One of the Dolphins' most improbable starters thought he would spend his life in math or science, perhaps be an engineer. Instead, Greg Camarillo's career took such an unexpected twist that now "old friends are e-mailing saying they picked me up on their fantasy teams. That's crazy to me. I'm thinking, 'Damn - they passed up another good receiver to pick me up!' ''

Among receivers storylines in Sunday's Dolphins-Chargers game, Chris Chambers takes top billing. But it's also appropriate to acknowledge the remarkable rise of Camarillo, whose release by the Chargers 13 months ago turned into a "blessing.''

Injured Dolphins tight end "Aaron Halterman said, 'Yo, do you realize you're a starting receiver in the NFL?' '' Camarillo said. "I have to prove myself every week, or that will be the end of it. I didn't think I was going to play in the NFL.''

How unlikely is his ascent? Consider:

• Camarillo said "halfway through camp, I thought I was going to get cut. The week before and after the first preseason game, I wasn't producing in practice and coaches noticed. They told me to pick it up.''

• Despite being team MVP as a senior receiver at Menlo-Atherton (Calif.) High, Camarillo got no athletic scholarship offers. Only Division III Washington University in St. Louis recruited him.

• He walked on at Stanford as a punter, had to convince then-coach Tyrone Willingham to play him at receiver and was asked by a dormmate's relative: "You play football? Aren't you a little small?''

• A day before his final home game at Stanford, at a breakfast for Cardinal fans, Stanford announcer Bob Murphy asked, "Greg, how does it feel knowing you're going to play organized football for the last time in your life?''

Said Camarillo: "This was in front of a whole room of people! I'm thinking to myself, I may not be an NFL player, but there's arena ball, the Canadian League.''

• He wasn't invited to the NFL Combine and after going undrafted, only the Chargers offered a tryout - which he thinks was partly because then-Chargers receivers coach James Lofton's son, David, also played at Stanford.

• He was on San Diego's practice squad in 2005, played in four games in '06 with no catches and was cut last September, when Miami (and ex-Chargers assistant Cam Cameron) signed him. Tied for the team lead in receptions (11), Camarillo ''has played the best of the receivers,'' Derek Hagan said.

Eager to be known for more than last year's 64-yard overtime TD catch against Baltimore, Camarillo (6-1, 190 pounds) hasn't dropped a pass in an NFL game. Though ''I don't have burning speed and am not the biggest or strongest guy, I play disciplined and tough. I take pride in outsmarting a defender.'' He has "no ill feelings toward the Chargers, but I want to kick their [butt].''

CHATTER

• Coach Tony Sparano said Phillip Merling keeps improving, especially his pass rush. And Vonnie Holliday - replaced by Merling on third downs - feels the competition. ''There's pressure, but it's good,'' Holliday said. "I have to play that much better.''

• Rookie defensive line talent isn't limited to Merling and Kendall Langford. ''Listen to me: Lionel Dotson is as good a pass rusher as I've ever gone against,'' guard Justin Smiley said of the seventh-rounder. ''He gives us fits in practice.'' But on a deep line, Rod Wright (nine starts in '07) and Dotson have been inactive every game.

• One executive whose team considered signing new Heat guard Shaun Livingston believes he could need a year to regain his pre-knee injury form but if he does, would be better than any point guard in the next three drafts. ''He has excellent instincts, sees the floor well, is unselfish,'' a scout said. ''It's worth the gamble - Miami had no [legitimate] starting point guard.'' His shooting percentage improved each season with the Clippers - 41.4 to 42.7 to 46.3.

• Friends who spoke to former Heat GM Randy Pfund described him as unhappy about his departure, said his authority had diminished in recent months and that he doesn't have another job lined up.

• The Marlins have had a ''lot of internal discussions'' about giving long-term contracts to their young pitchers but, ''I'm not in favor of it,'' president David Samson said. ''There's a very high risk/reward,'' with injuries a concern. Fortunately, the Marlins control arbitration-eligible Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco for three more years.

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