Of the 88 players in the NFL Pro Bowl, it would be hard to find one relishing the entirety of the experience more than Indianapolis’ Matt Overton.

There is a pinch-me-I-must-be-dreaming quality to this week for Overton, who tweeted his arrival at the airport, Instagrammed himself with Hall of Famers, posted pictures of the beach and, yes, even snapped shots of practice, documenting experiences he had hardly imagined could be his.

For while Overton is the Colts’ long snapper, getting to the NFL was anything but a snap.

No one else among the assembled all-stars arrived here after being an undrafted free agent out of Western Washington University and then being cut by the Omaha Nighthawks of the now-defunct United Football League, the Seattle Seahawks (twice) and Houston Texans.

Nobody but Overton is cashing his Pro Bowl check after paying dues at minor league stops in Tri-Cities, Wash.; Omaha and Orlando.

"It is just crazy to think of the kind of journey it took to get here," Overton said.

Especially since both friends and his own better judgment questioned why he didn’t just get on with his life three years ago when the Nighthawks cut him in 2011. Sleeping on a friend’s sofa in Omaha, Overton admits to having wondered the same thing.

A week after the Nighthawks cut him came what, at the time, seemed the most painful gash to his pride. The team called back with another offer — to work in the front office.

Overton was so well regarded for his work in the community, they decided he was a keeper in public relations.

"At first I was still bitter about being cut and not sure I wanted to do it, but I decided to roll with it," Overton said.

Meanwhile, he moved in with former Nighthawks teammate Maurice Clarett. They made quite a pair, Clarett the rebounding ex-Ohio State star who once had can’t-miss NFL potential, and the unknown Overton, who was unable to catch a break.

"He was my biggest supporter," Overton said. "He knew I had the passion to keep the (NFL) dream alive and he made sure I took a shot at it one more time. He took me under his wing and we worked out every single day for six months, pushing me to make it happen."

Overton’s rededication to polishing his craft began to pay off when a Colts assistant saw him at an Arizona camp and offered an invitation to try out. Overton eventually won the job over 12-year incumbent Justin Snow in 2012.

Since then Overton has become a key cog in the Colts’ high performance special teams unit with punter Pat McAfee and kicker Adam Vinatieri, while contributing 14 tackles.

"He just works hard to be a great teammate," said quarterback Andrew Luck. "He deserves it."

Still, after his second NFL season, Overton said he wasn’t expecting the Jan. 15 call that brought him here. "I was overwhelmed … lost for words."

Meanwhile, the really glad-to-be-here smiles tell the tale.

——

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.