Despite missing out on Luck, there still appeared to be a light at the end of the tunnel for the Dolphins organization who Peyton Manning was first linked to once he hit the free-agent market after being released by the Indianapolis Colts. Their chances of landing Manning were dealt a huge blow, however, when GM Jeff Ireland traded Pro-Bowl wide-out Brandon Marshall to the Chicago Bears in exchange for two third round draft picks. Having gotten rid of their best player on offense practically for a pack of peanuts, the team failed to lure Manning who just days later would inform the franchise that they were no longer on his list of desired destinations. With Manning no longer in the picture, Ireland and co. were forced to explore other options at the quarterback position with both Matt Flynn and Alex Smith being possible candidates. But just like Manning, the two would decide to sign elsewhere as Flynn flocked to Seattle and Smith re-signed with the 49ers.
Miami's misfortune would lead to them inking 10-year veteran David Garrard who missed all of last season due to injury. To his credit, Garrard has put up decent numbers since being named Jacksonville's starting quarterback in 2007, but he's seen little success aside from an 11-5 finish in '07 before being bounced in the playoffs. With Garrard now on board and playing for the Jaguars' inner-state rivals, I'm not sure Miami doesn't already have a solid QB in Matt Moore. After stepping in for the injured Chad Henne, Moore started the final 12 games of the season, winning half of them and showing progress as the season wore on. Adding Garrard to the mix doesn't hurt Miami, but they definitely didn't come out as winners this off-season and it wouldn't surprise me if they were in the same position next year. With everyone and their brother wanting to play for other Miami based sports teams such as the Miami Heat and the newly named Miami Marlins, the Dolphins on the other hand are stuck on the outside looking in as the team in town that nobody wants to play for. And as long as Jeff Ireland is pulling the strings as the team's GM, that might not change for years to come.
Disgruntled Dolphin fans expressed their disinterest in the way their team's been run the passed several years by protesting outside of the team's headquarters in Davie, Florida with paper bags over their heads and signs directed to the general manager that read, "Fireland." Since the retirement of Dan Marino following the 1999 season, the Dolphins franchise has experienced a never-ending QB carousel, having gone through 16 different starting quarterbacks without striking gold. With that number likely to increase this year now that Garrard's aboard, another tally might be added in another year or two if Miami goes after a quarterback with the likes of Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill who the team hasn't ruled out the chances of drafting just yet with the 8th overall pick. But even with a decent quarterback, more needs to be done in order to turn around what was has become one of the laughing stocks of the NFL back into the proud franchise they've been known to be. Regardless of who his starting quarterback is in 2012, recently hired head coach Joe Philbin should have a full plate of tasks to overcome in hopes of turning the franchise around.
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