ESPN NFL

Buffalo Bills

In a conference call with reporters, ESPN analyst Jon Gruden discussed Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Bills' quarterback situation. "I think Fitzpatrick showed some things early that were very exciting ... helping the Buffalo Bills come out of the gate in impressive fashion. But in this league, at the end of the day it's about sustaining. Ryan Fitzpatrick has to prove he can start the season and end the season by putting the Buffalo Bills back in the playoffs where we used to see them. That remains to be seen. I think he's got to answer those questions himself."

Defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt's name has been mentioned as a possible replacement for fired Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino.

Miami Dolphins

Free-agent fullback Ahmard Hall visited with the Dolphins on Wednesday.

Quarterback Matt Moore says he had no problem with the Dolphins' pursuit of Peyton Manning or Matt Flynn.

New England Patriots

Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com lists Florida's Chris Rainey as a player who would fit nicely with the Patriots.

Cornerback Antwaun Molden has agreed to a deal with the New York Giants.

New York Jets

Coach Rex Ryan is reportedly against the idea of his team being featured again on HBO's "Hard Knocks."

Neil Glat was hired Wednesday as the Jets' new team president. He worked the past 15 years in the NFL league office.

Here are the most interesting stories Saturday morning in the AFC East:

• New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow says he's not worried about prior comments made by new teammate and cornerback Antonio Cromartie.

Morning take: Cromartie said the Jets don’t need Tebow. It will be Tebow’s job to win the team over with his play on the field.

• The Miami Dolphins and general manager Jeff Ireland didn't feel Matt Flynn was a franchise quarterback.

Morning take: That’s fine if they are right. But if Flynn goes on to have a great career and Miami is stuck with David Garrard and Matt Moore next season, that’s on the Dolphins, who could have had Flynn.

• The Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles are showing interest in former Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Demetrius Bell.

Morning take: Bell still hasn't re-signed with Buffalo and now is starting to examine his options. Chances are looking slimmer for a return to the Bills.

• Which new Patriots are going to make an impact?

Morning take: I like the Brandon Lloyd signing most. I think he will be a quiet but effective signing. Jonathan Fanene also is a sleeper.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The entire offseason the Miami Dolphins talked to and about every quarterback not named Matt Moore. Remember him? Moore was the guy who went 6-3 for the Dolphins in the final nine games last year.

Still, Miami tried to persuade Peyton Manning. It didn't work.

The Dolphins also hosted Matt Flynn for a visit. Flynn, instead, took more money to play with the Seattle Seahawks.

Not to mention Miami was in the early portion of the Robert Griffin III sweepstakes until the St. Louis Rams wanted too much for the No. 2 pick.

Finally, the Dolphins are back to Moore. Miami signed 34-year-old veteran quarterback David Garrard to compete with Moore this summer. But with Garrard out of football since 2010, Moore should be pegged as the early favorite.

"He and I had a great conversation last Thursday or Friday when the dust settled," Dolphins rookie head coach Joe Philbin said. "We talked and he sounds very excited and very optimistic. He's anxious and can't wait to compete for a job. We talked about how I envision that position moving forward, and he was all on board."

Moore showed good things last season. He displayed mobility, command of the huddle and an occasional deep ball.

But Moore isn't the precision, drop-back passer that is often needed in a West Coast offense. That is probably why Miami searched far and wide for a potential replacement.

"He's not necessarily a 'by the book' quarterback, but he was very productive," Philbin said. "He has good arm strength, and he kind of has that knack. He has the ability to move the team."

Philbin added that he was clear with Moore and Garrard that they will have an open competition. But if Moore plays like he did in the final two months of last season, he should win the job.

The Dolphins are making a lot of fans upset in Miami after a series of offseason moves and non-moves that put the team in a compromising position. The Dolphins were once thought of as a team on the rise in 2012, but optimism is currently very low.

