With all the rumors swirling around RG3 to Cleveland and Washington, there are some clues floating around that the Browns may be looking in another direction:
This from the Canton Repository: http://www.cantonrep.com/browns/x1331032366/Why-Fins-might-let-Flynn-float-to-Lake-Erie
It’s hardly a no-brainer that free agent Matt Flynn is destined for Miami based on the Joe Philbin factor.
True, Philbin was the offensive coordinator in Green Bay under whom Flynn looked like Bart Starr, Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers rolled into one in Green Bay’s 2011 season finale.
True, Philbin is head coach in Miami now, and the Dolphins would be wise to dive off the Chad Henne treadmill.
True, some team likely will throw a small fortune at Flynn and promise him a starting job.
On the other hand, Philbin’s coordinator in Green Bay will be ex-Packers head coach Mike Sherman. And we’ll guess he’ll have a big say in who the Dolphins chase at QB.
Sherman was the head coach at Texas A&M during the ascent of Ryan Tannehill, widely regarded as the third-best quarterback in the 2012 draft.
Here’s Sherman talking to the Sun-Sentinel about Tannehill:
“Like all good quarterbacks he had great poise. Very confident in any system, west coast or not. Any quarterback has to be confident in his own skin and believe in himself. They always say a great quarterback makes those around him better. I thought Favre did that. I think Aaron Rodgers does that. I think Tannehill does that as well.”
The only guy Sherman left out is Bart Starr.
The Dolphins have long been rumored as the likely destination for free agent quarterback Matt Flynn, but according to this article by Steve Doerschuk, Flynn seems to have a great shot at landing in Cleveland. Joe Philbin, Miami's new head coach, has brought Mike Sherman in to be his offensive coordinator. Sherman was the former coach at Texas A&M, where he coached Ryan Tannehill. Sherman has nothing but praise for Tannehill, and the Dolphins could be a likely landing spot for him in the draft, thus taking Miami out of the Flynn sweepstakes.
This is the no-brainer: Flynn and Tannehill are passers of interest in Cleveland.
This is also an excerpt from Doerschuk's blurb on the Cleveland QB situation. I don't know how much creedence to put into this, but if true, and Cleveland see's some value in Tannehill, they may be tempted to pass on RG3, and take Tannehill with one of their two first round picks(this depending on what the Dolphins do).
This came from Mike Holmgren heading into the 2010 season.
We doubt he has changed his disposition.
Anyway, it’s Holmgren talking about training camp quarterback competitions:
“I'm not a big believer in that competition stuff, where you have two quarterbacks and give 'em the same amount of reps and then pick one going into camp. In my opinion, we'd better make up our mind before we go into camp. Then put all our resources into the one guy, then if we think he needs a little work, then make him a good player. That's our obligation.”
If Matt Flynn is brought in, he will be the starter.
If Robert Griffin III is drafted, Holmgren’s mantra would allow for a spring competition but beg for a decision by early August. If McCoy is judged a better option than Griffin for 2012 and goes 11-5 ...
Although this is from 2010, Doerschuk seems to believe this is the mantra Holmgren holds dear. It seems as though whomever he brings in, Holmgren and Heckert have to be sold on him being "the guy".
Finally, we get this interesting tidbit of information: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/02/23/report-browns-expected-to-make-a-play-for-matt-flynn/related/
Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository writes the Browns brass “will make a play for Matt Flynn” with the hopes of making Flynn the team’s starter. They will have competition, though.
“There will be a budget that will not be exceeded in the play for Flynn,” Doerschuk writes.
Well, there you have it folks. Just another chapter in the RG3 saga.