NFL Free Agent Rumors: Dolphins Make Smart Decision by Low-Balling Matt Flynn

At a time when teams are recklessly throwing money at players, the Miami Dolphins have maintained a level head. Well, at least when it comes to Matt Flynn.

According to Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports, the Dolphins are low-balling the free-agent quarterback, using current head coach and former Green Bay offensive coordinator Joe Philbin as leverage.

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Matt Flynn still wants to sign with the Dolphins, but the team is low-balling the offer, thinking he'll take it just to play for Philbin.

— Jason Cole (@JasonColeYahoo) March 16, 2012"

This is a smart move by the Dolphins, who have witnessed the devastating effects that can come with overpaying an unproven quarterback.

Just last year, the Cardinals dished out a six-year, $65 million contract to Kevin Kolb, who only had seven career starts under his belt. Not even a full year later, Arizona has already considered terminating his cap-crippling deal.

Flynn, despite generating some buzz at the end of last year, is even more unseasoned than Kolb.

Yes, he had his one ridiculous performance in Week 17, when he dropped 480 yards and six touchdowns on the Detroit Lions. But that game accounts for two-thirds of his career touchdowns, and nearly half of his career passing yards.

While the former seventh-round pick out of LSU has shown flashes of brilliance, there's been no indication that he can sustain a high level of play during the course of a rigorous NFL season.

His career numbers of two starts and 132 passes in the NFL aren't overly encouraging. And though he's definitely talented, the Dolphins simply can't give away a Pro Bowl-type contract to such an inexperienced player.

Miami doesn't have many other options, as Matt Moore isn't the quarterback of the future, and the rest of the free-agent market is a barren wasteland. However, another inexpensive, mediocre year from Moore is better than bringing in Flynn and killing their financial flexibility for the foreseeable future.

If the Dolphins can get Flynn for the cheap, that's great. But if he's demanding anything like Kolb's contract, Miami should let him walk, and pray that he doesn't turn into the next Aaron Rodgers.