The decisions sparked a protest outside the team's training facility last week in Davie, Fla. According to the Sun-Sentinel, one of those Dolphins fans received a personal call from team owner Stephen Ross. A team official confirmed the call to the Sun-Sentinel.

Jason Lawrence, a longtime Dolphins season-ticket holder, shared his conversation with the paper. Here are some of the interesting tidbits:

• According to Lawrence, Ross said the team was going to release Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall if Miami was unable to trade him to help with "team morale." The move suggests the new coaching staff was unwilling to put up with Marshall's strong personality. Eventually, the Dolphins got a pair of third-round picks for the receiver. But it's interesting Miami was so eager to move Marshall that cutting him for nothing was an option.
• Ross also told Lawrence that the team could have signed quarterback Matt Flynn if it wanted. But new head coach Joe Philbin wasn't sure about Flynn as a starting quarterback. Flynn signed with the Seattle Seahawks instead.

"If my coach said I want Matt Flynn as our starting quarterback next year he would be here," Lawrence recalled Ross saying. "But I couldn't pay Matt Flynn $8 million to come here. If I end up getting him, it's a gamble ... and I'm still drafting a quarterback. I'm still looking for another option."

• Also, Ross admitted to Lawrence that Peyton Manning "wasn't comfortable" with the Dolphins, and that Ross understood.
• Finally, Ross did not think quarterback Tim Tebow could help Miami win games. Ross also said he was "remorseful" for cutting leading tackler and starting safety Yeremiah Bell to save salary-cap space.

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 -- the Dolphins have no one to blame but themselves.

Does anyone want to play quarterback for the Miami Dolphins next season? It sure doesn't look that way.

After failing to woo future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, the Dolphins also missed on their second choice Sunday. Former Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Matt Flynn agreed to a modest three-year, $26 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.

This is another big blow to Dolphins ownership and the front office, which thought it could make a splash this offseason. Instead, the Dolphins have been turned down by veteran coach Jeff Fisher, Manning and now Flynn in a short span. Each decline adds further humiliation to the Dolphins, who were already viewed as a shaky organization at the top to begin with.

But the Dolphins losing out on Flynn may be the biggest surprise of the three, considering Flynn's deep ties with rookie Miami head coach Joe Philbin. The pair spent four years growing together in Green Bay, which made Miami the early favorite to get Flynn.

But something didn't go right this weekend when Flynn met with Miami's brass. Perhaps money was the issue. But were the Dolphins unwilling to give up $26 million for a starting quarterback? Or maybe things just didn't feel right for Flynn in Miami, and he thought Seattle was a better fit.

Regardless, the Dolphins have become one of the league's biggest offseason losers in the first week of free agency. They traded away their best receiver (Brandon Marshall) for pennies on the dollar and continue to whiff in their quarterback search.

The home run (Manning) or any potential extra-base hits (Robert Griffin III, Flynn) are out of the question for the Dolphins. Miami had its three strikes, and it's simply time to go back to the dugout and regroup.

The Dolphins may get desperate and sign Alex Smith or David Garrard. But that would only add to Miami's misery. Neither player is the long-term solution. A case can be made that Dolphins incumbent Matt Moore is better in the short term, especially if you consider the millions it would take to sign Smith, who helped lead the San Francisco 49ers to the NFC Championship Game.

Miami just needs to stick with Moore and draft a quarterback, perhaps Ryan Tannehill, at No. 8 overall. Free agency could be used to patch up holes at receiver, right guard and right tackle. The Dolphins have suffered enough embarrassment chasing quarterbacks.

But with Miami's front office, you just never know. Maybe we will see Smith in a Dolphins uniform in 2012, or an old-fashioned quarterback competition between Moore and Garrard in training camp.

Anything is possible.

I don't know if Matt Moore likes to eat chopped liver. But he must certainly feel like chopped liver.

It's one thing for the Miami Dolphins to go after future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning to replace Moore. That's understandable.

