Today's the day Dolphins will quash some NFL dreams

Not everyone in the NFL has million-dollar contracts, endorsement deals and roster stability.

In fact, there are far more players like Ryan Baker than Jake Long, Karlos Dansby and Reggie Bush, the Dolphins' marquee names.

Baker, an undrafted former Purdue standout, has been with the Dolphins three seasons, working his way up from the practice squad.

He's been cut a few times by this same regime, and it's likely that he'll be one of the 22 players General Manager Jeff Ireland and coach Joe Philbin call into their office for that difficult conversation, which can be summarized by saying they aren't "good enough."

Or is it not big enough, fast enough, strong enough, polished enough or maybe just not the right scheme fit. How about the: "you're a tremendous worker, but the timing just isn't right" line.

Baker has heard that one a few times from the Dolphins' brass, and kept resurfacing from the bottom of the NFL's trash bin, which will be filled with about 700-plus NFL hopefuls, who will be cut by Friday's 8 p.m. deadline.

"What's the wait like?" Baker said, repeating the question he was asked. "We get in [for work] at 5 a.m. in the morning, so imagine trying to go to bed. You're constantly wondering what the answer is. But once you find out, you can go from there."

According to Baker, it's the wait that's crippling.

Making matters worse is the fact some players will be spared for a day just to get fired tomorrow when talent-strapped teams like the Dolphins ravish the NFL's waiver wire, rummaging through the respectable talent that doesn't make another roster.

And if not tomorrow, then that uncomfortable conversation could come next week, or next month, as Ireland continues to churn the bottom 5-10 spots on Miami's roster.

The Dolphins have already begun the process of churning, working out a number of receivers Thursday, including NFL veteran Donte Stallworth, former Jaguars receiver Mike Sims-Walker and Brian Tyms, a Florida A&M product who was cut last week by the 49ers. No signings are imminent, considering Ireland will likely wait to see the talent he can trade for, or poach off the waiver wire on Saturday.

"I think the body of work I put together has been pretty strong, but you never know what the coaches are thinking," said Marlon Moore, one of 10 receivers battling for five or six spots on the 53-man roster. "Hopefully my name doesn't get called and I don't get that phone call."

Moore, who served as Miami's starting flanker the past two preseason games, has spent the past three training camps on the fringe of the Dolphins, roster, barely making it into the final 53.

He believes in renting, not buying, which is one of the fundamental rules in the NFL, which stands for Not For Long just as much as it does the league's real acronym.

Some players, like an overweight John Jerry, Miami's third-round pick in 2010, and a slow-developing Michael Egnew, the Dolphins' third-round pick in 2012, get spared because of their draft status. Some of them eventually develop with enough patience. Paul Soliai's resurrection from disaster in 2008 to dominant in 2010 is proof of this, but most rarely turn the corner.

Then there are those players who began training camp as long shots and blossom, like Davone Bess did. This year, those players are Hollywood Hills product Josh Samuda, Miami's backup center; defensive end Derrick Shelby and fullback Jorvorskie Lane, whose solid performances should help these undrafted rookies beat the odds and achieve their dream of becoming an NFL player.

"Some days were hard to get through, but I've loved every moment of it," said Samuda, an undrafted rookie from UMass. "If it doesn't come out the way it's supposed to, I know I gave it my all."

And in less than 24 hours players like Samuda will learn if their all is good enough.

"It's an interesting game, that's for sure," Baker said, referring to the NFL waiting game. "But I'm living my dream."

Source: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/fl-miami-dolphins-0831-20120830,0,5871509.story?track=rss

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