At some point, the Seahawks will have a starting quarterback and a backup, but for now, they have what Pete Carroll loves more than anything, an open competition. While most people are assuming the Seahawks signed Matt Flynn to be the starter (even if they’re not saying it), Carroll is insistent that Tarvaris Jackson will get every chance to keep his job.
Today both quarterbacks chatted with the media for the first time since Flynn was signed, and both insist they are on board with the competition.
“I’m just going to do the best I can and compete with whoever is brought in,” Jackson said. “Compete with my teammates, compete with myself and be the best I can be.”
Added Flynn: “Both of us know it’s a competition, and both of us are excited about the fact that the competition is going to make us both better quarterbacks and team leaders… That’s why I came here. I came here for the opportunity to compete. I know that’s what I’m going to get, and that’s all a guy can ask for.”
Both also say there is no bad blood between the two, even though in the end only one of them will emerge as the starter: “It’s a good relationship. There’s not bad blood or anything like that. It’s all good. We’re cool about it.”
Asked if he was disappointed with the team signing Flynn, Jackson responded: “No, I knew. I’m going on my seventh year, so I understand the game now, I understand how it works.”
Jackson did, however, have a funny moment of honesty when he said that, if he were in charge, he wouldn’t have brought in two new quarterback.
“I’m not a GM, I’m not a head coach, so I can’t go and pick who they want or say, ‘don’t get a quarterback,’” he said. “If I could I would, believe me.”
