Denver Broncos: Possible Insurance Plans for Peyton Manning
Nov 9, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback
Matt Flynn
(10) gets a pass off against Chicago Bears linebacker
Shea McClellin(50) in the third quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
The former Packers, Bills, Raiders, and Seahawks quarterback has certainly had some success in the past, but his career has fizzled out over the last few years. He burst on to the scene in the final game of the 2011 season when he threw for 480 yards and six touchdowns, both Green Bay team records (the latter also owned by Rodgers).
After this big game, Flynn received a lot of buzz in free agency, signing a three-year contract with the Seattle Seahawks worth over $20 million. Had Seattle not found a gem in third-round pick Russell Wilson, Flynn could easily have won the starting job. Flynn did not start a game for the Seahawks before being traded to the Raiders and then bouncing around the league in a veteran backup role. When the 2015 season started, Flynn found himself without an NFL contract.
Flynn doesn’t have a lot of experience as a starter, only starting one season in college and seven total games in his NFL career. He has shown productivity when he’s been on the field though, as shown by his massive performance when he played for Green Bay. He’s only 3-4 as a starter, but his career completion percentage, touchdown to interception ratio, passer rating, and yards per attempt are all higher than Peyton Manning’s 2015 numbers
Flynn has experience as the backup for a top-tier quarterback, and even if he was not brought in to immediately replace Manning, he could still be a valuable asset to the team. He doesn’t have elite arm strength, so he may not be able to open up his team’s offense much more than Manning can, but his mobility could be a nice change from Manning’s inability to effectively move around as he’s aged.
Many seem to think that Flynn was a bit of a one-hit wonder, and his one huge performance in Green Bay was a fluke, but he hasn’t really had enough of an opportunity playing with a talented team to show us one way or the other. With an elite Broncos defense at his back and a set of talented receivers, Flynn could finally excel.
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