David Garrard, Dolphins Agree To One-Year Deal

JACKSONVILLE, FL - AUGUST 19: Quarterback David Garrard #9 of the Jacksonville Jaguars runs for yardage during the game against the Atlanta Falcons at EverBank Field on August 19, 2011 in Jacksonville, Florida. According to reports September 7, 2011, the jaguars have cut Garrard who was due to make $9 million this season. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

MIAMI -- Quarterback David Garrard signed a one-year contract Monday with the Miami Dolphins and said he was told he'll be given a shot at the starting job.

He's not sure yet who else will be part of the competition, though.

The Dolphins reached agreement with the former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback after failed courtships with Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn. They also hosted San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith for a visit Sunday and may still consider signing him.

"They didn't say for sure they were bringing another guy in, but they said it's a possibility, whether in the draft or whatever," Garrard said in a phone interview.

For now, Garrard and incumbent Matt Moore are the contenders for the job.

"It's going to be a great competition, and I'm all about that," Garrard said. "I'm going to do my best to make sure it's me on opening day."

The Dolphins also told safety Yeremiah Bell he'll be released to create cap space, a person familiar with the discussions said. The person confirmed the discussions to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Dolphins hadn't announced a move.

By cutting Bell, the Dolphins save more than $4 million in cap space, which could be used in negotiations with Smith.

The 34-year-old Garrard, a starter for Jacksonville from 2005-10, didn't play last season. He was released five days before the opener by the Jaguars, and Miami courted him last year after quarterback Chad Henne's season was ended by a shoulder injury.

But Garrard didn't sign, and instead underwent back surgery in October. He considered retirement, he said, but is now 100 percent and eager to extend his career another year.

"It was taken away from me, and it gave me a great perspective on life and this game," he said. "I want to make sure when I leave this game, I do it when I'm ready to go, and there's never any remorse or thought of, could I have done more?"

Garrard apparently impressed the Dolphins with his workout Monday, and he said he was impressed by new coach Joe Philbin and his staff.

"I just love the vibe," Garrard said. "I love everybody's mission and goal, and the purpose they have and the direction they're heading."

Garrard's best season was in 2007, when he threw 18 touchdown passes and only three interceptions. He topped 3,500 yards passing in 2008 and 2009, and he's 39-37 as a starter in nine seasons, all with Jacksonville.

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Comments

[Gasparilla]

07:53 AM on 03/21/2012

Writer Alex Marvez was on the radio this morning saying that the Fins should fire Jeff Ireland and hire Bill Polian. First of all, Ireland had a good draft this last year, and two, how did Indianapolis do without Manning this year. Oh that's right, complete team collapse. If your entire team depends on one guy being there, you have not been very good at drafting. But such is the nonsense that passes for analysis.

[cameron d]

11:32 PM on 03/20/2012

Matt Moore (who wasn't actually bad last season) will be the starting QB in Miami next season. Alex Smith will be back in San Francisco.

[stir crazy 777]

06:46 PM on 03/20/2012

The Dolphins best hope at this point is to clone Dan Marino.

[CatfishJohn]

10:24 PM on 03/20/2012

so true and truly funny..i hear they have an experimental project with Pele's DNA going on right now in Sao Paolo...

[CatfishJohn]

12:44 PM on 03/20/2012

Any NFL front office so clueless as to think the robotic Chad Henne had potential to be a successful NFL starting QB deserves to be mired in mediocrity.

[benji85]

12:41 PM on 03/20/2012

If only the ownership could actually focus on making good player moves, and not making a Miami celebrity co-op.

[shawman65]

11:57 AM on 03/20/2012

This was typical Dolphins here. get someone who hasn't played in a year and wasn't very good to begin with to replace a quarterback who did play last year and wasn't very good. Anyone see a pattern here..

[Jim Kline]

11:42 AM on 03/20/2012

make Cleveland a offer for Senica Wallace !!!

[De Robinson]

11:11 AM on 03/20/2012

Boy Miami put all their eggs in one basket with Manning and now they really have to scramble...Gerrard on a one year deal........really scrambling.................

[bogey1]

11:43 AM on 03/20/2012

eggs - scrambling...

oh, i get the 'yoke'

;-)

[drippinhun]

10:59 AM on 03/20/2012

If Philbin passed on Flynn, he must have known something.

[stir crazy 777]

06:50 PM on 03/20/2012

Great observation,If Philbin really thought he had the potential to be a great quarterback I'm sure he could have convinced Ireland to get him signed.

[FalstaffsMind]

10:03 AM on 03/20/2012

We've now entered the 'sign somebody quick, before we get stuck with Tebow' sweepstakes.

[cameron d]

11:33 PM on 03/20/2012

Tebow will end up in Jacksonville.

[edweck929]

10:00 AM on 03/20/2012

And back into the cellar you go....this team would be better of with Dan Marino. And I'm talking about him now, the one that sits in th studio that hasn't been on a field in 10 years.

Sad...very sad.

[martin1557]

09:27 AM on 03/20/2012

Garrard will be a good back-up to MATT MOORE!!! People.....wake-up! Matt Moore is a solid QB!!!

[Gasparilla]

09:34 AM on 03/20/2012

That's what I don't get. Moore is solid, nothing more, but sometimes that's enough. All these people whining we didn't get Manning, what happens if he can't play like he did before. I don't want to pay huge money to take that big a chance. I don't think Flynn and Smith are that much better than Moore and a lot more expensive. Plus everyone jumps on Ireland, who did have a solid draft last year. It was Parcells who was in charge of the others.

[cameron d]

11:34 PM on 03/20/2012

Agreed. He wasn't that bad last season. Until they decide to blow this team up and start over in the draft Matt Moore is their most sensible option.

[loudcellman]

09:03 AM on 03/20/2012

When will the Fins ever learn!!! Getting Matt Flynn would have been a much better option. Did they really go after him strong? Who knows.

[Xrunnerman]

02:37 AM on 03/20/2012

Fins Fans its Paper Bag Time.