Dolphins long snapper John Denney, 40, is the second-oldest man to ever play for Miami. [ALLEN EYESTONE/palmbeachpost.com] ▲

DAVIE — The iron man of the Dolphins or the graybeard of the Dolphins — you can think of long snapper John Denney as either one if you like.

Just don't think of him as having one foot out the door and ready for retirement.

"I'll be honest: I'll know I'm done when they show me the door," Denney said. "I don't know if it'll end on my terms. I enjoy what I do. I'll milk this cow as long as I can."

Ryan Tannehill wants to stick around with Dolphins, too

Two weeks ago, Denney celebrated his 40th birthday. Only one man has suited up for the Dolphins at a more advanced age: the late quarterback Earl Morrall, who was nearly 43 when he last played for Miami in 1976. And no one has come close to Denney's record of 223 consecutive games, meaning he never has missed a game since joining the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent from BYU in 2005.

The Dolphins finish this season at Buffalo on Sunday. Had it not been for the persuasiveness of former Dolphins special teams coach Keith Armstrong, Denney may have enjoyed his Pro Bowl career in a Bills uniform.

"I could have gone to Buffalo," Denney said. "My brother was playing in Buffalo, so it was definitely a draw to go up there."

Denney's brother, Ryan, was Buffalo's second-round pick in 2002 and played eight seasons with the Bills. John obviously is happy he made the choice he made, ruling out the Lions, Saints and Jaguars as well.

"Maybe I pick one of those spots, I go to training camp, I don't make the team and that's it," Denney said. "With snappers, it's hard to get in the club."

Denney selected Miami after sizing up the competition and the coaches. And, of course, talking it over with wife Christy.

"You're talking to your wife, you ask her, 'Honey, Detroit or Miami?' " Denney said. "That was a quick decision."

As a whole, the Dolphins' special teams have been the strongest of the three phases of the game this season, not withstanding a few bumps in the road, such as when the Patriots overloaded Denney's territory up the middle to block two punts. Still, for a guy who "would have been ecstatic" to last two or three seasons in the NFL to play this long, and to make the Pro Bowl in 2010 and 2012, it's more than he could have asked for.

"I feel like I won the lottery," Denney said. "I feel like there's a thousand kids out there that can snap the football, and with the NFL, it's all about being in the right place at the right time. You get your foot in the door and get yourself a spot and as long as you take care of business and stay out of trouble, you can hold down the gig for a while.

"But like I said, if I picked any other location ... I may have never played a down in my life."

hhabib@pbpost.com

@gunnerhal