Tag: Larry Csonka

Larry Csonka explains why the Dolphins need home playoff games

Hall of Fame FB shares why the Dolphins need to work harder to play at home in the postseason.

The Miami Dolphins have been one of the league’s best when playing at home in recent years, as they’ve put together a 13-4 record at home (fifth in the NFL) since Mike McDaniel arrived in South Florida, and since 2020, they’re 24-10 (sixth).

Between the fans and the weather, Hard Rock Stadium continues to be a nightmare for opponents, and the players, current and past, know it. Hall of Fame fullback Larry Csonka, in a recent interview with Mike Oliva of the “DolphinsTalk.com Podcast,” spoke about the importance of getting home games in the postseason.

“We have to get home-field advantage,” Csonka said. “We can’t go up and play Buffalo at Buffalo. We can’t play Kansas City in Kansas City. We have to get them to Miami. When you bring people down to Miami, there’s still magic in that stadium in Miami, let me tell you. Whether it was the Orange Bowl or the new stadium, it doesn’t matter. There’s a magic that you have that gives you and advantage. Not an advantage point-wise, it gives you an advantage incentive-wise because there are no better fans than what we have in Miami. I swear.

“I played all around the league for years. I still go there. I still listen. The Dolphin fans, I’m not going to say that they’re the only ones, but they are certainly a small group of maybe two to four in the entire league where you have a real advantage by playing on your home field. And, the Dolphins have that.”

Miami was in the driver’s seat late in the season and could’ve won the division and hosted playoff games if it hadn’t been for losses to the Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills down the stretch. If they had won just one of those contests, Hard Rock Stadium would’ve had the opportunity to host at least one game instead of the team playing in their coldest game in franchise history. Maybe things might’ve ended differently.

1972 Dolphins great Larry Csonka celebrates as 49ers, Eagles lose

Larry Csonka and the rest of the 1972 Miami Dolphins stand alone as undefeated, still

It is an annual rite. The final NFL team absorbs its first loss and the 1972 Miami Dolphins celebrate.

On Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles fell for the first time in 2023.

That means no more undefeated teams and Larry Csonka took to Twitter for a toast. Csonka was a star running back on the 1972 Dolphins, you know, the lone undefeated team in NFL history.

Dolphins legend Larry Csonka posts touching tribute to the late Jim Brown

He was an inspiration to a young Csonka.

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On Friday, news broke that former Cleveland Browns running back Jim Brown died the day prior at 87 years old.

Brown spent nine seasons with Cleveland from 1957-65, making the Pro Bowl in every season, being named a First-team All-Pro eight times and winning MVP thrice.

By many, he’s considered the greatest running back of all time.

After the news of Brown’s passing came on Friday, former Miami Dolphins fullback Larry Csonka took to Twitter to share his thoughts on the legendary Cleveland back.

Brown was an inspiration for many other young athletes on the field in those days, and his legacy as one of the greatest football players of all time shouldn’t be forgotten.

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Miami Dolphins fan cruise set to sail in April

A chance to enjoy the Caribbean with a number of former Dolphins.

In the same year that the franchise celebrates the 50th anniversary of their 1972 perfect season, the party extends to sea in a memorable experience waiting for Miami Dolphins fans of all ages.

Not only will the cruise allow you to embark from Miami, but you will also be welcomed on the industry’s newest ship the MSC Seascape! In addition to some amazing amenities, ship features and activities, onboard will be a slew of 1972 Dolphins from the 17-0 “Perfectville” team.

Of course, when you see that word, you know the mayor of that town, Mercury Morris, will be on the cruise. The running back will be joined by his backfield-mate, the great Hall-of-Fame fullback Larry Csonka. Fellow champion Larry Little, another Dolphins Hall of Famer, will be on the Seascape as well.

