By Danny Picard
CSNNE.com
FOXBORO -- It's looking more and more like Matt Flynn will be Green Bay's starting quarterback on Sunday night against the Patriots at Gillette Stadium.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy said on Wednesday that they weren't close to the final stage in the concussion-clearing process, which is for Rodgers to practice with the team. He said there's only a "slim" chance Rodgers could return to practice on Friday, and he will make his decision on a starter Saturday. With the uncertainty as to who will be under center for Green Bay, the Patriots are preparing for both Rodgers and his backup, Matt Flynn.
"You go into this game, and you've just got to be prepared for whoever's going to be in there," said Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich. "Just checking out their offense, seeing what they do, and being ready for whoever's out there.
"It's a little bit different, because he's not like Rodgers," added Ninkovich. "He's got the ability to throw the ball anywhere on the field, and can run. So you go look at some tape that Flynn's been in, and just see some of the things that he's done. Because he can still throw the ball pretty well. He's got a good arm, so you just have to see what kind of stuff he was doing in the preseason, and the games that he's played in."
Flynn has thrown for 182 yards with no touchdown passes, and has been picked off once so far this season. He saw over two quarters of playing time last Sunday, after Rodgers went down with his second concussion of the season, late in the first half. In those two-plus quarters, Flynn went 15-for-26 and threw for 177 yards while being intercepted once.
Long story short, he's no Rodgers.
New England Patriots
"It's not really difficult," said Patriots safety Jarrad Page. "Of course, Rodgers is one of the better quarterbacks in this league. So you prepare for him. Their styles are not too different. Of course, Rodgers is Rodgers, and you know, Flynn is not him."
Danny Picard is on Twitter at http:twitter.comDannyPicard. You can listen to Danny on his streaming radio show I'm Just Sayin'Monday-Friday from 9-10 a.m. on CSNNE.com.