Thursday, January 24, 2013
The decision on Matt Flynn
By Tim Kavanagh
Following the end of the Seattle Seahawks' season, GM John Schneider created a bit of a stir ruffled some feathers by hinting that the club would be open to trading backup QB Matt Flynn if the right offer came along. "I'd be lying to you if I told you that we wouldn't be listening to people," Schneider told 710 ESPN Seattle. So what's the latest?
There are two sides to this trade: one, the Seahawks have to decide whether they're better off keeping him around (at a $5.25 million base salary, which isn't as bad considering they've got starter Russell Wilson for $526,000) or shipping him off. Though Wilson was pretty durable in 2012, his playing style could yield significant injury in the future, and having a highly capable backup could be the difference between a return to the postseason and a Top 10 draft pick.
The second part of the puzzle is finding a team that's willing to give up a trade package worth it for Seattle. In 2011, Kevin Kolb was traded to Arizona for a starting-caliber CB (Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie) and a 2012 second-round pick. However, Arizona's gamble there is now seen as a cautionary tale for teams looking to bolster their QB position via trade.
Of course, with a handful of teams starving for help at that position this offseason -- Arizona, Kansas City and the Jets to name a few -- the market could yield some enticing offers. Stay tuned.