In addition to the 1972 team, the most prolific Dolphin of them all, Dan Marino, will be there, as well as his top four all-time targets. The Marks Brothers, Clayton and Duper, as well as O.J. McDuffie and Nat Moore will all represent the aqua and orange on board. And, just in case anyone tries to get too, too close to No. 13, Richmond Webb and Dwight Stephenson will be there, so you know he’ll be protected from more than the sun.

If you’re of a certain age, and your Dolphins clock started in the 1990s, you’ll be thrilled to know that players like Louis Oliver, Terry Kirby, Shawn Wooden and Troy Drayton will be joining in the experience.

Fan favorites like special-teamer Larry Seiple and an original swiss-army-knife type in Jim “Crash” Jensen are among the 35 Miami Dolphin legends scheduled to be on the seven-night cruise. There will even be a Wildcat sighting with Ronnie Brown joining the fun.

Remember the famous “hook-and-lateral” play against the San Diego Chargers in 1981? You can watch Tony Nathan score in highlights, or you can get a chance to talk to him about it directly.

With outstanding food onboard, the culinary critics will be there making sure of it, as restauranteurs, Kim Bokamper and Bob Baumhower will be approving the menus. Bokamper and Baumhower are a few of the “Killer Bee” defensive players from the Dolphins’ 1980s teams, and throw in Bob Brudzinski, yet another owner of a sports restaurant, who’ll be taste-testing from deck to deck.

With the number of exclusive activities scheduled for the Dolphins Fan Cruise guests, on-ship and at certain destinations, you’ll have the opportunity to talk and vacation with heroes from players across the history of the Miami franchise that has seen five Super Bowls and two Lombardi Trophies.

Certainly, a likely pair to document parts of this trip will be Dolphin players turned broadcasters, Jimmy Cefalo and Joe Rose. Both were former receivers for Miami and are now popular media figures in South Florida. Rose is the host of “The Joe Rose Show” on WQAM 560 as well as the color man next to Cefalo, who’s the Dolphins’ play-by-play man on the radio. Bokamper is also part of the Dolphins broadcast team.

The cruise sails April 2-9, and, throughout the week, there will be countless activities, events and competitions with fellow fans and the Dolphins as you sail the turquoise waters of the Caribbean. The ticket price includes all the special events with the Dolphins players, activities and competitions.

Some of the features include a welcome aboard party, player introductions and highlight reels, photo opportunities, basketball shootouts, quarterback competition, karaoke competition, trivia contests, a Talent show, and more. There’s even an ambassador program that can gain you access to super-VIP events with exclusive time and access to the players.

With a private island stop at MSC’s exclusive Ocean Cay beach in the Bahamas, as well as a private beach party with the Dolphins at another port-of-call in Nassau, you’ll also have destinations to look forward to in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

More legends are set to be announced in the coming days, so check the Dolphins’ website for the latest information.

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Dolphins legend Larry Csonka disappointed by another loss

They’re even letting down some of the franchise’s best.

The Miami Dolphins were handed their eighth loss of the season, and fifth in as many weeks, on Sunday, as they were defeated by the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium.

Miami entered the game bruised and battered, and throughout the game, they lost more players. However, that’s no excuse when they’ve lost four prior to this game, and they were facing another team dealing with ailments to their best unit.

While the fan base is certainly disappointed in the team’s collapse, they can find solace in knowing that former Dolphin Larry Csonka is right by their side.

Csonka took to social media to share his thoughts on the loss.

It’s one thing to disappoint a fan base that, for the most part, will always ride with the team, but it’s another thing completely to upset a legend who once donned the uniform.

Miami has one game left in the season, and they’ll need to win, as well as get some help from other teams, if they want to make it to the postseason for the first time since 2016.

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Dolphins legend Larry Csonka celebrates previously-undefeated Eagles’ loss

It’s a tradition unlike any other.

The Miami Dolphins franchise had cause for celebration on Monday night, despite their team having played their Week 10 matchup the day before.

