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          Saints ink Matt Flynn to back up Drew Brees; Luke McCown done for year

          • Mike Triplett, ESPN Staff WriterNov 10, 2015, 04:32 AM
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            • Covered Saints for eight years at New Orleans Times-Picayune
            • Previously covered LSU football, San Francisco 49ers
            • Iowa native and University of Iowa graduate
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          METAIRIE, La. -- The New Orleans Saints signed well-traveled quarterback Matt Flynn to replace veteran backup Luke McCown.

          Saints coach Sean Payton confirmed the signing on his weekly WWL radio show Monday night. Payton said McCown is having back surgery Tuesday, which will end his season.

          Flynn addressed the move on Twitter:

          Payton said the Saints have long been familiar with Flynn, who played college ball just up the road at LSU. Flynn, 30, won a national championship with the Tigers before becoming Aaron Rodgers' understudy with the Green Bay Packers in 2008.

          Flynn signed a lucrative deal with the Seattle Seahawks in 2012 but lost the job to rookie Russell Wilson. Since then, he has been with the Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills and Packers again.

          He has made seven career starts with 2,541 yards, 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

          Flynn spent time with both the New England Patriots and New York Jets this offseason but didn't crack the 53-man roster with either team, partly due to a hamstring injury in New England.

          He has displayed a good sense of humor about his travels, including tweeting pictures of consolation drinks after being released or missing out on a tryout.

          McCown, 34, is just as well-traveled. He has played for five teams and made 10 starts in his 12-year career. He made his first start in three years in Week 3, while Drew Brees was out with a shoulder injury, and he performed well, nearly leading New Orleans to a road win over the Carolina Panthers.

          McCown also has gained fame this year by becoming the unlikely star of a national commercial campaign. Verizon tapped McCown to be the spokesman for its backup generators.

          Payton said McCown hopes to be back for a 13th NFL season next year.

          It's unclear how McCown was injured. He practiced fully Wednesday before popping up on the injury report for the first time Thursday.

          Saints rookie Garrett Grayson served as Brees' backup last week, but the Saints decided to bring in a more veteran option.