espn blog- dolphins better be right about matt flynn

[phinatic1399]

Although the Miami Dolphins' regime wouldn't admit it, they will nervously keep one eye on how things progress with the offense of the Seattle Seahawks.

Seattle is where quarterback Matt Flynn will resume his NFL career after a four-year stint as a backup with the Green Bay Packers. The same Matt Flynn the Dolphins didn't think highly enough to come up with a three-year, $26 million contract he received in Seattle.

The Dolphins had every opportunity to land Flynn. Miami had the strong connection of Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin, who helped develop Flynn in Green Bay. Miami also had the perfect offensive system for Flynn and even had him in for a visit last weekend. The Dolphins could've made sure Flynn didn't leave their facilities without becoming Miami's next starting quarterback. Instead, the Dolphins let Flynn slip away.

Miami's regime, led by owner Stephen Ross, general manager Jeff Ireland and Philbin, didn't think Flynn was worth the investment. That's fine, but they better be right.

Miami supposedly knows Flynn better than any team outside the Packers. If Flynn turns out to be the next great starting quarterback, that stain will stick with the Dolphins. Miami should have been the last team fooled by this. The Dolphins have intimate knowledge of what Flynn can and cannot do.

With just two career starts, Flynn may become the next Matt Schaub (a top-12 quarterback) or the next Kevin Kolb (a bust). The Dolphins can only hope it's the latter.

Remember Drew Brees? He became a free agent in 2006 and was looking for a team after injuring his shoulder late in the season with the San Diego Chargers.

The Dolphins were considered the favorites to get Brees and were very close to making it a reality. But after sending Brees through a round of physicals, Miami was scared away. The Dolphins instead traded a draft pick to the Minnesota Vikings for quarterback Daunte Culpepper. Brees later signed with the New Orleans Saints, his second choice behind Miami.

We all know how that turned out.

This offseason could be a case of history repeating itself in Miami, albeit probably to a lesser degree. After missing out on Flynn, who also came with risks, the Dolphins signed David Garrard. The 34-year old quarterback has been out of football since 2010 and will compete with Matt Moore for the starting job. This is a quarterback situation that is going nowhere fast.

Miami also has a good shot to add former Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill to the mix. Miami holds the No. 8 overall pick and Tannehill played for Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman. Although Tannehill was once considered a late first-round pick, his stock is on the rise and seems like a logical fit for Miami. But Tannehill would most likely hold a clipboard next year if he goes to Miami.

The Dolphins have gone from a team of promise to a team of despair in a matter of weeks. The offseason began with the chance of landing the top coach on the market (Jeff Fisher) and one of the top free-agent quarterbacks (Peyton Manning or Flynn). It ended with Miami coming up empty-handed at both. The Dolphins also gutted the roster by trading Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall for pennies on the dollar and cutting leading tackler and safety Yeremiah Bell.

Miami looks like a team that is not only rebuilding, but tearing down the walls from within thanks to head-scratching decisions. The draft remains, but the Dolphins appear hard-pressed to better last year's record of 6-10. An 8-8 season would be considered a big upset with the way this roster currently stands.

Perhaps one of the biggest mistakes Dolphins ownership made this offseason was selling their fans on false hopes and empty promises. Ross has very deep pockets and wanted to make a splash. But all we've seen is belly flops.

Who knows if Flynn could have solved Miami's quarterback dilemma and prevented this tailspin. The Dolphins obviously pegged Flynn as a big question mark, and their evaluation better be more accurate than the injury concerns six years ago with Brees.

Maybe this time the Dolphins dodged a bullet. Or maybe they shot themselves in the foot once again.

If Flynn proves to be a good quarterback in 2012 -- while Miami is still toiling with the David Garrards and Matt Moores of the world

http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/40032/dolphins-better-be-right-with-matt-flynn

 

[fisi]

No worries here, we're used to losing...its becoming a tradition!

 

[Canadianfishfan]

Matt Flynn will become Kevin Kolb 2.0

 

[footsteps_falco]

my opinion is that philbin was brought in because of a very specific vision/plan. they are knocking us for the fisher "whiff," but he wasn't the right candidate for us, and clearly wanted to go to the rams, who held the 2nd pick (worth a kings ransom) and what they believe is a franchise QB already on the roster. Philbin has his own impressive resume though and good reputation among the NFL brass. Miami didn't whiff, they just came out with a different candidate then what some expected; one coming from one of the best offenses in the NFL.

Every team without a top 10 QB would be wise to make a move for peyton manning, but at the early stages of this his health wasn't a guarentee and his age leaves something to be desired. Any team looking at him should also have a safety plan, a backup plan, and most importantly an option for the future. Miami clearly has that. Based on the players they have brought in and the moves they have made so far it's clear they have one, and it's in the shape of a rookie QB (whether it be tannehill, weeden, cousins, foles, osweler, keenum ect. ect.)

