Marlon Moore knows exactly what undrafted rookie running back Nic Grigsby is going through right now. Last year he was among those watching the clock tick down to the deadline for teams to submit final 53-man rosters.
When all of the dust had settled that September day of 2010 and empty lockers were all around him, Moore and fellow undrafted rookie wide receiver Roberto Wallace had survived the cut. Now he, Wallace, Grigsby and plenty of others – including veterans Will Allen and Larry Johnson – are clock-watchers once again, with tonight’s 6 p.m. deadline the focal point.
“Those were two stressful days for sure,” said Moore, who caught one pass for 22 yards in Thursday night’s 17-3 preseason win over the Dallas Cowboys at Sun Life Stadium. “At the same time me and Roberto got a chance to sit in the locker room and relax with each other, kick back, talk and laugh so that helped ease the pressure of the final cuts. But it was a nerve-racking two days as a rookie.”
Grigsby was signed out of Arizona in July and unlike Moore and Wallace last year did not have the benefit of going through rookie mini-camp and OTAs. He ended up getting eight carries against Dallas and gained 17 yards, with a long run of five yards, and also caught one pass for seven yards.
During training camp Grigsby flashed more than a few times and outlasted Kory Sheets, who was waived on August 23rd. That same day the Dolphins signed Johnson, who was a two-time Pro Bowler in 2005 and 2006 with the Kansas City Chiefs, so Grigsby knew he head to take advantage of each and every opportunity.
“They told me all week, ‘Rook, get ready, you’re going to get a lot of touches this week,’ and a lot of guys in practice told me I was one of the only rookie running backs that got as many touches as I did,” Grigsby said. “I appreciate the coaching staff and organization giving me the opportunity and all I can do is wait and see. If I get let go here, there’ll be another team out there hopefully ready to pick me up.”
Meanwhile, Allen and Johnson are in unfamiliar territory as they are accustomed to already knowing where they fit on the 53-man roster as opposed to wondering whether or not they made it. In a way, being faced with that predicament actually fueled their desire against the Cowboys.
Allen looked like an energized rookie in the first quarter when he upended Cowboys fullback Chris Gronkowski and held him to no gain on a screen pass. He took Gronkowski’s legs out from underneath him and then popped to his feet pumping his fists. He was just as demonstrative on pass defense, especially when he broke up a pass in the corner of the end zone that wound up in the hands of safety Tyrone Culver for an interception.
“You know what is crazy about it? I had more anxiety in this game than any game,” said Allen, who missed all of last season with a knee injury and was slowed in training camp by a pulled hamstring. “There’s nothing like the thrill you get when the game starts and I haven’t found anything else to take its place. I feel like I had an opportunity today to show that I still can play. I definitely believe I can still play. Obviously, it’s up to them.”
For Johnson, the fact that Miami was willing to sign him when no other teams showed an interest is something he is appreciative of. He wanted to reward them with a maximum effort against the Cowboys like he put forth last Saturday against Tampa Bay and he even offered to play some on special teams if the Dolphins needed him.
By the end of the night, Johnson led all rushers with 10 carries for 39 yards and one touchdown. That 22-yard run on a sweep to the right put on display all of the skills that made him special in Kansas City – speed to get around the corner and strength to fend off tacklers.
“It took me back as far as knowing what I can do,” Johnson said. “At the end of the day if you can’t break tackles you’re pretty much worthless as a running back. So I’m glad I was able to get out there and be in space and make that kind of move.”
Whether or not that move was enough to land him a permanent spot on the team for the regular season won’t be known until 6 p.m. tonight. Allen, Grigsby, Wallace and Moore are in the same boat.
Before the game against the Cowboys, Moore and Wallace reminisced about last year and talked about how far they have come. They both feel more comfortable as players and a little less nervous about their fates knowing that it’s all out of their hands now.
“All we can do is wait it out,” Moore said. “We’re going to come in on Sunday and some people are going to be there and some people are not going to be there. I hope I’m one of the 53 that are there.”
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