ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The Oakland Raiders are changing directions at quarterback once again. The Raiders acquired Seattle backup Matt Flynn on Monday for draft picks, bringing an end to Carson Palmers brief tenure as starter in Oakland even before they are done paying the steep price they dealt to acquire him. "Matts one of those guys, even though he hasnt had a lot of opportunities, when hes had those opportunities, hes made the most out of those chances," Raiders coach Dennis Allen said. "We feel real good about that, and feel real good about getting a young prospect at quarterback." Oakland will send a fifth-round pick in 2014 and a conditional pick in 2015 to Seattle. Flynn will compete with Terrelle Pryor for the starting job with Palmer on his way out of Oakland. Fox Sports reported Palmer was expected to be dealt to Arizona for a draft pick. The Raiders traded a 2012 first-round draft pick and 2013 second-rounder to Cincinnati for Palmer during the 2011 season. Palmer fell one game short of the playoffs that season and the Raiders then regressed and went 4-12 this past year. With Palmer owed $13 million for this season and reportedly unwilling to take a pay cut, the rebuilding Raiders went a different direction. "When we looked at it, both from his standpoint and our standpoint, we just realized that it was time for us to move on and move forward," Allen said. "We felt like Matt Flynn gave us a great option." After showing promise as a backup with the Packers, Flynn signed a three-year, $26 million deal with the Seahawks, but failed to beat out rookie Russell Wilson for the starting job and quickly became expendable. Flynn, a backup in college at LSU to former Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell, has started just two games in five seasons as a pro. But its those brief appearances that intrigue many NFL teams. He threw for 251 yards and three touchdowns in a loss at New England in place of an injured Aaron Rodgers late in the 2010 season. He then started the regular-season finale the following season, going 31 for 44 for 480 yards and six touchdown passes in a 45-41 win over Detroit. Flynn was drafted by the Packers in the seventh round in 2008 when Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie worked in the Green Bay front office. He has thrown 141 passes in his career, completing 87 for 1,083 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions. Allen compared Flynns progress to that of Matt Schaub and Rodgers, who have excelled as starters after years as backups to start their careers. "Were excited with the fact that were bringing in a young guy that we feel like has potential to be a starting quarterback in this league," Allen said. "Were looking forward to having him on our roster and giving him a chance to potentially be that." The Seahawks must now look for another backup either in free agency or the draft. "Theres different avenues we can go," general manager John Schneider told 710ESPN Seattle. "We have a plan in place and its contingent on who that player is. There are veterans who are available now, some very talented guys. Guys who are all football. ... "There are also some guys in the draft we think are pretty interesting. We have a plan and were going to take it as it comes." Since dealing a 2012 fourth-round pick to Washington during the 2010 draft for Jason Campbell, the Raiders have committed up to six draft picks on quarterbacks with no proof they have found the right man for the job. Oakland used a 2012 third-round pick to take Terrelle Pryor in the supplemental draft in 2011; dealt the two high picks for Palmer after Campbell got hurt in October 2011; and now have made the deal for Flynn. If Flynn beats out Pryor for the starting job, he will be the 16th quarterback to start for Oakland since the beginning of the 2003 season. Campbell is the only one of those to have a winning record as a starter, going 11-7 in his two seasons. Pryor got in for a few plays late in his first full pro season before starting the final game at San Diego with Palmer sidelined by cracked ribs and a bruised lung. Pryor went 13 for 28 for 150 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in a 24-21 loss to the Chargers. He also ran for 49 yards and a score and looked more than capable running the offence. Allen said there is plenty of time to figure out who will start. "All those things will work themselves out," he said. "I dont really get into all that at this point in time because I think what happens is the cream is always going to rise to the top. Thats whats going to happen. The great thing for us is we dont play a game until September." Palmer put up prolific numbers in his first full year as a starter in Oakland, but that led to little success for the team. He completed 61.1 per cent of his passes and threw for 4,018 yards in 15 games -- second most ever for the Raiders -- with 22 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. But with McKenzie overhauling most of the roster he inherited when he took over the organization last January, he apparently had little need for a 33-year-old quarterback. The Raiders will save about $6 million on this years cap when Palmer is moved. Kerry Wood Cubs Jersey . Jordan Lyles won for the first time in two months and the Houston Astros snapped a seven-game losing streak Friday night with a 3-1 victory over the sluggish Mets, giving Tony DeFrancesco his first win as a major league manager. Tim Lincecum Giants Jersey . -- Jim Calhoun could scarcely watch when the most improbable post-season run of his coaching life at Connecticut came down