With the Seattle Seahawks signing of free agent quarterback Matt Flynn now nearly two weeks in the rear view mirror, more details surrounding the courting of the Green Bay reserve quarterback are starting to emerge.

One of the reasons given for Flynn signing in Seattle was the Dolphins offering him what was perceived as a low-ball offer.

Jeff Darlington of the NFL Network confirms those suspicions in an article on Miami general manager Jeff Ireland. Darlington reports that according to a source, the Dolphins offered Flynn a contract worth $4 million a year, while the Seahawks sweetened the pot considerably, nearly doubling that offer with a three-year, $26 million maximum deal.

Darlington: Ireland wouldn't disclose details of those negotiations, but a Dolphins source said the team only was willing to offer 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.”

Now, only $10 million of Flynn’s contract is guaranteed. He will receive $8 million in the first year of the deal, including a $6 million signing bonus and $2 million in base salary in 2012. Basically, Flynn can earn $15.5 million in two years if he starts in 2012, which is likely.

While many around the league feel that Miami missed out on signing Flynn, it’s interesting to note that even with former Green Bay offensive coordinator Joe Philbin now the head coach, the Dolphins were not willing to pay Flynn the going rate for a starting quarterback in the NFL.

One reason for that could be the production of Matt Moore in the second half of 2011 for the Dolphins. Moore finished 6-6 as a starter, throwing 16 touchdowns and just nine interceptions and finishing with a 87.1 passer rating.

Moore is in the final year of a deal that will pay him $2.5 million in 2012.

The other issue is time. The Dolphins are rebuilding, so Philbin can’t afford to be wrong at the quarterback spot this early in his tenure. Philbin has time to find his franchise quarterback of the future, while Pete Carroll is in his third season in Seattle and looking to make a deep playoff run in 2012.