DAVIE — Dolphins tight end Joey Haynos has been preparing since last season to fill veteran David Martin's shoes. He just didn't expect to have to step in this quickly.
But the team's decision to place Martin on the injured reserve list - thus putting him out for the rest of the season - has thrust Haynos into a bigger role, beginning with Sunday's game at Atlanta.
"Somewhere down the line I would have been in this position," said Haynos, a 24-year-old second-year pro who has two NFL catches. "It happened now. I'm ready for it."
Martin, coming off his best of eight NFL seasons, had swelling on his right knee this weekend, and team doctors said he might need surgery, sources said. But contrary to reports, the team did not release 30-year-old Martin.
The decision to place Martin on the injured list puts the onus on 2008 starter Anthony Fasano, Haynos and rookies John Nalbone and Daron Drew to pick up the slack.
"Dave left big shoes to fill," Fasano said. "It gives the younger guys and myself more opportunities to help this team win."
Fasano, a fourth-year pro, tied a team record for tight ends with seven touchdowns last season on 34 catches.
While Fasano (6-4, 255) often lined up next to the offensive tackle, the traditional spot for a tight end, coaches moved Martin around to capitalize on his speed and experience as a college wide receiver. It worked as the 6-foot-4, 265-pound Martin averaged 14.5 yards on 31 catches, scored three times and had eight receptions of 20 yards or longer.
"(He was) able to do some different things in the pass game," coach Tony Sparano said.
But Sparano, who coached tight ends for three NFL teams, said he has the players to handle the job, beginning with the 6-foot-8, 270-pound Haynos. Haynos had to learn Martin's responsibilities during the spring because Martin had to come back from surgery on a sports hernia.
Nalbone and Drew need to be ready, too. Each is in the 6-foot-4, 255-pound range and ran the 40-yard dash just below 4.8 seconds during workouts leading up to the draft.
