Miami rolls dice

Enlarge Image

The Dolphins gambled by taking Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill, a former receiver, with their first pick. (TRIBUNE MEDIA MCT)

Enlarge Image

The last time the Fish took a QB in Round 1 they scored big-time with Dan Marino. (DAVID TENENBAUM / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES)

Enlarge Image

Miami owner Stephen Ross figures Tannehill could develop into a franchise player. (GINNY DIXON / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS)

DAVIE, Fla. — Boom or bust.

High risk, high reward.

Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross heard all of the pre-draft banter involving Ryan Tannehill and the widespread doubt expressed as to whether the converted wide receiver merited the eighth overall selection.

He offers his perception of what Miami is getting by taking a passer in the opening round for the first time since eventual Hall of Famer Dan Marino was chosen 27th in 1983.

Franchise quarterback.

"You don’t draft a first-round quarterback with the No. 8 choice and not think he’s going to develop into a franchise quarterback," Ross told USA TODAY Sports.

"I think we fortified the quarterback position now and for the future. You build a team around the quarterback position. Knowing we have that, we can really address all of the other needs we have."

Ross and his front office know how badly they need to be right on this one after some major flops. He attempted to persuade Jim Harbaugh to join the Dolphins before this season even as his coach at the time, Tony Sparano, remained under contract. Harbaugh took over the San Francisco 49ers and led that resurgent franchise to the NFC Championship Game.

Ross tried to attract free agent quarterback Peyton Manning this off-season, knowing he already owned a home in South Beach and would welcome the chance to play in warm weather as he returns from a neck injury that is forcing him to rebuild arm strength.

The Dolphins came no closer to securing Manning than they did Harbaugh. Even Matt Flynn, who played for new coach Joe Philbin in Green Bay, visited and then signed with the Seattle Seahawks to compete for their quarterback job.

Ross said of the recent history, "I’ve been in business my whole life. If you don’t take chances, you don’t succeed. And you don’t get upset when you go after things and lose.

"We all know why we lost Peyton Manning. He went to a place where he knew people and felt comfortable. How could you have not gone after him?"

The major misses, coupled with last season’s 6-10 record, have turned the Dolphins into a hard sell in a market captivated by the Miami Heat and, to a lesser extent, the Miami Marlins and their new stadium.

Ross vehemently denied that business considerations influenced the decision to take the 6-foot-4, 222-pound Tannehill, who made only 19 starts at quarterback for Texas A&M.

"We’re about winning," he said. "One player is not going to sell tickets. Winning is what is going to sell tickets. Building a winning franchise that is consistent over a long period of time is what is going to sell tickets."

The Dolphins enjoyed rare insight into a player whose draft stock rose sharply because their new offensive coordinator, Mike Sherman, was Tannehill’s head coach at Texas A&M.

Sherman said in a statement released by the Dolphins after the completion of the opening round Thursday night, "He has just scratched the surface as a quarterback. His learning curve, however, will be enhanced and accelerated simply because he is coming to an offensive scheme and terminology where he has a lot of familiarity."

That Tannehill ranks seventh in Texas A&M history with 1,453 receiving yards is a testament to his extraordinary athleticism. He threw for 3,744 yards with 29 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 2011 as the Aggies finished a disappointing 7-6 in his only full season as a starting quarterback.

Tannehill’s future will likely have as much to do with how he is handled as anything he can control. Ross noted that it took several seasons before Aaron Rodgers was ready to perform at a high level for the Green Bay Packers. He expressed the willingness to be patient and to allow his coaches to decide how the rookie should be handled.

Keeping to that may not be so easy if the number of losses and empty seats begin to grow.

— USA Today