And now David Garrard is scheduled to visit the Dolphins on Monday, The Herald's Barry Jackson has confirmed.
Two things:
What is it with the Dolphins and quarterbacks with neck issues? First Peyton Manning and now the club is flirting with a player who had bulging disc surgery last year. First thing the team will do with this visit? Get him to a doctor to see what the deal is.
Another thought I have is that this a kick-the-tires visit, if it even happens because I'm still expectant on Matt Flynn making a decision either by this evening or tomorrow morning.
Beyond that, the Dolphins QB search after Peyton Manning can be described in two different ways. I will describe both ways and let you decide which to believe.
The positive spin: The Dolphins know no one left on the free agency market is a franchise quarterback. They believe Flynn might be a good player and are willing to pay him as such to compete with Matt Moore. But the contract offer they made Flynn's agent safeguards the team against Matt Flynn being a tremendous bust and playing like the seventh-round draft pick he was years ago. This is protecting oneself for the good of the franchise. So the Dolphins, so far unable to get Flynn to buy into the idea of coming to Miami and competing for a starting job, are kicking the tires on practically anyone else on the market. They are doing due diligence. They have a set price they're willing to pay and they're sticking by their convictions. They'll get somebody. But they'll not overpay for anybody.
The negative spin: The Dolphins couldn't close on Peyton Manning. The Dolphins couldn't close on Matt Flynn. They probably won't be able to close on Alex Smith because he's going to want to get paid and they're not going to overpay him -- at least until their desperation kicks in. And now they're in full-fledged grasp at straws mode by checking out Garrard, a guy who didn't want to play for them last year for the price Miami was willing to pay. On the Garrard thing, I was told by several team sources that money was not an issue in getting him that there was other factors. A source close to Garrard said the exact opposite. That Miami underwhelmed in their offer to him and he didn't want to come to South Florida for that small of a prorated deal. This was, you may recall, in October when the Dolphins were desperate after Chad Henne's season-ending injury. So what has changed? Well, Garrard is more desperate now. No one has been serious about him even visiting until the Dolphins did it. And the Dolphins are just kicking tires. And we're supposed to be enthusiastic about this?
Those are the two possible spins on what is happening in Davie. You decide.
Ireland is well on his way to becoming one of the top GM's in the league.
Posted by: Proud Season Ticket Holder | March 18, 2012 at 05:16 PM
I had a job once that paid me very well. Not millions but enough to take a vacation once or twice a year. Depending on bonuses. My boss got fired and they wanted me to interview for the job. I said NO WAY. I saw what my boss had to deal with and it wasn't worth it.
I don't know why Flynn wants to come to Miami and put up with those bosses. Unless its all about the money.
I quit that job because it wasn't diverse. I'm not one to play follow the leader over a cliff.
Point being this....
Ireland needs to open up his GM playbook and think outside the box. This dude is so corporate and (inside the box) its sickening to me.
Posted by: JackSparrow | March 18, 2012 at 05:16 PM
How were these idiots gonna pay Manning when they're too cheap to pay Flynn?
Posted by: CHEAP SOB ROSS | March 18, 2012 at 05:17 PM
We have the cheapest GM, coaches, and QB's in the league!!
Posted by: CHEAP SOB ROSS | March 18, 2012 at 05:18 PM
so Flynn just signed with SEATTLE!!! Now What?
Posted by: JJ | March 18, 2012 at 05:18 PM
THEY ARENT BEING CHEAP. THEYVE ALREADY TRADED THE COW FOR "MAGIC BEANS"! LOL
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone | March 18, 2012 at 05:19 PM
so Flynn just signed with SEATTLE!!! Now What?
Posted by: JJ | March 18, 2012 at 05:18 PM
.
So we;ll stink again!! Whats new?
Posted by: TGH | March 18, 2012 at 05:20 PM
This is truly incredible, the level of incompetence
Posted by: JJ | March 18, 2012 at 05:20 PM
Flynn signed a 3year deal 26 million with only 10 guaranteed...
We are so cheap.
Posted by: test | March 18, 2012 at 05:20 PM
GOTTA REMEMBER THEYVE STILL GOTTA SIGN THE DRAFT PICKS. THA EATS UP CLOSE TO THE REMAINING CAP LIMIT ITSELF. THEY COULDNT OFFER FLYNN MORE MONEY IF THEY WANTED TOO.
HAD MANNING CAME SOLIAI WAS A DEFINITE GONER TO CREATE CAP SPACE.
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone | March 18, 2012 at 05:21 PM
Who's gonna pay money to watch this nightmare?
