!972 Miami Dolphins named number 1 in America's Game!!

[SmokyFin]

I have been a Dolpfan since before the 72 Fins, and althought IM excited and glad that the 72 team is chosen for this honor, I dont know if I agree with it. I would put the fins in the top 5, but maybe not #1. Those Steeler teams that won 4 SBs in 6 years, and Montana and Rice 49er in 89, hard to say 72 DOlphins were any better. WE did win 2 in a row, and went to 3 in a row with that squad, so I guess you could go either way with it.

Would those Steeler teams have won 4 SBs if they had lost Franco Harris, Rocky Bleier and Lynn Swann? Because that's the equivalent of what Miami lost when Csonka, Kiick and Warfield left to go to the WFL.

Even without those three stars and several key injuries in the '75 season Miami went 10-4 and just lost out to Baltimore on a tiebreaker for the AFC East title. I think if the Fins had stayed together we would have seen at least one more SB title from them.

 

[cnc66]

good.

you know if Garo hadn't botched that fumble, it would have been the only shutout superbowl as well. the score was misleading - the game wasn't even close.

it would have finished a 17-0 win in a 17-0 season

as Don has said, Garo has made a pretty good living off that play.

 

[Sethdaddy8]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...herman,1,899354.column?coll=chi-sportstop-hed

:dolphins:

it may be corny, but Im really glad we got the #1 spot! they mustve listened to the Don on NFL network. GO FINS, Greatest team of all time !!!:dolphins:

 

[Dors156]

that series would have been a joke if we were not at #1.

 

[themole]

Well I remember that time.
The Redskins that year were a very popular team, with both the public and the media. Also since the Super Bowl was played in Los Angeles, George Allen the Redskins coach was the most popular coach in Los Angeles. Allen was the Rams coach from 1966 to 1970 and was extremely popular among fans in Southern California. The Rams were an awful team from 1958 through 1965. The Rams became a very good team under Allen (7-7, 12-1-1, 10-3-1, 11-3, 10-4). Allen was unfairly fired by owner Dan Reeves, which upset most Rams fans. Ironicly Reeves died prior to the 1971 season. Also Allen brought over to the Redskins some of the Rams players, including star linebacker Jack Pardee(played like Zach Thomas, except he was a better athlete).
Also the perfect Dolphins were not shown on tv all that much in Southern California in 1972. Plus the fact that the Dolphins playoff games were close, while the Redskins beat Dallas pretty soundly. Also with the perception that the NFC was stronger than the AFC, the conference difference, the playoff showings, and Allen's popularity were why the perfect Dolphins were underdogs.
Also the Super Bowl crowd was more pro-Redskins with Allen fans, and the fact that Lakers owner Jack Kent-Cook was also the primary Redskins owner.

Insert Carroll Rosenbloom where you have Dan Reeves. Dan Reeves played football for the Cowboys in the late sixties and went into coaching. Otherwise, nice writeup.

 

[Mari0k]

What can I say..the best there EVER was...

 

[RevRick]

For their time the Phins were the best.

But if they were to play the 85 bears...as much as you guys hate to hear this. They would have gotten smashed.

On a level playing field (equal training and nutrition - which has to be postulated for this poll to have any value at all) the only reply to that comment is "el torro poopoo".

 

[raphinmx]

Insert Carroll Rosenbloom where you have Dan Reeves. Dan Reeves played football for the Cowboys in the late sixties and went into coaching. Otherwise, nice writeup.

Carroll Rosenbloom was the owner of the Baltimore Colts, when Dan Reeves (member of the Hall Of Fame) the owner of the Los Angeles Rams died in 1971, Robert Irsay became owner of the Rams, and before the 1972 season, Rosenbloom and Irsay swaped franchises, Irsay taking the Colts, and Rosenbloom the Rams.