Chuck Klingbeil, Miami Dolphins, 1993
Chuck Klingbeil started his college career in 1985 for the Northern Michigan Wildcats, a Division D-II School. After starting for the Wildcats for four seasons, Klingbeil was not selected in the NFL Draft of 1989.
He ultimately signed a free agent contract to play in the Canadian Football League in 1989 with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He played with the team for two seasons culminating in a victory in the CFL's year ending "Grey Cup," beating the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, 43-40. Klingbeil was named the defensive Most Valuable Player in the game.
Klingbeil made his NFL debut in 1991 after having signed a free agent contract with the Miami Dolphins. In the fourth week of the season he scored his only career touchdown. The Green Bay Packers Don Majkowski fumbled in his own end zone and Klingbeil fell on it as the Dolphins beat the Packers 16-13 for Don Shula's 300th victory. He started four of the 15 games in which he appeared that season, collecting a total of five sacks, all in the last four weeks of the season.
In 1992, Klingbeil would earn a spot as the Dolphin's starting nose tackle, appearing and starting in 15 games. The Dolphins made the playoffs that season, winning the AFC East with an 11-5 record and beating the San Diego Chargers 31-0 before losing the AFC Championship to the Buffalo Bills, 29-10.
1993 would see Klingbeil moved to the right defensive tackle position for Miami, starting all 16 games. The team finished with a 9-7 record and finished second in the AFC East, on the outside looking in at the playoffs.
Klingbeil would stay on the right side of the defensive line, starting 30 games over the next two seasons for the Dolphins.
Klingbeil retired after the 1995 season, and is currently the defensive line coach for the Michigan Tech Huskies.
0 recs | 15 comments
Short career. I wonder if he chose to get out before he destroyed his body?
Tunaflipper - February 16, 2012
I know most of you never saw Manny Fernandez play
cause if you had the voting would be much different
fansince70 - February 16, 2012
Yeah time is a prejudicial thing. I remember someone once saying that they could not vote for Dwight as the best center
to ever play for the Dolphins because he had not see him play. Never mind that many believe him to be the best center EVER.
Its goes hand in hand with someone telling me on this blog that he would pick Brittany Spears over the Beatles or Dylan as a better artist. I thought my head was going to explode.
texascowpunk - February 16, 2012
...but, but
Britney Spears is awesome!
Kevin Kraczkowski - February 16, 2012
Sigh...........
texascowpunk - February 16, 2012
What are the odds
that a Hall of Fame center, Jim Langer, would be succeeded by yet another Hall of Fame center in Dwight Stephenson?
Kevin Kraczkowski - February 16, 2012
Not great but having top notch centers is a hallmark of the Dolphins and dare I say we have another on our hands now?
texascowpunk - February 17, 2012
Don't forget that we had Tim Ruddy too!
He wasn’t HoF material, but he was darn good too.
Finhead83 - February 17, 2012
Oh I know. Its almost a crime to not have a top center with this team. Glad we at least have that back.
texascowpunk - February 17, 2012
I just accidentally posted number 74 on the list for about 30 seconds before I could figure out how to hide it
…an unnamed tight end, if you must know. The funny thing is, somebody voted on the poll justthatfast.
Kevin Kraczkowski - February 16, 2012
You can really see the age of the voters here
As stated previously, Manny Frenandez, and it’s not even close. Also, Bob Baumhower was an all-pro, but his career was cut short due to injury – he was very good though. AND you’re telling me Chuck Klingbeil is ranked ahead of Trace Armstrong and Marco Coleman on the Dolphins top100 list??? If John Bosa, Jackie Shipp, or Eric Kumerow eventually make this list, I’m gonna hurl on my keyboard!!!
Dolfan Lee - February 16, 2012
This list was based on the Approximate value statistic
It’s an actual mathematical formula where each player receives varying amounts of credit for each play they were on the field for, throughout their career. Even though it may not seem fair over the course of a play, or even a game, I think it shows a good cumulative net worth over seasons and careers. It’s explained in much more detail, here:
I thought an actual formula was a much better yardstick by which to measure players across eras, regardless of position, than would be a list of my unscientific estimates. As a result, I’ve compiled this list free of bias or expectation.
Kevin Kraczkowski - February 16, 2012
Sorry, link fail.
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/blog/?page_id=8061
Kevin Kraczkowski - February 16, 2012
Got it.
Still, I stand by my assessment of Bosa, Shipp, Kumerow, and my keyboard. Sometimes the eyeballs know better than the math.
Dolfan Lee - February 16, 2012
Don't sweat it
Shipp is tied for 154th, Bosa 237th, and Kumerow 356th, not counting kickers, punters, or the 2011 season.
Kevin Kraczkowski - February 17, 2012
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