NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

One NFL player you wish never played for your favorite team

By Randy Gurzi

22 Aug 1998: Quarterback Ryan Leaf #16 of the San Diego Chargers standing around talking before the pre-season game against the Indianapolis Colts at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Chargers defeated the Colts 33-3. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squ
22 Aug 1998: Quarterback Ryan Leaf #16 of the San Diego Chargers standing around talking before the pre-season game against the Indianapolis Colts at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Chargers defeated the Colts 33-3. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squ /
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2022 NFL
PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 18: Defensive lineman Eric Kumerow #90 of the Miami Dolphins looks on from the sideline during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium on December 18, 1988 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Dolphins 40-24. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

Miami Dolphins: Eric Kumerow, DE

Back in the late 1980s, legendary head coach Don Shula and the Miami Dolphins struck out in back-to-back seasons on defensive ends with the No. 16 overall pick. First, it was John Bosa who they took out of Boston College. Bosa wound up playing just three seasons with Miami and had only seven sacks.

His impact on the game is felt much more with his sons — Joey Bosa and Nick Bosa — who are both dominant forces in the NFL.

With the jury still out on Bosa in 1988, Shula went after another big defender as they took Eric Kumerow from Ohio State at No. 16.

Like Bosa, Kumerow also lasted just three seasons with the Dolphins and never found his footing. He was unable to ever become a starter for them and finished with just five sacks.

Hindsight is always 20-20 but the Dolphins could have had a Hall of Fame running back in Thurman Thomas — who ended up going 40th overall to the Buffalo Bills. Thomas wound up with 12,074 yards in his career and while he did play in Miami for his final season, he had just 136 yards for them and was into his mid-30s by this point.

Thomas being paired with Dan Marino would have not only been a lot of fun to watch but the offense could have been elite — and might have been what it took for Marino to have picked up that elusive Super Bowl ring.

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