Miami Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland: QB Doesn't Have to Be Long-Term

At the NFL Scouting Combine today, both the Miami Dolphins' general manager Jeff Ireland and head coach Joe Philbin spoke to the media. During Ireland's media availability, he briefly spoke about the Dolphins' search for a new quarterback.

"I don't think it has to be a long-term solution," Ireland stated. "I think you can look at a short-term solution. Obviously, you'd like a long-term solution. Or you can try to get both. You've got to try to help this team win today and look to the future."

With Dolphins owner Stephen Ross' infatuation with Indianapolis Colts' quarterback Peyton Manning, this is the closest Ireland has come to talking about the 4-time league MVP. Team executives are not allowed to comment on players currently under contract with another team.

Manning is due a $28 million roster bonus on March 8, five days before the start of the new league year. With trading not authorized until March 13, and the Colts' expected to draft Stanford Cardinal Andrew Luck with the first overall pick in April, the team is expected to release Manning sometime in the next couple of weeks.

Manning would be free to sign with any team in the league as soon as he is released, not having to wait for the free agency period to begin.

Ireland stated that he and Philbin have talked about quarterbacks "almost on a daily basis," especially for last few days, and that they are trying to figure out a lot of things.

The NFL Combine officially started yesterday and runs through next Tuesday.