October 24
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
columnist Jeff Schultz
"
There always has been something different about the quarterback position, something that can't be gauged by height or weight or speed or strength or the ability to throw a football 70 yards past the cows, over the barn, through the tire screen and into the feed bucket (when, by the way, just hitting the open tight end over the middle would've been fine). If quarterbacks were measured by physical skills, Jeff George would not have been a cartoon and Joe Montana would not have been a deity. If quarterbacks were measured by fast legs, chiseled abs and ripped biceps, NFL general managers - the experts - would not draft so many colossal busts, crippling their franchise, alienating their fan ..."
September 24
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
There's no question Boston is Tom Brady's town, but another favorite son is returning for what he hopes will be a successful homecoming. Former Boston College standout Matt Ryan returns to Foxborough on Sunday as a rising star for the Atlanta Falcons, who will face Brady's New England Patriots. Ryan, the 2008 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, has enjoyed a strong start for the 2-0 Falcons and is coming off his first career game with three touchdown passes. Falcons fullback Ovie Mughelli predicted on Wednesday that Ryan's No. 2 jersey "will be everywhere" at Gillette Stadium. Ryan wasn't so certain. "I'm sure there will be some people from up there who remember the time at BC and were fans ..."
September 23
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
columnist D. Orlando Ledbetter
"
Hoping I can make it out to practice today. The plan is to leave extra early and drive really slow. Wednesdays are always big days for the media and the team. They'll start installing the game plan for New England. After giving up 308 yards passing to Jake Delhomme, the defense will likely be extra sharp about their coverage responsibilities. The Falcons certainly need to crank back up the pass rush after the defensive line didn't record a sack last week. They registered four sacks in the opener against Miami with John Abraham and Kroy Biermann getting two each. I don't believe the plan calls for letting Tom Brady sit comfortably in the pocket, while looking for Randy Moss, Wes Welker, et ..."
September 14
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
columnist Ethan J. Stolnick
"
After his 12th win in 17 NFL starts, Matt Ryan declared himself "much more comfortable" dealing with adversity than he was a rookie. Falcons coach Mike Smith said "Matt played well." And, after settling in, he did. But think back to Ryan's fourth pass Sunday, the one on the first Falcons drive, after top receiver Roddy White had sprinted two steps clear of Sean Smith, the closest Dolphins defender. Does Peyton Manning miss that one? Tom Brady? Drew Brees?"
September 9
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was feeling much better and returned to the team facilities on Tuesday, the team confirmed. Ryan, who won the Associated Press rookie of the year after guiding the Falcons to an 11-5 mark and the playoffs last season, was excused from Monday's practice with an illness. Backup quarterbacks Chris Redman and John Parker Wilson filled in for Ryan. The Falcons open the regular season against the Miami Dolphins at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Georgia Dome."
September 8
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, who did not practice Monday due to an illness, returned to work earlier today, according to a report on ESPN.com. Although the players were off today, Ryan was present at the Falcons' complex today, watching film and feeling fine, according to the report. The Falcons will open the season Sunday against Miami at the Georgia Dome."
September 8
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
columnist Jeff Schultz
"
The unique thing about the NFL is it's set up to avoid exactly what it is the Falcons have managed to do. Bad teams draft early and are given easier schedules. Good teams draft late and are given death marches on national television. There's only one way to explain an extended run of calamity and infamy, and that's some unexplainable mutant force, like, say, Al Davis. But where's the limb? I'm ready to venture out. The Falcons never have posted consecutive winning seasons. It stands as arguably the most remarkable failure over the last 43 years in pro sports, and certainly in the NFL. But it ends here. The 11th winning season in franchise history in 2008 will be immediately followed by the ..."
September 8
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan did not practice on Monday due to an illness. Ryan was sent home to rest after arriving at the Falcons training facilities sick, according to coach Mike Smith. "He wasn't feeling well today," Smith said."
September 7
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan did not practice on Monday due to an illness. Ryan was sent home to rest after arriving at the Falcons training facilities sick, according to coach Mike Smith. "He wasn't feeling well today," Smith said."
September 1
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Atlanta Falcons Matt Ryan is more than a promising quarterback -- he's also a pretty face. The 24-year-old may be the NFL's best-looking player, according to researchers who studied Ryan's chiseled mug. Researchers from Ursinus College and Southern Utah University found that Ryan's face is almost perfectly symmetrical, an indicator of attractiveness and success to sociologists. The average Joe's face is just 90 percent symmetrical, while Ryan is reaching Adonis status at 99.82 percent, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. We bet that balanced babe is blushing already."
