The Case for Cutting Matt Flynn

Is there another quarterback-needy NFL team that might sign Matt Flynn? Cheesehead TV finds out.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Matt Flynn by Benny Sieu—USA TODAY Sports.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Matt Flynn by Benny Sieu—USA TODAY Sports.

Earlier this week, Brian Carriveau posted this piece on why the Packers should not keep three quarterbacks this year. Agreeing with the premise that the chaos that was the Packers backup quarterback situation last year will most likely not occur again this year, either Scott Tolzien or Matt Flynn need to be cut.

Carriveau argues that Flynn should be let go instead of Tolzien. Tolzien is trending upwards, has had a better preseason and possess a stronger arm. On the flip side, the real argument to not holding on to Flynn is that the likelihood of him signing elsewhere is small.

Says Carriveau,

In the event the Packers suffer an injury and need Matt Flynn, there's a decent chance he's available at a moment's notice as a street free agent just like he was last season when the Packers signed him to a contract.

Sure, there's a possibility Flynn gets picked up by another NFL team, but there's an equally good chance he doesn't.

CheeseheadTV co-founder, Aaron Nagler agrees, tweeting this during last Friday’s preseason game.

Why do you cut Flynn instead of Tolzien because just like last year in the off chance that the Packers would need Flynn, they will most likely be able to pick up the phone and bring him in.

But how likely is that scenario? It’s easy to say that no team will pick him up, but is that reality?

 

New York Jets

Despite being rated by Sports on Earth as having one of the five worst quarterback situations in the NFL, the Jets are set on which quarterbacks they will need for this season, if not set on who out of that group will be the best for that team. The starter is Geno Smith, with talented veteran Michael Vick behind him. Additionally, they have Matt Simms who was with the Jets last season and Tajh Boyd, their 2014 sixth round pick. In the prior two seasons the Jets have kept three quarterbacks on their roster. Out of the four quarterbacks on their roster, they have the three they need this year. The Jets won’t be a potential suitor for Flynn.

 

New England 

For the past two seasons the Patriots have had two quarterbacks on their roster: Tom Brady and Ryan Mallett. Both are in their camp this year again. They also added second round draft pick Jimmy Garoppolo. Like the Jets, the Patriots aren’t looking into bringing someone outside in, they’re debating what to do with the quarterbacks they have.

 

Buffalo

Both starter E.J. Manuel and Jeff Tuel are in their second years with the team. After Thad Lewis disappointed in the preseason, the Bills added Jordan Palmer to the mix. Palmer spent part of the preseason with the Bears and was signed to Buffalo after Chicago released him. For the past two seasons the Bills have kept three quarterbacks. Flynn was with the Bills briefly in 2013 when both Lewis and Manuel were injured. Flynn saw no game action and was simply an emergency backup if Tuel should also get hurt. Flynn was released when the other quarterbacks returned from injury.  There is a chance that the Bills could view Flynn as an upgrade to Palmer.

 

Miami 

Ryan Tannehill and Matt Moore were both with the Dolphins last season. After releasing backup Brady Quinn earlier this week, only undrafted Rookie Seth Lobato remains with Moore on the roster as a potential backup QB. Lobato has so far only played in one preseason game this season. While the Dolphins could just go with Tannehill and Moore and perhaps practice squad another QB, the Dolphins have kept three quarterbacks each of the past two seasons. With Dolphins coach Joe Philbin a familiar face, there is a chance that if the Dolphins wanted to keep three quarterbacks on their roster, that Flynn could be that third.

 

Baltimore

For the past two seasons the Ravens have gone with two quarterbacks on their roster: starter Joe Flacco and backup Tyrod Taylor and will most likely do so again this season. They drafted Keith Wenning in the sixth round of the 2014 draft. There is little chance of them bringing in someone else.

 

Pittsburgh

The Steelers have both starter Ben Rothlisberger and backups Brad Gradkowski and Landry Jones returning from the three quarterbacks they had on the team in 2013. They brought in Brendon Kay as an undrafted rookie, but he is currently looking to be the odd man out in the quarterback mix. Odds are that the Steelers will stick with the same three quarterbacks they had last year, making them not an option for Flynn.

