David Garrard, who spent nine seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars before being released last September, has signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins as the team tries to bolster its quarterback lineup.

Overtures to Peyton Manning failed to woo the former Indianapolis Colts star player who  signed with the Denver Broncos on Tuesday for $96 million over five years.

The Dolphins also lost their bid to bring free agents Matt Flynn,

formerly with the Green Bay Packers, and Alex Smith, formerly with the San Francisco 49ers.

Some news reports have suggested the Dolphins are not yet finished and that Tim Tebow, the controversial Broncos quarterback  Manning is displacing, may also be a candidate for the Miami team.

Since Dan Marino retired before the 2000 season, the Dolphins have started 16 quarterbacks. Matt Moore currently holds the starter position but the mere fact that the team is frantically trying to find additional QBs seem to indicate he is not considered a franchise quarterback. Chad Henne, who started 31 games for the Dolphins over the past three seasons, signed last Wednesday with Jacksonville as a backup, the Associated Press reported.

The Jaguars took Garrard, now 34, in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-1, 235-pound Pro Bowler did duty as Byron Leftwich’s backup and then took over as starter. His record includes 16,003 passing yards, 89 touchdowns and 54 interceptions.

 When the Jaguars released him in September, it was one season after he threw for 2,734 yards and 23 touchdowns and was tapped for the 2010 Pro Bowl. His passer rating that season was 90.8 but he also has impressed with 1,746 career rushing yards and 17 career rushing touchdowns.

He sat out all of last season after being released in order to recover following surgery in October for a bulging disc.

In reporting Garrard’s contract on the team website, the Dolphins said his most memorable accomplishment came in 2007 when he led Jacksonville to an 11-5 record and an upset win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in an AFC Wild Card playoff game. Jacksonville lost to the New England Patriots and Tom Brady.

He took the Jaguars that far with 18 touchdown passes in the regular season and tying an NFL record with just three interceptions.

Garrard played for East Carolina University, where he broke 28 school passing and offensive records, achieving more than 9,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards.

The East Orange, N.J., native was a star player at Southern High School in Durham, N.C.

Photo: AP Photo/miamidolphins.com

MISSED ON MANNING:  David Garrard will compete with Dolphins’ incumbent starter Matt Moore.