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1. New England Patriots: To say New England now has abundance at this position would be a massive understatement. Wes Welker’s and newly signed Brandon Lloyd’s roles are pretty clearly defined, but the Patriots also have Deion Branch, Anthony Gonzalez, Jabar Gaffney, Donte Stallworth, Chad Ochocinco, Julian Edelman, special-teams star Matthew Slater and seventh-round pick Jeremy Ebert all competing for roster spots and roles in this offense.

Welker turned 31 this month, but he has caught more than 100 passes in four of the past five seasons, including a whopping 122 last year. How much does the premier slot receiver of this generation have left? That is hard to guess, but Welker still creates all sorts of problems for every defense he faces and Tom Brady has extreme confidence in him.

With Lloyd in the picture, Welker’s catch total could decrease, as Lloyd is sure to find some favorable matchups now on the perimeter -- often deep downfield. He is an acrobatic receiver who has a ton of big-play ability. Lloyd’s downfield ability is a huge reason New England added him to an already extremely potent passing attack.

Branch will be 33 before the season starts and has appeared in all 16 games only one time in his 11 seasons. Branch is a Brady favorite, but Lloyd is going to cut into Branch’s production in a big way. Still a solid receiver, Branch isn’t someone who can consistently torture single coverage like Lloyd can.

Gaffney hasn’t missed a game in five years and quietly had a pretty good season for the Redskins last year, despite a questionable supporting cast. He is also over 30. I could see him sticking in New England, as the Patriots were very aggressive in pursuing him after his release in Washington.

Gonzalez didn’t play a snap last year and has appeared in only 39 games in his five-year career. Durability is clearly the biggest knock on Gonzalez, but at one point, he and Peyton Manning had a good thing going. This former first-round pick might surprise in a new uniform if he is able to stay healthy.

The 34-year-old Ochocinco was a great player in Cincinnati, but did next to nothing in his first year in New England. He lacks the discipline in his route running to be a regular contributor and is wildly inconsistent, with very few impressive showings. Ochocinco was not a good fit in New England from the start.

Stallworth is yet another over-30 wideout with a checkered history. He is also a former first-round selection and still has the speed to get deep, which is an element the Patriots look to infuse back into their passing attack. One interesting aspect of choosing which wideouts to keep from this huge group is that most of the veteran receivers discussed above offer little-to-nothing on special teams. But any way you cut it, the Pats are pretty loaded at wideout.

2. Buffalo Bills: Although the Bills locked up Steve Johnson, wide receiver is a spot where you can argue they are not noticeably improved from a year ago. Johnson is clearly the top option at wide receiver for Buffalo, but the Bills also will have Donald Jones, David Nelson, Marcus Easley and third round pick T.J. Graham competing for playing time in an offensive system that could feature a high percentage of three-wide receiver sets.

Johnson eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in each of the past two seasons and crossed the goal line 17 times over that stretch. He has had some ups and downs and isn’t a special talent when comparing him to other teams’ top wide receivers, but there is also a lot to like about what Johnson brings to the Bills’ offense. He has done some of his best work against the top corners in this league.

Jones played only eight games last year, catching just 23 passes with one touchdown. But he has good deep speed and flashes some big-play ability to go along with enough size to be a starter opposite Johnson. Nelson is a big-bodied slot receiver in the Marques Colston mold. He stepped up for the Bills last season and is the second-most reliable member of this group. I especially like what Nelson offers in the red zone.

Easley showed promise coming out of college but has no production yet in the NFL due to injuries. But he is big and fast. Keep an eye on him. I like his chances in this offense. Graham has a ton of work to do with his development as a wide receiver, but he has extreme speed and explosiveness. It might take time for him to be able to get on the field, but once he does, Graham could open up a lot of room for everyone in this offense.

He isn’t a wide receiver so I am not including him in my ranking process, but with Fred Jackson back to being healthy, I expect C.J. Spiller to line up more on the outside and run wide receiver routes.