 

Cincinnati 

The Bengals are currently counting on veteran Jason Campbell to back up their newly extended starting quarterback Andy Dalton. This is Campbell’s first season with the Bengals and has played in two out of the Bengals three preseason games so far with an average completion percentage of 45.0 and 2 TDs and 2 INTs. The Bengals drafted A.J. McCarron in the fifth round of the 2014 draft and will be keeping him. There is a chance that the Bengals are unimpressed with Campbell and unsure if McCarron is ready to be the lone backup, so Flynn could be a possibility here. However, the Bengals have only kept two quarterbacks on their roster for the past two years. They would have to break tradition to keep Dalton, McCarron and a veteran backup.

 

Cleveland 

First and foremost, they don’t need more discussion about their quarterback situation. Between naming Hoyer the starter and getting Johnny Manziel reps, it is hard to imagine that they’d want to add an outside to that mess. They do also have undrafted rookie Connor Shaw and veteran Rex Grossman in camp. In 2013, the Browns had three quarterbacks on their roster, and in 2012 their final roster includes four quarterbacks. With the Browns is best not to rule anything out, but still hard to imagine this being a realistic option for Flynn.

 

Houston

Starter journeyman Ryan Fitpatrick joined the team in 2014 after stints with the Rams, Bengals, Bills, and Titans. He is backed up by 2014 fourth round draft pick Tom Savage. Neither of these two quarterbacks are going anywhere and Texans coach Bill O'Brien stated this week that the teams does not plan to cut Case Keenum either. Houston does not appear to be a possibility for Flynn.

 

Tennessee 

Ranked by Sports on Earth as having the worst quarterback situation, it is hard to imagine they wouldn’t be a team possibly interested in Flynn. The Titans are going with starter Jake Locker who is in a contract year. They have vet Charlie Whitehurst as the immediate backup with 2014 sixth round pick Zach Mettenberger and third year player Dominique Davis also in camp. Titans are hoping that eventually Mettenberger will be the guy, making both Whitehurst and Locker irrelevant to them. Even if Whitehurst looks like he’s not the guy they need, chances favor Davis taking that place as opposed to an outside Flynn.  

 

Jacksonville 

In the 2014 draft the Jaguars used the third overall pick on quarterback Blake Bortles, who will – for now – backup starter Chad Henne. Also in the quarterback mix is Ricky Stanzi who was with the team and Henne last season as well as rookie Stephen Morris.  In 2013 the Jags kept three quarterbacks, in 2012 they kept two. Seems unlikely they’d need Flynn.

 

Indianapolis

Quarterbacks, starter Andrew Luck and backup Matt Hasselbeck were the only two quarterbacks on the Colts’ 53 man roster last season, with 2012 draft pick Chandler Harnish on the practice squad. The Colts don’t need a veteran backup with Hasselbeck around. Flynn won’t find a home here.

 

Denver 

The list of their three quarterbacks starts impressively and ends with two relative unknowns: Peyton Manning, Brock Osweiler, and Zack Dysert. These are the same three quarterbacks that the Broncos had on their roster in 2013 and there seems to be no need for a change. The Broncos won’t need Flynn.

 

Kansas City

Starter Alex Smith has Chase Daniels as his backup once again this year. They have added Tyler Bray and Aaron Murray, their 2014 draft pick, to the mix. Kansas City has kept three quarterbacks each of the previous two seasons and will most likely again. The third spot debated between Bray and Murray, not an outsider named Flynn.

 

Oakland

The Oakland quarterback room is full of new faces after signing Matt Schaub from Houston in the offseason and drafting Derek Carr in 2014. 2013 undrafted rookie Matt McGloin and veteran Trent Edwards round out the group. While the starter hasn’t been nailed down, and it is unclear how many quarterbacks the Raiders will keep, they won’t be calling Flynn back in.

 

San Diego

Starter Philip Rivers and backup Brad Sorenson return from last season with Kellen Clemens in the mix. There is a chance that the Chargers will only keep Rivers and Sorenson on the roster, but if they decide to go with a third it will most likely be Clemens who has looked solid in the preseason thus far.

