Reports that free agent quarterback Matt Flynn is talking to the Browns are being debunked in Cleveland.
Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the Browns have not pursued Flynn, and that they’re not planning to make him an offer.
The person who should be happiest with that news is Colt McCoy. The Browns didn’t trade up with the Rams to draft Robert Griffin III and aren’t pursuing Peyton Manning, and if they’re not after Flynn either they may think going with McCoy as the starter for another year is the way to go.
The person who should be unhappiest with that news is Flynn. Although he was perceived as a hot prospect in free agency after his tremendous performance in Week 17 against the Lions, he has fallen by the wayside a bit in the last couple of weeks as all the attention on quarterbacks has been focused on Griffin and Manning.
For the Browns, a wild card in all this is Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Most draft analysts view Tannehill as a reach at No. 4 overall, where the Browns are drafting. But if Cleveland thinks he’s going to become a good NFL starter, he could be an option -- and that option could be a reason they’re not pursuing Flynn.
Flynn has to hope the Dolphins don’t land Manning. Miami is Flynn’s best landing spot, thanks to his familiarity with coach Joe Philbin’s offense, and if Manning doesn’t end up in Miami, there’s a good chance that Flynn will.
And if Flynn doesn’t land in Miami, we’re not sure where he’d go.