Matt Flynn Released by Patriots: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Amid questions at quarterback with the regular season fast approaching, the New England Patriots released Matt Flynn and signed Ryan Lindley.

One problem that Flynn had, per ESPN's Dianna Marie Russini, is a pulled hamstring he suffered before training camp started that wasn't healing:

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick spoke to Sirius XM NFL Radio's Movin' the Chains about Flynn's injury concerns on August 10, per ESPN's Mike Reiss: “Hopefully we’ll get [him] back out there soon. I think he’s pretty close to returning. We’ll just take it day by day, but I don’t think it’s ... a long-term thing.”

Evidently, Flynn didn't progress as quickly as the team needed considering the Patriots need depth at quarterback with Tom Brady's status uncertain. On July 28, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell upheld his four-game suspension for an alleged role in Deflategate, but Brady immediately moved to appeal the punishment in federal court. 

Brady, Goodell and NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith will meet in a New York City federal district court August 12 in hopes of reaching a settlement, per the Boston Globe's Ben Volin.

Though New England does have second-year quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to take first-team reps, a healthy Flynn would have seemed like a solid candidate to make the Patriots roster if Brady's suspension remains intact.

The 30-year-old Flynn has had brief flashes of brilliance, most notably a six-touchdown performance against Detroit in 2011, but he has been unable to turn those glimmers into consistency. 

Given the number of teams that are always seeking help at quarterback, either to start or as depth, Flynn figures to get another chance if he's healthy. He's a good player to have if a team needs a spot starter, be it in the preseason or regular season.