Miami Dolphins Tales From The Deep

For the past 30 years, Dave Hyde has covered sports for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, providing perspective on everything from Little League Baseball to Dwyane Wade lead championship runs with the Miami Heat, and of course, Miami Dolphins football. This year, Hyde was named one of the top 10 sports columnists in the nation by the Associated Press Sports Editors, his 16th time receiving this recognition. He has also authored two books, including “Still Perfect!: The Untold Story of the 1972 Miami Dolphins." In The Tank, Dave discusses the early days of his sports writing career, standing up to coaching giant Don Shula, breaking Jimmy Johnson’s spirit in an unlikely way, and being greeted in the Dolphins locker room by a NSFW message from former Fins linebacker, Bryan Cox.

Miami Dolphins Tales From The Deep

The Miami Dolphins had high hopes for Richmond Webb when they selected him out of Texas A&M with the ninth overall pick of the 1990 draft and the left tackle not only met, but greatly exceeded all expectations. Charged with protecting Dan Marino’s blindside, Webb was an instant starter on the Dolphins offensive line. He played every offensive snap during his rookie year, only giving up two sacks and instantly proving he could go toe-to-toe with divisional rival, Bruce Smith. Webb was so dominant that he was named to the Pro Bowl in each of his first seven seasons, landing a spot on the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team. In The Tank, Richmond reveals the great advice he was given by Buddy Ryan at the Senior Bowl, vividly recalls getting sensitive after being taken to task by Dolphins coaching icon Don Shula, shares why he and guard Keith Sims were such a formidable duo, and provides an in the huddle perspective on the greatness of Dan Marino.

Miami Dolphins Tales From The Deep

One of the more outspoken and boisterous players to don a Dolphins uniform in the past 25 years, Ray Lucas’ story always comes back to his native Harrison, New Jersey. A heavily recruited high school athlete, Lucas turned away the suitors to stay home and attend Rutgers University. From 1992-95, Lucas became one of the most prolific Scarlet Knights signal callers in school history, ultimately being inducted in the Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017. Despite his success in college, however, Lucas went undrafted in 1996, eventually signing with the New England Patriots as a free agent and beginning his NFL career as a wide receiver and on special teams. After one season with the Patriots, Lucas followed Bill Parcells to the New York Jets where he moved back into the quarterback room. In 1999, replacing an injured Vinny Testaverde, Ray finally got his shot under center, winning 6 of his 8 starts to lead the struggling Jets to an 8-8 finish. In 2001, Lucas joined the Dolphins where he backed up starter Jay Fiedler for two seasons and quickly became a popular personality in the Miami locker room. In The Tank, Ray discusses his love for all things New Jersey, his experiences with the Dolphins-Jets rivalry from both sides of the fence, his fondness for his Dolphins teammates, and his appreciation for current Fins Head Coach Brian Flores. He also candidly details his struggles with a pain killer addition that nearly cost him his life.

Miami Dolphins Tales From The Deep

A two-sport athlete at Dartmouth College, Jay Fiedler set school records for touchdown passes (58), passing yards (6,684), and total offense (7,249) with the Ivy League program while receiving his degree in Mechanical Engineering. His National Football League journey didn’t start quite as smoothly, however, with a five-year quest featuring stints with four different NFL teams, a stop in NFL Europe, and a coaching gig at Hofstra University before signing with the Miami Dolphins prior to the 2000 season. Fiedler battled Damon Huard for the starting quarterback position and ultimately became the successor to Dolphins icon, Dan Marino. Helping to lead the Fins to back-to-back 11-5 seasons in his first two years under center, Fiedler was 36-17 in his first four years with the club. He is also the last Dolphins starting quarterback to win a playoff game. In The Tank, Jay details his unlikely path to Miami, recalls the talented Dolphins squad of the early 2000s, and sheds some light on working with then, and current, offensive coordinator, Chan Gailey. He also shares some of the benefits of being a Jewish quarterback in Miami and reveals his little known connection to current Dolphins Head Coach Brian Flores.

Miami Dolphins Tales From The Deep

Larry Izzo overcame long odds as an undersized linebacker from Rice University who landed an opportunity as an undrafted free agent with Jimmy Johnson’s Miami Dolphins in 1996. Izzo not only made the roster that year, but he quickly became a fan favorite and leader of the Dolphins special teams unit over the course of his five-year tenure in South Florida, culminating that run with a Pro Bowl selection following the 2000 season. Free Agency led Izzo to New England in 2001 and he never skipped a beat, earning two more Pro Bowl births and three Super Bowl titles on his way to becoming one of the most prolific special teams performers in league history. His 298 career special teams tackles registered over the course of his 14 seasons are the most in NFL annals. In The Tank, Izzo discusses his unlikely path to Miami, becoming the first player not named Dan Marino to make the Dolphins roster during Johnson’s inaugural campaign, his life-long friendship with Dolphins legend Zach Thomas, and a moment where he and O.J. did not see eye-to-eye. Larry also shares his passion for highbrow films, several examples of how he never backs down from a challenge, and he vividly recalls a time where his unique skill set resulted in a feat Bill Belichick had never witnessed before.

