Tarvaris Jackson

If Matt Flynn was under the impression that he'd be an automatic starter with his new NFL team, his new head coach -- Seattle's Pete Carroll -- disabused him of that notion rather quickly. It is not known what kind of starter security Flynn was offered by new Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin (Flynn's offensive coordinator in Green Bay), but Flynn signed a three-year deal with the Seahawks on Sunday that guarantees him $10 million and could top out at $26 million. What that contract did not guarantee him, as Carroll said during a Monday media conference call, was immediate job security over Tarvaris Jackson. The reality may be different, but Carroll stuck to his "Always Compete" manifesto from the start.

"We're very clear how we delivered the message that we now have the opportunity to make it an open competition," Carroll said. "Tarvaris is well ahead, and he's the guy that's here and working for us now. I talked to [Tarvaris] yesterday, that what we're doing with Matt -- bringing him in here to compete for the job, make everybody better, and help our football team. That's really clearly where it is. There are really no surprises here."

Assuming he doesn't fall on his face, it's just a matter of time before Flynn takes over the starter, though Carroll made it clear that he won't be handed the job without beating out the incumbent Jackson.