National Football League

Report: Ross thinks Moore will start

Published May. 21, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Dolphins spent a first-round pick on Ryan Tannehill in April’s draft, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be the starter in Week 1.

Team owner Stephen Ross told NFL.com on Monday that he thinks veteran quarterback Matt Moore will “probably be the starter” against the Houston Texans on Sept. 9.

"I don't think they're going to rush (Ryan Tannehill) into anything," Ross said. "He's going to have to win the starting job. I think Matt Moore will probably be the starter, and I wish him the best."

Tannehill, who started only 19 games at quarterback in College Station, is familiar with the Dolphins’ playbook after playing for offensive coordinator Mike Sherman in college.

“There’s definitely some tweaks, some stuff they brought in from Green Bay, that stuff is new to me,” Tannehill told FOXSports.com last Thursday. “But I would say 80 percent of it is the same. I think we changed the terminology and signals, but the majority of it is the same concepts and same plays.”

Ross has been vocal that he doesn’t want to rush Tannehill into playing until he’s ready.

"The important thing is not to have great expectations up front, and bring him along," Ross told The Palm Beach Post last weekend.

Moore led the Dolphins to six wins in the final nine games of the 2011 season. Miami signed David Garrard in March to provide Moore with some competition for the starting gig.