What a depressing article!

[mtlfinfan]

Turning Point of the Miami Dolphins Franchise - What Started the Spiral into Mediocrity?
by Mosul_DolFan on Sep 21, 2011 8:01 PM EDT in 2011 Miami Dolphins News

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Was the sudden retirement of Ricky Williams before the 2004 season the turning point that sent Miami spiraling into the quagmire we now find out beloved franchise?
The Jorge Sedano Show on  790 The Ticket today discussed the turning point of the Miami Dolphins franchise.  From 1966 into the 2000s, the Dolphins had the best winning percentage of any franchise in the NFL.  The Dolphins are still the only team to win the Super Bowl to complete an undefeated season (still want to thank the Giants for that one!).  But something has changed and brought it all crashing down.  What was it?  What changed the course of this once proud franchise,  bringing the team, and us as fans, to suffer through a 1-15 season, mediocrity at best, and a revolving door at the Head Coach and Quarterback positions?

What may be the worst part of all of this is, there's not one thing that really stands out above the rest.  Below are my top three factors in sending the franchise into a tailspin:



1.  The Retirement of Dan Marino.  The Dolphins "allowed" Dan Marino to retire following the 1999 season.  The Dolphins had just lost to the Jaguars 62-7, in what is still absolutely the funniest game I have ever watched.  Everything that could go wrong in that game, did.  To the point that the punter flat out missed the ball - not blocked, missed.  But, that's not the point.  Then head coach Jimmy Johnson, and his soon to be heir Dave Wannstedt were ready to move on at the quarterback position.  He escorted Marino out of the position, and ushered in the Jay Fiedler era. 

Outstanding move there.  First, Marino wasn't ready to retire (remember, he nearly pulled a reverse Chris Carter, and went from Miami to Minnesota to play with the Vikings).  He wanted to play.  His arm still worked.  Sure, he wasn't the most mobile quarterback, and his knees and ankles were failing, but Marino using a walker was better than anything we had on the roster at that time.  Plus this same franchise had Bernie Kosar as a backup quarterback just a few years before - so mobility was the least of the Dolphins' concerns.

Second, Jay Fiedler was destined to fail.  Damon Huard or Scott Mitchell would have had a better chance of success than Fiedler.  Huard and Mitchell were known to Dolphins fans.  They had spent their time under Marino.  They knew the system.  Fiedler was an unknown.  He had played just 13 games in the NFL, starting one, before the Dolphins named him their starter.  By the end of his 5 years with the team, Fiedler had a 36-23 record as a starting quarterback, throwing for 11,040 yards on 936-for-1603 passing (58.4% completions).  He also had 66 touchdowns and 63 interceptions.  But, no matter what he did, Fiedler would never be good enough - he wasn't Dan Marino.

Since Dan Marino's retirement, the Dolphins are 86-92, with 3 playoff appearances - and have had 15 starting quarterbacks.

2. The Retirement of Ricky Williams.

Ricky Williams was the definition of workhorse for the Miami Dolphins.  Following his trade from New Orleans (for four draft picks, including two first rounders), Williams carried the ball 383 times for 1,853 yards, averaging 115.8 yards per game in 2002 - all of which led the league.  He also had 16 touchdowns that season, by far the most of his career.

The next season, Wannstedt continued to rely on Williams as the main offensive weapon, again having him led the NFL in carries.  He finished the year with 392 carries, for 1,372 yards and 9 touchdowns.  

Then, it all came crashing down.  Williams tested positive for marijuana in May 2004, and was facing a 4-game suspension for his second positive drug test.  Just two days before the start of training camp, Williams declared his intention to retire, and left the team.  It was rumored he was facing a third positive test, that would have suspended him for a year, but his sudden departure from the team decimated the fan base and the offense.

The Dolphins had finished 2003 with a 10-6 record, following Williams' retirement, the Dolphins finished 2004 with a 4-12 record. 

In 2005, Williams returned to the Dolphins, but the team would never be able to find the magic it had in 2002 and 2003.  After serving his four game suspension, Williams appeared in the other 12 games that year, starting 4, and finishing with 168 carries for 1,372 yards.  Miami did respond with a winning record (9-7), but missed the playoffs in head coach Nick Saban's first season with the team.

Then, 2006 saw Williams gone again.  With his third violation of the league's substance abuse policy, Williams was suspended for the entire season - which he spent in Toronto playing for the Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.

Williams was reinstated in October 2007.  During his season debut, Williams carried the ball 6 times, before he tore his pectoral muscle and was lost for the rest of the season.

