I thought it was interesting this year that Missouri tight ends caught only a handful of passes. That's all it was, a handful. I had bets on some of their games and they basically didn't use or target a tight end. Can't replace Egnew.
Duper has been mentioned. Otherwise, I don't remember too many examples of a high drafted Dolphin rookie who disappointed early then had a tremendous career.
We certainly have had higher picks who seldom or never set foot on the field as rookies. During the glory years I remember a string of them. Otto Stowe, Mike Kadish and Chuck Bradley were our top picks in 1971 through 1973, although only Kadish was a first rounder. Stowe eventually played a little bit, and he had some moments during the perfect season, but not in key games, if I remember correctly. Kadish was shipped to Buffalo where be became a moderate defensive tackle, but kind of blubbery. I'm not sure Bradley ever suited up for us.
The teams were winning big but that didn't mean the fan base was immune from frustration that the hot shot rookie was absent. Keep in mind we were winning by blowouts all the time and there would be murmurs in the Orange Bowl to get the kid in there. But they weren't always active. It was a 40 man roster and no practice squad.
I saw somebody say you can't compare general managers from era to era. Quite true, in those days there were 17 rounds and 40 man rosters. Players with tons of ability had no room. We cut Leon Gray and Gary Fencik. There was no spot for Joe Theismann so he didn't sign with us. These days it's not exactly a spectacular feat, IMO, to draft 7 guys and find a way not to jettison any of them, with a 53 man roster plus a practice squad. That's how you get the marginal players touted year after year, as if they're special. A 5th rounder make the team, hot damn. That Jeff Ireland is sharp.