3. New York Jets: I am still very much a believer in Santonio Holmes as a player, but outside of Holmes, the wide receiver cabinet is rather bare for New York. You can blame the quarterback play for sure, but there is no way around it -- Holmes had a dismal season for the Jets last year. A player who has shown up huge on the biggest of stages, Holmes was clearly frustrated with his situation last season en route to accumulating a measly 654 receiving yards. I can’t say I condone Holmes’ behavior last season, but his numbers likely would have been much better with more efficient quarterback play.

To bolster this position for the long term, the Jets used a second-round pick on Stephen Hill. Hill is the ultimate size/speed prospect and should immediately have an impact on deep routes to help keep the Jets’ opponents off the line of scrimmage to some degree. But Hill has a lot of work to do with the route tree before he can be considered a true complement to Holmes.

They also picked up the often-injured Chaz Schilens in free agency. Schilens appeared in 15 games last year for the Raiders but accumulated only 271 receiving yards. In the two seasons prior, Schilens missed 19 of a possible 32 games with injury. When healthy, Schilens has used his size, route running and strong hands to move the chains in this league. The Jets could really use that.

Jeremy Kerley could be poised to make an impact in his second season. He demonstrates a lot of quickness and could become the next big contributor out of the slot in the AFC East. Patrick Turner saw snaps last year and is still in the equation. He is a big-bodied receiver who doesn’t separate all that well or stretch the field. It wouldn’t be at all surprising if the Jets were to add another free-agent wide receiver to the mix before training camp.

4. Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins could presently have the worst group of wide receivers in the NFL. Davone Bess and Brian Hartline top Miami’s depth chart. That is frightening.

Bess is a prototypical slot receiver with excellent short-area quickness. He is good after the catch and can thrive with a strong supporting cast on the outside, but he is by no means a feature receiver. Bess is dependable, but not much of a factor near the goal line. Hartline can stretch the field, but he too doesn’t excel in the red zone. To me, Hartline is a borderline starter in any situation. He also will not be able to be the focal point of the passing attack. In what is sure to be a run-first offense in Miami, Bess and Hartline also offer very little as blockers.

The only other notable veteran here is Legedu Naanee, who was unspectacular for the Panthers in 2011. Naanee does have some ability and his blocking will endear him to this coaching staff in their run-first offense. Maybe this change of scenery and opportunity for playing time pays off for Naanee. Clyde Gates, a fourth-round pick from a year ago, will get ample opportunity to step up in his second season. Gates has rare long speed but caught only two passes in his rookie season. A full offseason could help quite a bit, but he has a long way to go in terms of learning the nuances of the position.

The Dolphins used late-round picks to add B.J. Cunningham and Rishard Matthews to this equation. In a deep receiver draft, the Dolphins made excellent value picks here, as both youngsters have intriguing size and movement skills. But counting on late-round rookies to kick start a passing game is far from a wise wager. The Dolphins need to improve at wide receiver in a big way, especially if they plan on maturing Ryan Tannehill as an NFL quarterback properly.

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

• New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis says he is "cool" with his current contract.

Morning take: Revis is scheduled to make $13.5 million over the next two years, which is a bargain for the best corner in football. The Jets don’t have the cap room to pay Revis market value unless they slice some salaries. For now, Revis isn't making it an issue.

• The New England Patriots named Matt Patricia their new defensive coordinator.

Morning take: Head coach Bill Belichick felt he needed to make a change after last year’s horrific performance on defense. Patricia coached linebackers and safeties in the past and now will try to do a good job with the whole unit.

• Former Buffalo Bills starting cornerback Drayton Florence signed with the Denver Broncos.

Morning take: Corners with starting experience don’t last long on the market. So it's no surprise Florence found a job quickly. He joins Peyton Manning and Co. and will contend in the AFC.

• The Miami Dolphins receiver Clyde Gates wants fans to believe in Miami.

Morning take: The Dolphins are working hard to overcome low expectations. Most will pick Miami to finish last in the division, and maybe that will motivate the Dolphins.

The most prized free-agent acquisition not named Peyton Manning will not get the jersey number he wants in Buffalo.

New Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams, who signed a $100 million contract this offseason, will have to find a new jersey to wear in 2012. The No. 90 jersey Williams wore with the Houston Texans is occupied by Bills veteran defensive end Chris Kelsay, who is not giving it up.

"I've worn it my entire career here," Kelsay told the Buffalo News. "A lot of times in a situation like this, the guy will buy it from you. But I'm not really interested in that."

Kelsay, a nine-year veteran, is one of the longest-tenured Bills. He says he's attached to the number. In fact, every jersey from No. 90-99 is occupied in Buffalo.

Williams will have to pay one of his teammates who are more willing to make the switch soon.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, Miami Dolphins fans. But it's probably going to be awhile before your team is a legitimate playoff contender again.

A disastrous offseason has gutted this once-promising team. Now, Miami is in full rebuild mode under rookie head coach Joe Philbin.

Miami is not a quick or easy fix. Here are five reasons why the Dolphins are a long way away from being a contender and probable for another top-10 draft pick in 2013:

Reason No. 1: Dolphins don't have a quarterback

Times are changing in the NFL. It's quickly coming to the point where if you don't have a quarterback, you don’t have a chance.

Miami is going into the season with a quarterback competition between career backup Matt Moore and againg veteran David Garrard, who hasn't played football since 2010. Moore is the favorite coming off a career year in 2011 and was 6-6 as a starter. Garrard, 34, is a wild card after being out of football last season.

Neither player is a great fit for Miami's new West Coast offense. It's a scheme based on precision passing and throwing the ball about 60 percent of the time. Philbin was a former offensive coordinator with the Green Bay Packers. If Philbin expects Moore or Garrard to step in and fill the role of Aaron Rodgers next season, the coach is terribly mistaken.

It's hard for Miami to be a viable contender until it figures out its quarterback position. That won't happen next season with Garrard and Moore. Neither is the long-term solution.

Reason No. 2: No offense

Not only does Miami not have a franchise quarterback, it also lacks a supporting cast to put together a successful offense. The Dolphins could have one of the worst offenses on paper.

The Dolphins certainly have one of the worst receiver groups. The team traded away Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall to the Chicago Bears for a pair of third-round picks, leaving Brian Hartline (35 receptions for 549 yards in 2011) as the No. 1 option. Slot receiver Davone Bess (51 receptions, 537 yards) is projected as the No. 2 receiver, while Legedu Naanee and Clyde Gates compete for playing time. None of these receivers strike fear in the defense to keep opponents from stacking the line against tailback Reggie Bush and the running game.

The right side of Miami's offense line also is a problem. The Dolphins lost their starting right guard (Vernon Carey) and starting right tackle (Marc Colombo) in free agency. With uncertainty at quarterback, below-average receivers and major holes on the right side of the offensive line, Miami's offense is not set up for early success. The draft will help, but Miami can't fill all these needs with rookie players.

Reason No. 3: Shaky ownership, front office

Is it more perception or reality with Miami's leadership? Both have hurt the team.

The perception is the Dolphins have a shaky operation at the top. Owner Stephen Ross has deep pockets but hasn't shown the ability to build a stable, winning franchise. And Ross' trust in embattled general manager Jeff Ireland wasn't a popular decision.

The reality is Ross has the resources and wants to win. But Ross isn't a "football guy," and his unwavering trust in Ireland has caused a ripple effect.

Ireland's track record as a talent evaluator is decent. But he doesn't appear to be well-liked in NFL circles. Several players and former players have bashed Ireland publicly. Even Peyton Manning -- although very politely -- informed the Dolphins he wasn't comfortable with the team's leadership when Miami pursued the quarterback in free agency. Head coach Jeff Fisher also chose the St. Louis Rams over the Dolphins this offseason, in part, because he felt the stability at the top was better in St. Louis.

Winning will help this perception. That will convince top free agents to eventually come to Miami. But that wasn't the case for Ross and Ireland this offseason.

