Best Dolphin Player of the decade?

[Spider-Dan]

Can you really argue that Surtain was even better than Madison?  Madison made more All-Pro teams and Pro Bowls.

[Pappy13]

Again, not a reflection of Taylor, but more a praise of of Surtain and the value of a lockdown corner.

I loved Surtain, but even at his best I never thought the consensus was that he was the best in the game at his position.  Taylor was the defensive player of the year one year, the best defensive player in the GAME let alone his position.  

And as far as game changing plays go, Taylor I believe has returned 8 for TD's.  Surtain has 2 I believe.  Taylor has 8 INT's and 39 forced fumbles, Surtain has 37 INT's and 5 forced fumbles.  Taylor has 132 sacks.  Taylor is even credited with more pass defenses than Surtain, 66 to 53.

[Dave Gray]

^ I can.  Madison played here longer than Surtain and we dealt Surtain at his peak (he had made 3 straight Pro Bowls when we traded him).  I think that Surtain was the better player.  The two didn't make the Pro Bowls in the same years (there was some overlap).  I'd have to see who were the other AFC corners that beat them out.

But I watched them play, in my prime as a Dolphins fan, on the field at the same time, and remember Surtain being the more dominant of the two.

[Doc-phin]

I think a solid argument could be made for Ricky.  Crazy, I know.

I still think you have to go with JT and their isn't much room for discussion.

[Phishfan]

I think I may be able to help clarify Dave's position a bit. Madison was our original shutdown corner. Surtain came along later and developed later. By they time we dealt Surtain, he was the superior player, although he may not have started out that way.

[Spider-Dan]

Madison made more All-Pro teams and more Pro Bowls.  Surtain didn't make a single Pro Bowl after we traded him, which seems to indicate that 1) he burned out and 2) we got rid of him at precisely the right time.

I just don't think there is a strong argument for Surtain over Madison in any respect (time at the top or overall longevity), and neither one of them are close to JT (though Madison is closer than Surtain.  To be honest, neither one of those guys can really even rate above Zach, and Zach is clearly not as good as JT.

[MikeO]

Madison made more All-Pro teams and more Pro Bowls.  Surtain didn't make a single Pro Bowl after we traded him, which seems to indicate that 1) he burned out and 2) we got rid of him at precisely the right time.

I just don't think there is a strong argument for Surtain over Madison in any respect (time at the top or overall longevity), and neither one of them are close to JT (though Madison is closer than Surtain.  To be honest, neither one of those guys can really even rate above Zach, and Zach is clearly not as good as JT.

The only player on this list who has a shot (granted a slim shot) at making the hall of fame is JT. And its gonna take a minor miracle for him to get in. JT has been the best player for the Fins the last 10 years.

Surtain was a better player than Madison, and Sam was a very good player. Both were slightly overrated though looking back on things. Madison was a "me-first" player. The guy won a Super Bowl ring with the Giants and didn't show up for the Parade and celebration. Nuff said!!

[Dave Gray]

I loved Surtain, but even at his best I never thought the consensus was that he was the best in the game at his position.  Taylor was the defensive player of the year one year, the best defensive player in the GAME let alone his position.  

Yeah, but we're not talking about consensus.  We're asking an opinion of who we all think is better.  If everyone already knows the answer, why are we asking the question, if not to voice our opinions?

I think that Surtain was the best Dolphin player during his years here.  However, if you're counting the longevity of a player, I agree that it's JT.

