Flynn brings a reputation as a winner to Oakland

ALAMEDA – Quarterback Matt Flynn arrived in Alameda on Tuesday eager for the opportunity to be an NFL starter for the first time in his sixth NFL season and hopeful of being a part of something "special."

Flynn addressed the media shortly after the Raiders traded predecessor Carson Palmer to the Arizona Cardinals and less than 24 hours after he was summoned from Baton Rouge, La., upon being told he was traded to the Raiders from the Seattle Seahawks.

"I want to be a part of something special," Flynn said, "and that's a big possibility here, of building something special, building a winning environment and building a really great organization. That's part of the plan."

Flynn, 27, knows about winning. His teams won all through high school and college, and he has been part of winning teams for all but his rookie season in 2008, when the Green Bay Packers finished 6-10.

Winning is something Flynn envisions doing with the Raiders, too, even if they appear to be in a rebuilding mode.

"I've been pretty fortunate," Flynn said. "When you're on good teams for that long, you just expect it."

In Flynn, the Raiders are getting a quarterback with an accurate arm, a firm grasp of NFL offenses and someone with low mileage on his body.

Flynn, who was viewed as the probable starter after signing a three-year, $26 million contract with the Seahawks but was beaten out by third-round pick Russell Wilson, will compete with third-year player Terrelle Pyror for the starting job.

Flynn passed for nine touchdowns and 731 yards in his only two starts, both with the Packers.

The Raiders traded a 2014 fifth-round draft pick and a conditional pick in 2015 to get Flynn. He is signed for the next two seasons at less than the Raiders were slated to pay Palmer for 2013.

Palmer was introduced in Tempe, Ariz., as the Cardinals' new quarterback.

He agreed to a two-year contract that could pay him up to $20 million, with $10 million guaranteed.

"I've got a lot of tread left on my tires," the 33-year-old Palmer promised.

Arizona gave up a conditional seventh-round 2014 draft pick and swapped the second of its two sixth-round picks this year for the Raiders' seventh-round selection.

"This was a no-brainer. When we learned that he would be available via trade and that we had a shot at getting him, we were aggressive," Cardinals president Michael Bidwill said.

• Read more articles by Steve Corkran

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