Matt Flynn: The Next Rob Johnson?

When former Green Bay Packers QB Matt Flynn hit free agency last month, I was reminded of when a certain QB was also highly coveted although not a free agent, one Rob Johnson. Johnson was a fourth-round pick in 1995 of the Jacksonville Jaguars who was traded to the Buffalo Bills in 1998. His hype was based solely on one performance in Week 1 in 1997 when he went 20-24 for 294 yards and two touchdown passes and also had four rushes for 31 yards and one touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens in a 28-27 win.  When he was traded to Buffalo, he signed a five year $25 million contract. In comparison, Flynn was drafted by Green Bay in 2008 as a seventh-round pick. While sitting behind Aaron Rodgers, Flynn started two games. In 2010 against New England, he was 23-37 for 254 yards and three touchdown passes while throwing one interception. The Packers lost 31-27. His second start came on New Year’s Day 2012 against Detroit where he threw for 480 yards and six touchdown passes in a 45-41 win with both the yards and touchdown passes setting new Packer records. He most recently signed with Seattle, a three-year deal for $26 million. While not being named the outright starter, he will compete with Tavaris Jackson for the starting job.

Johnson’s stint with Buffalo did not last long as he was quite often injured and prone to sacks. He was let go by the Bills following the 2001 season. He bounced around from Tampa Bay (where he won a Super Bowl ring as a primarily a backup), Washington, Oakland, and finally the New York Giants in 2006. Johnson had a lot of promise but among the injuries and sacks, he had a laid-back attitude which didn’t sit well with the blue collar Buffalo fans since many had come to love Doug Flutie who had much more success with the Bills when both played there. As similar to Johnson as Flynn is in his only significant performances to date, it is still early to call Flynn the next Johnson. Only time will tell if Flynn becomes another in a long line of hyped busts.

Here is an article with a similar viewpoint that also compares Flynn to Scott Mitchell: http://www.footballnation.com/content/matt-flynn-the-next-rob-johnson-or-scott-mitchell/13252