Miami’s undefeated 1972 season remained the only perfect year in NFL history, as the Philadelphia Eagles, who entered Monday night with an 8-0 record, were defeated by the Washington Commanders by a final score of 32-21.

After the defeat, legendary Dolphin Larry Csonka took to social media to share his appreciation for the Commanders.

While not everyone from that ’72 team is jumping on Twitter to celebrate, it’s pretty safe to guess that most did so in one way or another.

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Dolphins legend Larry Csonka shares his reaction to meeting Mike McDaniel

McDaniel is earning the respect of some of the league’s greats.

The Miami Dolphins are very lucky that they have legendary players who frequently spend the day at practice or hang out in team meetings.

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and head coach Mike McDaniel have both mentioned how cool it is that Dan Marino is around the building and is always willing to share his input.

This offseason, Hall of Famer Larry Csonka had the opportunity to attend a practice and meet Miami’s new head coach, who has received a lot of praise from his players for his demeanor and football intelligence. Csonka shared his reaction to meeting McDaniel in a recent interview on “Tobin and Leroy” on 790 the Ticket.

“I didn’t get to spend that much time with him, but he is impressive, and he’s a man of detail,” Csonka said. “How much the players listen to him – the proof will be in the pudding. There have been some real changes with personnel. It appears that they’re pointed toward a very positive result.

“It reminded me a lot of when [Don] Shula came in in 1970 and everything just turned around. That’s kind of the way Coach McDaniel attacked. He’s turning everything around, and he’s making use of all those facilities, and I think he’s not as loud and [he’s not going to] holler as much as Shula did on the field, but in his own way, I think he makes his point. I just watched one practice, which is nothing. That’s just the little time I had there, but he impressed me as a guy that’s detail-orientated, and he’s got winning on his mind.”

Comparing McDaniel to Shula is high praise from a legend like Csonka. However, McDaniel has done a lot of what Csonka said. He’s brought in a new system and helped in the decision-making process to bring in new talent to the roster.

Now, if he can have the results that Shula did, Dolphins fans would probably be pretty happy.

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Report: Former Dolphins back Larry Csonka to announce third-round selection

The legend himself will share the good news.

While there will be a lot of waiting around for the first two rounds of the 2022 NFL draft that kicks off on Thursday from Las Vegas, Nevada, Dolphins fans will finally have something to be excited about in the third round.

The NFL released a list of former players who will be announcing picks at the event, and Dolphins great Larry Csonka will be announcing the team’s third-round selection, which is currently set to be No. 102.

The Hall of Fame back will let the fanbase and the rest of the league know which young prospect will don the aqua and orange this coming season and, hopefully, for years to come.

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Flashback Friday: Dolphins 1972 perfect team celebrates 50th anniversary

It’s a special anniversary for a perfect team.

On this first Friday of April, following a momentous month of March in Miami, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the Dolphins’ banner accomplishment – the 1972 undefeated season.

It was 50 years ago that head coach Don Shula and his Dolphins steamrolled through the NFL to go 17-0, capping the only perfect season in NFL history, with a 14-7 Super Bowl victory over the Washington Redskins.

A team loaded with Hall of Fame players such as Bob Griese, Larry Csonka, Paul Warfield, Jim Lager, Larry Little and Nick Buoniconti helped lead the Dolphins to domination. They were the NFL’s top-ranked offense and defense in 1927, shutting out their opponents three times during that season.

In 17 games, including the postseason, Miami’s perfect defense only gave up 20 or more points on three occasions. When the season hit mid-October, the Dolphins’ defense hit its stride. From Week 6 through Week 19, Miami didn’t allow over 100 passing yards. They created 46 turnovers in the regular season, and in the playoffs, the Dolphins’ defensive unit caused 10 turnovers, including three in the Super Bowl.

The Dolphins had the offensive magic of the perfect backfield led by Ohio’s own Csonka. Mercury Morris was the charismatic running back to play alongside Csonka. The pair both exceeded 1,000 yards in the regular season, which was just 14 games. Jim Kiick added a complimentary punch to Shula’s rushing attack, as the trio combined for 2,638 yards and 23 touchdowns on the ground.

