DAVIE, Fla. (AP) -Joey Haynos was an undrafted rookie this spring and a member of the Green Bay Packers practice squad in the fall. But he’s a big reason the Miami Dolphins are still contending for the AFC East title in late December.
The third-string tight end caught a 19-yard touchdown pass that was the difference in Miami’s 14-9 win Sunday against San Francisco. He’s one of many developmental players the Dolphins (9-5) have called on for big plays during their surprising playoff push.
“Some people might call me a nobody,” Haynos said. “But I guess there’s a bunch of nobodies on this team.”
The Bill Parcells regime has constantly cut players and added new parts, shuffling the bottom of the roster to keep the Dolphins from becoming too complacent. But these no-name players have also filled key holes for Miami, even though the rest of the NFL wouldn’t take a chance.
was picked up by Miami. The next day he was meeting with Parcells, learning the Dolphins playbook and hoping to earn a permanent roster spot.
“All I needed was a chance,” Haynos said.
He wasn’t the only one.
Little-known cornerback Nate Jones and linebacker Charlie Anderson each have two sacks the past two games. Receiver Brandon London, guard Andy Alleman and fullback Lousaka Polite were added after training camp ended. The three have become key contributors for Miami – and all were rejected by other teams.
Dolphins coach Tony Sparano has dubbed the constant roster moves “turning over stones,” a phrase he uses constantly to describe how the team is searching for the next big stat. It’s a process he said will never end.
“I think that really for us, it’s part of the life line of what we do here, these developmental players,” Sparano said. “These guys to me are developmental players. They’re guys that maybe weren’t on the radar when training camp started but through the 12, 14, 15 weeks depending on how long we’ve had some of these guys, they have all of a sudden gotten themselves better and better here throughout the course of practice that we’ve been able to get something out of them in games.”
London earned a Super Bowl ring as a practice squad player for the Giants last season. He didn’t make the cut this training camp, either, and considered himself lucky when New York decided to keep him on again as a practice player.
But when he was in the Giants’ player personnel office to sign the contract, he got a call.
“Right when I picked up the pen, my agent had me on the phone,” London said. “And he said, ‘Look don’t sign anything. You’re a Miami Dolphin. I was like, peace. I’m heading to South Beach.”’
The Dolphins had players going in and out so much earlier this season, some veterans were fearing for their jobs. Other players even joked they were on their way out when it took a few extra weeks to get a permanent name plate on their locker.
But Miami’s constant roster overhaul has begun to ease.
The Dolphins haven’t made a non-injury roster move since Nov. 24. This late in the season, Sparano said he doesn’t want to mess with team chemistry, having won seven of the past eight games.
“I think right now it’s probably because we’re comfortable with where we’re at,” Sparano said. “We’ve had a couple of people in that we’ve taken a look at on occasion, but we didn’t do anything with them. So I’d say we’re pretty comfortable with where we’re at, at this particular time. Now that could change tomorrow.”
Miami’s playoff hopes hinge on the final two games – at Kansas City and the New York Jets.
The Dolphins are tied with the Jets and Patriots atop the AFC East. Miami owns the tiebreaker and will win the division if they sweep their final two games.
Even with the season at stake, veterans are counting on their seemingly anonymous teammates for help.
“Guys I am just getting to know, there out there making plays now,” veteran defensive end Vonnie Holliday said. “They’re making big plays. They’re not just on the team and competing for spots, they’re making the biggest plays in the biggest games. They’ve been a big part of our success. And any success we have in the future, a lot of it will be because of them.”
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