[JVides]

I agree that it has to be Taylor.  He has been far and away Miami's best player.  Had Taylor played in Nick Saban's 3-4 / 4-3 hybrid for his entire career, rather than just a few years, I think his sack total would've been in the 150s, and he'd have had a few more defensive TDs, and been a HOF lock rather than a HOF probable.  Zach Thomas gets some thought because he was the team's heart, though he wasn't the team's best player.  Madison gets consideration because, up until his last year or two, he was as dominant a corner as you could want.  Surtain had a higher peak than Madison (I think) but he had a shorter run as dominant (didn't he back up T-Buck for like 3 years?), so I rate him behind Madison.  A guy people forget is Tim Bowens.  He made it possible for Zach Thomas to fly around without being engaged by blockers.  He required constant double teams and would've been celebrated had Miami done anything in the playoffs during his time.  I love Vince Wilfork, partly because he reminds me if TimBo and partly because he's a 'Cane.  Put it this way:  No TimBo = no Zach Thomas as we know him.  Therefore, I rate 'em:

Taylor
Thomas
Madison
Bowens
Surtain

[Spider-Dan]

The only player on this list who has a shot (granted a slim shot) at making the hall of fame is JT. And its gonna take a minor miracle for him to get in.

Are you joking?

If Jason Taylor retires at the end of this season, he has a fair chance at being a first-ballot HOFer (if, by some unholy act of god, the Jets win the Super Bowl, he'll be a first-ballot lock).  Taylor is as solid of a HOF candidate as any currently active defensive player not named Ray Lewis.

Zach is more of the slim shot candidate; you can make an argument for him, but he definitely won't get in on the first ballot.  If JT gets in on the first ballot, that wouldn't even be a surprise.

[MikeO]

Are you joking?

If Jason Taylor retires at the end of this season, he has a fair chance at being a first-ballot HOFer (if, by some unholy act of god, the Jets win the Super Bowl, he'll be a first-ballot lock).  Taylor is as solid of a HOF candidate as any currently active defensive player not named Ray Lewis.

Zach is more of the slim shot candidate; you can make an argument for him, but he definitely won't get in on the first ballot.  If JT gets in on the first ballot, that wouldn't even be a surprise.

JT has around 130 sacks. Chris Doleman has 150 and hasn't gotten in yet. Plus Doleman was 8 time Pro Bowl. JT only 6...you can sit and say well its a popularity contest. Maybe, but that is what theese people are judging on. Stuff like that, your overall resume!!  If Doleman doesn't get in (and he retired in 99, so he has been pased over a few times now), JT will NEVER get in. Doleman has better numbers. Period! And to get in at 130 or so sacks(the number JT is at now) you gotta be an LT type or Rickey Jackson type. JT isn't even on their planet let alone in their league

If Doleman gets in this year that is a good sign for JT. But as long as Doleman doesn't get in, JT is on the outside looking in

[JVides]

^^^JT also has like 8 defensive TDs, which is a defensive record if I'm not mistaken.  He has more than sack totals going for him.

[Spider-Dan]

JT also has three All-Pro selections to Doleman's two.  I think I can safely say that an All-Pro is significantly better than two Pro Bowls.  But honestly, that barely even matters:

Jason Taylor has been selected NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Chris Doleman has not.

The two are not comparable.

[MikeO]

JT also has three All-Pro selections to Doleman's two.  I think I can safely say that an All-Pro is significantly better than two Pro Bowls.  But honestly, that barely even matters:

Jason Taylor has been selected NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Chris Doleman has not.

The two are not comparable.

Doleman has 3 All Pro selections, not 2, I just did a quick check. And Doleman was on the ALL-DECADE team as well. Bottom line is Doleman has better numbers and was a better player. 

[Pappy13]

JT has around 130 sacks. Chris Doleman has 150 and hasn't gotten in yet.

Doleman has been a HOF semi-finalist 3 times including the last 2 years and should already be in.  Taylor will get in.

Couple more stats.

Taylor has 9 defensive TD's, Doleman had 3.
Taylor has 29 fumble recoveries for 246 return yards.  Doleman had 24 fumble recoveries, don't know the yardage.
Taylor has 45 forced fumbles, Doleman had 44.
Taylor has 3 safeties, Doleman had 2.

The one stat where Doleman clearly outdistances Taylor is in tackles where Doleman is credited with 975 total and Taylor has 758, but those stats aren't official because the NFL didn't start keeping track until 2001 after Doleman had already retired.

And Taylor has played in 217 games and started 197, Doleman played in 232 and started 213.