Posted by: Scotty | March 18, 2012 at 05:21 PM
@JblFin78
Imagine if you will. You're a stock broker at the top 1 or 2 firms in America. You make ONE trade that nets the company TRILLIONS in one day. The other firms want your services. You say, Okay. Meanwhile, you graduated in the bottom 10% of your graduating (draft) class.
Then you show up and they FIRED all the senior brokers in the firm and decide YOU ARE THE MAN to lead them into the future.
How much pressure is that? Flynn has never been under pressure. He's unproven under pressure. Miami is settling for Flynn because they are DESPERATE.
Posted by: JackSparrow | March 18, 2012 at 05:22 PM
Flynn signs with Seattle!
Great News! And I mean that!
Posted by: Clyde | March 18, 2012 at 05:23 PM
test, that's 8 mill/year. First, we can't afford it, second and imho, he's not worth that kind of dough.
Posted by: oscar canosa | March 18, 2012 at 05:24 PM
YOU IDIOTS JUST CANT FATHOM THE LEVEL OF INCOMPETENCY GOING ON HERE. NOW FLYNN'S OFF THE TABLE. COULDNT AFFORD FLYNN SO DONT EVEN IMAGINE THEY CAN SIGN SMITH!
IRELAND'S DOING A GREAT JOB! LOL, ROTFLMAO!
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone | March 18, 2012 at 05:24 PM
If Flynn is the next Rodgers then I don't know what the hold up is. Is there no tape? If he's so good then what is the hold up?
Posted by: JackSparrow | March 18, 2012 at 05:24 PM
Face reality fans. Moore will be the Dolphin starter this season and let all of this QB frenzy be a learning lesson.
The lesson being that you have been told by the owner Ross as well as THE SCOUT that the dolphins TOP Priority PRIORITY.. TOP PRIORITY is bringing in a STAR for how many seasons?
CHECK MATE and accept that Moore is our future. I will have no choice but to stand behind the QB and new HC and give them both a full season to see what they can accomplish.
Posted by: NY "G" | March 18, 2012 at 05:25 PM
The Seattle Times is reporting that the Seahawks have agreed to terms with Matt Flynn. God help us Dolfans. We are going to get stuck with Tim f'ing Tebow, I know it. When that happens I will never respect the Dolphins ever again.
Posted by: cote sucks | March 18, 2012 at 05:25 PM
Oh boy! This franchise is dead like my wifes ovaries.
Posted by: JackSparrow | March 18, 2012 at 05:26 PM
"Philpin might recommend Flynn with all his heart, but he's a Coach. Ireland is an evaluator of talent and if he doesn't agree, specially if the price is not right, forget it."
Oscar,
Exactly. I wonder what happens if another team signs Flynn & he goes on to become a legitimate starter. My guess is that Ross will probably give him another extension right.
I think it's pretty funny that Ireland has this strict policy of not overpaying for a player yet we went 6-10, we don't have a franchise QB, we traded away our best & highest paid WR & yet we still don't have a lot of cap space??? So obviously he's overpaying somewhere.
Posted by: We Have Draft Picks | March 18, 2012 at 05:26 PM
IT'S OFFICIAL:
MATT MOORE'S THE 2013 MIAMI DOLPHINS STARTING QB!
YOU BUFOONS HERE JUST DONT GET IT! LOL
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone | March 18, 2012 at 05:26 PM
And now Flynn has signed with Seattle!
Posted by: Doug | March 18, 2012 at 05:26 PM
Well, its makes sense now. Smith and Garrard are visiting. They knew Flynn wasn't going to work for lunatics.
Posted by: JackSparrow | March 18, 2012 at 05:27 PM
NOTHING MORE TO SAY ABOUT MIAMI!!!!
Posted by: JOE PHILBIN'S CLIPBOARD | March 18, 2012 at 05:27 PM
Cheap SOB Ross,
See Mike Brown in Cincinnati. He's by far the cheapest & most disliked owner in the NFL.
Posted by: We Have Draft Picks | March 18, 2012 at 05:28 PM
NYG,
I NOW EXPECT THESE BUFFONS TO PANIC AND DRAFT TANNEHILL AT #8. THEN MATT MOORE WALKS IN FA NEXT YEAR! LOL
Posted by: Yesterday's Gone | March 18, 2012 at 05:28 PM
MATT FLYNN SEAHAWK BOUND!
Posted by: BLACKCEROTE | March 18, 2012 at 05:28 PM
Seahawks signed QB Matt Flynn to three-year, $26 million deal.
