Fantasy and reality

It seems that the afterglow from Green Bay free agent quarterback Matt Flynn’s team record-setting performance against Detroit has faded somewhat, if one listens to the “experts” and “insiders.” Teams in need of a quarterback, like Washington, Cleveland, Miami and Seattle (although you wouldn’t know it to hear Pete Carroll talk) would seem to be naturals in the Flynn sweepstakes. But at least two of these teams—Washington and Miami—are said to be caught-up in the fantasy that a Peyton Manning who will be completely healed is going to be released by Indianapolis, and they want to be those kids waving their hands in front of the class. Why Manning would want to go to a dysfunctional organization like the Redskins (or a dysfunctional team, like the Jets) is a point of debate, but the question remains whether Manning will recover enough to ever throw another pass in a live game. Manning may decide he doesn’t want to play for another team, especially if it doesn’t cater to his “routine”; he has stated that if he had a choice, he would prefer to play for the same team his entire career. And truth to tell, he really doesn’t have much to complain about if he doesn’t get that $28 million payment due in March, since he was paid his roster bonus and full salary in 2011 despite never setting foot on the playing field—not to mention his likely enormous medical bills.

On the other hand, Manning is reportedly upset by all the changes in Indianapolis, not just in management but the team facilities, which he claims is not conducive to his rehabilitation process. Manning’s situation seems not unlike that of Sterling Sharpe, who after a serious neck injury was cut by the Packers, apparently for fear that allowing him to play with the possibility of re-injury to his vertebrae—with the full knowledge of its potential to leave him paralyzed—would leave the team exposed to costly civil damages. Sharpe had bitter feelings toward the team for years afterward. If Manning should decide he can still play but not as a Colt, the “frontrunner” appears to be Miami. There has been talk that the hiring of Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin as the Dolphin’s new head coach signaled that the team sees Flynn as part of a “package deal,” but the Miami Herald reported that there is as yet little or no apparent interest in acquiring Flynn. A “team source” claims that Manning is the “priority,” and even if the Dolphins fail to acquire him, the hiring of Mike Sherman as offensive coordinator may be a signal that the team is interested in Ryan Tannehill, who was coached by Sherman at Texas A&M.

Of the other teams said to be “interested” in Flynn, most of this interest has been generated by fans and local sports radio. For example, while there is buzz in Seattle concerning Flynn, local print journalists have noted that they perceive no indication from team sources that it has any enthusiasm for Flynn, despite his connection with general manager John Schneider. John Clayton is of the opinion that Brandon Weeden is a possible draft target for the Seahawks, but his performance in the Senior Bowl was not impressive. There has certainly been buzz in Washington concerning acquiring Flynn, but there is wide disagreement if he would be a “fit” in Mike Shanahan’s offence. For every observer who thought that Flynn passed with flying colors in two pressure-packed starts against New England and Detroit, there are those, if one listens to Mel Kiper Jr., who don’t have a “high opinion” of him at all, or think he is merely the product of a system (the counter to that is “then we need to get that ‘system’”). Cleveland also allegedly has an interest in Flynn, but for every observer like Dan Shonka—a former NFL scout who thinks Flynn would be a perfect fit—there are those who think his price tag is just too high for an “unknown” quantity, especially since the team has other “needs.” This theory, however, is at odds with Kiper’s claim that Cleveland will likely try to trade up for Robert Griffin III, which will mean a large contract and surrendering draft picks.

This is all “speculation” at this point; teams are banned from displaying “formal” interest in free agents before the team of origin has first crack at them. But while there seems little doubt that wherever Flynn lands he is likely to get a shot at the starting job, the question is where. If Manning turns out to be a pipe dream, the aforementioned suitors will all be in play—or not at all. Flynn may land somewhere completely unforeseen; after all, who had any inkling that Prince Fielder was going to be signed by the Detroit Tigers before that deal was announced?