... in their career. They find themselves on the outside looking in, fighting to keep a roster spot.

Age and injuries take a toll, and a player who once was a lock no matter what now becomes an expendable commodity because of younger, faster players.

The business end of the NFL can be a cruel mistress, but the reality every player must face one day is there will be an end to their career, or at least an end to their time on a given roster.

Cutdown to 75 players is Aug. 31, with the cutdown to 53 players not much longer after that. Time is not a marginal player's friend at this point.

Dolphins Featured Columnist Robert Hoffman did a comprehensive look at this situation earlier this summer here: Bleacher Report - NFL