Posted by: JOE PHILBIN'S CLIPBOARD | March 18, 2012 at 05:29 PM
We screwed up! Again!
Posted by: nick5693 | March 18, 2012 at 05:30 PM
NO GO WR!NO QB!NO PASS RUSHER!THIS IS GETTING SCARRY!
Posted by: BLACKCEROTE | March 18, 2012 at 05:30 PM
"Seahawks signed QB Matt Flynn to three-year, $26 million deal."
If Flynn pans out in Seattle then Ireland might be burned at the stake before he gets fired.
Posted by: We Have Draft Picks | March 18, 2012 at 05:31 PM
Told you bozos!
Posted by: Dolphin 77 | March 18, 2012 at 05:31 PM
Flynn agrees to terms with seahawks
Posted by: oldenglish | March 18, 2012 at 05:31 PM
Why was Marshall traded!! Why was Hennee let walk!
So F8cking DUMB!!
Posted by: JOE PHILBIN'S CLIPBOARD | March 18, 2012 at 05:31 PM
flynn signed with 'hawks!!!
Posted by: finfanabroad | March 18, 2012 at 05:31 PM
MATT FLYNN MUST REALLY STINK ...AND HIS GF AND DAD ARE REAL CON ARTISTS@!
Posted by: BLACKCEROTE | March 18, 2012 at 05:32 PM
Lets for the heck of it pretend Peyton is 100% (which I highly doubt or he would have never left Indy in the first place)
So we missed on this guy understandable last year's day one starter did not finish the season healthy and the new O is build around a mobile QB.
Enter Flynn Dolphins and Packers have the inside scoupe on this guy and no one dropped the franchise tag on this guy HINT HINT he is not a top 10 QB yet!
Alex Smith servicable especially if say the 49ers did get Peyton and he is looking for a starting job, not many around this league and his asking price just dropped real quick like, great going into camp he can battle it out with Moore
Okay say Peyton goes to Denver (Phins dont get Tebow) A. Smith goes back to 49ers and Miami needs a vet
why not see what Garrard has left in the tank...
Peyton goes to Titans Hasselback has run a WestCoast offense maybe he comes in all Pennington style
Get the right side of the O line fixed (one down one to go so far in FA) get an alpha Wideout that goes all monster hungry for the deep ball, get another pass rusher at END and secure up the Safety postion and get back to talking smack about how the Phins gonna smack the PATS, make fun of Rex Ryan and Sanchez and giggle delightfully at how much the Bills overpaid for Mario Williams...if you need big names go watch the HEAT, if you want to watch a franchise regain glory the right way stay tuned. Take some time look what the Packers typically do with their team and building through a draft and with a system, new outlook on the TEAM SPORT, notice the lack of flashy FA spinoffs getting signed with the rare blockbusters (Woodson, White)dwell on things will be right soon...
Posted by: wil | March 18, 2012 at 05:32 PM
THIS IS A GOOD THING PHIN FANS! Now we can concentrate on what this team really needs. I'm talking just winning our division. Forget about a superbowl for another 5 years.
We need to find a pass rusher. That is Brady's weakness. Pressure makes Brady fold. We need to find a RB that shows up every game. Bush is a diva getting paid to date Kim. He is not football player. We need a SAFETY to compliment Vontae.
Posted by: JackSparrow | March 18, 2012 at 05:32 PM
How the hell do we lose Matt Flynn to Seattle WTF - damn this sucks all day long!!! Tannahill is a damn joke
Posted by: blackhammer | March 18, 2012 at 05:32 PM
Well...I guess Alex Smith just cancelled his visit to Seattle. LOL!!! Looks like we'll be left with Moore & maybe Garrard.
Posted by: We Have Draft Picks | March 18, 2012 at 05:32 PM
Garrard is not kicking the tires, its is just plain stupid.
Posted by: Perfect72 | March 18, 2012 at 05:32 PM
I guess the Philbin/Flynn relationship is stronger than plywood and not oak.
Posted by: JackSparrow | March 18, 2012 at 05:33 PM
Just would like to know what we offered flynn
Posted by: oldenglish | March 18, 2012 at 05:33 PM
I never like to overreact but Ireland certainly is looking more clueless by the day.
Posted by: sfcpamike | March 18, 2012 at 05:34 PM
The Seattle Seahawks have agreed to terms on a contract with former Packers quarterback Matt Flynn, t
The contract is for three years and $26 million with $10 million guaranteed, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Posted by: Jeff Ireland | March 18, 2012 at 05:34 PM
Posters who were screaming for Philbin, wasn't the Flynn thing near or at the top of your list of reasons?