June 18
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan may have won rookie of the year honors, but there's still room for improvement during organized team activities. The Falcons, who conclude the workouts Thursday, have stressed the passing game this offseason. The focus for Ryan, who guided the team to an 11-5 record and the NFC wild-card playoffs, was to make better decisions and be more accurate with his passes. "I don't think those two traits can be overlooked," Falcons coach Mike Smith said. "That's what we emphasized with Matt." Those are steps Ryan needs to make in order be considered an elite quarterback in the league, Smith contends. "I think I'm more confident at this point than I was last year, ..."
April 18
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
While Matt Ryan was not a Counter Terrorist Unit member like Jack Bauer, the final 24 hours before he became a Falcon were action packed and full of suspense and drama. Ryan was one of the six players invited to attend the NFL Draft in New York last year. Nine invited players are scheduled to attend this year's draft, which will be held April 25-26 at Radio City Music Hall. Those final suspense-filled hours went by way too fast for Ryan. He advises this year's group to hold on tight and enjoy the whirlwind ride. "We had interviews and such that [Friday]," Ryan said. "We met with commissioner [Roger] Goodell. I finished around 3 o'clock with all of that stuff, and I made it back to the ..."
April 13
New Orleans Times-Picayune
"
NFL teams are smart enough to know that the success of Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco was an anomaly last year. They are the only two quarterbacks since the merger in 1970 who started as rookies and took their teams from last place in their division to the playoffs. "That's a tough act to follow right there," Saints Coach Sean Payton said of Ryan, who was drafted third overall by the Atlanta Falcons last year, and Flacco, who was drafted 18th by the Baltimore Ravens. "I mean, shoot, Peyton Manning was a starter his first year, and they got beat up and he got beat up -- and they lost a lot of games (13)." Nevertheless, the allure of finding that type of quarterback, whether he takes one or two ..."
April 3
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
While the Atlanta Falcons' former quarterback works out a transition from prison back to the NFL, nice guy Matt Ryan made the scene Thursday night at an event honoring civic leadership. Ryan was among the Falcons players and execs who turned out for the Boys and Girls Club's Hometown Heroes awards gala. The event, held on the field at the Georgia Dome, honored Falcons owner Arthur M. Blank, The Coca-Cola Company, former Boys"
December 27
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Despite the Falcons march to the NFC playoffs, quarterback Matt Ryan may not be a lock for the rookie of the year award. It appears to be a three-player race between Ryan, Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco and Tennessee running back Chris Johnson. "It's something that I haven't really given much thought to," Ryan said. "I think there have been a lot of guys who have played well this year." Also, Denver wide receiver Eddie Royal and Chicago running back Matt Forte are worthy of consideration. Ryan, Flacco and Johnson have helped their teams clinch playoff berths. Denver and Chicago are still fighting to make the postseason. "This year, there has been a very deep class of rookies in terms of ..."
December 12
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan received the second most votes among rookies in the Pro Bowl fan balloting, which concluded on Tuesday. Tennessee running back Chris Johnson was the top rookie vote-getter with 534,170 votes. Ryan received 416,468 votes. Rounding out the top five rookies were, Chicago running back Matt Forte (246,298), Washington strong safety Chris Horton (242,298) and Houston running back Steve Slaton (220,966). The top three quarterbacks make the Pro Bowl and New Orleans' Drew Brees, New York's Eli Manning and Arizona's Kurt Warner all received more votes than Ryan. Wide receiver Roddy White leads in the league in receiving, but Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald received the most ..."
December 12
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Tampa Bay got to Matt Ryan back when he was young. Two games into his NFL career. Three months and 11 games later, things are a lot different for Ryan. Actually, they were as soon as that game in Tampa Bay on Sept. 12 ended. The Buccaneers know it. Ask any of them what's changed about this Falcons team they'll play Sunday at the Georgia Dome. "The confidence in Matt Ryan," free safety Tanard Jackson said. "He's their leader. His confidence is going up, and it looks like the players around him are feeding off that. I don't think that was the case the first time around." That's putting it nicely. For the first half of that game in Tampa, Ryan looked about as overwhelmed as a quarterback can ..."
