FanPost

This is Heresy, but...


The argument is being made that now is the time to trade Matt Flynn, because his value is high and we're going to lose him soon in free agency. Therefore, the logic goes, we can either lose him sooner and get something for him or we can lose him later and get nothing for him. Between those choices, who wouldn't choose the former?

Valid point. But here's my counter-argument: If we're talking about the value of our quarterbacks and the amount we'd get in trade, then why wouldn't we trade

...wait for it...

Aaron Rodgers

(gasp!)

Here me out and listen to my point.

Strictly from a value-personnel standpoint, the team should really trade Rodgers and keep Flynn.

I offer into evidence exhibit A: McCarthy's QB school.

Our coach has made Rich Gannon and Jake Delhomme into Pro Bowl QBs. He's taken a 7th rounder in Flynn and turned him into a hot-commodity. Brett Favre's play improved dramatically after one year under him. Now he's got Rodgers practically walking on water so that everybody in the league is like "who is this man, that the wind and the waves obey him?" All indications are that McCarthy has done it before and could do it again. So, while it's hard to imagine anyone's value ever being higher than Rodgers currently is, it's reasonable to expect that Flynn's value, which is high right now, will only increase in the future as long as he stays with the McCarthy-coached Packers. So, if you think about it, it's Rodgers whose value is maxed out. Whereas trading Flynn right now would be selling low.

And can you imagine what we'd get in trade for Rodgers right now? For Flynn, we'd be very lucky to get a 2nd rounder. But Rodgers? What do you think, would we start the bidding at three 1st round picks? Do I hear a Ricky Williams "my draft for that guy" type of offer? While I never expected the Vikings to be this dumb again, Rodgers might tempt 'em to go for a Herschel Walker redux. Seriously, after it was reported that he was on the block, you'd have to wait for the offers to come in because it would take awhile for owners to revive their GMs who had passed out like fainting goats. I mean, it would be the greatest time in the world to buy stock in whatever company it is that makes smelling salts.

Now, am I saying we should trade Rodgers? Not on your life! He is simply not for sale. What I am saying is: you can get carried away on this whole "trade when the value's high" train of thought. It's the right idea, and it makes perfect sense, but you can also easily out-smart yourself and trade away somebody that you need. In the case of Rodgers, the "bird in the hand" is so rare that he's worth more than practically any number of birds in the bush. With Flynn, the bird in the hand is a year of quality back-up play (on the cheap, I might add), and what's in the bush is maybe a 3rd rounder. So, while the value isn't on the same scale as it was with Rodgers, still... the certainty of what we've got is worth enough that it would be silly to chase what we may or may not find in the bush. Bottom line: when you've got a winning hand, the thing to do is stand pat and play the cards you're dealt.

Sure, Flynn will probably eventually leave in FA, but that's the way it goes. That's the time when you count on McCarthy's QB school and train up the next Rich Gannon or the next Matt Flynn. But, in the meantime, let it ride. You don't have to break the bank everytime there's a few coins clinking around inside.

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