Miami Dolphins: The 6 Most Overrated Dolphins in Franchise History

Overrated is often an overused term. College students love to chant it as their school as they are about to upset a ranked opponent.

That is an easy use of the word, but it becomes a lot more difficult to put the word on a particular player.

It was tough to devise this list. Some of these players are often on the best Dolphins of all-time lists or some are just big fan favorites.

I personally think the Miami Dolphins franchise has a greater quantity of underrated players than overrated ones.

There were some like Tedd Ginn, Sammy Knight, Jason Allen and Joey Porter who could be called overrated. However, I did not think they were Dolphins long enough or got enough playing time to be classified as most overrated in franchise history. 

However, there were some Dolphins who stuck out to me as being overrated.

6. QB David Woodley

To be fair, Woodley had the difficult task of following the great Bob Griese and ended up being the bridge for another great in Dan Marino.

Despite that, Woodley led the Dolphins to Super Bowl XVII. When you take your team to the Super Bowl you instantly become a fan favorite.

Woodley had a 27-12-1 record as a Miami Dolphins QB, however that was mostly because of being surrounded by good teammates.

While in Miami, Woodley only completed 52.9 percent of his passes and had 34 TDs to 42 INTs. He had more INTs than TDs in every year he played in Miami.

Woodley was not the reason the Dolphins won so many games and thus why he is one of the most overrated Dolphins in history.

5. CB Terrell Buckley

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19 Sep 1999: Terrell Buckley #27 of the Miami Dolphins carries the ball during the game against the Arizona Cardinals at the Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida. The Dolphins defeated the Cardinals 19-16. Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons /Allsport

Buckley spent six seasons in Miami and posted good numbers with 24 INTs, returning three for TDs.

His stats may suggest that he was a good CB for the Dolphins, however, anyone that watched him would tell you otherwise.

For every INT he made, he was burnt for a long TD. He was also a very poor tackler, which made him a prime target for teams to run at.

There was nothing more frustrating as a Dolphins fan than watching good old T-Buck chasing after his WR as the WR crossed the goal line.

4. RB Jim Kiick

Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 26: Former Miami Dolphin Jim Kiick heads down field against the Miami Hurricanes at the Orange Bowl January 26, 2008 in Miami, Florida. This is the last game to be played in the Orange Bowl. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images)

I know I might get some heat for this one.

The two-time Pro Bowler is the Dolphins fifth all-time leading rusher.

He was a part of the 1972 undefeated Miami Dolphins team and scored the deciding TD in the 14-7 Super Bowl win over the Washington Redskins.

However, after being a starter his first few years, he was benched in favor of Mercury Morris in 1972 to better compliment Larry Csonka.

He was relegated to being a short yardage and receiving back for the rest of his career. While that may not be his fault as it was Coach Don Shula's decision, but there has never been so much excitement around a guy that was mostly a short yardage back.

It is hard to rate a guy highly that, once the team started winning Super Bowls, was just a role player.

Then he took money from the World Football League in 1975 and jumped ship because he was bitter about losing his starting job.

3. TE Randy McMicheal

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 18: Tight end Randy McMicheal #81 of the Miami Dolphins tries to avoid safey Oliver Celestin #45 of the New York Jets during their game on September 18, 2005 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Jets defea

Not many realize that McMicheal is seventh in Dolphins franchise history in RECs and twelfth in receiving yards.

Pretty impressive for a TE that was in Miami for just five seasons.

However, not many realize that because McMicheal was one of the most frustrating players to watch in Dolphins history.

McMicheal was a very athletic TE and that got him into trouble. He would try to jump and dive and juke his way for extra yards, which sounds like a good thing, but not when you have butterfingers like McMicheal did.

The Dolphins would be driving and McMicheal would cough up a critical fumble.

2. RB Sammie Smith

T.G. Higgins/Getty Images

1989-1990: Running back Sammie Smith of the Miami Dolphins runs with the ball. Mandatory Credit: T. G. Higgins /Allsport

Keeping with the fumble theme, there was not a more frustrating player to watch than Sammie Smith.

Smith was taken ninth overall by the Dolphins in the 1989 Draft to be the RB that QB Dan Marino desperately needed.

Smith is more along the lines of being overrated from expectations than what he accomplished as a Dolphin (though in 1990 he was 10th in the NFL in rushing attempts and 9th in rushing TDs).

Smith lasted just three years in Miami and was booed out of town after numerous critical fumbles.

1. LB Channing Crowder

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 12: Channing Crowder #52 of the Miami Dolphins celebrates a sack against the New York Jets at New Meadowlands Stadium on December 12, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Apparently, I do not see what the Dolphins front office sees in Crowder.

The Dolphins continue to throw money at him and he has managed to continue to start for six seasons and counting.

He is already in the top ten for the all-time franchise lead for tackles (granted tackles has only been an official stat since 2001).

However, Crowder gets run over and beat in coverage more than anyone I have ever seen. Certainly more than anyone else that continues to start year-in and year-out.

Zach Thomas may have been run over a few times but he always hung on to the ankles on his way down, I have never seen Crowder do that.

Then throw in his mouth, which he does not back up, and you have the perfect mold for an overrated player.