Florio: Tarvaris Jackson is on the trading block

By Michael Simeona

After starting all but one game for the Seahawks in 2011, it looks like Pete Carroll has seen enough of quarterback Tarvaris Jackson.

According to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com, the Seahawks are trying to trade Jackson sometime before the start of the regular season. Florio says a source told him the Seahawks are ‘talking to a couple of teams’ about trading Jackson, and that a deal could happen soon.

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com reports the Seahawks have put Tarvaris Jackson on the trading block. (AP)

“I’ve been told they’re talking to a couple of teams – I don’t know who the teams are – but that the Seahawks maybe want to get a little bit more than what the teams currently want to give,” Florio told the “Brock and Salk Show” on Wednesday. “The plan now appears to be, wait for someone to get injured somewhere else and then they come calling for Tarvaris Jackson.”

Jackson signed a two-year, $8 million contract before the start of training camp last season and is guaranteed $4 million if he makes the Week 1 roster. Florio says the Seahawks could release Jackson if they are unable make a deal before the start of the regular season.

“If they can’t find an acceptable trade and both [Matt Flynn and Russell Wilson] are healthy going into Week 1, it wouldn’t shock me if they would dump Tarvaris Jackson and save that $4 million that they’d owe him,” Florio explained.

The Seahawks’ other two quarterbacks – Flynn and Wilson – played well enough in training camp and preseason to make Jackson expendable. But, as Florio notes, it could come at the expense of team chemistry considering Jackson is close to many of his Seahawks’ teammates.

“[Jackson’s] got a lot of friends and supporters in the locker room so Pete Carroll’s walking a very delicate balance here. He’s got to let the rest of the players come to the conclusion that they’re better off with Matt Flynn,” Florio explained.

While Carroll said Tuesday that Jackson is still part of the Seahawks’ quarterback competition, he alluded to the fact that Flynn getting the start this Saturday is ‘where things stand’ in regards to the competition. Jackson isn’t expected to play in Saturday’s game after not playing against Tennessee last weekend.

“The fact [Jackson] didn’t play in the preseason opener is a pretty good sign that they’re more concerned about not owing him $4 million if he gets injured, than they are showcasing him in the hopes that somebody will offer something more than what they might be otherwise willing to give,” said Florio.

Safe to say, Jackson is stuck between a rock and a hard place in regards to the Seahawks’ competition.