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Former Red Raider to take on Patriots

December 16th, 2010

Tyler's Matt Flynn hoists the 2007 BCS National Championship trophy

Green Bay Packers’ backup quarterback, and Tyler’s own, Matt Flynn, doesn’t normally get surrounded by the press in the locker room on media day, but this day’s different seeing as he’s preparing for what might be the toughest task of his football career so far: the New England Patriots.

Although word hasn’t officially been released to the public yet, Flynn will start against the Patriots Sunday night.

“I’m excited, and I’m going to go through the week like I’m definitely going to be playing and hopefully Aaron (Rodgers) can get back, but I’m just going to get in there like I’m going to be playing and prepare like it,” Flynn told the media.

Rodgers went down in last week’s 7-3 loss to the Detroit Lions. In his debut, Flynn completed 15-of-26 passes for 177 yards and one interception. The more experience, the better, and Flynn said getting the snaps he got last week helped a lot.

“I go from getting a handful of plays during the week to getting most all of them. So it’s been good getting the timing with the receivers and just small things like working snap counts with the offensive line. If I get a chance to get in there, the timing will be a lot better than last week.”

The 8-5 Packers will take on the 11-2 Patriots on the road.

“It’s definitely a big game,” Flynn said. “ It’s a night game, it’ll be on TV, but I’ve played in games before, I know not at this level, but I’ve been on the big stage before so that’s not going to really bother me. It’s just about getting on the plane Saturday, getting completely prepared and having my mind at ease that I prepared myself as much as I can.”

Flynn knows and is grateful for having the respect of his teammates.

“I can’t speak for everyone, but I will speak for the receivers-we’ve got all the trust in the world in Matt,” Packers receiver Jordy Nelson told packers.com. “We said it last week when he came into the game against Detroit. He would take a couple throws back, but I thought he performed very well.

“I told him on the bus, ‘Right now, the receiving corps, we believe in you.’ We actually felt that from his rookie year when he came in and played well in the preseason and moved up and got second-string quarterback. We know what he can do. He won a national championship in college, and you have to be a good quarterback to do that.”

Before winning that national championship, Flynn quarterbacked the Robert E. Lee Red Raiders to a state championship during his junior year in 2001 where they fell short to Mesquite High School.

The following year, as a senior, he threw for 1,679 passing yards and nine touchdowns while rushing for 305 yards and 12 touchdowns, and despite playing his last four games with a broken foot, he led his team to the state semifinals where the Red Raiders lost to Midland High School.

After high school, Flynn attended Louisiana State University.
For his first three years, he served as backup quarterback JaMarcus Russell.
As a fifth year senior, he finally got time under center as he led the Tigers to a BCS National Championship game where they beat the Ohio State Buckeyes 38-24. Flynn was named MVP of that game.

The Packers drafted Flynn in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft and signed a contract through the 2011 season.

Based on what Flynn tells the media, he seems ready to go, but’s he’s got a true test in front of him Sunday night.

Buffalo Wild Wings

December 30th, 2009

Buffalo Wild Wings in Tyler TX

When it comes to sports bars in the tyler area, my list starts and ends with Buffalo Wild Wings. In a dry county it is becoming increasingly harder to watch a ball game drinking a beer on my couch in my home. Beer runs on a sunday often have me coming in after the first half is already over. So I’ve adopted a new tradition of enjoying football games in the comfort of my local buffalo wild wings.

There is a variety of sauces that make a simple selection of a plate of wings an exciting new choice every trip I make, so I’ve come to enjoy the taste of their reasonably priced wings and throwing back a couple of drinks to the sound of cheers and taunts as everyone watches the cowboys game. Although there will be other games and sports showing on seperate tvs, be prepared for the Cowboys game to take precidence over say the Detroit Lions.

Do not expect to go to Buffalo Wild Wings dressed as your favorite figure skater expecting to watch the figure skating championship I’ve found that not to be a good idea. This is after all a man’s sports club. For those too cheap to pay for cable and wish to still see their favorite game this is the perfect place for it. Buffalo Wild Wings will often charge cover charges for pay per view fights and other events hosted. The food quality is good and I can’t say I’ve ever had a problem with the service, the true problem comes in the fact that it is treated like a restaurant by the employees, so delaying a 45 minute meal into two and a half hours to watch the whole game, becomes a bit of a hassle.

With the amount of beer guzzling that is often associated with football, Buffalo Wild Wings has surprisingly few drunks. If you are just in the mood for wings swing by, you may be charged just to get a table, so take caution to only go when you are certain there’s not a big fight or a bowl game going on. The quality of the wings rival that of their competitors Wing Stop and prices are even as well. Since the prices are low making the transition from your monotaneous life to a crowd that makes you feel like you are at the game can easily become a tradition. So the next time you are in the mood for a plate full of juicy wings and want to take in a relaxing boxing match or ball game, stop by Buffalo Wild Wings.

Buffalo Wild Wings in Tyler Texas