It started as a heartwarming story about perseverance and the human situation. Who didn’t root for Darren Waller popping out of retirement at 33 to aim a profession restart with the Miami Dolphins?
Right here was a narrative a few participant who had beat again some private demons in a way to understand as a lot as him probably serving to the Dolphins’ void at tight finish. Each group may use a narrative of hope like him, proper?
It didn’t even matter a lot when Waller didn’t follow in July’s coaching camp. Your eyebrow raised a smidge, positive, contemplating you’d suppose a participant who missed a 12 months wanted to work off some rust, if not impress his new group.
When Waller nonetheless didn’t play by way of August’s preseason, the story turned extra of an unsure query. However what made it cross the road to odd was when the preliminary depth chart got here out and he was listed because the No. 1 tight finish regardless of not training.
Possibly it was only a message to the opposite tight ends to choose up their recreation. That occurs round professional groups. It’s not like all of the opposite tight ends have a confirmed portfolio.
However it all hardened into enterprise when Waller made the 53-man roster regardless of nonetheless not placing on pads. That was an indication the Dolphins had been investing in an ageing participant who hadn’t practiced in over a 12 months — and hadn’t impressed his remaining season with the New York Giants when he may play. He was taking the place of one other attainable participant, too.
Did the Dolphins concern if Waller was launched one other group would declare him earlier than he might be signed again to the follow squad? Did they suppose he was higher than any of their tight ends really training each day?
There was no setback in his well being to maintain him off the sphere, coach Mike McDaniel saved saying. They had been simply bringing him again gradual, which was simply “good, as a result of we wish him accessible for 17 video games slightly than come out right here and show one thing in preseason after which he pulls or will get harm after which he’s out for some time,’’ basic supervisor Chris Grier stated final week. “So that is us about managing him to get him prepared for Week 1.”
Week 1’s damage report got here and stated Waller missed Wednesday and Thursday’s practices with a hip damage. Possibly it simply occurred. However on the sting of the opener the heartwarming story has changed into a headscratcher that was reflecting on some decision-making past simply the tight finish place.
In a 12 months the place a lot was product of a remodeled tradition, when working tougher and staying after follow had been themes of the summer time as Grier and McDaniel discuss, the Dolphins maintain relying on a participant who has by no means gone by way of a full follow.
“The intentionality of bringing Darren right here was actual, however we’re additionally working by way of the method of enjoying good soccer, not relying on Darren,’’ McDaniel stated on Wednesday. “So what does that imply?
“Meaning identical to the scenario with Tyreek Hill the place him not being on the sphere permits for different analysis and development of the group, though you don’t understand it instantly as best, there’s good residuals, and Darren is the very same means.”
Hmm. Hill has performed with the Dolphins for 3 years at an elite stage. Nobody doubts his capacity as one of many recreation’s high receivers. And Waller is taken into account the “very same means,” though nobody’s seen him a lot as follow after a 12 months of retirement?
Waller positive appears the half at 6-foot-6 and 255 chiseled kilos. He sounds nice when he talks. He shares his full story of an dependancy beginning with Oxycontin at 15 to cocaine as an NFL participant till a rehab stint in 2018 set him free. He returned to the NFL, broke out with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020 and for a couple of years turned one of many league’s high tight ends.
Now, who’s he as a soccer participant? The query actually is how a lot the Grier and McDaniel counted on him. As a result of it positive appeared like they noticed him because the starter if you look again from the beginning of summer time proper by way of this week. Not a bonus. Not a superb veteran. The starter?
The place that opened when Jonnu Smith and his 88 catches final 12 months had been traded to Pittsburgh appears all the way down to Julian Hill and Tanner Conner on Sunday. McDaniel’s offense doesn’t worth tight ends an excessive amount of, as we’ve seen and the Smith commerce says. However don’t you want one to play?
You continue to root for Waller. How are you going to not? Wouldn’t or not it’s nice if he discovered his well being and recaptured his youthful days as an impactful participant?
However you additionally surprise how the Dolphins acquired within the scenario of investing in an ageing veteran who doesn’t follow, of getting a good finish popping out of retirement handed a place he couldn’t take, of coming into a season crossing your fingers he turns into nearly as good a narrative on the sphere as he’s off it.
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