Miami Dolphins: Projecting Future Members of Their Honor Roll

Let's take a short break from season previews and training camps, shall we?

As much of a fan and Bleacher Report Featured Columnist I am of the Miami Dolphins, I'm also a Dolphins historian.

It started at the age of 9: a rainy day knocked the cable out, thus forcing a trip to Blockbuster Video for myself, my cousin, my sister and my aunt.

For my sister it was some Care Bear movie that I can't quite recall at this time. I think my cousin and I might have played with our Batman action figures for all we know.

My cousin thankfully has good taste in movies and chose what I was going to choose: Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. (Forgive us, we were young kids and didn't notice Kevin Costner attempting, failing, then giving up using a British accent through the movie. We also didn't care about Bryan Adam's sappy and crappy song. We were kids, all we saw was the cool way he shot a bow and arrow.)

Since my cousin picked out the only movie I was interested in, I was stuck. Everything else I had wanted to see, we already had, so I just wandered until I saw a sports section.

Then there it was, staring at me. A VHS 25th anniversary History of the Miami Dolphins.

I chose that, and it was there that I actually learned about the '72 Dolphins and what they meant. I saw Marino during his rookie season, as well as his awesome '84 season that fell just a bit short. I was already a huge Dolphin fan, but this only sucked me in more.

So since then, I've been a Dolphins historian. Now I think about where some Dolphins would be ranked historically, which brings me to the Miami Dolphins Honor Roll.

This season they will welcome in their 22nd member: Tight End and long time broadcaster Jim Mandich. He will not only go in as a player, but as a special contributor for all of the work that he has done with the Dolphins over the years.

Sadly this is five years too late. Its a shame that the Mad Dog won't actually be there to thank the fans, team and community that he loved so much.

But who else should join the Dolphins Honor Roll in the future?

I've thought about this for a while, starting with ten names. Then upon doing the research, trimmed it to five for one reason or another.

I guess with the running back I have as the first picture, you already know one of them. Let's see both why I chose him, as well as the rest of the class, which contains two current Dolphins: one that should be indisputable, and the other that I can say is a lock for the future (barring injury of course.) 

1. Zach Thomas

YEARS IN MIAMI: 1996-2007

CAREER NUMBERS (MIAMI NUMBERS ONLY): 1,340 Tackles. 19.5 sacks. 16 Forced Fumbles, seven fumble recoveries, 17 interceptions, four interceptions returned for touchdowns.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 7-time Pro Bowler, 5 First-Team All-Pro.

Zach Thomas shouldn't just be in the Dolphins Honor Roll, he should have his #54 retired and be on his way to Canton.

With apologies to Nick Buoniconti, Bryan Cox and John Offerdahl, Zach Thomas is the greatest linebacker in Dolphins history.

Coming in at only 5'11" 230 (but looking more 5'9" 210), Thomas wasn't big, but he played big.

Like many others you will see on this list, its a shame that he never made it to the Super Bowl.

Hell he never even made it to the AFC Championship game.

But he was the definition of a "ball-hawk." Thomas knew exactly where the ball was at all times, and made sure that whoever had it paid dearly.

Thomas was also a member of the NFL's all-decade team for the 00's.

2. Jason Taylor

YEARS IN MIAMI: 1997-2007; 2009; 2011

CAREER NUMBERS (MIAMI NUMBERS): 582 tackles, 124.0 sacks, 42 forced fumbles, 27 fumble recoveries, eight interceptions with three for touchdowns.  

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 6-time Pro Bowler, 3-time First-Team All-Pro. 2006 NFL Defensive Player of The Year. 

Along with former teammate and brother-and-law Zach Thomas, JT was also on the NFL's all-decade team. 

Taylor also leads active players in sacks going into the 2011, however I know there are many fans who believe that one season with the Jets automatically disqualifies him from being on the Honor Roll. 

