With Tom Brady facing a four game suspension, the New England Patriots got another quarterback. The team signed Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Matt Flynn on Friday.
Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, however league sources said that the deal is for one year. The Patriots also released quarterback Garrett Gilbert, who was drafted by the St. Louis Rams last year, on Friday, according to the Associated Press. Gilbert had been on the Patriots practice squad.
Brady was suspended for the first four games of the 2015 season for Deflategate. He is appealing the suspension and the appeal will be heard on June 23. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will hear the appeal.
Flynn was drafted by the Packers in 2008. He spent his first four years with the Packers and returned to the Packers halfway through the 2013 season. He was 2-2 as the Packers fill-in starter in 2013. Last year he completed eight passes for 66 yards, didn’t have a touchdown pass, and had one interception, according to ESPN. Flynn has completed 219 passes for 2,541 yards with 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 51 NFL games.
If Brady’s suspension is upheld, then Jimmy Garoppolo would be the likely starter for the Patriots. Flynn will be the backup for Garoppolo.