Posted by: seriously | March 18, 2012 at 05:36 PM
WHAT DID I TELL Y'ALL A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO? I TOLD YOU THE IRELAND LOVERS WOULD START CLAIMING FLYNN WAS A JOKE ANYWAYS.
I honestly believe Ireland has paid shills to post good things about him and his ineptitude.
Posted by: JackSparrow | March 18, 2012 at 05:36 PM
I thought Moore played well last year. But just like the year before our fabulous FO makes a huge stink about getting a franchise QB.
I mean now we do seriously have to look at David Garrard.
Resigning Solia was a good thing but beyond that there hasn't been a whole lot to get excited about this off season.
Posted by: Dolfan Rick | March 18, 2012 at 05:37 PM
Flynn just signed with Seattle. The leverage and low-balling did not work. What a bunch of MORONS. Who is your QB now Jeff Ireland? Garrard, Alex Smith? We are imbeciles. Flynn wanted to come here and we forced him to Seattle, who gave him a good deal.
Posted by: Perfect72 | March 18, 2012 at 05:37 PM
MARK MY WORDS!! THE NEXT DOLPHIN NEWS WILL BE PHILBIN STEPPING DOWN!!!
TONY S IS LAUGHING HIS ASS OFF!!
Posted by: JOE PHILBIN'S CLIPBOARD | March 18, 2012 at 05:38 PM
we f.. suck our team suck
Posted by: phins1324 | March 18, 2012 at 05:39 PM
Oh yeah they are spinning because Flynn just signed with Seattle for $26M. Either Philbin is smarter than Carroll, or Ireland screwed the deal up. In any event, I have to guess that they are all in on Tannehill now and that Smith, Garrard, Moore, etc... are just there to keep the seat warm.
Posted by: PhinPhanReno | March 18, 2012 at 05:39 PM
Think about this. To even sign Flynn meant we had to let go of Dansby, Vontae or Long. That's why we low balled him. No way would Ireland let go of Dansby, Vontae or Long to sign Flynn. It would just be wasted money under his rule.
Posted by: JackSparrow | March 18, 2012 at 05:39 PM
All they are going to draft suck boy #2 tannehill. 5 more years or more of losing seasons ross had to keep all his money because he will be buying up all his tickets again this season. Fu@$ing hilarious.
Posted by: Dolphin 77 | March 18, 2012 at 05:40 PM
where is Armando Salguero no news what the hell are we doing we stink
Posted by: phins1324 | March 18, 2012 at 05:40 PM
The Browns are going to take Tannehill at #4 which will leave us with nothing yet again. We are buffoons, we could have used the remaining cap money on Winston if we knew we were going to pass on Flynn. Alex Smith is not a West Coast guy...or a consistent QB...We suck. I have tried to stay positive...but how can I when they do things like this?
Posted by: Perfect72 | March 18, 2012 at 05:40 PM
Matt Flynn just signed with Seattle.
PROVING ONCE AGAIN, What a serious JOKE our ownership has become.
We are the laughing stock of the NFL.
When will it end.
Please Mr. ROSS either sell the team or FIRE Jeff Ireland and bring in real football people.
another SAD day in Dolphin land.
Posted by: James | March 18, 2012 at 05:41 PM
Bear in mind that Seattle just paid Flynn more than SF offered Smith. Unless Ireland decides to spend more on Smith than Seattle did on Flynn which would be more than $9 Million a year it's right back to Matt Moore as the starter & plenty of questions of who to take @ Number 8. If I'm Smith I'm asking for 4 or 5 years deal for $40-50 Million with 20 Million guaranteed. Don't be surprised if we don't get Smith & SF signs Manning that Elway won't sign Smith.
I wonder what Joe Philbin is thinking right about now....
Posted by: We Have Draft Picks | March 18, 2012 at 05:42 PM
@Dolfan Rick
EXACTLY!!! We have to seriously look at Garrard now. Or Alex. Even then, how are they gonna sign him if is Alex or David. Our cap room doesn't include Dansby, Vontae, Long AND Garrard or Alex.
Posted by: JackSparrow | March 18, 2012 at 05:42 PM
Matt Moore is a better and cheaper qb than Flynn and Smith. Thanks Seattle for taking Flynn!!!!!!! Mr Smith should go back to San Fran cause he's not welcome in Miami too. Let's Stick with Moore and draft a qb to develop and stop chasing others teams waste.
Posted by: Julio | March 18, 2012 at 05:42 PM