1978 and '79 Miami Dolphins

The 1978 Dolphins had gone on a three-game win streak to close the regular season in which their defense allowed a total of nine or so points. In the season finale against the Patriots, Bob Griese had pounced on a fumble by halfback Gary Davis. In the ensuing melee, Griese's ribs were bruised, and this injury was apparently severe enough to limit his throwing motion in the playoff loss to Houston. I hate the Patriots. Also, Miami's leading rusher, Delvin Williams, had suffered a knee injury at the end of his 1,200-yard season. Plus:

• "In one streak of six straight games, (Williams) was called on 28 times to convert a first down with three yards or less to go--and he succeeded 20 of those times."[1]
• Garo Yepremian owned a hamburger restaurant.
• Rookie third-string quarterback Guy Benjamin completed six of eight passes for 91 yards and a touchdown during 1978.
• "During '78, the Miami cornerbacks played much deeper than they had in the past--this considered by some as a concession to defensive weakness."[2]
• Cornerback Curtis Johnson, one of my all-time favorite Dolphins and, I think, one of the absolute heroes of the championship seasons, was a vegetarian.

Finally, I just want to point out that Larry Csonka returned to the Dolphins as a free-agent signee on Feb. 22, 1979, and I remember this news being met with total joy by Mom and me. Dad, of course, thought Csonka was through. But, alas, Csonka ran for more than 800 yards in 1979 and scored 13 touchdowns. Then he retired.

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[1] The Pocket Book of Pro Football 1979 Herbert M. Furlow, ed. (New York: Pocket Books, 1979) 10.

[2] The Pocket Book of Pro Football 1979 Herbert M. Furlow, ed. (New York: Pocket Books, 1979) 15.