Tannehill realizes goal of being opening day starter

Ryan Tannehill has already accomplished something that Hall of Famers Dan Marino and Bob Griese never did in their storied careers as Miami Dolphins quarterbacks.

He will start the season opener as a rookie. Tannehill was named the starter on Monday, but had already met his media obligation before the announcement was made from Coach Joe Philbin. So on Tuesday, the first-round pick got his first chance to comment on being the starter right out of the gate.

“I wanted to be (the starter)," Tannehill said. "As a competitor, that’s just human nature. As a competitor, to want to be the guy. I was going out there every day trying to prove that I could be the guy to win games for this football team and, right now, that’s the case. So just got to continue to get better and win games.”

Tannehill wisely shied away from the Marino/Griese comparison regarding starting an opener.

“I don’t think that says any indicator. I’m just going to go out one day at a time. Every situation is different. I’m blessed to have this opportunity. I just want to make the most of itn” he said.

With David Garrard out of the picture due to knee surgery, Tannehill had only to beat out last year's starter Matt Moore, who while disappointed, said he will support the decision to start the first-round pick.

"I’m disappointed, yeah. I think naturally as a competitor anybody would be disappointed, but I am 100 percent behind this and with the team so I am just ready to move forward that way," Moore said.

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Terry McCormick covers the Titans for TitanInsider.com