Zach Thomas was at Miami Dolphins camp Monday but he wasn't just here to watch from the sideline.
As has been his penchant for seizing on such opportunities, coach Joe Philbin asked Thomas to address the team. And the address turned into a moving, motivating message.
According to those who heard the speech, Thomas implored players to seize on their opportunities -- the ones they have in their hands right now as members of this Miami training camp -- with no regard for their status.
He pointed to John Denney and spoke of how 11 years ago when the long snapper was in his first training camp, he came basically out of nowhere to make the team.
"There were a lot of great points," Philbin said of the Thomas speech today. "The thing I took out of it is even though Zach played 13 years in the NFL, his message, a lot of it was time goes by quickly. Take advantage of every single opportunity you get as a player. And sometimes you get sacrifices to be great. It's not easy to be great and you have to have a plan, you have to have sacrifice."