Players seem to have an extra pep in their step after leaving the New York Giants in recent years, and Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller might be the next player to get that post-New York boost to his playing career after coming out of retirement to join the Miami Dolphins.
Even if he never puts up play equal to what he did in his starring days with the Las Vegas Raiders, his first action in a Dolphins uniform against the division rival New York Jets was perhaps a sign that he is going to play a role for a Miami team that is trying to claw back to relevancy.
Playing against a Jets team that has suffered some big injuries on the defensive side of the ball, Waller recorded two big catches in the first half. His second came on a fourth-down pass attempt near the goal line that may have turned the tide of the game in Miami's favor.
Waller rose up, leaping over an All-Pro cornerback in Sauce Gardner, and hauled in a Tua Tagovailoa throw on fourth down to put Miami up 10-0 against New York. Waller found the end zone right after that to begin the second half, putting Miami up 17-3.
Waller may be the tight end fix that everyone has been hoping for in Miami, which makes his New York tenure look even worse by comparison.
Darren Waller contributing to Dolphins after nightmare Giants tenure
Between the fact that Waller's body was not what it was during his peak with the Las Vegas Raiders and the Giants' quarterback room's inability to take advantage of him when he was playing well, there was no shot of him being as effective with Big Blue.
Waller is going to a very creative offensive coach in Mike McDaniel, and the tight end room behind him is arguably the worst in the league. That confluence of circumstances has given Waller the perfect opportunity to resurrect his career with a team that is going to give him a good deal of targets.
The Giants have moved on with Theo Johnson as the new tight end, and the results have been mixed so far. Johnson may indeed become a quality tight end in the future, but Waller appears to be in line to be the next great ex-Giant reclamation project.
Every Waller score is going to stick in the Giants' mind this season.