Getting another chance

Dolphins coach Cam Cameron believes trying to rejuvenate the careers of Kelly Campbell and Jesse Chatman is worth the effort.

BY BARRY JACKSON

bjackson@MiamiHerald.com

Said coach Cam Cameron of Kelly Campbell, above: 'The one thing that's obvious: He's got outstanding speed. If he could stay healthy, he can help us.'

Although this Dolphins regime has been somewhat cautious about signing players with past issues, coach Cam Cameron and general manager Randy Mueller aren't averse to reclamation projects.

''Sometimes it's just a gut instinct,'' Cameron said.

And Cameron and Mueller believe trying to rejuvenate the careers of receiver Kelly Campbell and running back Jesse Chatman is worth the effort. And so the Dolphins have welcomed back both players for a second time, even though neither has played a down in a regular-season game since 2004.

Chatman averaged 6.0 yards a carry as LaDainian Tomlinson's backup in a San Diego offense directed by Cameron in 2004, but then essentially ate himself out the league.

Campbell averaged 19.2 yards on 19 catches with the Minnesota Vikings in '04, and then missed two seasons, largely because of leg injuries. His reputation also was affected by his February 2005 arrest on possession of marijuana and theft for receiving stolen property. (The charges were dropped, according to his agent, Jack Reale.)

If healthy and fit (so far, so good), both possess the speed and quickness that the team covets.

After ballooning to 270 pounds two years ago, Chatman, who is 5-8, said he's down to 215, his weight as a senior at Eastern Washington in 2001.

Chatman, 27, seemed to break through in his third NFL season, when he ran for 392 yards on 65 carries for the Chargers. But after re-signing him, the Chargers released him in July 2005 when he reported overweight. The Dolphins signed him before that season, but he was inactive for four games, and traded in October to New Orleans, which released him in November. He was out of the league until Miami signed him in February.

Chatman blames a lack of discipline for the weight gain: ``I was eating late at night, snacking for no reason, things I know not to do now.''

Chatman lost the weight through exercise and diet and appreciates ''having a supportive wife cooking all the right things.'' Chicken, ground turkey and vegetables have replaced ground beef, cheese and Mexican food in his diet.

''When I was here in 2005, I remember David Boston telling me it doesn't matter how the food tastes,'' he said. ``It's whether it's healthy for you. Every time I took that bite, I knew it may not taste good, but it's good for me, and it kept me going.''

Chatman, who has five children, spent last season living in San Diego but didn't watch NFL games because it was too upsetting to see players he believed were inferior to him.

`IMPRESSED'

''Here's a guy who has played at a high level at one time and had some obstacles in his way,'' Cameron said. ``I've been impressed with him getting some of those issues squared away.

``How do you know if a guy is going to repeat mistakes? You don't. You look at what he's done recently behavior-wise. You look in his eyes. You listen to his voice. A gut instinct told me this guy is committed to doing the right things . . .''

In San Diego, Chatman said, 'Coach Cameron used to sit me down a lot. He knew as a young player I was struggling with off-field issues. One thing that stuck with me that he said was, `If life wasn't hard, it wouldn't be life.' ''

Miami has shown faith in its reserve running backs (rookie Lorenzo Booker, Chatman, Patrick Cobbs, among others) by not signing an established free agent such as Corey Dillon.

''I'm grateful the Dolphins gave me a second opportunity and I'm going to make sure they get everything they deserve out of me,'' Chatman said.

HEALTH ISSUES

Campbell is striving to return to his '04 form. After catching 57 passes, including eight touchdowns, in three years with the Vikings, Campbell was released before the 2005 season, largely because of a leg injury. Last summer, a lingering quadriceps injury in his other leg ruined his attempt to make the Dolphins. He got an injury settlement and spent the season living in South Florida, rehabilitating his leg.

''It was very hard sitting out two years,'' he said.

But Campbell, 26, said he believes he has found a way to lessen the chance of leg injuries. He said he has been ''doing different exercises'' under the supervision of a Weston doctor to ''get my quad stronger.'' He also said he's eating healthier, including protein shakes.

Cameron said Mueller has ''a high opinion'' of Campbell, and Cameron likes what he has seen.

''The one thing that's obvious: He's got outstanding speed,'' Cameron said. ``If he could stay healthy, he can help us.''

Campbell appears to be competing with Az-Zahir Hakim and several long shots for an open job in a receiving corps that features Chris Chambers, Marty Booker, Derek Hagan and No. 1 pick Ted Ginn.

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