Moore might even identify with Miami chasing former Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Matt Flynn, who has a strong connection with new Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin.

But Alex Smith? The same quarterback who threw 53 interceptions compared to 51 touchdowns his first six seasons? That's enough to make Moore ask Miami's brass, "What's wrong with me?"

This isn't about debating who is better between Smith and Moore. This is more about the Dolphins showing so little faith in Moore that they're entertaining spending millions of salary-cap room on Smith to replace Moore next fall. Smith is in Miami today for a visit. It could also be a negotiating ploy against Flynn.

Like Smith, Moore had a career year in 2011. Moore went 6-3 as a starter for Miami in his last nine games and threw for 2,497 yards, 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also had an 87.1 passer rating.


But Moore is not the long-term solution in Miami and neither is Smith. That's why it would be baffling to pay Smith starting quarterback money when both quarterbacks are probably in the same ballpark in terms of ability.

I think Flynn remains the favorite for Miami. He's an unknown commodity, but at least he provides hope and potential for the struggling Dolphins.

But if Miami goes in another direction, it would be silly to waste cap room on Smith. He's not significantly better than the quarterback you already have, and there are still prospects available next month in the NFL draft.

Miami's free-agent dollars would be better used adding some starting-caliber wide receivers or filling the right side of the offensive line.

"Introducing your 2012 starting quarterback of the Miami Dolphins ... Alex Smith!"

Really? The Dolphins can't be serious, can they?

In a new twist to Miami's quarterback search, Smith arrived in South Florida on Sunday morning to visit the Dolphins. The Sun-Sentinel has proof with this photo here. Smith also tells the paper that "I'm never surprised by anything" upon his arrival.

Well, Miami's interest in Smith, if it's legit, would be a surprise. The Dolphins clearly laid out a Plan A (Peyton Manning) and Plan B (Matt Flynn) for free agency. Plan A is out, and Plan B seems to have hit some kind of snag after Flynn visited Miami on Saturday and left without reaching an agreement. Presumably money is the issue.

But if Smith is truly Plan C, things are starting to look like amateur hour in Miami. The Dolphins' front office wanted to make a splash this offseason and has done anything but. Potentially signing Smith would only add to the zaniness.

Smith was a former No. 1 overall pick and a complete bust his entire career until San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh finally got something out of him last year. I'm not a huge Matt Moore guy. But I like that option -- in addition to drafting a quarterback in the first or second round -- much better than paying Smith starting quarterback money and going with him under center next season.

Perhaps this is just a power play by the Dolphins and, to some degree, Smith. Perhaps the Dolphins need leverage by pretending to flirt with Smith to keep Flynn's price down. In addition, Smith needs to talk to someone after the 49ers hurt his feelings by quietly joining the Peyton Manning sweepstakes.

But if the Dolphins are for real and seriously considering signing Smith as their starting quarterback in 2012, it would be a bad look for this rebuilding team.

Here are the most interesting stories Sunday morning in the AFC East:

• It looks like a two-team race between the Miami Dolphins and Seattle Seahawks for free-agent quarterback Matt Flynn.

Morning take: Flynn was Miami's Plan B, and the team met with him on Saturday. The Dolphins appear to be favorite unless Seattle provides a huge monetary offer.

• The New England Patriots signed former Oakland Raider Trevor Scott to help with their pass rush.

Morning take: New England is in danger of losing both Mark Anderson and Andre Carter (10 sacks each) in free agency. New England hopes Scott can be a sleeper to soften the blow if one or both don't return.

• Will Buffalo Bills veteran defensive end Chris Kelsay give up his No. 90 for new teammate Mario Williams?

Morning take: Kelsay had better. The payback will be all the double-teams Williams takes to make it easy for Kelsay to get to the quarterback next season.

• The New York Jets reportedly made an offer to free-agent safety Reggie Nelson and are waiting for a response.

