Background
Flannery was born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania and attended Pottsville High School, where he played defensive tackle and center.
Flannery was born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania and attended Pottsville High School, where he played defensive tackle and center.
Syracuse University.
He played from 1991 to 1998 for the Houston Oilers, the Dallas Cowboys, and the Saint Louis Rams. He accepted a scholarship from Syracuse University. As a freshman he was the starter at left guard.
He was moved to center the next year and earned All-American honors as a senior.
In 1999, he was named to the Syracuse University"s All-Century team Houston Oilers
Flannery was selected by the Houston Oilers in the second round (44th overall) of the 1991 NFL Draft.
Because future hall of famer Bruce Matthews was the starting center at the time, he was moved to right guard where he started the first 9 games of the season until suffering a knee sprain and playing mainly on special teams after that. He was named to the NFL All-Rookie team
The next year he just started 2 games.
In 1993, he was lost for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered in training camp on his left knee. In 1994, he was the regular starter at left guard. He was waived on August 8, 1995.
Green Bay Packers
On August 10, 1995, he signed a contract with the Green Bay Packers, but it was invalidated after he failed a physical because of his previous knee injury.
Dallas Cowboys
In 1996, he was signed 4 weeks into the season as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys. In 1997, he competed with Clay Shiver for the starting center position that was left open with the release of Ray Donaldson, but he ended up as the backup and started 4 games at left guard.
Saint Louis Rams
On April 1, 1998, he was signed as a free agent by the Saint Louis Rams and was named the starter at center.