FRIDAY, 2:19pm: The Patriots have officially signed Flynn, the team announced today in a press release.
THURSDAY, 3:10pm: The Patriots have agreed to terms on a contract with quarterback Matt Flynn, reports Dianna Marie Russini of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Russini reported earlier today (Twitter link) that Flynn was working out for New England. Shalise Manza Young of the Boston Globe has the corresponding move, tweeting that the Pats are waiving QB Garrett Gilbert.
Russini notes (via Twitter) that she has been told by several sources that the signing has “nothing to do” with Tom Brady‘s situation, and that the Pats simply want to have a veteran quarterback in camp. Still, it makes sense that New England would want a veteran in the mix to start the regular season as well. The team is bullish on Jimmy Garoppolo, Brady’s backup, but if the four-game ban for the reigning Super Bowl MVP is upheld, having a No. 2 QB on the roster with more experience than Gilbert make sense.
Flynn, who turns 30 later this month, has spent most of his career with the Packers, parlaying a huge Week 17 game in 2011 into a three-year contract with the Seahawks in free agency. After never starting a game in Seattle, Flynn bounced around the league a little, joining the Bills and Raiders before returning to Green Bay.
Last season, Flynn backed up Aaron Rodgers once again, completing eight of 16 passes when he saw the field. The Packers carried both Flynn and Scott Tolzien on their roster in 2014, but after they re-signed Tolzien this past March, reports indicated that they weren’t interested in retaining Flynn as well.