December 10
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
columnist Terence Moore
"
No way did it seem wise for the usually NFL draft-challenged Falcons to use their No. 3 pick overall during the spring on quarterback Matt Ryan instead of defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey. No way did it seem likely that Ryan would do anything more than become your typical rookie at that position and stumble when he wasn't rumbling or bumbling. No way did it seem possible for the Falcons to go from sorry to solid within a year courtesy of that same rookie quarterback. OK, I was wrong. Then again, so were a slew of others, including a Hall of Fame quarterback who still rubs his eyes while watching Ryan become, well, let Steve Young tell you. "Frankly, what this guy is doing is unprecedented in ..."
December 9
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Rookie quarterback Matt Ryan arguably had his best game of the season against New Orleans on Sunday. He was at his improvisational best, scrambling outside of the pocket and launching strikes downfield. He was on target, drilling passes between two, and sometimes three, defenders. Ryan even scored on a 12-yard run when the Saints took away the pass routes. But nothing was more impressive than a third-quarter drive Ryan put together. The Falcons had to fight through three penalties, convert on three third downs - including a third-and-21 - as Ryan was on the mark on six straight passes. The drive stalled at the Saints 5-yard line, but the Falcons got a field goal to retake the lead 17-16. ..."
November 10
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan won his showdown with New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees, who entered Sunday's game as the league's top passer. Ryan led a balanced Falcons attack that rushed for 113 yards and passed for 248 yards in the 34-20 win. Brees threw 58 passes, completing 31 for 422 yards. Ryan had a quarterback rating of 134, while Brees' rating was 66.9, which was dragged down by his three interceptions. Ryan completed 10-of-13 passes in the first half and one touchdown pass. "He was very accurate there in the first half," Falcons head coach Mike Smith said. "I thought he threw some great timing routes out in the flat to our wide receivers. "I think he made a heck of a play on a ..."
October 23
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Falcons rookie quarterback Matt Ryan is more concerned about Philadelphia's blitzing defense than about grabbing a cheesesteak sandwich on the return to his hometown. Philadelphia defensive coordinator Jimmy Johnson is the master of the unpredictable blitz. All three of Philadelphia's linebackers and both safeties have at least one sack. "He has had a lot of success in this league for a long time," Ryan said. "It's going to be a good challenge for us, but I think we'll have a good game plan and guys will prepare well this week." Only Pittsburgh (25) has more sacks than the Eagles' 21. "Whether if you are a cornerback, strong safety, free safety or linebacker, you're going to get an ..."
September 15
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
columnist Mark Bradley
"
Think of this game as a big fat cake. Picture Matt Ryan bending down to inspect the delicacy. Imagine his shock when the top layer flies open and up springs a boxing glove to smack Matty Ice on the snoot. Only then does he read the inscription on the icing: "Welcome to the NFL." Every rookie has this game, rookie quarterbacks especially. Matt Ryan got his in Week 2 of Season 1, and for nearly a half it was as bad as Week 1 had been good. Against Detroit, he'd thrown his first NFL pass for a 62-yard touchdown. Against Tampa Bay here Sunday, his first nine passes were incompletions, and two were caught by the wrong team. So addled was the guy lauded for his poise that he actually slung the ..."
September 8
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
After throwing his first NFL pass, Matt Ryan was gliding around the Georgia Dome like he'd just won the lottery. First stop, the end zone to congratulate Michael Jenkins and celebrate with his teammates. Then Ryan, the new face of the franchise and quarterback of the future, ran up the sidelines back to the bench, raising his arms to excite the crowd while taking a few leaps in the air. It was a spectacular way to start his career and help send his team to a 34-21 victory over Detroit Sunday at the Georgia Dome. "I think anybody would get excited in that situation," Ryan said. "I was fired up. Jenks was fired up. That was a good start for us." On the 62-yard touchdown, Jenkins got behind ..."
August 19
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
The quarterback of the future will be the quarterback of the present. Matt Ryan, the first-round draft pick selected third overall out of Boston College, will start Friday's preseason game against visiting Tennessee, coach Mike Smith said. "I talked to Coach Smith about that before and that's exciting to go get out there right away," Ryan said after Atlanta's practice Monday afternoon. "We're going to have a good week of preparation and hopefully play well Friday night." There has been no official decision about who Atlanta's starting quarterback will be when it opens the season Sept. 7 against the visiting Detroit Lions, Smith said. The coaching staff is still waiting for "clarity" among ..."