Though he's just the backup quarterback, Matt Moore is popular inside Miami's locker room. According to The Miami Herald, several "Dolphins people," including starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill, have reached out to Moore, encouraging the backup quarterback to re-sign with the Dolphins rather than signing elsewhere in free agency.
Ryan Tannehill encourages Matt Moore to return to Dolphins
Members of the Miami Dolphins organization, including Ryan Tannehill, have reached out to Matt Moore, encouraging Miami’s backup quarterback to re-sign in Miami this offseason.
Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE
Moore appeared in 13 games for the Dolphins in 2011, starting 12 of them. Moore finished 2011 with an 87.1 quarterback rating after completing 60.5% of his passes for 2,497 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also threw nine interceptions.
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Despite his above-average play in 2011, the Dolphins opted to draft Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, believing that Tannehill was a franchise quarterback. Tannehill played well in his rookie season, and certainly encouraged Dolphins brass and fans alike with his performance.
Still, the Dolphins value Moore's presence in the locker room, and believe him to be a very good backup quarterback to Tannehill. Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald notes that the best backup quarterbacks, such as Kyle Orton, are paid handsomely, as Orton made over $3 million dollars last season while serving as Tony Romo's backup.
Per Barry Jackson, Norv Turner is believed to be a big fan of Moore. Turner, who was recently hired to be the offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns, could convince Cleveland brass to pursue Moore, and allow him to compete for the starting job in Cleveland against Brandon Weeden.
Moore could also find himself receiving offers from other quarterback-needy teams, such as the New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars.
If the Dolphins lose Moore, it certainly won’t be because they didn’t try. It’ll simply be because Moore wants the opportunity to start.
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