The last "no" before the show

Tonight the Miami Dolphins will take on the New Orleans Saints.  It is the last “no, this game means nothing” before the show starts for real a week from tomorrow night. 

Still, this game means little.  Unless of course your trying to convince Cam Cameron that he should take you over that other guy, or trying to show another team your worth being on their roster.  Unlike any of the previous 3 games this year, game 4 is all about the showcase…the personal showcase.  And there is nothing wrong with that.

Most NFL teams, including the Dolphins already have a good idea of who they want for their 53 member roster.  In all likelihood there is 5 to 10 guys who are on the bubble, 5 might make it the other 5 won’t.  Of the 5 that make it, 3 may be replaced with guys from another teams cut list.  It’s a vicious circle, but one that has become a staple in the NFL this time of year.

The Dolphins starters have still been taking the majority of snaps this week, and rightly so.  They are not prepping for NO, they are prepping for Washington.  They will not be playing tonight.  Those that are will not be playing long.

No, tonight belongs to the back-ups.  The guys who need some playing time so that when they are called on, they will at least have had some time.  Tonight is about the 3rd stringers and the young guys who have little experience.  Tonight is about the few battles that are left, the very few.

Cameron and his staff have a list of “definites, tomorrow they will begin the process of paring it down.  They already have a good idea.  For those unfortunate 19 or 20 some odd players, (a few will be put on the injured list), it will be an audition.  A last chance to show other teams that maybe there is a place for them.

That is tonight’s game.  Everything else is geared towards the week after.  And after tonight, there will be nothing else.