After 14 seasons and the greatest Atlanta Falcon in franchise history, the Falcons have traded Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts for a 3rd round pick. Matt Ryan was the MVP of the 2016 season as he guided his Falcons to a Super Bowl berth. Wasn’t his fault that the Falcons lost that game. With Atlanta, Ryan threw for 59,735 yards, 367 touchdowns, and 170 interceptions. Ryan has a career completion percentage of 65.5, which is outstanding!!! Ryan played 232 games in an Atlanta uniform. Ten of those games were in the postseason, and one Super Bowl.
I want to go on the record and say I do not like this trade. Ryan has been a model player for this team and citizen in the Atlanta community. I was so happy the Falcons drafted him 3rd overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. Falcons’ should have built the offensive line around Ryan, and then you would start seeing results like 2016.
Yes, Ryan wasn’t new Head Coach Arthur Smith and General Manager Terry Fontenot’s guy, but still Ryan is still a top QB in this league. Yes, Ryan had lost a little off his arm, but he had a terrible offensive line and Ryan had to scramble for his life being the most sacked quarterback the last four seasons, which were all losing seasons. The Colts only giving up a 2022 3rd round pick is a steal for them and a disgrace for the Atlanta organization and the fans of the Falcons.
The last time the Falcons had another starting quarterback open the season other than Ryan was back in 2007 when Joey Harrington opened as starter after the mess that Michael Vick did. Looks like the Falcons will go through one or two season like that. Signing of Marcus Mariota to a 2-year, $18 million contract is a stop gap until the team finds their next franchise QB.
Falcons fans have suffered enough through too many losing seasons. The fans deserve better decision making from the Smith and Fontenot. They have only been at the helm about a year, and trying to clean up the mess left by then Head Coach Dan Quinn and General Manager Thomas Dimitroff.
I will end this post by saying I wish Ryan and his family in Indianapolis all the best. And I hope Ryan ends his career by winning a ring. But don’t forget about us here in Atlanta that supported you all these years.
Header photo courtesy of Yahoo Sports
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