As for the passing attack, Griese started the season off with five straight wins before an injury led to veteran quarterback Earl Morrall taking the reins, and he did so, well, perfectly.

Morrall, in his 17th professional season, rattled off a 9-0 record to help Miami not lose a step in their quest to return to the Super Bowl. The 1971 team lost to the Dallas Cowboys 24-3. Making it back in 1973 ade in two Super Bowls in a row for Shula and the Dolphins, the franchise’s only victory in the big game. While he led Miami two another two appearances in the 1980s, they weren’t able to capture another Lombardi Trophy.

The 1972 Dolphins have been a timeless tribute and a major source of pride for the organization and their legions of loyal fans and supporters. Whether it’s rewatching highlights of a graceful Warfield corralling a perfect pass from Griese in the championship game, seeing Csonka run through a would-be-tackler, or the simple joy of a cork-popping soundbite following the last fallen unbeaten in today’s game, that team continues to provide this community with palpable pride.

In a season of newfound hope in South Florida, coinciding with this special anniversary of perfection, perhaps there’s magic in the air in Miami Gardens, as the ghosts of 1972 will, without a doubt, be all over the sidelines in 2022, in person and in spirit.

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Larry Csonka has role in lawsuit filed trying to block FOX Sports’ launch of USFL

The USFL could be headed to a courtroom before its launch in April

Not so fast … to a new version of the USFL.

A lawsuit was filed Monday trying to block FOX Sports from its planned launch of the USFL again in April.

The Real USFL LLC, a company formed to protect the trademarks of the 1980s spring football league, is seeking injunctions to stop the network from using the name USFL and any of the original league’s team names or logos.

“Fox has no claim to this legacy and no right to capitalize on the goodwill of the league,” the Real USFL said in its complaint, filed in federal court in Los Angeles. “Fox’s USFL franchise is an unabashed counterfeit.”

“It boils down to this,” said Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Csonka, who is acting as the initial manager of the group bringing the suit. “If the USFL doesn’t have any value, why did FOX want it?”

If the USFL and lawsuits sound familiar, that is because one doomed the original incarnation of the league in the ’80s.

In August 1984, the USFL voted to move from a spring to a fall schedule in 1986 to compete directly with the NFL. This was done at the urging of New Jersey Generals majority owner Donald Trump and a handful of other owners as a way to force a merger between the leagues.

As part of this strategy, the USFL filed an antitrust lawsuit against the National Football League in 1986, and a jury ruled that the NFL had violated anti-monopoly laws. However, in a victory in name only, the USFL was awarded a judgment of just $1, which under antitrust laws, was tripled to $3. This court decision effectively ended the USFL’s existence. The league never played its planned 1986 season, and by the time it folded, it had lost over $163 million.

Per the release:

FOX Sports’ USFL is scheduled to begin play this spring, in large part using the same franchise names, logos and other materials associated with the original USFL. The USFL operated from 1983 to 1985 and launched the careers of players such as Steve Young and Jim Kelly. Since that time, the league’s owners and executives have preserved its legacy through displays at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, licensing agreements for fan apparel, and an authorized documentary and book about the league.

“FOX is trying to reap where it did not sow and profit from confusion among fans of the real USFL, by claiming the legacy of something it didn’t build,” says Nicholas Matich of the McKool Smith law firm, which represents the Real USFL LLC, the organization of former USFL owners and executives. “The Real USFL is acting to protect the legacy of the players, owners, coaches, and staff of the historic league.  Quite simply FOX is claiming to be something that it’s not—the heir of the 1980s league that launched numerous hall-of-fame careers and changed the game of football.”

The case is The Real USFL LLC v. Fox Sports Inc., 2:22-cv-01350, U.S. District Court, Southern District of California (Los Angeles).