Just Flynn Baby

Check out our 2013 Oakland Raiders E-Book When I look back at the Raiders starting QB’s over the past decade, I can’t help but notice that there hasn’t been a whole lot of security. The post Rich Gannon era has seen over ten starting QB’s for the Raiders, and none of them have left their mark as a leader for the offense. There have been a few hopefuls like Andrew Walters, Daunte Culpepper, and “Big Bust” Jamarcus Russell. We can now add Carson Palmer to that group of underachieving signal callers. I can’t lie, when Hue Jackson gave up the majority of our high draft picks and our first born to acquire a retired Carson Palmer from Cincinnati, I was more thrilled than skeptical. We had finally picked ourselves a proven quarterback that could lead our team in the right direction. Barely two seasons later, he is now wearing a different jersey and we are starting fresh, once again. This past offseason the Raiders were able to trade for Matt Flynn. Luckily we only had to give up a fourth round pick this year and an undisclosed pick next year. Flynn has been part of some unfortunate situations throughout his brief career. He spent four seasons behind Aaron Rodgers after he was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 7th round out of LSU in the 2008 draft. He was finally able to get his chance to start when Rodgers was declared inactive in a game against the New England Patriots. Flynn threw for over 250 yards and 3 touchdowns before suffering a nail-biting loss. His second start came two years later when he played against Detroit. Flynn threw for an astonishing 480 yards and 6 touchdowns, setting two Packer records for the win. The following offseason, Flynn was regarded as one of the top free agents on the market. He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks for $19.5 million with $10 million guaranteed over 3 years. Flynn was signed to compete with Tavarius Jackson and rookie Russell Wilson for the starting role. Wilson beat both men out and once again, Flynn found himself on the sidelines. Seattle saw Flynn as a valuable expenditure, allowing him to depart to Oakland along with his rather large contract in exchange for draft picks. Matt Flynn has not had many opportunities to prove himself to be a starter in the NFL. He has had glimpses of success and will have the opportunity to establish himself as the long term starter in Oakland… Just as long as another rookie with the last name of Wilson doesn’t beat him out during the season.