Miami Dolphins Tales From The Deep

The decorated football career of Ricky Williams is the stuff of legend, featuring an NCAA career rushing record, the 1998 Heisman Trophy, becoming the first player ever to represent a National Football League team’s entire draft class in 1999, and an NFL rushing title in 2002. It is Williams’s enigmatic personality, however, that has often stood out even more than his gridiron greatness. The combination of the two endeared Williams to Miami Dolphins fans around the world when the team brought him to South Florida through a 2002 trade with the New Orleans Saints, and resulted in confusion, hurt, and outrage upon his unexpected but temporary retirement from football just days before the 2004 season. Diving in The Tank for the first time ever, Ricky fondly recalls his years as a Dolphin, particularly his prolific first two seasons. He candidly details the decisions behind his retirement (including a surprising assist from an unlikely source), his conversations with then Dolphins Head Coach Dave Wannstedt, and how meaningful and self-healing his time away from football was. Ricky also covers his respect for Nick Saban, his special friendship with fellow Fins rusher Ronnie Brown, and of course talks the Wild Cat from his perspective.  

Miami Dolphins Tales From The Deep

There simply aren’t enough words to describe the magnitude of Don Shula’s impact on the Miami Dolphins, South Florida, and the entire National Football League, but leave it to The Fish Tank to give it a shot. As no single individual has been discussed more in The Tank, Juice and Seth look back on some of their favorite stories ever told about the winningest coach in NFL history. From members of the perfect 1972 Dolphins including Larry Csonka, Manny Fernandez, Larry Little, Mercury Morris, and Larry Seiple to former equipment managers Bobby Monica and Tony Egues, this tribute to Coach Shula features tough talk, heavy laughs, and of course, the winning edge. Others making an appearance in this tribute are All-Pro Richmond Webb, cornerback William Judson, Security Chief Stu Weinstein, and PR Man Harvey Greene, as well as heartfelt commentary from our very own O.J. McDuffie.

Miami Dolphins Tales From The Deep

Joy Taylor’s quick wit and sharp tongue serve her well as co-host of one of the top-rated sports talk shows in the country, The Herd, on FOX Sports Radio and FS1. When she’s not joining Colin Cowherd in the studio, you can also catch her unique takes on the world of sports through her weekly podcast, “Maybe I’m Crazy.” Prior to becoming a fixture on the national sports media scene, Joy was a South Florida sports fan-favorite as she spent three years as co-host of 790 The Ticket’s Morning Show. Of course, those in Dolphins Nation have always known Joy as Jason Taylor’s sister and in The Tank, she sheds some light on what it’s like to grow up as a sibling of one of the team’s iconic players. From being driven across the country to watch her brother’s games, to coming of age before her JT’s – and his teammates – eyes, Joy’s Dolphins Tales are insightful and outrageous all at once, much like the younger “JT” herself.

This episode is sponsored by:

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Fish Tank listeners, receive 20% off the cost of preparing your tax return. Call (305) 653-7350 and ask for Rob.

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Fish Tank listeners will receive 50% off their first order and 25% off all dry-cleaning afterwards! Call Ara at (954) 610-9383

Miami Dolphins Tales From The Deep

Armando Salguero has covered the Miami Dolphins and the NFL since 1990, longer than many players on the current roster have been alive, and since many coaches on the team were in middle school. He is one of 48 Pro Football Hall of Fame selectors and is an Associated Press All-Pro and awards voter. Salguero has covered Dolphins games in London, Berlin, Mexico City and Tokyo and has covered 25 Super Bowls, the NBA Finals, and the Olympics. In The Tank, “Mando” discusses his path to covering the Dolphins, recalls upsetting iconic former Dolphins Head Coach Don Shula, provides never-before heard details of Jason Taylor’s Hall of Fame nomination, and shares the epic story of Jimmy Johnson’s eloquent reprimanding of former Herald co-worker, Jason Cole!

This episode is sponsored by:

ARS & Associates https://www.arsaccounting.com/

Fish Tank listeners, receive 20% off the cost of preparing your tax return. Call (305) 653-7350 and ask for Rob.

A&T Dry Cleaners https://www.drycleanertoyou.com/

Fish Tank listeners will receive 50% off their first order and 25% off all dry-cleaning afterwards! Call Ara at (954) 610-9383

Miami Dolphins Tales From The Deep

There were many factors that contributed to the 1972 Miami Dolphins perfect 17-0 record. One reason was their fearsome rushing attack that helped Miami become the first team in NFL history to feature two backs who each rushed for 1,000 yards in the same season. Those two backs were Pro Football Hall of Fame fullback Larry Csonka and the electric Mercury Morris. Paving the way for Csonka and Morris was an all-star offensive line lead by Hall of Fame guard, Larry Little. This legendary trio dives in to The Tank and it is no surprise that the result is one of our most spectacular episodes to date. From Csonka and Jim Kiick sneaking out of the team hotel through the bushes, to Little earning his poultry inspired nickname, to Morris’ supernatural exploits with “The Root Man,” these guys are as dynamic on the mic as they were on the field!

This episode is sponsored by:

ARS & Associates https://www.arsaccounting.com/

Fish Tank listeners, receive 20% off the cost of preparing your tax return. Call (305) 653-7350 and ask for Rob.

A&T Dry Cleaners https://www.drycleanertoyou.com/

Fish Tank listeners will receive 50% off their first order and 25% off all dry-cleaning afterwards! Call Ara at (954) 610-9383