Who would you put on the Dolphins' Mount Rushmore?

[Spider-Dan]

I recently saw this "article" on the Dolphins website, referencing a ProFootballTalk series on the Mount Rushmore for each NFL team.  Here were their candidates for the Dolphins:

Nick Buoniconti
Mark Clayton
Larry Csonka
Bob Griese
Larry Little
Dan Marino
Don Shula
Dwight Stephenson
Jason Taylor
Zach Thomas
Paul Warfield
Richmond Webb

There are two people that will probably be on everyone's lists, but it's interesting to see who everyone else would put.  Can a mod add a poll?  (Remember, you have to choose four.)

[Phishfan]

Shula and Mario will be a lock on everyone's ballot I expect. Csonka is a close third and really a given in my mind. The fourth is a bit tough. I eventually settled on Taylor because of this reasoning, I expect he will be induced into the HoF, he is a lock for the Ring of Honor, he represents a newer generation of Dolphin, and he won a Defensive Player of the Year.

[masterfins]

Shula
Marino
Csonka
Clayton

[Dolphster]

Shula and Mario will be a lock on everyone's ballot I expect. Csonka is a close third and really a given in my mind. The fourth is a bit tough. I eventually settled on Taylor because of this reasoning, I expect he will be induced into the HoF, he is a lock for the Ring of Honor, he represents a newer generation of Dolphin, and he won a Defensive Player of the Year.

Exactly the same as my list and for pretty much the same reasons. 

[Sunstroke]

Marino-Shula-Csonka for sure, and then a 2 minute cage match between Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas to determine the 4th spot.

[Brian Fein]

I think Shula Marino Csonka and Griese (Bob, not Brian).  Realistically, the Dolphins have three numbers retired and a winningest coach in NFL history.  I'm not sure how you can even make an argument for any other foursome.

[Spider-Dan]

JT's number retirement is a foregone conclusion.

I take JT over Griese because 1) I think the '70s era is well-represented by Csonka/Shula and 2) the Dolphins were really a defense-dominant team for the majority of their (competitive) existence, so a defender should be there.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Marino and Shula for sure.  Three and four could be one of several guys. 

[CF DolFan]

JT's number retirement is a foregone conclusion.

I take JT over Griese because 1) I think the '70s era is well-represented by Csonka/Shula and 2) the Dolphins were really a defense-dominant team for the majority of their (competitive) existence, so a defender should be there.

I agree. Griese was certainly more of a game manager than a game changer.

I actually think it's fairly easy. I would pick Shula (winningest coach eva), Zonk (best of the 70's) Marino (best of the 80s /early 90's) and Taylor (best of the late 90's/early 00's). No one has been better. If Ricky had continued on the career path he started on here then that would have made things much more difficult.
 

[Brian Fein]

I like Jason Taylor just like the next guy but in reality, the starting QB of the only undefeated team in league history over a defensive end on a team that won exactly nothing.  Plus JT went and played a season for a hated rival. 

Seems like Griese is a better choice, IMO.

[Spider-Dan]

If that's your argument, would it be Griese over Marino if it came down to top-three?  Because everything most of what you just said applies equally well there, too.

It's fair to say that (regardless of rings) Griese is the 2nd-best Dolphin at his position.  It's also fair to say that JT is the best Dolphin on his side of the ball.  If you want to argue Buoniconti over JT and point at rings, fine... but as individual players, I think JT deserves the nod.

edit: on the "loyalty" front: JT was traded the first time and the team opted not to re-sign him the second time.  Those were both on Parcells/Ireland, not JT.  I don't blame him for either of those.

[CF DolFan]

Earl Morral replaced Griese and never lost a game. No one was ever able to replace Taylor who by himself was capable of changing the game. That's why I would pick each of the three players I did. No other "one player" could change the game the way they did.

[Brian Fein]

Look, I'm not arguing against JT.  If Mount Rushmore has 5 heads, I'd put him there all day long.

Just wondering if we have a little bit of fondness for the guy we saw play 2 years ago, as opposed to the guy that played before some of us were born.

[Spider-Dan]

Earl Morral replaced Griese and never lost a game. No one was ever able to replace Taylor who by himself was capable of changing the game.

I agree with your conclusion (JT over Griese), but not your reasoning.

[MikeO]

Marino-Shula-Csonka are LOCKS

For the 4th spot I go Joe Robbie over any of those players honestly.

Tough to put Zach or JT on that list since they  both won nothing and never even led the team to many if any big games during their time here.