Moore almost left football behind
He considered switch to baseball diamond, but changed his mind.
DAVIE — With quarterback Matt Moore on the verge of leading the Miami Dolphins into only their second playoff appearance in 15 seasons, it’s interesting to note the time he almost quit football for baseball.
“It was serious,” Moore said Tuesday. “Real serious.” The year was 2004. Moore, now 32, was 20. After starting at quarterback as a freshman for UCLA and playing some as a sophomore, Moore left. He enrolled at College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, California, and contemplated his future.
“At that time, college football to me had been pretty sour,” Moore recalled. “So I’m like, man, I’m over this. At that time in my life I was done with school, done with college football.”
So Moore played in a recreational baseball league and was spotted by a Los Angeles Angels scout.
In 2004, the Angels drafted Moore, a shortstop, in the 22nd round. A signing bonus offer quickly came and Moore was leaning towards taking it.
“At the time I didn’t have a place to go play college football,” he said. “I want to go play baseball. My Dad had played baseball (in the Cardinals organization). My grandfather had played baseball (in the Yankees and Cubs organizations). So I thought about it hard. And both my parents really pushed me toward school.”
Before he accepted the offer, a call came from then-Oregon State coach Mike Riley.
“I got an offer to go to Oregon State, so now I have options,” Moore said. “Thankfully. Baseball is a hard road. But, and, thankfully, I remember a long conversation with both my parents, saying, ‘Look, this is what we think you should do.’ Going to Oregon State ended up to be the best thing that ever happened to me.”
So much has been made about how Moore almost didn’t re-sign with the Dolphins this offseason. And about how Moore has been a Dolphin for six seasons, but hadn’t started a game for four seasons.
So much has been made about how confident Moore is in himself, and his ability to win without having played much at all.
But Moore might not have even played in the NFL if he’d chosen the baseball path in 2004.
Would he have made it to the major leagues as a shortstop?
“I don’t know,” Moore said with a smile.
“That’s a hard road, man. Those guys are the best in the world. Who knows. But I have no complaints on how my path worked out.”
Gase speaks: Highlights of Dolphins coach Adam Gase’s huddle with the media Tuesday:
■ On LB Jelani Jenkins’ hand and knee injuries: “That’ll be tough” to go vs. Bills.
■ On Pro Bowl: I feel like so many guys have played at a high level. There’s a reason we’re where we are right now. Can’t single out too many because so many have done well.
■ On big plays vs. Jets on Saturday: Not surprised because of all skill guys we have (mentions Kenny Stills and DeVante Parker). Plus had nice run-after-catch plays. QBs have done good job to let our guys have chance to get the ball.
■ On Kraig Urbik: Did good job moving to center vs. Jets.
■ On Trevor Reilly: We felt he was guy who could fit into our program and contribute.
■ On Jay Ajayi’s average going down with Mike Pouncey out: Anytime you lose one of the best players in football at their position it’s never easy to replace that. We don’t want Jay to get frustrated. It’s easy to go off on your own, don’t need him doing that. We ran into some tough defenses — that’s no hidden secret. I’m sure No. 1 priority of Bills will be stopping the run.
Rex speaks: Rex Ryan, who reportedly might be on his way out as coach of the Bills, never fails to fill a notebook. Here are some of the topics he hit on Tuesday while discussing the Dolphins, including responding to questions about his future with the Bills:
■ Ma t t Mo o r e h a s b e e n around a long time. He may actually throw it better than Ryan Tannehill.
■ I get asked 20 times a day about my future. I know who the coach is on Saturday and that’s me. Not worried about rumors.
■ Jay Ajayi will require a whole bunch of adjustments. He’s got vision and he’s big and strong. He’s a heck of a back.
■ Jarvis Landry has got phenomenal hands, a great route r unner, physi c a l , i ns t i nc t s , attacks the ball. A reason why he has the numbers he has.
■ Miami’s corners are playing really well.
■ I like betting on myself. That’s t he way I s ee i t . The owners have a right to make a move one way or another. They have that right. And that’s never changed.