22 Jul 1998: Wide receiver Yatil Green #87 of the Miami Dolphins looks on during the 1998 Miami Dolphins Training Camp at the Nova University in Davie, Florida. Mandatory Credit: Eliot J. Schechter /Allsport
The franchise has had more bad times than good over the last few decades. A look at three first-round disappointments by the Miami Dolphins.
They were born out of expansion in 1966 in the American Football League. As was to be expected, the Miami Dolphins struggled early. Those issues didn’t last very long as the team wound up acquiring head coach Don Shula from the then-Baltimore Colts in 1970. The team would make four straight playoff appearances.
In 1971, the ‘Fins would appear in the first of three consecutive Super Bowls. The first was a 24-3 loss to the Dallas Cowboys (VI). However, the team would hoist consecutive Lombardi Trophies the following two seasons. There was perfection (17-0) in 1972 (VII) and a dominant 12-2 club in ’73 (VIII).
Amazingly, this season will mark 50 years since the Dolphins’ last Super Bowl title. There were appearances in 1982 and ’84 but Shula’s team came up short. Some of that has had to do with losing that magical touch when it came to acquiring players.
Biggest NFL Draft busts in Miami Dolphins history:
3. WR Yatil Green
It was a local product that excelled as a member of the University of Miami Hurricanes in the mid-1990s. It seemed only logical that the Miami Dolphins would use a first-round pick on wide receiver Yatil Green. He figured to thrive with legendary quarterback Dan Marino throwing him the football. Sometimes it’s just not meant to be and by no fault of his own, knee injuries were the biggest reason for his shortened career.
Green did not play in both 1997, the year he was the 15th overall pick in the draft. He was also sidelined for the ’98 season due to a torn ACL. He finally took the field in 1999, playing in only eight contests (1 start). That year, he was targeted 40 times but caught only 18 passes for 234 yards and zero touchdowns.