to an open three-point attempt by Arizonas Jamelle Horne. http://www.officialmlbonline.net/Baltimore-Orioles-Cyber-Monday-Kevin-Gausman-Jersey-Black-Friday/ . The seventh-seeded Romanian had six aces and broke for a 2-0 lead in the second set of the clay-court final. She fought off two break points in the last game before closing out the match with two forehand winners to win the first of four career finals. Jim Palmer Orioles Jersey .5 seconds to play in the game, Kevin Love never stopped believing that they would come out of there with a win. Greg Maddux Braves Jersey . Humiliated by fourth-tier Bradford in the League Cup quarterfinals in December, Arsenal left to jeers from its own despairing supporters after Colin Kazim-Richards stabbed home a 72nd-minute winner at Emirates Stadium to create the latest big surprise in the FA Cup.COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Sometimes lucky bounces lead to big games. The Colorado Avalanche got a gift goal on a bounce that went their way Friday night, and it led to a 5-0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. David Jones took advantage of the bounce to score the first of his two goals and he also added an assist as the Avalanche stayed in the thick of the race for a playoff spot in the West. "We felt pretty fortunate," Jones said. Semyon Varlamov, who had 28 saves in his third shutout of the season and ninth of his career, was outstanding in the first period as the Avalanche, winding up a stretch where theyve played six of seven on the road, got off to a slow start. In the final minute of the opening period, the Blue Jackets Colton Gillies shot from the slot clanged off the crossbar. The puck bounded all the way to the point where it was collected by Jones to begin a 2-on-1. He then converted a low wrister from the right dot that beat goalie Steve Mason on the stick side for his 13th of the season, unassisted. That was the beginning of the rout. "Getting the first goal was very important," coach Joe Sacco said. "You get off to a tough start like we did, getting that first ones very important." It was another body blow to the fragile Blue Jackets, who were playing their first game since trading two of their top players this week. "The most frustrating part about this year is -- how many times have we done that? -- weve been physically dominating games and we let up one or two goals and we cant recover from that," said defenceman James Wisniewski. "Thats happened at least a dozen times. We hit a crossbar and they get a 2-on-1 and score a goal. Instead of being up 2-0 or 3-0, were down 1-0 and we never recover." After getting the first goal, the Avalanche poured it on to continue their mastery of the lowly Blue Jackets, who have the worst record in the NHL (18-36-7, 43 points). Gabriel Landeskog and Steve Downie each had a goal and an assist and Matt Hunwick also scored for the Avalanche, who were up to their usual tricks against the Blue Jackets. They are 32-8-1-1 against Columbus, including 15-5-1-1 on the Blue Jackets home ice. The Avalanche won a second game in a row for the first time since Dec. 31. They started the night two points out of the eighth playoff spot in the West. Varlamov made the early break stand upp by twice stopping Columbus captain Rick Nash -- himself the subject of widespread trade rumours -- to keep Colorado in command.dddddddddddd "I dont think it was the same old song," Nash said. "We played great for two periods. It was just their goalie made big saves and we didnt bear down when we had the chances. I had two chances on one shift I could have scored goals." Varlamov said the Avalanche couldnt afford to slip up. "I feel good right now. Ive had a couple of good practices. I have to continue to work and try to play well," he said. "Its a tough situation with four teams fighting for the last spots in the playoffs. Every game is huge for us. Every point is huge." Landeskog notched his 16th of his brilliant rookie season midway through the second period. He took a cross-ice pass from Downie and set himself for a wrister from the right dot that beat Mason high on the glove side just inside the far post. The Avalanche pushed the lead to 3-0 on Jones second of the night early in the third period. Downie then pounced on a rebound and Hunwick turned a turnover into an end-to-end sprint to complete the demolition. On Wednesday the Blue Jackets traded centre Antoine Vermette to Phoenix for a 2012 second-round pick, a conditional fifth-rounder in 2013 and injured goalie Curtis McElhinney. Then on Thursday night they sent second-leading goal scorer Jeff Carter to Los Angeles for defenceman Jack Johnson and a conditional first-round pick. Johnson arrived at Nationwide Arena during the second period for his physical and received a loud ovation when he was introduced to the crowd. "Im a Midwest kid. Its great to be back here, close to home, close to friends and family," said the Indiana-bred former University of Michigan star. "When a trade happens, it means a team wants you. Its a great feeling to come into a place where they want you. Im looking forward to giving everything I have to offer." Notes: The Blue Jackets called up RW Cam Atkinson earlier in the day, and he made his first appearance with the team since Nov. 5. ... Scouts representing Boston, Philadelphia, New Jersey, the New York Rangers, San Jose, Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay took in the game less than 72 hours before the trade deadline. ... Colorado came in with the NHLs best road power play but was scoreless in its only chance with a man advantage. cheap jerseys cheap nfl jerseys ' ' '