Choosing your NFL/EFLI team - Optimists

Miami Dolphins

Colours: Aqua blue, coral orange and white

Mascot: T.D.

Stadium: Sun Life Stadium

Home City: Miami Gardens, Florida

Super Bowl wins: 2 (5 appearances)

Records over last 5 years: 35 wins, 45 losses, 0 playoff appearances

Best Players: Cameron Wake, Mike Pouncey, Brent Grimes

Bio: The older readers who may remember the Titans as the Houston Oilers may also remember the Miami Dolphins as a powerhouse of the National Football League. That is, alas, no longer the case. The days of hall of fame quarterback Dan Marino, hall of fame coach Don Shula, and the perfect 14-0 team of 1972 are long gone.

From 1970-2001, the team had only two seasons with a losing record, made the playoffs 21 times, went to five Super Bowls and won two of them. They were the class of the NFL for decades. From 2002 until today they have been to the playoffs only once (in 2008), and have only four seasons with a winning record. 2001 was the last season in which they won a playoff game.

The Dolphins are not a terrible team, and so they do not belong in the ‘Tragedist” category. They have managed to flirt close to an 8-8 season for the last five years, threatening a playoff push. However, it doesn’t seem to ever happen for them anymore. They have a number of decent players on their roster and a much better defense than offense, but no individual players to get too excited about except for Cameron Wake. It’s difficult for me to make a case to support the Miami Dolphins at the moment, unless you are in every sense of the word an optimist.

The film ‘Ace Ventura: Pet Detective’, starring Jim Carrey and Courtney Cox, was centred around the Miami Dolphins and their quarterback Dan Marino.