Miami Dolphins: The 11 Most Despised Players and Figures in Dolphins History

Some have blabbered about their team's superiority, scored the most heartbreaking of touchdowns, or represented everything there is to despise about a rival.

Others have driven the Dolphins' season in the ground, symbolized an era of draft busts, or never lived up to the massive contracts they received.

Together, they are the most despised figures in Miami Dolphins history.

They are the coaches and players who make your blood boil and your heart sink. Without them, there's no telling how many Super Bowl rings the Dolphins could have accumulated by now.

But somebody has to serve as the foil to Miami's perpetual Super Bowl aspirations, and these 11 have done an exceptionally efficient job.

No. 11: Joe Theismann

Prior to his senior season at Notre Dame, quarterback Joe Theismann (pronounced Theez-man) changed the pronunciation of his name to "Thighs-man" in order to rhyme with "Heisman." It's unrelated to the Dolphins, but it was the start of Theismann's rise into a local and national pariah.

In 1971, the Miami Dolphins drafted Joe Theismann with a fourth round selection. Nobody remembers this because the team failed to successfully negotiate a contract with the future Redskins legend. Theismann proceeded to play in the CFL for a few years before joining the 'Skins in 1974.

Eight years later, he led the Washington Redskins to a victory over the Dolphins in Super Bowl XVII.

No. 10: Wayne Cherbet

At 5'10", 188 pounds, Wayne Chrebet looked more like a ball boy than an NFL wide receiver. But Chrebet wasn't just some run of the mill wideout, he was a sure-handed Dolphin killer.

Chrebet just always seemed to make a clutch reception when the Jets needed it most. In fact, a whopping 65 percent of his career receptions were third down conversions—and who knows how many of those spurned the 'Fins.

No. 9: Kellen Winslow

In 1981, the Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers met in the Orange Bowl for a Divisional Round playoff game. What transpired over the night became known as the "Epic in Miami."

San Diego jumped out to a 24-0 lead in the first quarter, but the Dolphins fought back. One of the longest playoff games in NFL history concluded in overtime, when Chargers kicker Rolf Benirschke nailed the game-winning field goal. But the 'Bolts would never have been able to fend off the Dolphins had it not been for tight end Kellen Winslow's 13 receptions.

But at the end of the game, Winslow dramatically fell to the ground and had his teammates carry him off the field. Numerous Dolphins have publicly denounced Winslow's carry-off as a melodramatic act.

No. 8: Sammie Smith

From 1983 to 1988, five different running backs led the Miami Dolphins in rushing yards. In order to install a stable and potent rushing attack, Don Shula selected Florida State standout Sammie Smith with the ninth overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft.

Smith led the team in rushing in 1989 and 1990 but was ultimately a failure. Apparently, Miami did not fully investigate Smith's medical history, because he was plagued by a severe case of fumbleitis. In three seasons with the Dolphins, Smith coughed up 17 fumbles.

In back-to-back weeks during the 1991 season, Smith committed a pair of costly goal-line fumbles that led to his departure from the team.

No. 7: Ray Lucas

It's hard to embrace a former New York Jet, but it's even harder to embrace a former Jet who may have ruined a Dolphins Super Bowl run.

At the outset of the 2002 season, Jay Fiedler led the Dolphins to a 5-1 record; however, he suffered a finger injury during Week 6 that would keep him sidelined for two months. Former Jet and Patriot Ray Lucas, who had enjoyed marginal success as a back up on both teams, took the reigns and ran Miami's season into the ground.

Lucas went 2-4, throwing more interceptions than touchdowns and posting a 69.9 quarterback rating. Because of Lucas' incompetent play, Miami fell to 7-5 and ended up missing the playoffs. To make matters worse, that Dolphins roster presented their best shot at making a deep playoff run.

No. 6: Jumbo Elliott

The Monday Night Miracle. Need I say more?

Jets offensive lineman Jumbo Elliott never made any publicly disparaging comments towards the Dolphins or instigated any fights, but when a player crushes a team's soul like he did, he becomes despised.

For those of you unfamiliar with Elliott's actions, here's a brief synopsis: Miami hopped out to a 23 point lead over the Jets in a 2000 Monday Night match up. New York mounted an incredibly painful comeback that culminated with lineman Jumbo Elliott catching the game tying touchdown.

The Jets went on to win the game in overtime.

No. 5: Fireman Ed

The Miami Dolphins and New York Jets have formed one of the NFL's most bitter rivalries, but things are far more heated in the stands than on the field. Dolphins-Jets games annually draw the most passionate of crowds, often resulting in numerous brawls and arrests.

No Jets fan is more recognizable than "Fireman" Ed Anzalone. He has become the unofficial mascot for the franchise and leads that awfully agonizing and unoriginal "J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS" chant every five seconds.

Fireman Ed has come to symbolize how everybody views Jets fans—obnoxiously loud and arrogant.

No. 4: Ted Ginn, Jr.

When Ted Ginn, Jr. was drafted with the ninth overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, most assumed he would bring unstoppable speed and a deadly return-man to a team lacking both. 

After a forgettable rookie season, Ginn actually made huge progress in 2008 (which everybody forgets). He basically doubled his production, reeling in 56 receptions for 790 yards.

But then, in 2009, Ginn inexplicably fell off the map.

His numbers reflected those of his rookie season, and rather than continue that promising progress he showed in '08, he regressed, dropped countless passes and failed to connect with Chad Henne (although Ted Ginn did burn Darrelle Revis for a TD in 2009, something no elite receiver managed to do).

And just in case you didn't despite Ginn enough, Miami passed on the likes of Patrick Willis and Darrelle Revis in order to draft the flimsy receiver.

No. 3: Rex Ryan

Rex Ryan has only been head coach of the New York Jets for two short seasons, but it feels like he and his obnoxiously loud and constantly blabbering mouth has been around for decades.

Ryan's brash comments and perennial Super Bowl promises has made him public enemy number one in Miami. But to make matters even worse, Ryan has built the Jets into a loaded contender.

It's difficult to find a figure so unanimously despised by a fan base.

No. 2: Tom Olivadotti

In the wake of Dan Henning's departure, we have been reminded how easily a terrible coordinator can run a team into the ground. But Henning's failures pale in comparison to those of former Dolphins defensive coordinator Tom Olivadotti.

From 1987 to 1995, he oversaw one of the worst defenses in football. The Dolphins finished, in chronological order, 26, 26, 24, 7, 25, 10, 20, 19, and 16th in the league under Olivadotti.

We can blame countless variables for Dan Marino's failed Super Bowl quests, but Olivadotti's abysmal defenses might be the most responsible.

No.1: Nick Saban

Dec. 21, 2006: "I'm not going to be the Alabama head coach."

Jan. 4, 2007: Nick Saban accepts Alabama head coaching position.

No other Dolphins figure has become the subject of so much scorn as Nick Saban has. Not only did Saban blatantly lie to the entire organization and city, but he left the team in shambles.

Just months earlier, he deemed Daunte Culpepper a better fit than Drew Brees and signed him to a massive contract.

In 2007, the year after Saban bolted, Miami went 1-15.