GM Jeff Ireland wouldn't disclose details of those negotiations, but a Dolphins source said the team only was willing to offer Matt Flynn nearly $4 million per year because they weren't convinced he was a franchise quarterback. Seattle ended up paying him more than double at nearly $8 million per year on a three-year deal.
Flynn's former offensive coordinator, Joe Philbin, is now the head coach of the Dolphins, and while the article didn't expressly say that he had reservations about Flynn's potential, he certainly didn't convince the Miami brass that he should be the team's QB of the future. Time will tell if Flynn is truly a franchise QB, but thus far he has certainly performed well when given the opportunity.