Programming note: Watch Monday’s Raiders press conference with head coach Dennis Allen live at 1 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet California and streaming live online here.
The Raiders released veteran quarterback Matt Flynn, concluding an experiment that ended in abject failure.
The Raiders traded a 2014 fifth-round pick and a conditional selection to Seattle for the career backup once thought to be starter’s material. They got one terrible start in return.
The Raiders admitted their mistake with Monday morning’s transaction -- first reported by Sports Illustrated's Jim Trotter, confirmed to CSN California by an NFL source and later announced by the team -- an error in judgment that sent $6.5 million down the drain. This quarterback situation was salvaged by Terrelle Pryor, who has flourished since being named the starter before Week 1. He also made Flynn easily expendable.
"I don't know exactly what the reason was for why it didn't work," Raiders head coach Dennis Allen said. "It just didn't work. Terrelle came in and took over the job. He's earned the position that he's in. We felt like it was best to move on from that."
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The release was expected after Flynn played poorly in a 24-14 loss to the Washington Redskins. He was demoted to third string, and the Raiders immediately starting looking for a replacement.
They worked out veteran David Carr on Monday and had Pat White scheduled for a visit on Tuesday.
"We'll keep looking at what's out there," Allen said. "We feel good about Matt McGloin as the backup and having Tyler Wilson on the practice squad. That said, we'll keep examining options that make us a better football team."
Crazy to think Flynn was the season’s presumptive starter a few weeks back. He was wearing cement shoes during this rapid descent, which ended his last, best chance to be an NFL starting quarterback.
He lost out to Russell Wilson last season in Seattle, where he signed as a free agent after four seasons in Green Bay. He made $8 million that year, hauling in $14.5 million while trying to crack the starting lineup. He never did.
Terrelle Pryor was held out of the Sept. 29 Redskins loss with concussion-like symptoms, which put Flynn back in the spotlight. He threw a pick six, lost a fumble deep in Raiders territory and dragged the offense to a standstill.
That ensured the team’s lost confidence would never return.
Pouting certainly didn’t help.
There were locker room grumblings that Flynn’s attitude soured after Terrelle Pryor earned the starting job and checked out last week after dropping to third string following the Washington loss.
Undrafted rookie Matt McGloin was moved into the No. 2 spot, proving the Raiders hoped Flynn wouldn’t take another snap in silver and black. The release ensures that.
It also shows that general manager Reggie McKenzie isn’t afraid to cut dead weight. He did so several times this offseason, accruing significant dead money against the salary cap.