He played all 16 games in 2008, gaining 659 yards on 160 carries.  In 2009, Williams set a new league record, eclipsing the 1,000 yard mark (1,121) for the first time in 6 years, the longest such span between 1,000 yard rushing seasons.    Last year, Williams ran for 673 yards, and two touchdowns, for the Dolphins, before being allowed to leave via free agency this past offseason.

Since his sudden retirement in 2004, the Dolphins have had a 45-69 record.

3. The Trade for Daunte Culpepper.

Before the 2006 season, the Dolphins were once again shopping for a quarterback.  The 2005 season had seen Miami use Gus Frerotte for 15 games, with Sage Rosenfels starting the other.  The Dolphins were in a rare position - two franchise caliber quarterbacks were available, and desired to come to Miami.

The Dolphins weighed free agent quarterback Drew Brees, who had injured his shoulder the previous year and  was coming out of a San Diego franchise who wanted to move on to Phillip Rivers , against the Minnesota Vikings' Daunte Culpepper.  In the end, the Dolphins decided that Brees' should injury would not allow him to be a franchise quarterback any more, while Culpepper, who had injure his knee the previous year, would heal and provide value to Miami.  They sent a second round pick to the Vikings in exchange for the three time Pro-Bowl quarterback.

Culpepper started the first four games of the 2006 season for Miami, struggling in the first two games, before showing a glimpse of his old self in the third game.  The fourth game saw the Dolphins again struggle, and, along with some bad practices, led to Culpepper being benched in favor of Joey Harrington.

Culpepper would undergo surgery for a second time on his knee, be placed on injured reserve, and, with head coach Nick Saban bolting the franchise for the head coach position at the University of Alabama, was released the next summer.

Since the Dolphins made the trade for Culpepper, they are 32-50.  Meanwhile, with Drew Brees, the New Orleans Saints have gone 50-32, with three playoff appearances, including the 2009 Super Bowl Championship.  Miami made it to the playoffs in 2008, with Chad Pennington at the helm.

I know there are probably a million others.  Just off the top of my head, I could see the hiring of Nick Saban, the hiring of Cam Cameron, the trade for Ricky Williams, the trade for A.J. Feely, the trade for Cleo Lemon, etc., etc., all having impacts on this franchise.  All of them are viable candidates for this list.  But, I personally will stick with my top three.  What about you?  What other candidates can you remember?  Which one of my top three do you disagree with?  

 

[Ilovemyfins4eva]

it was the sudden retirement of ricky.

yes, we had been stuck with being alittle above average to mediocre when dan retired, and even alittle before that, but at least we were finishing with 10, 11 win seasons, always in playoff contention, exciting to watch, and our disappointment would stem from games we would lose that would keep us from clinching a playoff spot, or meaningful games in general, rather than talking about our coach all the time, our gm, how inept they are ,etc. we were pissed back then because we were not reaching the ultimate level in the superbowl, as opposed to now where we get ecstatic if we beat a team like cleveland, etc.

the day when ricky retired is when things really started to hit rock bottom.

i believe that before the 04 season, we had only 6 losing seasons in franchise HISTORY!!!!! since 04, we have had losing seasons in 04, 06, 07, 09, 2010. so in a span of 7 seasons, we have had almost as many losing seasons as we had total as a franchise in 38 seasons from 66 -04.

the day ricky retired is when things started hit ultimate rock bottom. what started the dolphins spiral into mediocrity. well i think saying we have been mediocre since ricky retired is being nice. the real definition of mediocre is 500. 8-8. we have had below avg records in 5 of 7 years since then, and 2 of those years we were horrendous in 04 and 07, in 06 we were pretty bad, and 09 and 2010 we were below avg. that is not mediocre.

yes we had problems before, but every team has certain problems, but that fateful sunday in july, when we all woke up to the new, DOLPHINS STAR RB RICKY WILLIAMS RETIRES, is when it all went down hill.

