Matt Flynn to Dolphins Rumors: The Consolation Prize in Miami

The unthinkable has happened: Peyton Manning has signed elsewhere. Stephen Ross has failed–again.

Wake up, this is just a nightmare. For now.

While the Dolphins may just be the front-runners for the elder Manning's services, there will be many suitors. What will happen if LeBron James and Dwyane Wade fail to help recruit Manning and he winds up in Denver, Seattle, Kansas City, Washington or Arizona? 

Matt Flynn, come on down! You have won a new car!

Well, perhaps not directly, but Ross and the Miami Dolphins would suddenly be interested in the career backup after ignoring him in favor of Manning.

Flynn would mark the second time this offseason the Dolphins have settled for their second choice out of Green Bay. Joe Philbin was the first after Jeff Fisher snubbed Miami, and being Flynn's old coach would be of great benefit should Miami find themselves scrambling to implement Plan B.

If Manning flies the coop in Miami, is signing Flynn the right thing to do?

Much has been made about Matt Flynn's short-lived success as a starter. Indeed, he has performed admirably in two career starts, throwing for 731 yards at 9.0 yards per attempt and a 9:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio. His record-breaking performance against Detroit last season thrust his free-agent stock into the stratosphere.

Those are excellent numbers in a limited sample size, but is it a result of Flynn's talent or a product of his system? The good news about that question is that Miami would have the best of both worlds in Flynn's arm and Philbin's offense–whatever worked for Flynn in Green Bay has a good shot of working in Miami.

Many are scared off by Flynn, citing the Kevin Kolb debacle in the desert. While there is always the risk of similar failure, Flynn has shown more than Kolb did before the latter was ransomed off to Arizona. 

Here is a snapshot of both players before Kolb's move to the Cardinals:

Player	Att.	Comp	Comp %	Yds	Yds / Att.	TD	Int.
Kevin Kolb	319	194	60.8%	2071	6.49	11	14
Matt Flynn	131	82	62.6%	1015	7.75	9	5

While Kolb had a bigger sample size, yards per attempt and TD:INT ratio are heavily in Flynn's favor and better indicative of future success. The Dolphins would not have to give anything up in a trade to get Flynn either.

Statistics aside, Flynn makes the most sense for Miami because of need and comfort level. He knows Philbin's offense and the rookie head coach knows exactly what he is getting at quarterback. Miami cannot reasonably afford to get into the Robert Griffin III sweepstakes, and Matt Moore is not the long-term answer despite performing admirably as a starter last season.

How much the Dolphins are willing to pay is an entirely different story. Smokescreens aside, there will be a market for Flynn with the Browns and Seahawks being potential bidders. Perhaps Flynn will not command as much money as we all thought after he dissected the Lions in Week 17 last season, but simple economics tells us demand will drive up the price.

Stephen Ross had better be prepared to open up the checkbook for Flynn if he wants to land free agency's second-best quarterback prize. No matter the price, it will be right.