A driven Falcons team and starting quarterback cleared the final hurdle before the 2013 season kicks off. On the opening day of Training Camp, Matt Ryan and the Falcons inked a deal that will extend Ryan’s contract for five years and pay the six-year pro $103.75 million.
Ryan has been the centerpiece to the Falcons success since being drafted as the 3rd overall pick in 2008. The Boston College graduate has never posted a losing record in his NFL career and has continued to increase his production each season. The king of the comeback drive led Atlanta to its first ever home NFC Championship game a year ago, and this deal is evident that the organization has complete confidence that Ryan is the guy to take the franchise to the ultimate goal.
The chemistry between Ryan and the coaching staff, players and fans helps secure the teams most valuable position until at least 2018. The Dome has been kind to Ryan since his arrival and no team in the NFC has more wins over the past five seasons than the Falcons. Ryan is a road warrior as well and has been equally, if not more impressive when traveling to some of the League’s most hostile locations. Last season Ryan completed 71.9% of his passes for 21 touchdowns and only five interceptions on the road.
“We look forward to Matt being an Atlanta Falcon for the rest of his career,” Blank told the AJC.
Even with all the support surrounding Ryan, the pressure surrounding the two-time Pro-Bowler and 2008 Rookie of the Year remains high. With five primetime games on the Falcons schedule this season, the spotlight on Ryan has never been brighter. His surrounding cast is an overall younger and quicker group this season, and he will be in a position to lead them for several more years. Ryan admits that he is still learning every game and getting better through each experience in his already record breaking career. 2013 looks to be his biggest season yet, with his familiar armory of weapons all returning.
THE BEST IS YET TO COME….
Despite only one playoff win in his career, Ryan is an elite quarterback and his coaches and teammates will attest to it.
The Falcons defense has at times avoided the same reproach in the playoffs, but could help Matty Ice this season with improvements. No team has given up more points per game in the postseason than the Falcons since 2008 (Ryan’s arrival). Before this past season this year’s Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco had never won a postseason game when his defense gave up more than 14 points, and the Falcons defense has never held a team to less than 24 points in a playoff game since Ryan took command. This year’s first round pick Desmond Trufant signed a four-year deal Wednesday on the eve of training camp. The signing secures depth and a starting caliber playmaker at cornerback.
Ryan’s contract was perhaps the biggest question this offseason, and with it now answered, Atlanta is in great shape moving forward as Ryan continues making history in Atlanta.
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