Fins Hoping Flynn Can Save Franchise
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Now that Peyton Manning is out of the picture; Matt Flynn seems to be the target of the Miami Dolphins' quarterback desires. But even the chase of a former seventh-round draft pick seems to be blowing up in Miami's face.
According to the NFL Yahoo! Sports' Jason Cole, the Dolphins are trying to lowball Flynn on a contract offer before he gets to Miami. Flynn currently is talking with the Seattle Seahawks about signing to play with that team.
The Dolphins thinking is apparently that Flynn desperately wants to play for new Fins head coach Joe Philbin and will take whatever the Fins offer him just to play for Philbin, according to Cole.
But the question many Dolphins fans may be asking themselves is, who is Matt Flynn?
Flynn played his college ball at Louisiana State University and led the Tigers to the 2007 BCS National Championship Game where he was named offensive MVP as the Tigers thumped Ohio State 38-24 behind 4 touchdown passes from Flynn.
In college, Flynn threw for 3,096 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. However, he only was the Tigers' starter in the final year of his career, 2007. That season, he threw for 2,407 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
Flynn was selected in the seventh-round by the Green Bay Packers and had to earn his roster spot by competing against the more highly regarded Brian Brohm. Flynn quickly established himself as the number two quarterback behind incumbent starter Aaron Rodgers.
Flynn got his first chance to start in Green Bay in 2010 when Rodgers was injured. Flynn's assignment was to try and beat future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Green Bay lost the game, but it wasn't because of Flynn.
Against the Patriots, Flynn finished the game 24-37 for 251 yards, three touchdowns, and just one interception. It was a taste of things to come for Flynn and the Packers.
As the Packers closed in on a 15-1 record last season, the team needed to win one more game to gain a home game in the playoffs. Green Bay, not wanting to risk injury to Aaron Rodgers or other key players, started Flynn against the Detroit Lions.
In a game that set Green Bay Packers passing records, Flynn outdueled former number one overall pick Matthew Stafford of the Lions in a big way. Flynn ended the game completing 70 percent of his passes (31-44) for 480 yards, six touchdowns, and just one interception. He was also only sacked three times.
All of that, combined with Flynn's quick release he's learned from Rodgers, has made him the most desired free agent quarterback not named Peyton Manning. Plus, even with the Dolphins supposedly low-balling Flynn, ESPN's Adam Schefter said the Dolphins are the favorites to sign Flynn.
At the same time, SI.com's Peter King reported the Dolphins are playing with fire at the quarterback position as they could lose out on Manning, Flynn, and possibly draft pick Ryan Tannehill who has been rocketing up draft boards across the NFL.
Needless to say, if the Fins swing and miss on both Manning and Flynn, the only thing that can save the franchise from complete apathy will be to either acquire Tim Tebow or take their chances in the NFL Draft either this year or next.
