Top 20+1 Dolphins disasters through the years

[DKphin]

Miami Dolphins training camp opens on Friday and there is reason for optimism.

The Dolphins have yet another new coach, a new offense, a stable of young draft picks, a top 10 defense and a clean slate.
But the Dolphins have much to overcome as an organization.
For 30 years, mostly under the stern watch of head coach Don Shula, the Miami Dolphins were among the most successful franchises in the National Football League.
Only two losing seasons. Two Super Bowl titles. Five Super Bowl appearances. A perfect 17-0 in 1972. The model of stability and success.
But since 2000, the Dolphins have been on a downturn.

1.Scan their history and one could pinpoint the day when Miami's fortunes began to unravel.
Jan, 15, 2000.
On that crisp and clear afternoon in Jacksonville, the Dolphins lost their AFC Divisional Playoff game to the Jaguars 62-7. It is the worst loss in franchise history and was the worst playoff loss in the NFL in 60 years.
2.The Wannstedt era
3.Second-rate picks
Every team swings and misses on draft picks, but during the Dolphins downturn they've consistently missed on high draft picks.
For instance: 2001, DB Jamar Fletcher, first round; 2003, DB Eddie Moore, second round; 2007: WR, Ted Ginn Jr., first round, QB John Beck, second round; 2008, DE Phillip Merling and QB Chad Henne, second round; 2009, QB Pat White, second round.
4.A.J. Feeley
5.Wolf, man!
Consider the possibilities if the Miami Dolphins could have hung on to Ron Wolf as a consultant, or even executive.
6.Marino comes and goes(IMO Marino knew that he was going to be no more than a figure head with no real power to effect change so he walked rather than working with a fool like Wannsted)
7.Ricky's odyssey
8.The Nick "Satan" era
9.Culpepper over Brees
10.The Cam Cameron error
11.The Bill Parcells era
12.The Orange Carpet
After taking full ownership of the team and stadium less than a year later, Ross seemed more focused on other ways to win the fans over. He rolled out the "Orange Carpet" at Sun Life Stadium and brought in celebrity owners and partners Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez, Jimmy Buffett, Fergie and Venus and Serena Williams.
13.Super Bowl Blues
14.The Ireland-Bryant Affair(In hindsight, a distasteful question, but seems to be relevant with the recent looks in to his history)
15.The Chads
16.Courting Harbaugh
17.Gator Day(i'm a Gator fan and even I knew it was a bad move)
18.Empty Seats
19.Jeff Fisher goes elsewhere(I think in time, that not selecting Fisher will prove to be the right choice)
20.Peyton Manning goes elsewhere
21. Restless fans
And after the Dolphins failed to land Manning or free agent QB Matt Flynn, fans, some wearing bags on their heads, protested at the Dolphins training facility in Davie.

Read more:http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/21/4647820/top-20-dolphins-disasters-through.html

 

[Wildbill3]

some of that list I don't agree with other parts, I think are mistakes in hindsight. even 19 and 20... I don't think deserve to be on this list.

 

[AdamD13]

In hindsight choosing Culpepper over Brees is the most significant point on that list which most likely would have turned this franchise back to their winning ways had it gone the other way.

 

[Wildbill3]

In hindsight choosing Culpepper over Brees is the most significant point on that list which most likely would have turned this franchise back to their winning ways had it gone the other way.

our biggest mistake was not hiring ron wolf's recommened GM Ted Thompson.

 

[Phins40]

I thought Brees chose the Saints over us

 

[datruth55]

I'm with Wildbill on that list. Some of them I agree with some I don't. I could go back further as to when it all started...like 1998 when Jimmy Johnson took away Dan Marino's ability to audible.