 

New York Giants

Eli Manning, Ryan Nassib and Curtis Painter are the Giants quarterbacks and at this point it is hard to feel confident about the group. Nassib, the Giants 2013 fourth round pick has made a jump in preseason and appears to have locked up the backup spot. There’s a chance that the team, with former Packers quarterback coach Ben McAdoo now in the role of Giants offensive coordinator, would like to add Flynn to the mix for some stability but the Manning, Nassib, Painter group is the same trio that was on the Giants team in 2013, and would require real fears to change that grouping this year.

 

Washington

Does anyone in the league have more depth at quarterback? No. Washington doesn’t need to bring in another backup quarterback.

 

Philadelphia

Nick Foles, Mark Sanchez, Matt Barkley and last year’s practice squad member G.J. Kinne are all in the Eagles camp. The Eagles might not have a knockout at starter, but adding depth to the position is not the solution they need.

 

Dallas

After their starter Tony Romo, the Cowboys have a lot of new faces in their quarterback room. Brandon Weeden along with undrafted rookie Dustin Vaughan. They have their starter, they have a backup and they have a young practice squad guy. They don’t need Flynn.

 

Minnesota

Teddy Bridgewater will someday be the man, Matt Cassel will take the starters job for now, with Christian Ponder backing up them both. As much as the Vikings seem to enjoy signing Packer cast offs, they’ll pass on this one.

 

Chicago

The Bears have Jimmy Clausen backing up Jay Cutler with their 2014 sixth round draft pick David Fales also in the mix. Clausen seems to have secured the backup role in the preseason. The Bears have kept three quarterbacks the previous two seasons, and will most likely again. If Fales isn’t ready for anything more than the practice squad it wouldn’t be completely unimaginable for the Bears to pick up a third quarterback after cuts and that the qb could be Flynn.

 

Detroit

The Lions brought back Dan Orlovsky to backup Matthew Stafford along with Kellen Moore. Orlovsky is possibly most famous for running out of the back of the end zone and Kellen Moore is playing well in the preseason. It seems unlikely that the Lions would need Flynn.

 

New Orleans

The three quarterbacks on the Saints roster in 2013: Drew Brees, Luke McCown and Ryan Griffin are all returning this year. Their backup situation is set. They do not need Flynn.

 

Atlanta

The Falcons brought in former Texans backup TJ Yates and have 2013 draft pick Sean Renfree backing up starter Matt Ryan. Last year the Falcons kept only two quarterbacks and with a solid starter and solid backup along with Renfree aren’t in the market for a veteran backup.

 

Carolina

Both Cam Newton and his backup for the previous two years, Derek Anderson are in the Panthers quarterback group. Joining them is former Viking Joe Webb. Last season the Panthers went with just Newton and Anderson. They don’t need to bring Flynn in.

 

Tampa

Tampa scored this offseason when they signed Bears backup Josh McCown who was impressive while starting in place of the injured Jay Cutler. McCown will get this year to show if he can replicate his success last season with the Bucs. Backing him up are 2013 third round pick Mike Glennon and Mike Kafka who spent last season on Jacksonville’s practice squad. Last season the Bucs had the drama of Josh Freeman and will most likely want a smoother year this season. For the past two seasons they have kept two quarterbacks on their roster. They don’t need to add Flynn to their mix.

 

Seattle

Besides having Russell Wilson and two serviceable backups in Tarvaris Jackson and Terrelle Pryor along with 2013 draft pick B.J. Daniels, there is simply no way that the Seahawks bring Flynn back in. They don’t need him and they probably don’t need a reminder of all the money they paid him.

 

Arizona

Carson Palmer is the starter, but has looked shaky this preseason. He’s backed up by Drew Stanton and Logan Thomas, Stanton having been on the team in 2013 and Thomas the Cardinals 2014 fourth round pick. The Cardinals might have a quarterback problem on their hands down the road this season, but for now, expect them to stay with what they know.

 

San Francisco

The Niners traded for quarterback Blaine Gabbert to be Colin Kaepernick’s back up. They also brought in Josh Johnson. Seeing as they traded for Gabbert, it seems unlikely that they would part ways with him, and he is having a decent preseason. Last season, San Francisco went with just Kaepernick and Colt McCoy on their roster, so there is a chance they feel confident enough with Kaepernick and Gabbert this year. 

