Sunday, January 20, 2013

Dolphins tell Moore he's always welcome in Miami

BY NICK ST. DENIS

As he has his entire career, Miami Dolphins backup quarterback and soon-to-be free agent Matt Moore wants a legitimate shot to be a starting signal-caller. He'll look for that, again, this spring.

But if he can't find a gig that has him truly competing for a No. 1 job, he's always welcome in Miami. (photo: Kevin Tsui, Flickr)

Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland told Moore after the 2012 season, "you always have a job in Miami," according to Ben Volin of the Palm Beach Post.

Volin added that Moore, as expected, appreciated the note, though he obviously understands that his only chance at seeing the field is if Ryan Tannehill were to get injured. Tannehill, heading into his second season in 2013, will continue to get every opportunity to succeed and has the starting job for better or worse.

Back in May, Moore expressed frustration that he wasn't considered by many to be starter material. A few days later, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said he thought Moore would be the starter in 2012, but by the end of training camp, Tannehill took the lead for good. In hindsight, Tannehill might have held the lead all along.

In and out of work over the past five seasons with the Dolphins and Carolina Panthers, Moore accumulated 33 touchdowns to 26 interception, completing 59.1 percent of his passes.

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