Cleveland Browns Coach Pat Shurmur: “We’re Open to Anything”
February 24, 2012NBA Draft: NBA GM’s Souring on 2012 Draft Class
February 24, 2012“It’s hardly a no-brainer that free agent Matt Flynn is destined for Miami based on the Joe Philbin factor.
True, Philbin was the offensive coordinator in Green Bay under whom Flynn looked like Bart Starr, Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers rolled into one in Green Bay’s 2011 season finale. True, Philbin is head coach in Miami now, and the Dolphins would be wise to dive off the Chad Henne treadmill. True, some team likely will throw a small fortune at Flynn and promise him a starting job.
On the other hand, Philbin’s coordinator in Green Bay will be ex-Packers head coach Mike Sherman. And we’ll guess he’ll have a big say in who the Dolphins chase at QB.
Sherman was the head coach at Texas A&M during the ascent of Ryan Tannehill, widely regarded as the third-best quarterback in the 2012 draft.
Here’s Sherman talking to the Sun-Sentinel about Tannehill:
“Like all good quarterbacks he had great poise. Very confident in any system, west coast or not. Any quarterback has to be confident in his own skin and believe in himself. They always say a great quarterback makes those around him better. I thought Favre did that. I think Aaron Rodgers does that. I think Tannehill does that as well.”
-From the Canton Repository’s Steve Doerschuk. Of course, it’s not like anyone hoisted a huge Matt Flynn banner in Miami anyway.
[Related: For the Browns, Please Let it Be Matt Flynn]
17 Comments
if the Flynn thing goes to a trade rather than FA, then things get real interesting.
you have:
1. Miami w/ HC Philbin and several other ex-GB coaches
2. Seattle w/ GM Schneider (ex-GB asst. GM)
3. Cleveland w/ Holmgren and ties back to GB still
interesting article from AZ about how NFL contracts are even less guaranteed than we thought. this one on how Kolb actually only had his first season in AZ guaranteed (which is no risk to AZ because it’s not like they would trade for him then cut him before he played)
http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/KentSomers/155056
I don’t think I’d want to give GB more than 1 2nd round pick for Flynn though. too many unknowns and question marks and we’d have to pay him.
But is it a home run?
But is it a home run?
Why would the Browns give Green Bay anything at all for him? He’s unrestricted, and if Green Bay foolishly franchise tags him, the Browns can just back out and let them pay their backup QB $15 million.
except that there are other teams who may also want to acquire his services. and, I doubt GB franchises him without assurances from at least 2 teams that they will give them something in return.
I hope that GB does not franchise him, just like I hope that the Rams/Vikings do not trade their picks (if we do not get Flynn). But, just because I hope does not mean it can’t happen (especially now that they signed Finley).
still, I’d say odds are less than 50% they do franchise him as they’d have to clear the $15mil in cap space first.
due to current rules that is under review.
A blog on azcentral.com. Wow. Just wow.
You’re a machine, mgbode. It’s scary.
“I doubt GB franchises him without assurances from at least 2 teams that they will give them something in return.”
According to the CBA, this is illegal. If they are caught doing this, it will cost them draft picks and a hefty fine.
If they have to cut guys to clear the cap room, they would almost assuredly be upgrades to what the Browns have on their team. Sign them instead.
I’m just completely against the Browns being held hostage for someone’s backup quarterback who was drafted in the 7th round, and who also has played in exactly 2 career games on a Super Bowl contending team.
If there was ever a logical opinion against giving someone a truck load of money, this would be it.
As a giant Dolphins fan, I can say that the buzz has been Flynn as just one of many options. They will explore Manning, they’ll think about Tannehill.
But if the Phins DON’T go after Flynn, with the knowledge Philbin has, what does that say about his abilities?
haha. thanks, but it was just linked to in a RGIII article I read (the grantland piece). though I lived in AZ for a few years, so I have a special place in my heart for those blogs 🙂
just like when NE did it with Cassel. It’s not allowed, but it’s been allowed. the NFL is weird like that.
unless they get Peyton
Fair enough. He’s also a great example for why the Browns wouldn’t want to do that. 11-5 against a weak schedule on a good team. He gets signed to big money on a less than contending team, and he’s mediocre. He won’t take a team to a Super Bowl, but he’s getting paid like he will.
he is not getting paid like he will though. sadly, $10mil/season is the current market for average QBs in today’s NFL. the elite’s make $15-$20mil.
i agree there is risk with Flynn. but there is also risk with RGIII. it all depends on how much each will cost us (cap $ + draft pick allocation)