I say that's hogwash. Look at the numbers with Miami. That alone makes him worthy of not only the Dolphins Honor Roll, but he should also join Marino, Griese and Czonka in having his number permanently retired, and become a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

3. Sam Madison

YEARS IN MIAMI: 1997-2005

CAREER NUMBERS (MIAMI NUMBERS ONLY): 31 interceptions with two for touchdowns. 322.5 tackles. 55 pass deflections, nine forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries.  

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 4-time Pro Bowler, 2 First-Team All-Pro.

These aren't quite hall of fame numbers (he becomes a borderline candidate once you factor in his numbers with the Giants from 2006-2008) but those are good enough to be considered a member of the Dolphins ring of honor. 

4. Patrick Surtain

YEARS IN MIAMI: 1998-2004

CAREER NUMBERS (MIAMI NUMBERS ONLY): 29 interceptions with two returned for touchdowns. 298.5 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 51 pass deflections, four forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 3-time Pro Bowler, 1-time First-Team All-Pro.

Pat Surtain made up the other half of one of the best corner tandems of the 00's. He was the more physical corner, which at times could get him into trouble.

But Surtain's numbers, as well as a claim that both he and Madison could possibly make of being the best Dolphins CB of all time Surtain-ly should lead to him getting some consideration into the Dolphins Honor Roll.

5. Ricky Williams

YEARS IN MIAMI: 2002-2003; 2005; 2007-2010

CAREER NUMBERS (MIAMI NUMBERS ONLY): 6,436 yards on 1,509 attempts for an average of 4.3 yards per carry and 48 rushing touchdowns. 197 catches for 1,431 yards and six receiving touchdowns. 7,867 overall yards from scrimmage. 30 fumbles, one retirement, two drug suspensions. (Sorry had to include those numbers in there.)  

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 1-time pro bowler, 1-time All Pro. 2002 NFL Rushing Leader.

This one might be a bit controversial. The numbers say he belongs, but some of the other circumstances might state otherwise.

But Ricky wasn't just loved for what he did on the field in Miami, but also for what he did off the field. Even though he's now a Baltimore Raven, he'll forever be the most linked to the Miami Dolphins, as he continues to make South Florida his home.

Maybe in order for Ricky to make it into the Dolphins Honor Roll he might have to have a Jim Mandich type post-football career and become a radio analyst for the Dolphins (and I really wouldn't put it past him to do it if for no other reason than to prove once again how he's overcome his Social Anxiety Disorder).

But the numbers alone, plus the impact he's had on this team and his overall popularity with fans tells me that after he retires, whenever that may be, Ricky should be welcomed into the Miami Dolphins Honor Roll.

Who's Currently on the Dolphins and What They'd Need to Do to Join??

Only one person in that last slide show is a current Miami Dolphin. Three of them are retired (and sadly didn't really retire as Dolphins, Zach Thomas' retirement as a Dolphin was a technicality) and the other is unlikely to retire with the Dolphins.

But what about the current Miami Dolphins other than Jason Taylor?

Problem is its tough to judge because their best players are in their second or third years with the team. The only one who looks like he's well on his way going into his fourth year with the Dolphins is Jake Long.

Brandon Marshall needs a great stretch, while Reggie Bush needs to do what Ricky did in Miami (sans the retirements, drug suspensions and fumbles of course.)

Cameron Wake would have to consistently give us what he gave last season, while Vontae Davis and Sean Smith are going to have to replicate Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain's careers. 

Meanwhile for Chad Henne, its simple. Win a Super Bowl, and he's in. 

If there's anyone I missed, feel free to leave a comment.

And in the meantime, enjoy the video I posted, for that's the only way the Jets can beat the Dolphins! (Yeah I know the Chiefs are the opponents but still.)

Thomas Galicia is a Miami Dolphins Featured Columnist. Follow him on twitter @thomasgalicia. For more of his opinions on other subjects, visit www.thomasgalicia.com.