1. Was the worst game in franchise playoff history and led to #2
2. Was by far the worst hire in franchise history. He single handedly destroyed the franchise with boneheaded moves and awful personnel decisions
3. The list is incomplete there are more and Wannstedt trading away two 1st rounders for Ricky Williams who would later quit on us should be there. We traded away picks like they grew on trees under Wannstedt.
4. Worst trade in franchise history. How the freak do you give away a 2nd round pick for a 3rd string QB and then panic and trade away a 3rd round pick for a 3rd string RB in the same year...smh.
5. That was a blunder only in hindsight.
6. Don't agree that this had any bearing on the franchises direction either way. We don't know that Marino would have been any good as a front office man.
7. Threw us into turmoil no doubt but Wannstedt abused the heck out of this guy cause he failed to address any weapons on offense during his tenure.
8. Nick Saban was a dirtbag and a coward IMO but his defenses were phenominal. Where he was lacking was in personnel decisions (draft and free agency) and he's quest for a quick fix at QB with a trade for Culpepper, Joey Harrington...using Gus Ferrotte as a starter, not signing Drew Brees and not drafting Aaron Rodgers (yeah that last one is a hindsight thing). Regardless I don't see how two years sinks a franchise even deeper than it already was.
9. Agree. Mentioned that in #8.
10. Well most on here though, myself included, that with our defense all we needed was an offensive minded coach and we'd be set. No one could have seen how bad Cameron would have been as a head coach (except for a few here that will tell you they knew from the beginning...the prophets of Finheaven). That's a hindsight thing.
11. Another hindsight thing. All the media outlets were raving about how good of a move this was initially.
12. This has no bearing on whether a franchise wins or loses. Dumb to even list it.
13. What? Another stupid comment. What about the Eagles, Lions, Browns, Cardinals, Jets (not since '69), Bills, Houston, Titans, Jacksonville, Carolina, Atlanta, San Diego and Seattle who've never won a super bowl?
14. Stupid comment and has no bearing on wins and losses
15. The chads? Wasn't Chad Henne already mentioned in #3? So you have to mention him again to get to 20 total...reaching here. Chad Pennington led us to the playoffs so I don't see why he's a part of our demise.
16. Again, don't agree. Harbaugh is obviously a darn good coach...I think this is another reach so he can get to 20.
17. It was a bad move but it was Sparano that decided to go for two not the Gators in the stands and it was the teams failure to get those two points that allowed Prater to kick the tying FG and then win it in OT.
18. Jeff Fisher is a scrub and a mediocre coach and I'm extemely happy he went elsewhere. This absolutely has no bearing on where we are now.
19. Peyton Manning...only one team could win and it was going to be the team that had the most cap space (therefore money) to spend. Another reach...don't see how this has any bearing on where we are now.
20. Restless fans...seemed to work for Detroit when they staged a walk out on Millen...3 years later they were in the playoffs. He's just being lazy now.

---------- Post added at 01:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:13 PM ----------

I thought Brees chose the Saints over us

Combination of him choosing and us not giving him a respectable offer. Saint, IIRC offered him twice what we did.

 

[insomnia411]

Culpepper over Brees was the worst hands down, and there really isn't a close second IMO.

 

[insomnia411]

I thought Brees chose the Saints over us

Nope. Brees wanted to come here but our doctors, in their infinite wisdom, decided that his shoulder would never be the same so we gave up a 2nd for Pep instead. If we had simply SIGNED Culpepper over Drew Brees then this move wouldn't look so bad, but since we made such a terrible decision AND gave up a high pick in the process, it makes us look that much worse.

 

[datruth55]

The Saints were desperate to make a statement that would be perceived as a vote of confidence in the city and would drive ticket sales. They made that statement by offering Brees a five-year contract that included $8 million guaranteed the first year and a $10 million option the second year.

Brees was blown away, but sources insisted he really preferred to play for the Dolphins instead.

So he left New Orleans without signing a contract and flew to South Florida. He had dinner with Saban at a place called Grille 66 in Fort Lauderdale which to this day remains where the Dolphins take their free agents and coach candidates and alike.

Everything seemed cool but the next day weirded Brees out. He was reportedly subjected to a six-hour physical that centered, of course, around his surgically repaired shoulder. To this day, I am not certain whether or not the Dolphins made Brees an offer. A good source close to Brees insisted Miami did, although it was a lowball offer.

Regardless, Brees saw his future in New Orleans. His agent Tom Condon went back to the Saints and beat them up some more and extracted a six-year, $60 million deal that included $10 million in guarantees the first year and another $12 million the second year in the form of an option. Brees signed the deal on March 14, 2006.

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolp...ubject-directly-for-the-first-time-it-wa.html

 

[Fins1971]

Monday October 23, 2000 Night of the Monday Night Meltdown vs Jets deserves to be on that list.

Even with Marino retired we had the Jets down by 23 points with one quarter away from being 6-1

We have never made it to 6-1 since that day we were so close.

 

[MD]

Tim Robbie where are you now?

 

[insomnia411]

The 2002 and 03 late season failures were very painful and should be up there over bull**** like missing out on Jeff Fisher.... Those teams had soo much talent but they were thwarted by the likes of Wade Smith, Seth McKinney, Jay Fiedler, Norv Turner and Dave Pornstache.... Ugh soo painful to this day.