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Dolphins GM Ireland: QB Henne is smart, intelligent, tough

Miami Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland talked positively about quarterback Chad Henne in an interview with the South Florida Sun Sentinel, telling the newspaper that the free-agent-to-be has "done a nice job" for the Dolphins.

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"He's done some things we've asked him to do," Ireland said. "I like Chad personally very well. He's very smart, very intelligent, very tough. He's a football guy. He loves being around the game. He's a very good teammate."

Ireland has previously indicated that the team is looking for a so-called "franchise quarterback."

Henne started just four games this season, throwing for 868 yards and four touchdowns while coughing up four interceptions before being lost with a shoulder injury.

Ireland acknowledged that Henne's performance was not good enough, though he did not rule out the chance that Henne could return next season.

"This football team, and Chad is on this football team, didn't win enough games while he was the quarterback here," he said. "But that doesn't mean he did everything wrong, right or indifferent. I like Chad very much. If he’s going to be around here -- we have to make that decision, obviously -- or if he goes somewhere else, Chad's a good football player. He can play in this league. I do know that."

Henne was drafted by the Dolphins in 2008. He went on to start 31 games, throwing for 1,065 yards and 31 touchdowns while getting picked off 37 times.

Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall told NFL.com's Jeff Darlington that he "reached out" to Packers backup quarterback Matt Flynn, who is set to become a free agent, about possibly coming to Miami. New Dolphins coach Joe Philbin coached Flynn when Philbin was the offensive coordinator in Green Bay.