Examining the market for Green Bay’s Matt Flynn
Jan 23, 2012, 5:49 PM | Updated: 5:55 pm
By Brady Henderson
Using the franchise tag on Matt Flynn would then allow the Packers to get something in return for their backup quarterback in a trade as opposed to letting him walk in free agency.
It would also require them to sign Flynn to a deal that would, in theory, annually pay him considerably more than starter Aaron Rodgers, who is coming off what could be an MVP season.
Andrew Brandt, an NFL business analyst for ESPN who worked in the Packers’ front office from 1999-2008, thinks that will preclude the Packers from franchising Flynn.
“I just don’t think there’s a tenable way for the Green Bay Packers to maintain his rights,” Brandt told “Bob and Groz” on Monday. “The only way they can do that is two ways: One, sign him to an extension, which he’d be silly to accept an extension before seeing what the market is. Or two, franchise tag him, which could cost them $14.5 million dollars — $6.5 million more than they’re paying Aaron Rodgers. I just don’t see it.”
Brandt thinks the contracts recently given to Kevin Kolb and Ryan Fitzpatrick could make teams reluctant to put their faith in quarterbacks with limited success as a starter.
Flynn, 26, has shined in two career starts, including one in Week 17 of this season when he set franchise records with 480 yards passing and six touchdowns. But with the exception of those two games, he’s been a backup in his four NFL seasons.
Considering Flynn’s lack of significant starting experience, Brandt thinks whatever deal he signs will include around $20 million in guarantees, a number that is similar to what Fitzpatrick and Kolb received.
“We’ll see what the market is and how much they pay, but it’s not like there’s a proven model there that he’s definitely going to be a successful quarterback,” Brandt said. “We’re always going to be worried about the small sample.”
Bob and Groz share their thoughts on the market for Flynn in the video below.
You can download Monday’s podcast here.
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