by Andy Kent

Filed under: Dolphins, AFC East

These are always the toughest decisions a head coach has to make in the NFL, cutting down the roster to the league-mandated 53 players. For Dolphins coach Tony Sparano, it involved him having to part ways two of his high draft picks from last season — quarterback Pat White and wide receiver Patrick Turner — and popular veteran tight end David Martin.

White was thought to be a risky pick in the second round last April because of his size (6-foot, 190 pounds) and questions about whether he could transition from a running quarterback to more of a pocket quarterback in the pros. Despite being the all-time leading rusher among quarterback in NCAA history and going 34-8 as a starter, the Alabama native struggled as a rookie last year and continued to struggle in training camp this year.

Turner was taken in the third round in 2009, ahead of current starter Brian Hartline, but was inactive for all but two games, seeing action mostly on special teams. A back injury prevented him from participating in OTAs and mini-camp but he caught up in training camp and was doing well in the preseason. Unfortunately for Turner, undrafted rookies Marlon Moore and Roberto Wallace passed him on the depth chart and found their way onto the roster.