Morning take: Nelson is athletic and can help in coverage, which the Jets need. He could be one of two safeties they try to add to the starting lineup.

Now that the Miami Dolphins are officially out of the Peyton Manning sweepstakes, it's time to look ahead to their future.

Joe Fortenbaugh of the National Football Post makes a compelling case that Manning turning down the Dolphins is actually best for the franchise. Fortenbaugh contends that Miami will be able to build the team for the long term over the next few years.

"And while the Dolphins -- like any organization looking to take the next step -- could certainly have benefited from a healthy Manning's skill set and expertise, this is a team that would be better served by acquiring a younger signal caller whom new head coach Joe Philbin could develop and the front office could build around.

Manning turns 36 on March 24. In the 46 Super Bowls that have been played, only eight of the 92 quarterbacks who have started under center did so at the age of 36 or older. More specifically, the last ten Super Bowls have only seen two quarterbacks start the game at the age of 36 or older (Rich Gannon, Kurt Warner) and both of those guys came up short."

I see Fortenbaugh's point, and this is certainly the direction Miami is going. But I disagree with the idea that winning later is better than winning now.

Manning would've been the best option because Miami would have been an instant contender. Any other option, such as Matt Flynn, Matt Moore or Ryan Tannehill, isn't enough for Miami to supplant the New England Patriots in the AFC East anytime soon.

In fact, the Dolphins are probably looking at a two-year rebuilding process under rookie head coach Philbin. That is not what owner Stephen Ross, who has deep pockets, envisioned. But it's the reality.

It's too early to make predictions. But I think a case can be made that the Buffalo Bills, with Mario Williams, and the veteran-laden New York Jets may be in better position to win now in 2011. We will know about where Miami stands after the draft and free agency.

The Miami Dolphins were kicked out of the Peyton Manning sweepstakes. But they reportedly have gone to the top of the list for another free-agent quarterback.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter report Miami has the inside track to land former Green Bay Packers quarterback Matt Flynn. He has just two career starts but played well in limited time and has ties to Miami head coach Joe Philbin, who is Flynn's former offensive coordinator in Green Bay.

Miami's pursuit of Manning made sense. He is a proven commodity who could single-handedly change the fortune of the franchise. Flynn is an unknown. But the Dolphins are confident they have a good feel for Flynn's abilities via Philbin's knowledge.

Flynn is visiting with the Seattle Seahawks and is expected to meet with the Dolphins next. There's no doubt Flynn's reps will try to use Seattle and Miami against each other for financial leverage.

While we're on the topic of money, how much should the Dolphins offer to pay Flynn?

Other quarterbacks such as Ryan Fitzpatrick of the Buffalo Bills and Mark Sanchez of the New York Jets are getting contract extensions close to $60 million. Is Flynn, who has two career starts, worth equal or more to Miami? Should the Dolphins offer $40 million or $50 million instead?

Money -- and perhaps a great offer from Seattle -- seems to be the only thing in the way of Flynn joining the Dolphins. There is definitely mutual interest.

There is no more speculation. It appears the Miami Dolphins are officially out of the Peyton Manning sweepstakes.

Jeff Darlington of the NFL Network reports Manning personally called the Dolphins Thursday to let them know he will not take his talents to South Beach. This is no surprise, as Miami has been falling out of the running for at least a week.

That leaves the Denver Broncos, Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals as the three remaining suitors for Manning. The Dolphins have now turned their attention to Plan B, which is former Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Matt Flynn. Miami will meet with Flynn after he finishes his visit with the Seattle Seahawks.

Without Manning, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross failed to make the splash this offseason that he anticipated. Miami tried and failed to land veteran coach Jeff Fisher. Manning is the second big name to turn down the organization in recent months.

Flynn has played well in two career starts, but he's not a big enough commodity to excite Dolphins fans and put butts back in the seats at Sun Life Stadium. Drafting a quarterback, such as Ryan Tannehill also is an option, in addition to sticking with last year’s starter in Matt Moore.

