With a trade for Denver QB Kyle Orton seeming more and more of a distant possibility, the Miami Dolphins are focusing on a fallback plan, former Carolina Panthers QB Matt Moore.
According to The Oregonian, the Dolphins are close to signing the Oregon State alum to a two-year deal worth roughly $5 million. The deal could reach $7.5 million if certain performance incentives are met.
The signing of Moore could also be great news for returning QB Chad Henne. Moore does not nearly have the reputation of Orton, and lost the starting job in Carolina to rookie Jimmy Clausen in 2010.
Henne would have had to beat out Orton for the starting job, but Moore is viewed as more of a competent backup in the mold of outgoing reserve QB Tyler Thigpen.
Moore would also come much cheaper than Orton, who is owed $8.8 million in 2011 but reportedly wishes to negotiate an expensive contract in conjunction with any trade.
Moore was signed out of college by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2007, while current Dolphins coach Tony Sparano and GM Jeff Ireland were still with the Cowboys.
Maybe the Miami braintrust saw something others haven't seen from Moore.
Moore's career numbers are uninspiring. He has made only 13 starts over three seasons, and missed the entire 2008 season with a broken fibula.
For his career, Moore has thrown for 2,640 yards, 16 touchdowns and 17 interceptions with a QB rating of 73.9.
This is not the splash at quarterback that Dolfans were hoping for ahead of the 2011 season, but with Orton seemingly out of reach, the Dolphins appear forced to settle for another year with Henne at the helm.
David Hill is a Miami native who used to be able to name every quarterback who has started for the Dolphins since Dan Marino retired. He has since lost count.
