Pete Carroll says contracts won't drive QB decision

The $19 million, three-year contract Matt Flynn received to join the Seattle Seahawks convinced most onlookers he would become the team’s starting quarterback.

Maybe that is the case. Or maybe Pete Carroll is sincere about a competition in which he says contract size and draft status will play no bearing in the final decision.

“Draft picks and money and stuff like that is not going to play in the decision at all,” Carroll said, according to Eric Williams of the Tacoma New Tribune. “We’re going to go with what it looks like through the competition and how they play, and the results of that, and how we feel about that.”

Williams cites how former No. 4 overall pick Aaron Curry was handled last year, losing his job to rookie K.J. Wright four games into the season. But the difference is Curry was selected by a previous regime and Carroll had no ties to him. Flynn was signed under Carroll’s watch and that likely makes a difference.

But the Seahawks, who kick off a three-day minicamp Tuesday to wrap up their offseason program, are having Flynn compete with Tarvaris Jackson and third-round draft pick Russell Wilson.

Jackson was 7-7 as a starter a year ago and the Seahawks know what he offers them. That’s what makes it unlikely he is the choice.

“Russell and Matt both have ground to make up because they’re learning new systems,” Carroll said. “And they both are doing exceedingly well at that, but they have more ground to make up.”

Flynn will be paid $8 million this season and the guess here that will be his wage to begin the season as the starter. What he does from there? We’ll see.

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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune

