Miami Dolphins staff not wasting time

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http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/football/miami-dolphins/story/654192.html

Miami Dolphins staff not wasting time

BY JEFF DARLINGTON
Miami Herald

The Dolphins apparently had no cryptic reason to cut them Friday. No deadlines to meet yet. No roster limits to satisfy. Not even travel accommodations to consider.

If the team's decision to waive wide receiver David Kircus and cornerback Chris Roberson on the eve of the third preseason game teaches us anything about this new regime, it is this: Miami sees no reason to delay the inevitable.

Four days before teams must trim their rosters to 75 players, the Dolphins already have whittled their number down to 70, priming them to make a run at as many as five players when other teams cut their own bubble players next Tuesday.

TOUGH CHOICES

Football decisions in South Florida no longer will come with hesitation, but rather a definitive tone that can be viewed as ruthless, refreshing or both. Even the tougher decisions have been made with a strong sense of conviction behind them.

Kircus' departure is slightly surprising (assuming anything these days can be considered a surprise) since he was among the more prominent acquisitions this offseason. He also led all pass catchers in Miami's preseason opener with three catches for 39 yards.

Still, as several recent departures have dictated, veteran players who have yet to close the gap on their younger counterparts should treat their job security with fragile caution. As undrafted rookie free agents Davone Bess, Jayson Foster and Anthony Armstrong each continue to impress, the room for error from veterans has narrowed.

Kircus' departure likely will resonate with plenty of players Saturday as they fight for their jobs during the third preseason game against the Chiefs at Dolphin Stadium. Now, with only Ted Ginn Jr. and Derek Hagan as locks, Greg Camarillo and Ernest Wilford must step up to challenge the undrafted rookies in an unlikely competition.

This game already is considered a final evaluation for several players on the bubble. The problem is, it's becoming more and more unclear who even sits on that thin line between a spot on the roster and a spot on the waiver wire.

Even Thursday, coach Tony Sparano was talking about how many additions from this spring's offseason he expects to keep around for the season, and he only named two of those many acquisitions as locks to make the team: nose tackle Jason Ferguson and linebacker Akin Ayodele.

With players competing for those spots at the bottom of the roster, the intensity in Saturday's preseason game should be especially high during special teams action. Sparano has made it clear to everyone on the roster how they can make this team.

MUST CONTRIBUTE

''Right now, most of your bubble players that you're looking at need to be contributors on special teams one way or the other,'' Sparano said. ``Obviously whatever he does that way out on the field offensively and defensively will help, but the special teams end of things is going to make the difference.

``If I keep him on the 53, how do I get him to the game? When you start thinking about that, number of jobs, number of special teams plays come into play.''

The attitude of the new management already has been made clear through its roster moves during this training camp, so the veteran players most in jeopardy at this point will be those who won't be able to humble themselves enough to realize their role on special teams.

It's a job many rookies tend to already accept. But as Sparano noted Thursday, the way for players on the bubble can find a way onto the final roster is actually quite simple: Accept what you are.

So can a player seemingly on the way out still change their fate? Even with the decisive nature in which this organization acts, a change of heart is still possible, Sparano said.

''Yes, if he's smart enough to understand what he really is,'' the coach said. ``Sometimes you get on in that stage, and if you're a veteran player, you still think you're just a starter at whatever the position is. He's got to understand what he is.''

If he doesn't understand it now, he will when he gets cut.