The bottom line is there's no quick fixes for Miami. Manning provided the rare opportunity to instantly change the fortune of the franchise with one player. But the Dolphins will have to gradually rebuild their team by making smart moves in the draft and free agency.

Here are the most interesting stories Friday morning in the AFC East:

• The Miami Dolphins appear pretty much out of the Peyton Manning sweepstakes.

Morning take: The Dolphins don't really offer Manning much at this point. They traded their best receiver and have a rookie head coach. It time to turn their attention to free-agent quarterback Matt Flynn.

• New Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams can't wait to wreak havoc next season.

Morning take: Williams is the biggest free-agent signing in Bills history. Opposing quarterbacks in the AFC East need to beware.

• Free-agent safety Reggie Nelson will visit the New York Jets.

Morning take: New York is taking a look at Nelson and fellow safety LaRon Landry. I think Nelson is the better fit, because New York needs help in coverage.

• The New England Patriots re-signed starting center Dan Connolly.

Morning take: This is probably the end of the road for veteran Dan Koppen. Connolly filled in well after Koppen was injured last season and earned the job.

Day 3 of free agency is nearly complete, and the Miami Dolphins haven't heard from quarterback Peyton Manning.

The future Hall of Famer completed his most recent visit Wednesday with the Tennessee Titans and is meticulously taking his time making a decision. Meanwhile, the Titans, Dolphins, Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals continue to wait on Manning.

This is a delicate and dangerous game Miami is playing. At what point should the quarterback-needy Dolphins cut the cord on the Manning dream?

Reports indicate Denver, Tennessee and Arizona have leapfrogged Miami in the Manning sweepstakes. ESPN's Adam Schefter even suggests it's now a two-team race between Denver and Tennessee. Yet the Dolphins continue to keep their quarterback plans on ice until Manning's decision is final.

Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Matt Flynn -- Miami's second choice -- will fly to Seattle on Thursday night to meet with the Seahawks. The Dolphins might be considered the favorite for Flynn. But you can never be sure when millions of dollars are being thrown around.

The Seahawks might have a great visit with Flynn, offer a big contract and convince Flynn to sign before he skips town. Under that scenario, the Dolphins could lose out on both quarterbacks, assuming Manning chooses another team.

Going after Manning was a great idea. The Dolphins had to take their shot at a quarterback who could instantly change the fortune of the franchise. But waiting too long for Manning is a mistake. Manning will do what's in his best interest, and that might not match with Miami's.

If talks heat up between Flynn and Seattle or another team, the Dolphins might want to narrow their focus in this quarterback derby or risk leaving empty-handed.

(Update: ESPN's Adam Schefter reports Flynn's next visit will be with Miami after he visits the Seahawks. It appears the Dolphins are taking my advice.)

The Miami Dolphins are playing a high-stakes, cat-and-mouse game with the NFL's two biggest free-agent quarterbacks.

Miami wants Peyton Manning, clearly its Plan A. But the Dolphins don't want to sit idle, either. So they reportedly began negotiations with former Green Bay Packers quarterback Matt Flynn Tuesday night, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and Miami Herald.

We explained this scenario this morning in the AFC East blog. Miami is in the running for Manning and has no choice but to wait on his decision. But the Dolphins also don’t want to be held hostage.

By entering contract negotiations with Flynn, the Dolphins run the risk of turning off Manning. How committed to Manning could the Dolphins be if they’re already looking to sign another quarterback? The Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals, for example, are not chasing other quarterbacks.

The Dolphins also traded Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall Tuesday to the Chicago Bears for two third-round picks. It's unknown if that makes Miami more or less attractive for Manning. But the early reaction to the trade isn't good.

Manning is not expected to make his decision for at least a couple more days. He still has to meet with the Tennessee Titans on Wednesday.