Brandon Marshall Trade: besides the 3 or 4 off-the-field incidents during his Miami tenure, he has proven to be a problem in the huddle and the sideline, especially for a young QB. He lacks speed, route running, and has shown inconsistant hands while here. You could also say he hasn't "brought it" every snap or every game. Marshall has now been traded twice. Clearly there is a problem with this player.

Cutting Yeremiah Bell: Un-tradeable for his price tag, age, and skill set. The guy was our defensive leader, and has had 4 years of 100+ tackles in a row. It doesn't change the fact that he isn't the future or the answer. having him on the team doesn't change the fact we need a Free safety. a yeremiah bell type player is easily attainable in the game right now, in the box-safeties can be had that have more speed, youth, hands, and cheaper prices then him. We might even have one on our team named reshad jones, and theres only one way to find out, and thats not by paying Bell 6 million to be a backup.

Kendal Langford Walking: The price tag was way to high, Paul soliai looks to have cost the same, is a better run stuffer, gives us more flexibility. Jared odrick hit 6 sacks this year ina situational role at the same position. Starks has proven to be the dirtiest player on this team. Someone was the odd man out and when soliai took the paycut, langford has to be it. you cant keep everyone, you draft and then you replace when the price tag is too high. Again, with starks, soliai, odrick, and either mcdaniel/merling or a late round guym Langford wont be missed to badly.

Richard Marshall Signing: Will allen, chris clemons, sean smith. hes a major upgrade over any of the above 3. and nickle back is basically a starter at this stage of the game. 3 yr 15 mil is a good contract. in base formations they would probable put him at FS and in nickle ... the nickle.. but time will tell. no one will argue this wasn't a good signing.

Flynn and smith and garrard: I think the manner in which they pursued QB this offseason is telling that they have a rookie in their mind. they need someone to start for 8 weeks to a year while that guy developes and they dont want to overpay a stop gap. They are turning over every stone. Garrard's value at his price is just too good not to atleast explore vs over paying for flynn and smith. It just makes football sense if you have a plan for a rookie already.

The plan? imo it looks like they intend to do exactly what they have said all along, try and keep the defense in tact, but tweak the secondary. they moved bell and signed marshall, expect one more player to be added at some point. they brought philbin in to overhaul this offense. that's clearly what they are doing. QB WR OL. i think they know they can live with bush/thomas/slaton/messum at HB. I think they can live with Fasano/Clay and a late round pick or low end FA signing as 3rd string for TE.

Philbin and Ireland will address QB, RT, RG, WR on offense. On defense i think they will add a situational passrusher and another dback. that's doable. I don't like ireland as a person, never have, but i don't have to hang out with him, and it doesn't take a genious to see he has a plan and is looking to build the majority of it through the draft.

 

[DuderinoN703]

Seattle is where quarterback Matt Flynn will resume his NFL career after a four-year stint as a backup with the Green Bay Packers. The same Matt Flynn the Dolphins didn't think highly enough to come up with a three-year, $26 million contract he received in Seattle.

So now it's the Dolphins who didn't think enough of Flynn? I thought it was Flynn who denied them along with half of society?

 

[jared81]

my opinion is that philbin was brought in because of a very specific vision/plan. they are knocking us for the fisher "whiff," but he wasn't the right candidate for us, and clearly wanted to go to the rams, who held the 2nd pick (worth a kings ransom) and what they believe is a franchise QB already on the roster. Philbin has his own impressive resume though and good reputation among the NFL brass. Miami didn't whiff, they just came out with a different candidate then what some expected; one coming from one of the best offenses in the NFL.

Every team without a top 10 QB would be wise to make a move for peyton manning, but at the early stages of this his health wasn't a guarentee and his age leaves something to be desired. Any team looking at him should also have a safety plan, a backup plan, and most importantly an option for the future. Miami clearly has that. Based on the players they have brought in and the moves they have made so far it's clear they have one, and it's in the shape of a rookie QB (whether it be tannehill, weeden, cousins, foles, osweler, keenum ect. ect.)

Brandon Marshall Trade: besides the 3 or 4 off-the-field incidents during his Miami tenure, he has proven to be a problem in the huddle and the sideline, especially for a young QB. He lacks speed, route running, and has shown inconsistant hands while here. You could also say he hasn't "brought it" every snap or every game. Marshall has now been traded twice. Clearly there is a problem with this player.

Cutting Yeremiah Bell: Un-tradeable for his price tag, age, and skill set. The guy was our defensive leader, and has had 4 years of 100+ tackles in a row. It doesn't change the fact that he isn't the future or the answer. having him on the team doesn't change the fact we need a Free safety. a yeremiah bell type player is easily attainable in the game right now, in the box-safeties can be had that have more speed, youth, hands, and cheaper prices then him. We might even have one on our team named reshad jones, and theres only one way to find out, and thats not by paying Bell 6 million to be a backup.

