Dolphins Traylor comfortable, in any role

DAVIE , Fla. — Keith Traylor can't explain it.

How can a guy who averaged a sack a season for 15 years suddenly average a sack a game? How can the defensive tackle get two sacks in last week's 13-10 win against Tennessee when he never had more than two in a season?

And he's the sixth-oldest player in the league. Traylor has no clue. Nor does he care.

"Some of it is luck. Some of it is working hard," Traylor said. "It's a good feeling, don't get me wrong. But I can't tell you the difference between this year and any other year. Stuff happens."

Just don't expect Traylor, 37, to start working on any sack-dance routines. He may lead all AFC interior linemen with the three sacks (he's fourth overall in the AFC), but the 6-foot-2, 337-pounder knows how he's lasted this long in the NFL.

"I am a run stopper," he said, spacing the words out for effect. "And I know that. I'm content with that."

Traylor has had the equivalent of four NFL lives, based on the average career length and a path that has taken him to eight teams and two continents. He came into the league as an inside linebacker (he weighed 260 pounds) out of tiny Central State (Ohio) when Denver took him in the third round in 1991.

He was released in 1992 and spent a season in Green Bay. In 1994, Kansas City moved him to the defensive line, allowing Traylor to literally grow into the role when he spent a season in Barcelona. He spent four more seasons with Denver, three with Chicago, one with New England and is in his second season with the Dolphins.

Traylor has lasted long enough to earn three Super Bowls rings, two with Denver (1997 and 1998) and the other with New England (2004). No matter where he's played, he says he's taken the same approach.

"One thing I do is I identify what my role is, and I try to do my role," he said. "I don't try to impress anyone. I don't care what they think of me. I'm a grunt and that's what I do."

Dolphins coach Nick Saban said Traylor may be benefiting from having Jason Taylor, who has averaged 13.3 sacks in the past four years, lining up at defensive end.

"Keith has always been able to push the pocket in the middle," Saban said. "I think people have really been concerned with blocking the edge rushers. He's getting singled and he's bull-rushing the guy right back into the quarterback. He doesn't rush on third down. These are all regular-down type things."

Dolphins guard Kendyl Jacox, who has played against Traylor many times in the NFL, said he can give two reasons for Traylor's effectiveness. "A lot of girth that can move," Jacox said. "That's a great combination to have."

Not counting kickers and punters, only five players in the league are older than Traylor: Ted Washington, Brad Johnson, Kendall Gammon, Rob Davis and Junior Seau. Trayor thinks his ego has as much to do with his longevity as good genes or pure luck.

"If you don't worry about what you guys are writing and what other people are saying, it won't bother you," Traylor said. "If sacks come, I'm thankful. But I'm comfortable with me."

Craig Dolch writes for The Palm Beach Post.