voice of the team for decades.

GO DOLPHINS!!!!

I would put Buoniconti as my last face. Shula, Marino, Csonka and Buoniconti. He was the face of the no-name defense. You can argue that Csonka carried the '72 team to the undefeated season, but it was really the defense that carried them. People forget today how dominant they were - #1 against the run, #1 against the pass, #1 in points allowed. To not have a member of that defense on their Mt. Rushmore seems wrong.

He was a two time pro-bowler (at a time the pro bowl meant something), plus made the AFL all star game in 1969, was the team MVP 3 times, and is in the HOF.