Reason No. 4: Defense is overrated

I like Miami's defense. But for all the hype this group is getting, the Dolphins' defense is fairly overrated.

Miami was ranked No. 15 in total defense in 2011. You would think this was a top-five defense based on the good press it is getting. In reality, it was middle of the pack. More importantly, the Dolphins were ranked 25th against the pass.

Miami still has holes in its secondary. Miami cut its best safety and leading tackler -- Yeremiah Bell -- this offseason. The Dolphins will go with a patchwork group of Reshad Jones, Tyrell Johnson or converted corner Richard Marshall at safety. That means bombs away for opposing quarterbacks like Tom Brady, Matt Schaub and others on Miami's schedule this season. It's going to be tough to win games if you can't pass or stop the pass in today's NFL.

The Dolphins also don't have enough pass-rushers. Outside linebacker Cameron Wake is the biggest threat. Perhaps Miami could find another pass-rusher to go with Wake in this draft. But if the Dolphins can't get to the quarterback and struggle at safety, the defense could be middle of the pack again.

Miami’s defense has its strengths. It is stout against the run, for example, and rarely allows a 100-yard rusher. But contrary to popular belief, the Dolphins aren't dominant enough defensively to win games on just one side of the ball. A sputtering offense will hurt this group.

Reason No. 5: Division rivals are simply better

Miami was 6-10 last season and finished third in the AFC East via the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Buffalo Bills (6-10). But a case can be made that the Dolphins are the only team in the division that took a few steps back this offseason.

As we mentioned, the Dolphins traded their best receiver, cut their leading tackler and failed to find a viable starting quarterback. Add in the fact that the team has an entirely new coaching staff and has to learn a new offense and defense, and you're sure to have growing pains. I doubt this team can better last year's record and finish with seven or more wins.

The reigning AFC champion New England Patriots have the NFL's easiest schedule and are much better than Miami. That's a no-brainer. But the Buffalo Bills, my sleeper pick in 2012, also are much improved, and the New York Jets still have a talented roster. The Dolphins appear headed for fourth place in the division. At best, Miami can finish third if something bad happens this year in New York or Buffalo.

Add up these five reasons, and it's clear Miami is much closer to the bottom of the league than the top. Look for the Dolphins to secure another top-10 draft pick and continue their lengthy rebuilding process into 2013.

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.

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.

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

• New England Patriots Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins recently had surgery to repair a torn ACL in his knee.

Morning take: Mankins unknowingly played in the Super Bowl with a torn ACL, according to ESPNBoston.com's Mike Reiss. That shows his toughness, but it also looks like he will be out until at least training camp, if not longer.

• The New York Jets have expressed interest in free-agent tailback BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

Morning take: This would be an interesting development. The Jets know Green-Ellis well from his days with the Patriots, and he doesn't fumble. Could he fit New York's ground-and-pound offense?

• Can Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow thrive in the Miami Dolphins' new West Coast offense?

Morning take: Nope.

• Which quarterback has Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams sacked the most?

Morning take: The answer is Peyton Manning. But click the link to find out who's No. 3 on Williams' hit list. Interesting.

The Tom Brady-Peyton Manning quarterback rivalry is one of the best ever. After a one-year hiatus, it is set to return in 2012.

Brady and the reigning AFC champion New England Patriots will host Manning and the new-look Broncos next season. Manning picked the Broncos on Monday from his list of finalists and will resume his Hall of Fame career in Denver.

Expect the Patriots-Broncos game at Gillette Stadium to be a prime-time showdown. The television networks should be gawking over this one, as Manning and Brady haven't played since the 2010 season. If the game is scheduled late in the year, it likely will involve playoff implications.

Including the playoffs, Brady holds an 8-5 career record against Manning.

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.

The Miami Dolphins pulled one of the more interesting twists in free agency by hosting free-agent quarterback Alex Smith Sunday.

ESPN's Adam Schefter talks about the potential domino effect that would take place if Smith joined the Dolphins, and what it would mean for Miami, San Francisco and Peyton Manning.

"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.

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.