It’s been that kind of career for Matt Flynn. When he signed a $20 million dollar contact with Seattle in 2011, he was supposed to be the next big thing, but Russell Wilson happened and Flynn bounced around the league.
Now he comes to Florham Park.
“Yeah, sometimes I have to look at the map app on my phone and figure it out,” Flynn said. “But no, I’m happy to be here, happy for the opportunity. Trying to get acclimated. It’s kind of been a whirlwind the last couple of days.”
Flynn comes to the Jets after being cut from the Patriots back on August 10. He is here to be the veteran backup for Ryan Fitzpatrick as the Jets wait for Geno Smith to recover from a broken jaw.
“He’s a veteran,” said Jets coach Todd Bowles. “He’s been around a few places. He kind of knows the system a little bit. He was the only one availability too. He had a lot of experience in the system. Not being the only one available that we wanted to sign, but he had the most experience. We needed a veteran quarterback right away and he fit what he wanted to do.”
Flynn won’t play anytime soon. He has a hamstring injury, which is part of the reason New England cut him. But the Jets want him here to learn the system. He won’t play Friday, but will be studying up.
“We wanted to get him in here so he can have a week and kind of learn and pick everything up so when he got healthy, he could just go out and try and play,” Bowles said.”
Added Flynn: “Right now, my focus has to be learning stuff, learning the play book, learning what the heck is going on out there. Because watching practice today it was different. Didn’t know a lot about what was going on. My main goal is to dig into the playbook and get comfortable and be able to call and execute plays.”
Flynn played for Green Bay, Seattle, Oakland, Buffalo, and New England before signing on with the Jets. Bowles did say they will still look around for another veteran, in case Flynn doesn’t work out.
But right now. It’s the Ryan and Matt show.