The Miami Dolphins want Peyton Manning to wear aqua and orange in 2012. If the Colts release or attempt to trade the 36-year-old quarterback, he will be the Dolphins' top priority.
The Miami Herald reported Thursday the team has made Manning their top priority, citing sources within the Dolphins organization. Officially, the Dolphins are mum on Manning. General manager Jeff Ireland declined to discuss Manning on Friday, telling the Herald he could not discuss other players due to league tampering rules. "He's obviously a great player," Ireland added.
The Dolphins will have plenty of competition for Manning, including the division-rival New York Jets as well as Washington.
Miami is still expected to pursue Green Bay backup quarterback Matt Flynn if they can't acquire Manning. However, the Herald reported the team has not shown even informal interest in Aaron Rodgers' understudy.
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It may be worth noting that Rodgers said earlier this week it would "make sense" for the Dolphins to sign Flynn, who studied under Dolphins coach Joe Philbin's tutelage in Green Bay. "Joe in [Miami's] system, which I'm sure is going to be very similar to [Green Bay's] system, and Matt having a great grasp of that and playing well in his recent opportunities," he told a radio station in Milwaukee.
In Green Bay's final regular season game of the 2011 season, with Rodgers resting for the playoffs, Flynn threw for 480 yards and 6 touchdowns. He also put together a strong performance against the New England Patriots in 2010, throwing for 251 yards and 3 touchdowns in a loss, but those two games are his only NFL starts in four years of experience.
As a starter for LSU's 2007 national champion team, Flynn threw for 2,407 yards in 12 games, with 21 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. He only completed 56% of his passes in college, which could concern the Dolphins.
Nonetheless, that whole discussion becomes moot if Miami can land Manning. The Colts will owe him a $28 million roster bonus if he is not released before March 5, which could ultimately force them to cut ties with their greatest player in team history.
But the Colts' loss could be Miami's gain.
