Matt Flynn to be Raiders starter as offseason work begins

Quarterback Matt Flynn has already been guaranteed something with the Oakland Raiders that he never received while with the Seattle Seahawks last year.
The right to be named the team’s starting quarterback.
Even though Flynn likely thought he’d win the starting job last year with the Seahawks after signing a three-year deal with the team last offseason, head coach Pete Carroll never said that would be the case.
Carroll said Flynn would have to compete with Tarvaris Jackson, and later on rookie Russell Wilson, for the starting job and that he wasn’t going to be handed the job. When the offseason work and training camp began, it was Jackson that was taking the first-team snaps in practice with the team. Flynn would earn the starts for Seattle in their first two preseason games before Wilson supplanted Flynn as the starter for the regular season.
But Flynn already has a leg up in Oakland. According to Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle, Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie has named Flynn the starting quarterback as offseason workouts are set to begin. McKenzie said Flynn would have to compete with Terrelle Pryor and any quarterback the Raiders may select in the draft this week but it’s more that he was given in Seattle.
McKenzie was with Flynn in Green Bay for the only two starts he’s made in his NFL career and feels he can be a solid quarterback in the league.
“Two things that I feel are important and that’s presence, as far as leadership and knowing how to move a team down the field, and knowing how to do it,” McKenzie said.
“He has all the intangibles and I think he can play the position. He can throw the ball. I think he’s going to be a solid quarterback. Now how good can he be? We’ll figure that out, but I think he’s got a chance to be a good, solid quarterback.”

Source: PFT.com
Author: Curtis Crabtree
AP Photo

Flynn trade is expected to be finalized soon

Matt Flynn remains the property of the Seahawks, multiple days after reports emerged that he’ll be traded to the Raiders.
But the widespread belief for now is that the trade will indeed get done, and that it will happen soon.
The two teams have haggled over draft-pick compensation, with former Green Bay colleagues Reggie McKenzie and John Schneider, now the General Managers of the Raiders and Seahawks, respectively, twisting each other’s arms to get the best possible deal.
If/when (when) Flynn becomes a Raider, the question becomes whether the Raiders will remain interested in West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith (if they ever were in the first place).  With Flynn not getting huge money and with the Raiders still lukewarm on Terrelle Pryor, the Raiders could take Smith with the third overall pick.
The other practical consequence of Flynn’s arrival in Oakland will be the departure of Carson Palmer, either by trade (with a greatly reduced contract) or by release.  He reportedly is interested in playing for the Cardinals or 49ers.  (We still think the Seahawks make the most sense, if he truly prefers being a backup on a contender to being the starter for another struggling team.)  If Palmer lands in Arizona, that’s another top-10 team that could pass on Smith.
Now that the Bills have Kevin Kolb and Tarvaris Jackson, they could be out of the running for a rookie quarterback in the top 10.
That’s three teams reportedly interested in Geno Smith and/or Matt Barkley who could be passing on passers at the top of round one, which could fuel a slide for all quarterbacks out of the top 10 and, barring a trade, straight through the teens.
Unless, of course, Shaun King of NBCSN’s Pro Football Talk is accurate in his strong belief that the Jaguars will take Smith with the second selection in the draft.

Source: PFT.com
Author: Mike Florio
AP Photo

Raiders appear close to adding Matt Flynn, cutting Carson Palmer

The “imminent” trade involving Seahawks quarterback Matt Flynn appears to be with the Raiders, who would cut Carson Palmer once a deal gets done.
The Seahawks are deep in talks with Raiders on a Flynn trade, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The last holdup appears to be that the Raiders want to take one more shot at trying to convince Carson Palmer to take a pay cut and stick around on a revised contract.
But Palmer is reportedly dead set against taking less from the Raiders, so it will apparently be Flynn who’s leading the Silver and Black in 2013.
In fact, the Flynn deal is close enough to done that some of Flynn’s teammates in Seattle are already saying goodbye. Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin wrote on Twitter, “Wishing Flynn best in Oakland. Excited for his opportunity. Great QB, even better man.”
Assuming the deal gets completed, Palmer will become an unrestricted free agent, and the speculation will immediately begin that Arizona could be his next home.

Source: PFT.com
Author: Michael David Smith
AP Photo