GatewayRedbirds.com

Best team ever. Proof is the record. Nobody else can do it. That's all.

_________________
"Boy, that was exciting. I always say it ain't over til it's over, but that one should've been over a while ago." ~ Yogi Berra

Of course, I think a modern NFL team could play 7 men on the field and win by default when the entire '72 Dolphins team wound up in the hospital by halftime.

_________________

Larry Czsonka would kill people today. He would rush for 150 yards, and then Mercury Morris would rush for a 160. Bob Griese would hit Paul Warfield with 3 passes for 100 yards, while only attempting 5. The other two would be a screen pass to Jim Kiick for an 8 yard gain, and then other would be incomplete. Nick Buonoconti would have 22 tackles, Jake Scott would have 3 picks with how they throw the ball around these days, and Garo Y. would kick 75 yard field goals in these domes. Larry Little would decleat 3 players a game and put 4 in hospitals. It would be a blood bath. Play calling would go like this:

1-10: Sweep right for 5 yards.
2-5: Cszonka up the middle for 4.
3-1: Cszonka up the middle for 2.
1-10: Sweel left, Morris for 7.
2-3: Pitch left, Morris for 5.
1-10: Morris up the middle for 2.
2-8: Off tackle right, Morris for 3.
3-5: Sweep left, Morris for 8.
1-10: Czsonka off tackle for 3.
2-7: Morris off tackle for 3.
3-4: Czsonka up the middle for 5.
1-10: Sweep left to Morris, gain of 5.
2-5: Play action to Warfield, 28 yd. touchdown pass.

And this would just repeat itself all day, all season.

17-0.

Best team ever.

_________________
"Boy, that was exciting. I always say it ain't over til it's over, but that one should've been over a while ago." ~ Yogi Berra

Larry Csonka up the middle for -1.
Injury Timeout.
Mercury Morris replaces Larry Csonka.
Mercury Morris off tackle for 3.
Injury Timeout.
Jim Kiick replaces Mercury Morris.
Earl Morall sacked for -7.
Injury Timeout.
Dolphins forfeit.

_________________

Cszonka was my favorite player in the NFL in the 70s. He would run through and drag defenses today just as he did back then. It was a way meaner game back then, even if the average size was a bit smaller.

Csonka would have to bulk up to be a greeter at Wal-Mart, I say.

_________________

My very first memory of anything sports related was 1972. I was four. I only remember the camera panning to show that the Dolphins had beaten the Vikings. For some reason we had a lot of family over. Most were distraught, I was thrilled. I liked the Dolphins and hated the Vikings.

I loved Csonka too, and believe I have a paper back book about him with him on the cover, nose bloodied and probably broken.

_________________

Catch my drift? Or am I being obtuse?

Plus he's a cheater.

_________________

According to Don Shula, the '72 Dolphins celebrating when the last unbeaten team loses is a urban legend, but I'll bet there are Dolphin fans who are popping corks. My Packers had a great run, the best in the history of the team (since 1921), but in the end you have to tip your cap to perfection.

_________________
"Loving a cat is like loving baseball. 'It breaks your heart. It’s designed to break your heart.' That’s what late baseball commissioner Bart Giamatti said about the game, and it also applies to cats. Like baseball, loving a cat is unpredictable. Occasionally it’s glorious, but sometimes it’s terrifying and really sad. You live and die with it, think of it as a friend, and then it’s gone. Yet we keep going back." - Keith Bowers, A Love Letter to My Cat

But in the next breath he did say some guys would call each other and have toast over the phone. I would.

The '72 Dolphins were perfect timing for me, I reached full sports awareness probably the year before when I cried when Dallas kicked their asses in the Super Bowl. We were just talking last night about our "Red Ryder" gift as we watched Christmas story and I had 2. The first was an HO gauge train set I got when I was 6, and the second was a Miami Dolphin helmet. Not just any helmet mind you .. this was "Made for Competitive Play". And very few of you will probably know what that label meant on the back of the helmet. Richie might. They used to see these really cheapo helmets with this grey foam interior, this helmet was much better quality and although I question whether it really was for competitive play it certainly was a step in that direction.

And a cool Miami Dolphin story with this helmet. I beat the [expletive] out this helmet. I ran into friends, bushes,trees, basemenet walls ... you name it. At the time I didn't realize that having a helmet like that would soon become a badge of honor in HS, but I thought the helmets were supposed to look pretty and perfect. So I wrote the Miami Dolphins, explained my situation, and asked for a replacement sticker. Six weeks later, I receive a package in the mail that was 4 inches thick. Stickers, decals, a signed photo of Mercury Morris, a yearbook, a team photo, these little helmets that you got in the bubble gum machine and on and on. I got it in July I remember because training camps were opening up and oh my god talk about Christmas in July.

Can you imagine a team doing that today? It cost me a stamp.

_________________
"Boy, that was exciting. I always say it ain't over til it's over, but that one should've been over a while ago." ~ Yogi Berra