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Merged: Can Ricky catch Zonk as best Dolphins back ever?

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Csonka and Ricky are one-two in virtually every important running total in team history. They have a lot of similarities, starting with the fact each was the centerpiece of a physical offense.

Both also are punishing runners. Ricky, for instance, prides himself on not running out of bounds, which if you’ll notice he never does. Csonka once was flagged for a personal foul while running with the football. He punched a Buffalo defensive back who came to tackle him.

Each also had career controversy. Csonka was the first guy the World Football League wanted to defect from the Dolphins, along with Paul Warfield and Jim Kiick. When he did, that was the end of the Dolphins’ dynasty. Ricky’s issues with the drug suspensions are documented.

So can Ricky catch Zonk? Depends on what numbers you look at. It also depends on how you weigh their time away from the Dolphins, if you weigh that at all.
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http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/spo...ky_catch_zonk_as_best_dolphins_back_ever.html
 
I'll take Ricky all day, every day over Csonka and Ronnie Brown...The guy is phenomenal.
 
Can Ricky catch Zonk as best Dolphins back ever?

Let me say first, that I have respect for Ricky. But I don't ever think another RB will mean what Csonka meant to this organization. It was a different time and Larry was just a freak of nature, 6'3" 240lbs. Not only was he big, but he could run and punish defenders, especially if he got into the secondary. He truly struck a bit of apprehension in the minds of the defenses he faced. Czonka will always have a special place in my heart.
Flash forward to today, Ricky is the quintessential team player. After a tumultuous early career with the Dolphins, he has turned it to a stabilizing force in the backfield. A lesser player with his ability would have caused all kinds of disruption in the lockeroom over his lack of playing time. Ricky is just a different cat than your typical Heisman trophy winning Football player. For someone who would rather read Nietzsche than go out to a movie, he runs with reckless abandon and a passion that you can't help but admire as a fan.

I will truly be grateful to have both of these guys at the head of the Dolphins record books.:D
It’s easy to root for Ricky Williams in his second act. First, because it’s rare to find football players whose careers survive to second acts. Second, because he’s the even rarer player who thinks beyond sports. Third, simply because I enjoy talking with him.
So while thumbing through his stats after the last game, the question struck me: Can he become the Dolphins’ best running back of all time?
That always has been Larry Csonka’s domain, for good reason. Csonka was the broken-nosed fact of the great Dolphins teams of the early-1970s. Behind Dan Marino, Csonka is the second face of the franchise among players.
Csonka and Ricky are one-two in virtually every important running total in team history. They have a lot of similarities, starting with the fact each was the centerpiece of a physical offense.
Both also are punishing runners. Ricky, for instance, prides himself on not running out of bounds, which if you’ll notice he never does. Csonka once was flagged for a personal foul while running with the football. He punched a Buffalo defensive back who came to tackle him.
Each also had career controversy. Csonka was the first guy the World Football League wanted to defect from the Dolphins, along with Paul Warfield and Jim Kiick. When he did, that was the end of the Dolphins’ dynasty. Ricky’s issues with the drug suspensions are documented.
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http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/spo...ky_catch_zonk_as_best_dolphins_back_ever.html
 
I think Ronnie could end up over taking him (Zonk) if he resigns with us. Of course that would be dependent on us getting at least 1 ring with Brown as our primary back in order for him to make that kind of leap.

As far as Ricky I love him but no. He might end up being one of the most beloved Dolphins of all time though and considering where he was a few years ago (early retirement/suspensions) thats pretty amazing.
 
I am sorry but the greatest dolphins RB of all time does not quit on his team to go smoke weed in a tent...sorry.
 
ercin13 said:
csonka quit on us to go to wfl
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In a way he did, but thats different. They paid him a ton to play, it was business. Hard to blame a guy taking care of his family vs smoking weed.
 
While I agree Zonk was an awesome RB, he faced nowhere near the type of atheletes that play today.

Csonks numbers weren't exatly overwhelming either, they're slightly above average.
 
Zonk and Ricky also have in common that they left the team for a period of time and returned - Zonk in '79 and Ricky in '05/'07. Ricky has a chance to have the all-time Dolphin yardage total but then Brown could end up with that too.
Side note Ricky's had approx the same # of carries since his retirement as he did in each of his first two seasons with the Phins. - for 1,666 yards.
 
Ricky could have easily been the best, but since hes been in and out of the NFL he really hasnt been consistent. Not to mention, Ive lost alot of respect for him over the years. Zonk was a beast and a real man, and I also love watching him on the outdoor channel :-)
 
That was different? It wasn't for the military or family reasons, money wasn't/isn't as important to RW being happy with himself is. I'm not saying what RW did was fine fine he choose to stop playing football all together not just for someone else.
 
Dolphins11 said:
In a way he did, but thats different. They paid him a ton to play, it was business. Hard to blame a guy taking care of his family vs smoking weed.
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So going for money is ok, but going for your own personal reasons isn't?

Zonk was going to get paid here or there, he just choose the bigger check over his team.
 
DKphin said:
Let me say first, that I have respect for Ricky. But I don't ever think another RB will mean what Csonka meant to this organization. It was a different time and Larry was just a freak of nature, 6'3" 240lbs. Not only was he big, but he could run and punish defenders, especially if he got into the secondary. He truly struck a bit of apprehension in the minds of the defenses he faced. Czonka will always have a special place in my heart.
http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/spo...ky_catch_zonk_as_best_dolphins_back_ever.html
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The only player that got penalize for roughing the defender. :hump:
 
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