Is Matt Flynn a Perfect Fit For the Browns?
In Week 15 of the 2010 season, the NFL got its first real dose of Matt Flynn. The Green Bay Packers’ backup quarterback was filling in against the New England Patriots for starter Aaron Rodgers, who was out with a concussion.
In that Sunday night game at Gillette Stadium, Flynn led the Packers to the brink of victory. On the final drive of the game, Flynn got the offense inside the red zone, but was scrambling with the play calling at the end because they were out of timeouts. He was sacked on the game’s final play and they lost 31-27, but Flynn nonetheless looked impressive, going 24 of 37 for 251 yards passing, with three touchdowns to one interception. His performance caught the eyes of many, and the questions were asked if he’d be the next Matt Cassel and get a starting job for another team.
Fast forward a little over a year to Week 17 of the 2011 season. The Packers, already with home field advantage clinched, sat Rodgers (and several other starters) and started Flynn against the Detroit Lions. The Lions were playing their starters and wanted to win this game because it would have clinched the No. 5 seed for them. In this game, not only did Flynn show he was capable of possibly getting a starting job for another team, he all but signed a contract somewhere.
Flynn went 31 of 44 for 480 yards passing, with six touchdowns to one interception, in a 45-41 shootout victory for the Packers. His 480 passing yards and six touchdowns became new Packers’ franchise records. Flynn showed that he could make all the throws and put up these kinds of numbers at Lambeau Field in cold and windy conditions.
Now, with a little over a month until free agency begins, there are a lot of teams in need of a quarterback that should be targeting Flynn. And one of those teams should be the Cleveland Browns, where Flynn would be a perfect piece to the puzzle at quarterback for the Browns offense. He has sat behind Aaron Rodgers for four seasons now, learning from him and head coach Mike McCarthy, who runs a West Coast offense. Flynn has proved he can run this style of offense.
Currently, the Browns run a West Coast offense under head coach Pat Shurmur, where Colt McCoy is the starting quarterback. McCoy has only played for two seasons, but talks are already out there that McCoy is not a suitable quarterback of the future for the team, and that he has troubles learning and running the West Coast offense. It should also be noted that McCoy received criticism of his potential abilities in the NFL prior to his selection in the 2010 NFL Draft, and he’s also suffered two significant injuries–one to his throwing shoulder during his last game at the University of Texas and a concussion this past season that kept him out a few weeks.
With Shurmur and the new addition of Brad Childress at offensive coordinator, Flynn could prosper as the quarterback of the Browns, especially since he has the skill-set to run the West Coast offense. But the Browns will have to acquire some more offensive talent around him, mainly another receiver, since Josh Cribbs is still more of a return threat than anything, and Greg Little will have a year under his belt and will continue to improve. The offensive line and running backs are good, but not great, and the other receivers are too inconsistent. There are plenty off receivers available in free agency, and the Browns do hold two first-round picks in the draft at No. 4 and No. 22.
The Cleveland Browns and Matt Flynn should be in contract talks once free agency starts. Even though the Browns have a few other pieces to fix in their offense, Flynn would be the perfect place for them to begin with. For the Browns, it should be this simple: get Flynn and the other pieces will fall. Flynn’s shown that he can be a good quarterback during his time as a backup. Now it’s his time for him to be a starter.
Kevin Roberts 
Keet Bailey 
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Digg that!!!!!!!
Stick to weekend soldier because you don't know anything about football.
So you think the Browns should take a HELOC out on Cleveland Browns Stadium, give their 1st and 3rd round picks to GB and a possible starter or two to get a QB that has played (all be it extremely) well in two games? That idea sounds AWESOME! (If your a life long GB fan). Kick rocks dude… I think we will just ride our young and unproven pony until a better option presents itself. What a homer article this is, but I guess the psych degree is helping the GB propaganda machine… kinda smart come to think of it. Any chance you could be talked into being a "lifetime Browns fan"?
Browns wouldn't have to give anything to GB if Flynn remains a free agent.
The only case that would require a trade for Flynn would be if Green Bay franchised him, or signed him to a deal. Neither are likely to be the case. Nice usage of HELOC, though. I enjoyed that, haha.
I assumed that GB will put a franchise tag on Flynn, because it makes the most business sence, as aposed to letting him walk. I've read quite a few reports that stated the same. I mean, why would you not use the tag? I don't know of any other UFAs on the Packers that they feel they can't resign or that they deam a higher risk of leaving for a better offer and a backup QB of Flynn's stature sure seems to be a great use of the franchise tag if its my business… just sayin. Thanks NFLSoupkeet… I was wondering if anyone would pick up on my humor.
The issue with the franchise tag is that it would cost Green Bay 14M to do it. They have about 7-8M available for free agent signings as it is. So what happens if they franchise him and can't get a suitor? They're stuck paying their backup QB more money than their All-Pro, Super Bowl winning QB in Aaron Rodgers. They not only have to find a suitor willing to pay what they want, but a suitor that's willing to start a contract where 14M is the starting salary for an unproven QB. It seems like it should be a no-brainer to FT him, but in all honesty, they're just protecting themselves from financial suicide.
I agree they "should", but I doubt they will. They could probably get some nice picks in return for him in a trade if they franchised him, but if they do that, they're almost certainly letting Jermichael Finley walk and I don't think they want to risk that.