1966.
That was the first inaugural season for the Miami Dolphins.
This storied franchise has been around for more than 50 years in the NFL and they’ve won multiple championships in their time. Not many NFL franchises can say that they have multiple Super Bowl wins but this franchise is different. For as many rings as the Dolphins have captured in their time, they’ve also been the only team in NFL history to have an undefeated season. For as great as that accomplishment is, the Dolphins did something this Sunday they’ve never done in franchise history.
With the selections of Jarvis Landry, Mike Pouncey, Branden Albert, Brent Grimes and Reshad Jones, it marked the first time in franchise history the Dolphins had five players in the Pro Bowl. It’s a bit crazy to think the Dolphins almost had as many Pro Bowlers as they did wins, but let’s focus on the positive. Having those many players participate in an All-Star event is a huge honor. The fact that five of their best players on their roster made the roster only shows to everyone that the coaching was the biggest problem.
We Got The Juice Now
When you watched the Pro Bowl, you didn’t have to worry too much about the lack of coaching. For head coach Jerry Rice, the game plan was simple, get Jarvis Landry the football.
Landry represented and showed out as he finished the game with three catches for 81 yards and one touchdown. That lone touchdown he scored was a beautiful dime in the back of the end zone from Tyrod Taylor.
@God_Son80 with his first @NFL Pro Bowl TD! #Dolphins #JarvisLandry video via @ESPN pic.twitter.com/q1vi8OEiSf
— Miami Sports Native (@305SportsNative) February 1, 2016
It was only fitting Landry found himself in Hawaii, for the game, the second-year wide receiver had himself a phenomenal season as a sophomore and became the only member in franchise history to have at least 100 receptions and 1,000 yards in the same season. Landry’s raw numbers from last season might earn him a spot on the All-Pro team. Landry finished the season fourth in the league in receptions (110) and 13th in receiving yards with 1,157. Even with the numbers, it was still a surprise to him.
“So many emotions going on from the phone call to telling my mom, telling my family. It’s just been an exciting time for myself and for my family. Hard work pays off….I’ve always taken the field, the practice field, and approach every game like I have something to prove to everybody, not just to myself but to everybody. And that’s been my attitude, my mentality, and I think that is what has allowed me to have this success so far. It’s something I continue to use. I use the fuel of nor making the playoffs. Use the fuel of everything that we went through this past season. Use that to play the way that I play, and you can see that with the passion and the attitude that I play with.”
– Jarvis Landry
What was really great to see from Landry was the way he improved from his rookie year to his sophomore for the franchise. As a rookie, Landry instantly impressed the fan base and coaches who he played for. His season was also stellar as he finished with 84 catches which left him only six catches shy of the Dolphins team record of 90 receptions in a season (held by O.J. McDuffie).
Out of the five Dolphins players, there was no one with a bigger impact on the field than Landry. This game in Hawaii might’ve just earned him a bunch of fans because of his performance in the national spotlight.
D’Joumbarey A. Moreau covers sports in Miami-Dade & Broward County. You can follow him on Twitter @DJoumbarey.
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