 

[endorPHINS72]

it was the sudden retirement of ricky.

yes, we had been stuck with being alittle above average to mediocre when dan retired, and even alittle before that, but at least we were finishing with 10, 11 win seasons, always in playoff contention, exciting to watch, and our disappointment would stem from games we would lose that would keep us from clinching a playoff spot, or meaningful games in general, rather than talking about our coach all the time, our gm, how inept they are ,etc. we were pissed back then because we were not reaching the ultimate level in the superbowl, as opposed to now where we get ecstatic if we beat a team like cleveland, etc.

the day when ricky retired is when things really started to hit rock bottom.

i believe that before the 04 season, we had only 6 losing seasons in franchise HISTORY!!!!! since 04, we have had losing seasons in 04, 06, 07, 09, 2010. so in a span of 7 seasons, we have had almost as many losing seasons as we had total as a franchise in 38 seasons from 66 -04.

the day ricky retired is when things started hit ultimate rock bottom. what started the dolphins spiral into mediocrity. well i think saying we have been mediocre since ricky retired is being nice. the real definition of mediocre is 500. 8-8. we have had below avg records in 5 of 7 years since then, and 2 of those years we were horrendous in 04 and 07, in 06 we were pretty bad, and 09 and 2010 we were below avg. that is not mediocre.

yes we had problems before, but every team has certain problems, but that fateful sunday in july, when we all woke up to the new, DOLPHINS STAR RB RICKY WILLIAMS RETIRES, is when it all went down hill.

P.S, i know the article states, what

I respectfully disagree. This franchise started its downward spiral, albeit a slow one, when Dave Wannstedt joined the team in 1999.

 

[Ilovemyfins4eva]

I respectfully disagree. This franchise started its downward spiral, albeit a slow one, when Dave Wannstedt joined the team in 1999.

ok, thats not totally wrong, i get what you are saying.

however, the difference is, even after marino retired, not saying we were elite, but we still made the playoffs a couple more times, won a playoff game, won a few division titles, if not for choking in 02 we win that ( obviously it sucked but aside from 08, when was the last time we had such a big game like that pats game to end the year?) and 03 we missed the playoffs but went 10-6. the common factor their is we still had winning seasons every one of those years, and not saying that is all i want, but the team was exciting, fun to watch, and in it all those years.

since ricky retired.

04- 4-12
05- 9-7, after we started 3-7 and were out of it.
06- 6-10, started 1-6, out of it again by week 8
07- 1-15- need i say more
08- 11-5- one fun year we have had
09- 7-9- made it interesting but in the end finished 2 games under
10- 7-9 - again, same basically as 09, although we didnt ever really control our own destiny.
11- 0-2 so far, who knows.

total record since- 45- 69

 

[phinfan33]

Perhaps our off course ship known as the Miami Dolphins can get righted when Ross fires those 2 a$$clowns Ireland&Sparano,and get a real GM&HC in to run things.

 

[buttonwood]

The dolphins have suffered because of the lack of continuity over the last 12 years. Remember we had the greatest coach for 25 years and then Jimmy the quitter. Now we have had what 5 coaches in the last decade? it takes continuity to sustain success.

 

[NYPhinzFan]

The dolphins have suffered because of the lack of continuity over the last 12 years. Remember we had the greatest coach for 25 years and then Jimmy the quitter. Now we have had what 5 coaches in the last decade? it takes continuity to sustain success.

You hit the nail on the head. We wanna catch lightning in a bottle, but the fact remains; when you have players playing together in the same system under the same coaches for a couple seasons, they build synergy and become difficult to stop. That is the main reason I was wishing we didn't get Harbaugh. A new coach comes in, turns over the roster, implement his system, and we start from scratch again. When the team isn't winning because of a lack of continuity, we fire the coach in 3 years, and the cycle begins again. I hope Tony turns it around and we don't have to go through that again.

 

[trojanma]

I respectfully disagree. This franchise started its downward spiral, albeit a slow one, when Dave Wannstedt joined the team in 1999.

Exactly
Spielman and Wannstadt ruined this team.
The Ricky trade itself ruined this team.
4 draft picks including two first founders for a flaky running back!
Are kidding me!
Havent we learned anything. That was a kings ransom in picks. During a time when the league was shifting to qb play we were spending all our resources on running backs.
Then there was the feeley trade, the one for that rams backup.
You can talk rick spielman into trading a third round pick for magic beans
Countless empty drafts.
I am not surprised Saban bolted. The cupboard was completely bare. The turnover only made things worse since that time.

 

[UHHS]

First off let me make it clear, I love Jake Long but

Not drafting Ryan was the biggest mistake, yes bigger then Pat White, that Tuna ever did. Like I said, Jake Long is greatness but sadly enough, Jake is not a franchise QB. If we had taken Ryan we would all probably not be having these posts. Yes Jake is a valued player, yes he has been an All Pro. no, he cannot throw accurate passes downfield.

I feel not taking Ryan was the start of the newest downfall for us. Yeah we had Penny but we all knew, even Tuna, he was one hit away from retirement. Franchise QB folks, if ones there and you have the first pick, you do not draft a LT, no way.