Kendal Langford Walking: The price tag was way to high, Paul soliai looks to have cost the same, is a better run stuffer, gives us more flexibility. Jared odrick hit 6 sacks this year ina situational role at the same position. Starks has proven to be the dirtiest player on this team. Someone was the odd man out and when soliai took the paycut, langford has to be it. you cant keep everyone, you draft and then you replace when the price tag is too high. Again, with starks, soliai, odrick, and either mcdaniel/merling or a late round guym Langford wont be missed to badly.

Richard Marshall Signing: Will allen, chris clemons, sean smith. hes a major upgrade over any of the above 3. and nickle back is basically a starter at this stage of the game. 3 yr 15 mil is a good contract. in base formations they would probable put him at FS and in nickle ... the nickle.. but time will tell. no one will argue this wasn't a good signing.

Flynn and smith and garrard: I think the manner in which they pursued QB this offseason is telling that they have a rookie in their mind. they need someone to start for 8 weeks to a year while that guy developes and they dont want to overpay a stop gap. They are turning over every stone. Garrard's value at his price is just too good not to atleast explore vs over paying for flynn and smith. It just makes football sense if you have a plan for a rookie already.

The plan? imo it looks like they intend to do exactly what they have said all along, try and keep the defense in tact, but tweak the secondary. they moved bell and signed marshall, expect one more player to be added at some point. they brought philbin in to overhaul this offense. that's clearly what they are doing. QB WR OL. i think they know they can live with bush/thomas/slaton/messum at HB. I think they can live with Fasano/Clay and a late round pick or low end FA signing as 3rd string for TE.

Philbin and Ireland will address QB, RT, RG, WR on offense. On defense i think they will add a situational passrusher and another dback. that's doable. I don't like ireland as a person, never have, but i don't have to hang out with him, and it doesn't take a genious to see he has a plan and is looking to build the majority of it through the draft.

best post ive seen in a long time. way to look at the situation in the bigger picture. while i dont like ireland (based on his overal attitude) i think we are trying to build a team for the long haul. i would of liked to get manning too, but there is something to be said for trying to be a consistat team over time, rather for just 2 or 3 years. in regards to flynn, if philbin thought he was franchise material, he would be here.

 

[Roman529]

Flynn is in Seattle, why worry about him???? He could become the 2nd Coming of Aaron Rodgers?.....but he is no longer our concern just like Drew Brees is no longer our concern. The decision has been made. Time to move on and focus on the Phins and not "look" at what someone is doing in Seattle.

 

[Dolphanaholic]

Flynn will succeed no doubt in my mind.

 

[FinsNCanes]

Matt Flynn will become Kevin Kolb 2.0

More or less. I remember the media crush on Kolb too, and Matt Cassell, etc and so on. It rarely works out, but we'll see.

 

[j-off-her-doll]

I can't believe this writer receives money for his services.

The Dolphins could've made sure Flynn didn't leave their facilities without becoming Miami's next starting quarterback. Instead, the Dolphins let Flynn slip away.

And in the very next paragraph:

Miami's regime, led by owner Stephen Ross, general manager Jeff Ireland and Philbin, didn't think Flynn was worth the investment. That's fine, but they better be right.

That's not letting someone slip away. ****ing douche.

 

[footsteps_falco]

i just hate the correlation that ryan tannehill is automatically our guy. Its the EXACT same thinking as matt flynn, JUST because philbin had flynn in greenbay. Everyone said "hey we'll defer to Philbin on Flynn, if he likes him then he must be good, if he doesn't then EVERYONE should take that as a warning." If you say you didnt read this from 90% of fans, or hear it 12x a day on NFL network, then you are lying.


...Which leads to my point. As soon as Philbin only half-heartedly pursued flynn, as clearly a back-up, stop-gap, veteran-teacher of the system, quarterback.....and didn't get him .....(because Flynn wanted a guarenteed shot at starting and more money (this is probably his one REAL chance to get money as his stock will never be higher) ) EVERYONES tune changed. Now we whiffed, we better be right... everyones now doubting the one guy whos opinion they said was the only trustworthy one on how good he is.

SO now we all use the same logic in comparing the Sherman-Tannehill situation. It just doesn't make sense. When miami DIDN't overpay flynn and agressively pursue him, the sky started falling and doubt infected everyone, and the media is now BLOWING it up.

so when Miami DOESN'T reach for tannehill just because he played for sherman, is the sky going to fall TWICE in one offseason?

All i'm getting at is that we need to just let this thing play out, and not assume tannehill is our guy because of sherman and because clearly a rookie is the plan. There are WAY too many QB's that they could like. My personal opinion is that it's kirk cousins as he fits the mold best for philbin's description of what he values. he's also the best value as you dont have to reach a full round to get this guy. I mean it could be anyone, but my point is that tannehill is the ONLY qb in this draft who's draft position does not correlate with his skill set. it's unfortunate but I think when Miami doesn't force him as our pick more people are going to knock us for it, and imo it'll be the right move to pass.