DAVIE, Fla. (AP) -The most surprising player for Miami’s surprising Dolphins was a walk-on receiver in college and an undrafted NFL free agent who began 2008 with eight catches in three years as a pro.
Greg Camarillo was regarded as small but slow.
Even now, with Camarillo enjoying the best season of his life, his fan club remains on the small side. He spotted a cluster of spectators in the far reaches of the stadium Sunday wearing his No. 83 jersey – and even from a distance – Camarillo could identify them.
“Anytime I see an 83 jersey in the stands, I know it’s a family member,” he said Monday.
His fan club is growing, however. Miami coach Tony Sparano became a member, as did quarterback Chad Pennington. Pretty much all the Dolphins rave about Camarillo, who had 11 catches in Sunday’s win at Denver to increase his season total to a team-high 43.
“He’s a hard guy not to like,” Sparano said. “He understands his limitations. When you do that, you have a great chance to succeed.”
by giving them Monday off after a 26-17 win over the Broncos improved Miami’s record to 4-4. But Camarillo was invited to the media room lectern to discuss his latest big game.
“I don’t think I’ve ever done a news conference,” he said.
Actually, Camarillo made headlines last year when he turned a short completion into a 64-yard touchdown in overtime against Baltimore, giving the Dolphins their lone win after an 0-13 start. But he wanted more than 15 minutes of fame.
With a new regime led by Bill Parcells in Miami, Camarillo reported for training camp merely hoping to make the team. It helped his chances that the receiving corps was perhaps the Dolphins’ thinnest area, and Camarillo gradually won over Sparano.
“Early on in camp I saw him be consistent,” Sparano said. “I thought, Well, he’s consistent, but maybe he doesn’t run fast enough. Maybe he doesn’t do this or do that.’ As you get into the games, you see him continue to make plays. That’s where it separated itself.”
Camarillo made plenty of plays against Denver, taking advantage of the secondary’s soft coverage and focus on speedy receiver Ted Ginn Jr. Three consecutive Camarillo catches started an eight-minute touchdown drive in the fourth quarter that clinched the victory.
ndon Marshall.
“I don’t even know that receiver’s name who caught all those balls,” Marshall groused.
Did Camarillo ever catch 11 passes in a game before?
“In high school, maybe once,” he said. “Never in college.”
He had 46 career catches as a backup at Stanford, a total he’ll likely surpass this year alone, perhaps as early as Sunday against Seattle.
Camarillo spent his rookie NFL season in 2005 on San Diego’s practice squad and played in four games the following year. When he was released by the Chargers just before the 2007 opener, the Dolphins claimed him and used him mostly on special teams.
This year he has started every game as a wideout. At 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, Camarillo compensates for his physical disadvantages by reading coverages well and running precise routes. He simply has a knack for getting open.
Pennington threw to a similar receiver with the New York Jets, 5-foot-10 Wayne Chrebet.
“Greg is a quarterback-friendly receiver,” Pennington said. “He knows what the defense is going to do and where the ball is going to be placed. He reminds me of Wayne.”
That’s high praise – Chrebet caught 580 passes in 11 seasons.
phins are throwing downfield more than early in the season.
“I’m just enjoying the ride,” Camarillo said. “I feel like I have to re-prove myself every week. I’ve kind of always been an underdog. It’s a role I’ve gotten used to. You can’t get comfortable. There’s no room for complacency.”
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