NFL Free Agency: Kyle Orton Deal with Miami Dolphins Off?

After the Miami Dolphins signed quarterback Matt Moore on July 29, several members of the national media speculated the move eliminated any chance of Kyle Orton taking his talents to South Beach. Three days later there are still whispers that a trade might happen, however, which would allow the Denver Broncos to hand the quarterback job to Tim Tebow.

Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald thinks a trade is still possible. "Keith Sims agrees with me that the Kyle Orton possibility to the Dolphins is not dead," he said in a tweet.

Orton would benefit from a trade to Miami, where he would immediately become the most talented quarterback on the roster. He finished 15th in the NFL last season in quarterback rating, ahead of Jay Cutler and Eli Manning. The rating of 87.5 was the best of his career.

While operating from Josh McDaniels' pass-heavy attack, Orton also set career highs in yards per game, yards per attempt and touchdown-to-interception ratio. He finished the season with 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 13 games before giving way to Tebow for the final three games.

Although they don't seem ready to admit it quite yet, the Broncos management team appears set to give Tebow a chance to prove himself worthy of a starting job in 2011. Even if Orton was to win the hypothetical quarterback battle in training camp, his job security would be minimal.

In Miami, Orton would have a similar battle against incumbent Chad Henne, Moore and others. He would likely win that skirmish and wouldn't have a hyped Tebow looking over his shoulder. Instead, he would have a bunch of journeyman like himself next on the depth chart, giving him a much longer leash.

The level of receivers wouldn't change much for Orton, with both teams having two true targets. Miami's main threat, Brandon Marshall, had very public issues with Henne last season, so he would likely welcome a new voice in the huddle.

Second option Davone Bess has made steady improvement in each of his three years in the league and would also profit from a more consistent gunslinger.

Just four percent of Orton's incomplete passes were picked off by the defense last season. By comparison, Henne checked in at 10 percent and Moore, while playing with the Carolina Panthers, was even worse at 16 percent.

Orton ending up with the Dolphins would seem like the best option for all parties involved. The Broncos would allow Tebow to start without a proven backup placing added pressure on him. The Dolphins would get a starting-caliber quarterback for a reasonable price and Orton would get a legitimate chance to earn the job.

Perhaps that's why the rumors just won't go away.