Still unique - Dolphins ready to celebrate

MIAMI -- In keeping with their annual ritual, Nick Buoniconti and former teammate Dick Anderson will share a champagne celebration at a Coral Gables country club this week.

Here's to the 1972 Miami Dolphins, and here's to the 2003 Cincinnati Bengals.

The Bengals handed the Kansas City Chiefs their first loss of the season Sunday, leaving the NFL with no unbeaten teams. For at least another year, the '72 Dolphins' perfect season will remain a unique achievement.

"The magnitude of our undefeated team has never been fully appreciated," said Buoniconti, a Hall of Fame linebacker and the Dolphins' defensive leader in 1972. "It's the greatest single team record in the history of sports. It continues to stand as the most difficult team record to tie."

Buoniconti, former safety Anderson and Hall of Fame quarterback Bob Griese are among the members of the '72 team who still live in South Florida.

"I won't have champagne like Buoniconti and Anderson," Griese said. "I'm a beer-and-pretzel guy. I'm from Indiana. But I'll celebrate. ... We're tickled to death it's still intact."

No team has even finished the regular season unbeaten since the Dolphins went 17-0 in 1972.

-- AP