"With 30 seconds left in the last preseason game of my second year I got hurt," he said. "I may have had a role that year. That was a difficult year."It was only made more difficult when a day after the 2009 NFL draft, the Chargers released him."It's not the most opportune time to get cut," said Chandler. "You have to sit around a bit because all the rosters are full."A month later however, he was signed by Dallas, his hometown team, despite the fact that they had just drafted John Phillips to be the team's third tight end behind All-Pro Jason Witten and Martellus Bennett.

 

The Cowboys liked Chandler's game, but there was no role for him on the active roster. Dallas signed him to their practice squad.Again Chandler took to observing and learning from Witten in the practice setting. Both being Iowa alums Chandler and Witten developed a bond."Wit and I have just always gotten along really well," he said. "He lived in my hometown and he lived just down the road from my parents. We just seemed to click. We both had young kids and our wives are good friends."He'd like to vent to me about all his frustrations.

 

Sometimes he'd talk to me more than he'd talk to his wife about why certain plays should work and I learned a lot through that. I really just listened. I didn't say too much. I'm usually a guy where if I have something to say, I say it. But I learned a lot in those years and sometimes you've just got to listen."Late in the 2009 season, the New York Giants signed Chandler off of the Dallas practice squad to their active roster. Chandler was hopeful he'd get an opportunity, but again he found a logjam at the position and was inactive for the last two games of the season.Leading up to the 2010 season, Chandler thought he'd have a chance to make New York's roster, but things never panned out.

 

"I couldn't really tell you what happened up there," he said. "They had (Kevin) Boss and they liked him and they drafted Travis Beckham, but he was a 240-pound guy. They kept Bear Pascoe and Jake Ballard. I was just confused at that point when I didn't stick there."Cut by three NFL clubs in the span of two years, Chandler began some deep introspection into his career. He wondered if he'd ever get a real chance on an NFL field, and if he did could he produce?"Frustration was a part of it," he said. "I was definitely humbled during that time and doubt creeps into your mind. Can I do the things I think I can do?