In the entire history of the NFL draft, only 3 offensive tackles were taken at the number one overall pick. Draft started in 1936

1968 Ran Yary Minn. Vikings. In 68 the NFL was still all about the ground game for the most part.

1997 Orlando Pace St. Louis Tony Banks QB, he sukked, but they had Dick Vermeil as HC and some kid named Kurt Warner stepped up when Green went down in 99 and the rest is story book stuff.

2008 Jake Long Miami I know Tuna was depending on Penny taking him to the promised land and when White came along, he drooled and was wrong again.

Think about it, Daft started in 1936 3 LT taken with the first pick in 75 years. Now, QB, guess how many were taken with the number one overall pick in those 75 years and most recently this year and last year, Newton and Bradford. How many total in 75 years ? 49 QBs have been taken with the first pick, thats out of 75 drafts. Its always a roll of the dice but would you rather roll the dice knowing you would win a jackpot if you hit or if you would just win somethng decent if you hit ? If I am going for it all, you go for QB, Jackpot.

Not picking Matt Ryan with the number one pick in the draft set this team back 5 to 10 years, it really did. Jake is less then healthy now due to being left in a game too long in pre season so,

 

[Mogwai]

It's an interesting question. Where did the change really start. We haven't been a consistently good team since early in Wannstedt's downward spiral. Wannstedt could easily be considered a turning point. But that relates to a much bigger problem which was JJ's ego. An out of control force that squandered Marino's last years and promoted an unworthy successor. Dumping Shula in the first place for a coach whose heart wasn't it for the long haul was also a pretty big turning point. Or maybe it was the cracks that showed during Shula's run where he showed undeserved loyalty to an incompetent like Olivadotti and doomed the team. We've fallen so far, it's interesting to chart the history of the team and see the turns that knocked us off the mountain.

 

[Lilseb93]

Having a new coach and QB every couple of years has ruined this franchise. There's no stability. Please Ross, get guys that will be around for a long time. Not jackasses like Wanny, Saban, Cameron, and Sparano.

 

[ucfphinfan12]

I think it started when they ushered Don Shula out the door and they tried to make the Dolphins a running team. Jimmy quit, then comes back. And perhaps the most important, The Robbies having to sell the team, because of the family feud over the taxes and selling of the team. I think that Wayne Huizenga really cared about the team and tried to win, and I just don't get those same vibes from the current ownership.

 

[Kistner10]

I agree with the posters that said the Ricky retirement was the downturn. We weren't a dynasty before that but we were a consistant playoff team. Some even considered us a dark horse Super Bowl contender during those years.

But the Ricky retirement caused a lot more problems than losing your best player. We had traded a 2nd round pick for an unproven QB, who had no chance to succeed once Ricky retired(Not that he would have anyways, but it certainly didn't help his cause) and than we trade Oguneleye for 50 cents on the dollar because Speilman was trying to piece together our offense which was built upon the running game.

We got Booker and a third for Ogunleye, and than traded the 3rd for Lamar Gordon who played 1 game for us. In that offseason we lost our best player, a top pass rusher in his prime, and a 2nd and 3rd round pick. We have never recovered.

A big problem since than has been the constant changing of personel and coaches. We went from a small but fast 4-3 team in Wanny to a power team in Saban to Cam Cameron who wanted speed and precision on his team back to a power running team in Sparano. Everytime we've switched coaches it has been the complete opposite from the previous coach and we gut our whole roster only to fire the coach in a year or two. Sparano doesn't seem like he'll last the season from reports I've read, so he'll have lasted 3.

The Next coach we bring in will want his own guys and philosophys installed so we'll probably have to go through another 3 year plan even though we have some talent on this team. It's a shame because I remember being upset about not getting past the 2nd round of the playoffs and now I would give anything for us to win a playoff game.

 

[roy_miami]

Just compare the drafts between the dolphins and steelers since 1999. the steelers seem to hit on at least one player in the first 2 rounds every year where as we traded a lot of our picks away and missed on most of the ones we kept.

 

[MD]

I And perhaps the most important, The Robbies having to sell the team, because of the family feud over the taxes and selling of the team. I think that Wayne Huizenga really cared about the team and tried to win, and I just don't get those same vibes from the current ownership.

Joe Robbie understood the operation of an NFL franchise and since the sale from the Robbie Family to Wayne it has not been the same. It is hard not to like Wayne because he loved the Dolphins but he treated it like a fan instead of one of his businesses.

The jury is out on Ross. He has done what he thinks will get fans in the stadium but has yet to show he can get them out of Club Liv and into the stands by putting a top notch cant miss product on the field.