 

St. Louis

Losing starting quarterback Sam Bradford for the year, the Rams are probably in the most precarious quarterback situation. The starting job wiill fall to veteran NFL journeyman, Shaun Hill, with Austin Davis (signed off the Dolphins practice squad last season) and the Rams 2014 sixth round draft pick, Garrett Gilbert moving up in the depth chart. Rams coach Jeff Fisher states that his team is not looking to add a quarterback and for now, that is the right move. Wait a couple games to see how Hill does, then if you need to, make a move. Flynn might be a fit here, but not yet. 

 

Out of the other 31 teams, only a handful of them actually have a small chance of being interested in signing Flynn. By all accounts Matt Flynn is a great teammate and presence in the locker room, good friends with Aaron Rodgers and after "saving" last season, endeared himself to many Packer fans. But just like most of the rest of the league, the Packers don't need Flynn. At least not right now.

All of these predictions were made before the final preseason game. Injuries and regular season performances will change things. But for now, play the hand you're dealt. It's harsh, but cut Flynn. Use the roster spot elsewhere on the team, and feel confident that Flynn will be around on the off chance that the Packers should need him. 

 

Jayme Snowden is a writer and moderator at CheeseheadTV and co-host of CheeseheadRadio, part of the Packers Talk Radio Network at PackersTalk.com. You can contact her via Twitter at @jaymelee1 or via email at [email protected]

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Comments (20)

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Idiot Fan's picture

August 28, 2014 at 02:56 pm

Very thorough Jayme, thanks. I could see the Rams picking him up, plus more teams are bound to lose their starting QB to injury and may want a veteran to at least be around if not start. But I still think it's the right call. The potential of the player that will likely get QB3's roster spot is probably of more value to the Packers than QB3. And I think the fact that Flynn has flamed out in more than one other offense makes it much less likely that he'll get picked up than Tolzien, in my opinion. I feel bad, I like both of these guys, but I just don't think there's room for them both.

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Archie's picture

August 28, 2014 at 03:26 pm

Minimum players by position:

QB - 2
WR - 4
TE - 3
RB - 3
FB - 1
OL - 7
DL - 6
OLB - 4
DE/OLB - 2
ILB - 4
CB - 5
S - 4
ST - 3
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49

That means 4 optional spots by position. The candidates are:

QB3
RB4
WR5
WR6
OL8
OL9
DL7
DL8
ILB5
OLB5
CB6
S5

That's 12 possibilities for the final 4.

Easy throw-aways:

OL9
RB4

Most likely keepers:
OL8 - Taylor?
WR5 - Janis?
CB6 - Rolle/Bush/White?

If that is correct, then they keep only 1 of following:

QB3 - Flynn?
WR6 - Gilette/White?
DL7 - L. Robinson?
DL8 - C Gray?
ILB5 - Palmer/Bradford?
OLB5 - Hubbard?
S5 - C Banjo?

Flynn is no help on ST. All the rest arguably would be. Banjo probably has most current value. Tough to say who has most future value. My guess is DL7 or DL8 could be most valuable in the future. I wouldn't be stunned if TT kept 3 QBs but whomever he keeps as the 53 rd player, he will be letting the other 8 guys go. So we have at least 9 guys fighting for the last roster spot. That's tough competition.

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JimTaylor31's picture

August 28, 2014 at 03:49 pm

I would say given that we are a SB contending team we should keep the backup QB that gives us the best chance to win a game today. Forget about next year or after that and possible upside. I mean we're not talking about the next Johnny U. with either Tolzien or Flynn and Arod has a few more years left so we should try to win NOW!! Just my 2 cents.

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Archie's picture

August 28, 2014 at 03:51 pm

Good point GF i.e., claiming another team's cut.

