WEDNESDAY BUZZ COLUMN

J.D. Walton, Zack Bowman and Spencer Paysinger combined to start 22 games for the New York Giants last season. Now, all three are fighting simply to make the Dolphins roster, as are punter Brandon Fields and more than a half dozen other fairly prominent veterans.

With 2 ½ weeks before the roster must be sliced to 53, here’s what we’re hearing on Dolphins veterans at risk:

### Of those three Giants signed in free agency, Paysinger has the best chance to make the team at the moment, with the situation obviously fluid based on preseason performance.

There’s some strong sentiment to keep Paysinger because of his experience (14 starts in four seasons for the Giants) and special teams acumen. He was one of the Giants' top three tacklers on special teams the past three seasons, and Miami needs someone to fill ex-Dolphin linebacker Jason Trusnik's former role on special teams.

Bowman, we’re told, is very much on the bubble. Keeping him likely would mean keeping seven corners, because the front office sees considerable upside in Tony Lippett, Bobby McCain and Will Davis. Bowman, who started five games for the Giants last season, helped his chances by grading out well internally against Chicago.

Both Paysinger and Bowman would earn $745,000 if they stick --- palatable numbers for Miami.

Walton, who started every game at center for the Giants last season, trails Sam Brenner in the battle for the backup center job. At $510,000, Brenner is slightly cheaper than Walton ($750,000).

### Most teams prefer to keep four defensive tackles, and it would be surprising if Miami keeps five, because ends Derrick Shelby and Terrence Fede can also play tackle, coaches have said.

But Miami hasn’t made a final decision on that.

In that four-tackle scenario, C.J. Mosley and Anthony Johnson would be competing for one spot.

Mosley has been working with Jordan Phillips on the second team, having leapfrogged Johnson, who fell to the third team and then committed three neutral zone infractions against Chicago.

But if Johnson outplays Mosley over the next three weeks, Johnson could stick. Johnson, at 22, is 10 years younger than Mosley and cheaper ($510,000 to $970,000).

### The Dolphins view Tennessee rookie Matt Darr as an NFL-quality punter and he has a legitimate shot to beat out Brandon Fields, who fell to 11th in average and 25th in net average last season.

Whereas Darr would make $435,000 this season, Fields – even after taking a pay cut a few months ago --- would earn $1.6 million this year and $3.5 million next (with a $4.3 million 2016 cap hit).

Darr averaged 44.3 yards on three punts in the Bears game; Fields averaged 37.3, with a shorter field, but unlike Darr placed all three of his punts inside the Bears’ 20.

“I expect [to win the job] because I will earn it,” Fields said Monday.

### Kicker Caleb Sturgis remains the front-runner over strong-legged, unpolished rookie Andrew Franks but is expected to have a short leash if he struggles early in the season. And if Sturgis falters the next three weeks, Miami will consider waiver options.

“The last two years haven’t been good enough,” he said. “I need to be a bigger contributor to this team.”

### Elsewhere: Though there is thought to keeping four running backs instead of three, the Dolphins aren’t sure what they ultimately will do. Damien Williams and Jay Ajayi are essentially automatic behind Lamar Miller. LaMike James must play a lot better than he did on Thursday to make a case to stick and Mike Gillislee is a long shot…

One among veteran receivers LaRon Byrd, Cobi Hamilton, Matt Hazel and Michael Preston could stick initially only if concerns about DeVante Parker’s health compel Miami to start the season with six receivers instead of five. If Miami keeps five, it’s almost impossible to see any of those aforementioned four making it.

Jeff Linkenbach has the edge over Jacques McClendon for what could be the ninth and final offensive line job, but that’s fluid based on preseason performance….. Josh Freeman and McLeod Bethel Thompson assuredly will be cut before Sept. 7… Resourceful Jordan Kovacs, who has played in 17 games for Miami, remains an underdog; he must clearly outplay rookie Cedric Thompson to have a chance to win the fifth safety job if Miami even keeps five.

CHATTER

### Jordan Phillips’ penetration against Chicago was encouraging, and he seems to have corrected his college shortcoming of taking plays off. “There were too many people saying I was lazy, so I said I’ve got to fix it,” he said.

### Two Dolphins players cut in the past three days were claimed by other AFC East teams: tight end Arthur Lynch by the Jets and offensive tackle Chris Martin by the Patriots.

Marcus Thigpen told me that two Patriots assistant coaches asked him for information on the Dolphins last September after Miami cut him and New England claimed him.

### UM players have been buzzing about the creative wrinkles that have been added to the offense. “The personnel will be exotic. We'll have players playing positions they shouldn't but for us it works,” backup quarterback Malik Rosier said. “When people try to scheme us, we will find ways to expose them.”

One key to all of this, Rosier said, is speedy 6-4 tight end David Njoku.

Rosier said Njoku --- who also can play receiver and H-back --- will “exploit” defenses because “he’s a big mismatch. If they put a linebacker on him in the slot, it’s like taking candy from a baby.”

### Rosier said he expects to play a handful of plays a game and has been studying tape of how Russell Wilson, Marcus Mariota and Michael Vick have run the zone read. Rosier said his runs on zone reads have been successful in practice.

“I can get a couple of big explosive plays with it,” he said. “The first time I ran it last spring, the defense didn’t know what we do. The defense kind of hates it during practice because it’s so hard. But for us it’s going to pay off because when we play Clemson, they run the zone read. [FSU’s] Everett Golson will run some zone read packages.”

### Feedback we’ve gotten internally from UM’s closed practices: defensive end Chad Thomas has been very productive and is winning a lot of one-on-one battles; freshman defensive tackle Kendrick Norton is too good to keep on the bench this season; Joe Brown is making a strong push at guard; Stacy Coley has been very impressive and his route-running is much improved; running back Trayone Gray has made considerable strides; and under-the-radar tight end Chris Herndon is going to surprise people in the passing game.

### Please see the last post for more UM notes from Tuesday.

### With David Phelps out for the season with a stress fracture in his right forearm, the Marlins now are without six of the pitchers they thought would be their seven best starters this season: Mat Latos and Dan Haren were traded; Jose Fernandez, Jarred Cosart, Henderson Alvarez and Phelps are unavailable for health reasons. Only Tom Koehler has survived the season unscathed.

### Remember that custom-designed jet the Marlins were going to lease to shepherd players around the country, making road trips easier? It’s off the table.

The Marlins were supposed to have that Boeing to start this season but retrofitting problems and other issues caused repeated delays and the Marlins decided not to lease the plane but instead continue with charter flights. One prominent player has been complaining about this because players were looking forward to the extra large seats, couches and massage table.

### Twitter: @flasportsbuzz