Falcons owner Arthur Blank, and new head coach Mike Smith have some work to do. Their project is to rebuild the Atlanta Falcons back to glory again. For the Falcons it'll be harder than most rebuilding plans. What the Falcons had to endure last season was something no professional sports team should go through. Everything from the Michael Vick situation to their head coach, Bobby Petrino, who they counted on rebuilding the Falcons, ditching them in the middle of the season. First order of business though is to tear apart from the Michael Vick situation. The Falcons will be able to do this with their first round draft pick, Matt Ryan.
Let's face it, Michael Vick was the murderer of the Atlanta Falcons this past season. His off field antics with abusing dogs completely destroyed the Falcons chance at even being remotely competitive in 2007. The Falcons ended up alternating through quarterbacks throughout the season with guys like Chris Redman, Byron Leftwitch and others. Plus hearing everyday about how Vick is doing in jail and the media bashing him didn't help the Falcons case either. Yes Vick committed a serious crime, but he has been a teammate to that whole roster for years now and it obviously hurt them inside to see the way Vick was treated. When most of the Falcons had been tight friends with Vick, and expected that he'll have a monster year as everyone expected out of him. Then only to see him get caught in that mess and not play the 07 season killed the morale of that franchise. When Vick got into trouble, it definitely showed that Vick hurt the Falcons by not even being on the field.
The issue with Vick is now vanished. The Atlanta Falcons are not only starting a new chapter in their organization but starting a new book. The first chapter of that new book begins with Matt Ryan. The Falcons could've drafted the explosive Darren McFadden or the 316 pound beast, Glenn Dorsey. Some of the "experts" even suggested that they should to improve the team first then worry about the Vick situation. As everyone knows, they didn't draft either of them but instead drafted Ryan, which was the smart move.
Drafting Matt Ryan is more than acquiring a quality quarterback. It says to the Falcons fans and the league that they have put the Vick situation behind them. It says that when Vick does come back in a year, it won't matter because they already have a new "face of the franchise". Vick did a lot of great things for Atlanta. Led them to the NFC Championship game back in 2004 and created excitement in Atlanta. However the Falcons don't need to go through the drama of deciding whether or not to bring Vick back. This is a professional franchise, they don't need to make decisions about players that are dangerous to getting into trouble off the field again. If Michael Vick was ever serious about leading the Falcons to anywhere he would've never did what he did. Now with the NFL being stricter as ever, the Falcons will put a hand up to Vick and say "no" because it's the right thing to do. If a player with the caliber of Michael Vick isn't serious about his game or the Falcons, then you don't need or want him on your team setting a bad example.
Ryan is the perfect pick for the Falcons. He may not be that "sexy" pick for a team. He's not different from any other quarterback in the league or in the draft. He doesn't have a rocket for an arm and he won't "wow" you with anything. But Ryan's a leader and a winner, and right now that's exactly what Atlanta needs. They already tried to bring in a hot shot star with Vick, and look where that left them. All the Falcons need for Ryan to do, and Ryan said it himself during draft weekend, and that is to "win games". With the Falcons situation, that's easier said than done but if Ryan can not get totally destroyed out there in his first season, the Falcons should be set with him for the next few years.
Let's face it, Michael Vick was the murderer of the Atlanta Falcons this past season. His off field antics with abusing dogs completely destroyed the Falcons chance at even being remotely competitive in 2007. The Falcons ended up alternating through quarterbacks throughout the season with guys like Chris Redman, Byron Leftwitch and others. Plus hearing everyday about how Vick is doing in jail and the media bashing him didn't help the Falcons case either. Yes Vick committed a serious crime, but he has been a teammate to that whole roster for years now and it obviously hurt them inside to see the way Vick was treated. When most of the Falcons had been tight friends with Vick, and expected that he'll have a monster year as everyone expected out of him. Then only to see him get caught in that mess and not play the 07 season killed the morale of that franchise. When Vick got into trouble, it definitely showed that Vick hurt the Falcons by not even being on the field.
The issue with Vick is now vanished. The Atlanta Falcons are not only starting a new chapter in their organization but starting a new book. The first chapter of that new book begins with Matt Ryan. The Falcons could've drafted the explosive Darren McFadden or the 316 pound beast, Glenn Dorsey. Some of the "experts" even suggested that they should to improve the team first then worry about the Vick situation. As everyone knows, they didn't draft either of them but instead drafted Ryan, which was the smart move.
Drafting Matt Ryan is more than acquiring a quality quarterback. It says to the Falcons fans and the league that they have put the Vick situation behind them. It says that when Vick does come back in a year, it won't matter because they already have a new "face of the franchise". Vick did a lot of great things for Atlanta. Led them to the NFC Championship game back in 2004 and created excitement in Atlanta. However the Falcons don't need to go through the drama of deciding whether or not to bring Vick back. This is a professional franchise, they don't need to make decisions about players that are dangerous to getting into trouble off the field again. If Michael Vick was ever serious about leading the Falcons to anywhere he would've never did what he did. Now with the NFL being stricter as ever, the Falcons will put a hand up to Vick and say "no" because it's the right thing to do. If a player with the caliber of Michael Vick isn't serious about his game or the Falcons, then you don't need or want him on your team setting a bad example.
"I would characterize it this way; as we've been saying for a while, we have to move on, and we're moving on as if Michael is not here," team owner Arthur Blank said. "We retain his rights, and at the right time we'll deal with that," per The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.I don't know if Matt Ryan will save the Atlanta Falcons, but he will definitely bring in a new mindset. It might even take a couple years before the Falcons become a decent team let alone a good team but at least now they have a direction. At least now the Falcons can be assured that they have a bright future with Ryan. He can be the star attraction for the fans of Atlanta and to players that might want to play with Ryan.
Ryan is the perfect pick for the Falcons. He may not be that "sexy" pick for a team. He's not different from any other quarterback in the league or in the draft. He doesn't have a rocket for an arm and he won't "wow" you with anything. But Ryan's a leader and a winner, and right now that's exactly what Atlanta needs. They already tried to bring in a hot shot star with Vick, and look where that left them. All the Falcons need for Ryan to do, and Ryan said it himself during draft weekend, and that is to "win games". With the Falcons situation, that's easier said than done but if Ryan can not get totally destroyed out there in his first season, the Falcons should be set with him for the next few years.
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