How does TT justify cutting Robinson/Gray and keeping Thornton? Robinson/Gray have outplayed Thornton to this point and both would seem to have lots of upside. Very difficult spot for TT. Would he cut all three of his draft picks from the defensive side this year - Thornton, Bradford and Goodson? I doubt he's ready for that crow pie. Bad enough he was forced to give up on Worthy. So I guess he keeps Thornton and rolls the dice on the other two making it to the PS. Solid DL are not easy to find so it would not be surprising to see them claimed.

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gbslapshot's picture

August 28, 2014 at 05:00 pm

I honestly do not see any way anybody but the packers would sign Flynn. He can't throw beyond 15 yards. He only excels in Green Bay's offense because of experience and weapons.

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Jayme Snowden's picture

August 28, 2014 at 05:12 pm

I agree. Flynn has done well here and only here. I feel very confident that if the Packers cut him next week and need him in week 10, Flynn will be living in an apartment across the street from Lambeau and able to join the team within ten minutes of the call. Had the idea last night to try to prove that the odds of anyone else needing or wanting him were slim and thus followed countless hours of researching backup quarterback situations

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lebowski's picture

August 28, 2014 at 06:18 pm

What I gleaned from your thorough research; there are a lot of shitty quarterbacks in the league. We are so lucky.

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Jayme Snowden's picture

August 29, 2014 at 09:03 am

after the debacle of having vince young in camp last season, this is a problem (who to cut, do we have space for both) that I will gladly take

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Aeric's picture

August 28, 2014 at 10:48 pm

I am awed that Jayme was able to make a comment that had something to do with the Packers or football. Thanks Jayme!

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gbslapshot's picture

August 28, 2014 at 09:50 pm

Off course Flynn has to prove me wrong with a dart to Davante....

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MarkinMadison's picture

August 28, 2014 at 10:17 pm

Still has a hard time with down-field throws. Missed on all the long (and less than long) sideline throws tonight. At least until I fell asleep. No idea what happened then.

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TKWorldWide's picture

August 28, 2014 at 10:22 pm

While you were asleep, elves snuck into your residence and replaced every single item you own with an exact replica. Check and see.

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real some guy's picture

August 29, 2014 at 12:06 am

Sorry but I just don't see Flynn "being around" in the middle of the season. You could easily make the argument that he's a top 10 backup QB and 2 teams within our own division would immediately upgrade their roster by taking him. He's MUCH more proven than Clausen (whose only been with the Bears briefly) and is easily the 2nd best option in Miami. Philbin would take him.

I'd easily say a dozen teams would better themselves by taking him. Chi, Det, Rams, San Fran, Atlanta and Tennessee alone are obvious upgrades. Bills, Broncos, Chiefs and Chargers seem like they would be as well.

I don't think we can go wrong with either guy but cutting Flynn because you think he'll just be around later isn't sound logic. His elbow isn't a problem like it was last year and he showed what he could do down the stretch in a tough situation with a depleted receiving core.

Also, Blaine Gabbert is having a decent preseason?

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sonomaca's picture

August 29, 2014 at 12:40 pm

I can't believe this discussion. If the Vikings, Lions or Bears bring pick up Flynn, they also acquire the Pack's whole playbook. There is no way McCarthy is going to let that happen. The only other option is to trade Flynn outside the division.

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zeke's picture

August 29, 2014 at 12:44 pm

Same would have been true for Chase Rettig.

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sonomaca's picture

August 29, 2014 at 12:48 pm

Not really. Flynn has multiple years of experience in the Packers offense. He's like a mini offensive coordinator. Remember when the Pack refused to trade Farve within the division? That was certainly one of the reasons.

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zeke's picture

August 29, 2014 at 12:55 pm

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. The Favre situation was much more about the optics, IMO.

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sonomaca's picture

August 29, 2014 at 12:59 pm

True. I think that if Flynn survives cuts, it's partly because they're worried his knowledge of the offense could fall into the wrong hands.

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zeke's picture

August 29, 2014 at 01:25 pm

Same should be true of Tolzien then, unless you think that Flynn has had access to more of the playbook than Tolzien.

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sonomaca's picture

August 29, 2014 at 01:51 pm

The only way they'd part with Tolzien is via trade. I think they'll keep three QB's if they can't trade Flynn for a 6th rounder and Tolzien for a 4th.

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