Card: 1972 Topps Football #240

Team/Position: Miami Dolphins / Guard

Cost: $2.00

With the Saints and the Indianapolis Colts recently losing, what better time than to feature a member of the 1972 Miami Dolphins.  The Dolphins remain the only team in the history of the NFL to complete a perfect season, although they only won fourteen regular season games as opposed to the current 16-game regular season schedule.

Off the top of my head, I can’t think of a single person that has any respect for the ’72 Dolphins squad.  Every year they celebrate by popping the cork on a fine bottle of Champagne when the final undefeated team loses and somehow, Mercury Morris finds his way onto ESPN. The Dolphins’ perfect season will always put them in the conversation for the greatest team ever, but for what it’s worth — they’re not even close.

Little arrived in Miami via trade after San Diego had signed him two years previous as an undrafted free-agent.  When the great Don Shula took over the helm, Larry Little’s life was about to change.

Don Shula replaced George Wilson as the Dolphin coach. When he first met Larry Little during the off-season, the new coach glared.

“How much do you weigh?” Shula asked.

“About 285 right now,” Little replied.

“I want you at 265,” Shula ordered.

Larry Little frowned. Growing up in downtown Miami, he recalls, “We were poor, but I never was hungry. We ate good. I ate more than anybody in the family. Any food anybody didn’t want, I was always around to get it.” He still takes many of his meals at his mother’s home. But when he trimmed himself to 265, he realized that his quickness had increased. When the Dolphins began to win, his reputation also increased. In each of his first three seasons under Shula, he was selected as the AFC’s outstanding offensive lineman in a NFL Players Association poll that determines the best player in various categories. (SPORT magazine — a great read if you get a chance)

Little became known for his quickness from the guard position and his ability to haul ass around the corner when Shula pulled him.  Little’s versatility in the ground-game allowed both Miami running-backs, Morris and Csonka, to eclipse 1,000 yards a piece in ’72 — the first teammates to accomplish such a feat.

Little’s ability as a pass-protector was also top-notch.  From 1970 to 1972, Little was named the top offensive lineman in the AFC by the NFLPA.  When Little finished his career, he had been selected All-NFL six different times and had been selected to play in the Pro Bowl on five different occasions.

As always, it’s tough to put an offensive lineman’s greatness into context without having seen him play.  Unlike many of the interior linemen of today, Little wasn’t a hulking beast that relied solely on his mass.  Little did everything well which allowed him to take on huge defensive tackles and quick defensive backs with equal effectiveness.

A week or so ago before Christmas, I grabbed a few packs of Gridiron Gear and was pleased to pull a Larry Little autograph.  While youur average collector would probably be pretty pissed off pulling Little over even the worst rookie, I was quite happy.  The cards are a bit cheesy especially if you love vintage, though.

Card: 1984 Topps Football Card #129

Team/Position: Miami Dolphins / Offensive Center

Cost: $5.00

When it comes to offensive linemen, induction into the Hall of Fame is almost always preceded by a lengthy NFL career.  Linemen almost always gather enough information or dirty tricks to balance the erosion of their athletic ability.

So when a player is inducted after only having played six years as a starter, you know that he’s very, very special.  This is the case with Stephenson who played his rookie and most of his second year as a special teamer before eventually taking over Center from an injured Mark Dennard in late 1981.

Stephenson was the perfect offensive center in just about every regard.  Stephenson was incredibly explosive off the ball which allowed him to beat defenders to the punch on a regular basis.  Stephenson had the uncanny ability to use his quickness and agility to beat the defender off the ball before using his strength and positioning to knock ‘em on their asses.

If you look at the rear of the card, you’ll learn that Dwight Stephenson bench pressed over 350lbs.  You’ll also learn that Dwight was apparently white, with man-tits, and liked wearing a bikini top, all while doing something that doesn’t even vaguely resemble a bench press.

Stephenson’s Dolphins lead the league in fewest sacks allowed from 1982 to 1987; a period during which Stephenson was voted All Pro every year but 1982.

For all of the Dolphins’ of the 80′s greatness, they never won a Superbowl.  Stephenson made it to two Super Bowls, but he and Marino fell short on both occasions.

A severe knee injury eventually ended Stephenson’s career after eight years.  His induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998 is quite the testament to just how great Stephenson was as an offensive lineman.

Here’s my favourite exert from Stephenson’s Hall of Fame Chat Transcript:

kpaluso: Who was your favorite head coach?
Dwight Stephenson: I only had two: Shula and Bryant. Bryant had more of an affect on me as a person. He was influential in helping me to think and achieve goals. He helped me become a better person and player. As for Shula, he was very similar to Coach Bryant. He knows how to develop people so well.

Can you think of a better 1-2 combo?  Does anyone even come close now?  Pete Carroll and Bill Bellichick?  Woody Hayes and Tom Landry? Knute Rockne and George Halas?

By the way, 1984 Topps is the leader right now when it comes to the Best Football Set Ever.

Card: 1965 Philadelphia Football Card #41

Team/Position: Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins / Split End, Wide Receiver

Cost: $20

The 1965 Philadelphia Football Set is absolutely gorgeous and as far as I can tell, it was the first set to place the NFL Shield on the front of the card.  Upper Deck released their very own version of Philadelphia Football in 2009, which stayed fairly true to form, but was modeled after the ’64 set.

Anyways, onto yet another famous Ohio State Alum, Paul Warfield.  Warfield came out of Ohio State as a two-time Big-10 Halfback of the year, along with being a critical part of Ohio State track team.  Warfield was blazing fast and as smooth as anyone in the game. 

The Cleveland Browns drafted Warfield in the first round of the ’64 draft with the 11th overall selection.  Warfield was immediately switched into a wide-receiver, as Cleveland just happened to have a man by the name of Jim Brown in the backfield.  Along with Warfield, the Cleveland Browns took a young LeRoy Kelly (Who I’ll feature later) in the 7th round of the 1964 Draft.

A silky smooth runner with blazing speed, Warfield was born to be a part of the vertical passing game.  In his first year with the Browns, Warfield caught 52 balls for 920 yards and 9 touchdowns.  The Browns eventually won the NFL Championship that year and Warfield was voted to the Pro Bowl for his part.  Warfield would go on to earn eight Pro Bowl Selections and six All Pro Selections after winning both awards in his rookie year.

In 1970, Warfield was traded to the Miami Dolphins for a draft pick in what’s still considered a rather controversial trade.  Warfield would go onto play in three Superbowls with the Miami Dolphins, winning two of them (vs. Washington and vs. Minnesota).

The Dolphins were a run oriented team during Warfield’s career, so his numbers are a testament to his athletic ability.  It seems like every year a new receiver is surpassing ten-thousand yards, yet Warfield finished his career with only 8565 yards and 85 touchdowns and is in the HOF.

It’s definitely going to be interesting to see how players like Warfield hold up against the new generation of receivers.  Warfield had the it factor that HOF voters look for, but fewer and fewer fans will remember just how terrific he was on the field.  I suppose it’s up to the NFL and the NFL FILMS department to keep everyone’s memory fresh.

As long as the 1972 Miami Dolphins remain the only undefeated team, people will remember Paul Warfield.  If you were curious how Warfield did in the lowest scoring Superbowl of all time — He caught three balls for thirty-seven yards.

Warfield went back to Cleveland to finish up his career, and continues to work for the Browns as a Scouting Consultant.