CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Now that the Browns have lost out in the Robert Griffin III sweepstakes, they’ve reportedly turned their attention to free-agent quarterback Matt Flynn, a former Green Bay Packers backup with two NFL starts on his résumé.

• Read the updated story: Browns haven't pursued QB Matt Flynn, not set to make offer, league source says

The Browns and Miami Dolphins are both making contract offers for Flynn, a source told South Florida's Sun-Sentinel.

The Browns were also interested in Jaguars free agent defensive end Jeremy Mincey, a league source told Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times, but Mincey re-signed with Jacksonville for four years and $27.2 million.

The Browns are declining comment on any free agents they haven’t yet signed.

The Dolphins would seem to be the front-runner for Flynn, who runs the Browns’ beloved West Coast offense, because of their new head coach, Joe Philbin, who was Flynn’s offensive coordinator in Green Bay.

But Flynn isn’t the Dolphins’ first choice. That distinction goes to Peyton Manning, who’s still deciding among several teams, including the Cardinals and the Broncos, reportedly the front-runners. If the Cards sign Manning, they’ll release Kevin Kolb, who was drafted by Browns General Manager Tom Heckert in Green Bay and could be on the Browns’ radar.

If the Dolphins lose Manning — and it appears headed that way — they’ll most likely go hard after Flynn, a seventh-round pick out of Louisiana State in 2008.

The question is, will the Browns be able to outbid the Dolphins? The Philbin factor — and the Miami weather — will be hard to overcome, but the Browns apparently would like to turn their offense over to Flynn and then likely spend their No. 4 overall pick on a weapon to help him.

The Seahawks also were expected to go after Flynn, but they’re first hosting former Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne.

Related stories

Dawson accepts franchise tag

If the Browns sign Flynn, and it’s been estimated he’ll command a huge contract, he almost certainly would replace Colt McCoy as the Browns’ starting quarterback — despite the two NFL starts.

Flynn, 6-2, 225, boosted his stock considerably with his blockbuster performance against the Lions in the season finale after the Packers had clinched a playoff spot and were resting most of their starters. En route to a 45-41 victory, Flynn threw for 480 yards and six touchdowns — both all-time Green Bay records.

In Flynn’s only other start, in 2010 against the Patriots, he completed 23 of 37 attempts for 254 yards and three TD passes in a 31-27 loss. All told, that’s 734 yards and nine TDs in two starts.

Another question: Is Flynn a product of Green Bay’s well-oiled Super Bowl-winning offense — one complete with the likes of Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson — or can he take his skills to Cleveland and still be successful?

“Totally understand,” Flynn told Sports Illustrated’s Peter King last week. “I know there will be people for me and people against me, but you can’t be defensive about it. I’ve always been a confident person about what I can do, and I am right now. Hopefully, I get to find that one team that wants me, and I can get to that team and prove to the 52 guys I share the locker room with that I’m worthy of being the guy they look up to as their quarterback. There’s no question in my mind I can be.”

Like McCoy, Flynn has doubters about his arm strength.

“I feel like I can throw a very good deep ball,” Flynn said. “I don’t know where it comes from that I can’t. The windows are so tight in the NFL that you’re not going to survive if you can’t make those throws, and I think I’ve proven I can make them.”

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: mcabot@plaind.com, 216-999-4670

On Twitter: @marykaycabot