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Dolphins: In Their Words

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Ira Kaufman

@tampatrib.com

Published: January 27, 2009

DICK ANDERSON

Dick Anderson, 62, was drafted by the Dolphins in 1968 and was named to three Pro Bowls at safety before retiring in 1978. Anderson earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1973 and joined the Dolphins Honor Roll in 2006.

"Each year, it gets a little sweeter. The 1972 team set a record that is 89 years old now because nobody has ever had a perfect season, before or since, in the history of the league. You can smile a little bit bigger, knowing we're the only team that stayed undefeated by winning the championship game.

"I can remember Coach Shula telling us in 1972 that nobody remembers the team that loses the Super Bowl. We thought we were prepared to make a run that year after losing to Dallas the previous season in the Super Bowl. I think we were an even better team in '73. I think that 1973 club dominated more and for that two-year period, I think we were the best, ever.

"People look back and say we only won two Super Bowls, but you need to look beyond the numbers. Bob Griese fractured his ankle in the fifth game in 1972 and for the next 11 games, Earl Morrall was our quarterback. What would those Pittsburgh teams have done if they lost Terry Bradshaw?

"What I remember most from the Super Bowl against the Redskins was how Manny Fernandez dominated their center, Len Hauss. Manny made 17 tackles that day and he could have easily won the MVP award instead of Jake Scott."

MIKE DITKA

Mike Ditka, 69, was the first tight end selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and he caught a touchdown pass against Miami in Super Bowl VI as Dallas wrapped up a 24-3 victory. He went on to a successful coaching career, leading the 1985 Bears to a Super Bowl rout of the Patriots. Currently an ESPN analyst, Ditka is active in the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund, seeking better benefits for retired players.

"Even though we beat Miami in that Super Bowl in New Orleans, you could tell that organization was going places. The Dolphins had a heck of a defense, but nobody seemed to notice because they had such good players on offense. Everybody got involved on that team and they played for each other. During that perfect season, you could tell how determined they were to make history."

JIM KIICK

Jim Kiick, 62, led Miami in rushing in 1968 and '69. By 1972, he became a short-yardage specialist and Kiick's 1-yard scoring run against the Redskins in Super Bowl VII extended Miami's lead to 14-0. In 1975, Kiick, Larry Csonka and Paul Warfield jumped to the World Football League.

"All the members of that '72 club are very proud of our accomplishment. I think Csonka put it best years ago - when you've got a 1.000 winning percentage, that doesn't change whether you've done it in 17 games or 19 games. We were just trying to get back to the Super Bowl. During the season, we never thought about going undefeated.

"We weren't about the individual, and that's a lot different than today, in whatever endeavor you want to look at. People in that generation cared about their team. They cared about each other. People now are just starting to realize the difficulty of what we did that year. Every team we played had a decent quarterback. They call it parity today - I call it mediocrity."

LEN DAWSON

Len Dawson, 73, is a Hall of Fame quarterback who led the 1969 Chiefs to victory in Super Bowl IV. He was under center in Kansas City on Christmas Day when the 1971 Dolphins beat the Chiefs in double overtime, still the longest game played in NFL history. Dawson's Chiefs also dropped a 20-10 decision to Miami in the 1972 season opener, the first game played at Arrowhead Stadium. He is currently a sports anchor in Kansas City.

"The Dolphins were a heck of a football team, but we were better in '71. I had a tough time getting over that double-OT loss. We all did. They beat us pretty good in 1972 when we moved into the new stadium. You have to remember that Larry Csonka was a dominating fullback. This guy would come at you for four quarters and never back down.

"Their defense was very good, too. They always seemed to be in the right place. They had more of a finesse defense than a physical defense. Look at Nick Buoniconti. Nick was a pumped-up 210-pounder playing middle linebacker, but he was very quick. You can't beat perfection, and I don't blame those guys for popping champagne every year when the last undefeated team gets beat ."

LARRY BALL

Larry Ball, 69, was selected by Miami in the fourth round of the 1972 draft and played in 10 games as a rookie linebacker. He participated in Super Bowl VI and also played for the 1976 Bucs team that went 0-14. Ball is a guidance counselor in South Florida.

"I consider it a blessing that I had an opportunity to play on an undefeated team. As soon as a team gets to double-digit wins without a loss, it gets our attention. It wasn't that we didn't like New England last season. What bothers us is that as soon as a team goes 10-0, the talk starts that if this team ends up undefeated, they will automatically be considered the greatest ever.

"We've been undefeated for 36 years and we weren't even favored in the Super Bowl. Why don't you give our team credit for standing all alone for all those years? At the time, we didn't think too much about it. I was a rookie trying to keep a job and the other guys were focused on going back to the Super Bowl to earn redemption. The 17-0 part didn't sink in until later, when we began appreciating what we had accomplished."

DAN DIERDORF

Dan Dierdorf, 59, was a Hall of Fame tackle who played 13 seasons for the Cardinals. The CBS analyst was in his second pro season in 1972, when St. Louis visited the 10-0 Dolphins and lost 31-10 in a Monday night game as Miami forced six turnovers and ran for 200 yards.

"I can close my eyes and still see Larry Csonka running all over our defense. We weren't a very good football team in '72 and they beat us badly that day. What they did that season stands as an extraordinary accomplishment. At the time, the AFC was the better conference. They seemed to have more good teams in the AFC, but Miami still ran the table. They deserve all the accolades that come their way. I played 13 seasons and never won a playoff game. What I wouldn't have given to play on a team like that."

MERCURY MORRIS

Mercury Morris, 62, ran for 1,000 yards with the 1972 Dolphins and made three Pro Bowls in nine NFL seasons. He averaged 5.1 yards per carry in his career.

"There's only two ways to win a championship - win all your games or win every game you have to. While 42 teams know what it's like to win every game you have to, only one knows what it's like to win every game. I remember someone coming up to Coach Shula after the 1971 season and telling him that Miami wanted to have a parade for us making the Super Bowl. He said parades are for winners ... we're losers. He said we'll have a parade after we win the Super Bowl.

"When Garo Yepremian muffed that kick against the Redskins, I have to admit I had a slight flash of panic, but we finished the job. People talk about how we're protecting our record. I say there's nothing to protect. The record protects itself by the requirement of the accomplishment. In other words, if you want to go undefeated, you've got to win every game. Good luck."

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