Longtime Dolphins guard Bob Kuechenberg dead at 71

Former Miami Dolphins guard Bob Kuechenberg, a six-time Pro Bowl selection and member of the only NFL team to achieve a perfect season, died at age 71.

His death Saturday was confirmed by the Dolphins, who had no further details.

Kuechenberg joined the Dolphins as a free agent in 1970, coach Don Shula's first season, and played for them until 1983. He started every game for the team that went 17-0 in 1972, and started 16 games for the team that repeated as Super Bowl champion in 1973.

Kuechenberg was a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and a member of the Dolphins Honor Roll.

"I was sorry to learn of the passing of Bob Kuechenberg, who was not only one of the best players I ever coached but one of the toughest as well," Shula said in a statement. "He was one of the key performers on our championship teams."

Shula said Kuechenberg played with a broken arm in Super Bowl VIII and still dominated Hall of Fame defensive tackle Alan Page as Miami beat the Vikings 24-7 in Houston on Jan. 13, 1974 — 45 years ago Sunday.

A native of Gary, Ind., Kuechenberg played at Notre Dame before being drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1969, but he never played for them. Kuechenberg's 196 games with the Dolphins was a team record until Dan Marino broke it.

The Patriots asked fans to stand and observe a moment of silence for Makenna Mebane, who was born with a rare genetic condition and died on Jan. 3 at the age of 7 weeks.

"We appreciated the Patriots organization," Los Angeles safety Jahleel Addae said after his team lost 42-28. "They're a first-class, stand-up organization to do such a thing; they didn't have to. I know he appreciates it and we appreciate it as well."