Matt Ryan 8th on SI’s list of highest paid American athletes
BIRDLAND – Back in May of 2008, Matt Ryan signed a six-year, $72 million contract that included $34.75 million in guarantees with the Falcons.
Because Ryan’s set to receive a major bonus when the lockout is settled, he’s No. 8 on Sports Illustrated list of the top 50 highest-earning American athletes.
The bulk of guaranteed money in Ryan’s six-year, $72 million contract he signed in 2008 should be paid out this year, when he’ll earn a $22 million roster bonus on top of his $10.25 million salary.
The magazine projects that Ryan also will make $450,000 in endorsements which would bring his total salary to $32.7 million for 2011.
Golfer Tiger Woods ($62.9 million) is at the top of the list followed by golfer Phil Mickelson ($61.1), NBA star LeBron James ($44.5), Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning ($38.07), New York Yankees star Alex Rodriquez ($36), Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant ($34.8) and Boston Celtics star Kevin Garnett ($32.8).
Ryan has led the Falcons to 33 wins which is tied in NFL history with Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino for most wins in his first three seasons in the NFL. He is an impressive 20-2 at the Georgia Dome during the regular season.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
Get instant updates on Twitter at AJCFalcons and you can join the Facebook Fan page at AJC Falcons.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
85 comments Add your comment
Larry
June 17th, 2011
12:03 pm
For many here in Atlanta what would make Matt Ryan a better QB would be if he arrived last and left first at every practice, smoked dope, fingered fans, fought dogs, fathered illegitimate illegitimate children and spread VD to whom all he tried to mate with. Perhaps these same people do so because they can relate to this lifestyle, irresponsibility, and standards of living.
Matt Ryan is everything you could want in a QB. Actually, after typing the paragraph above, this makes me like and respect him and what he stands for even more.
cj
June 17th, 2011
12:05 pm
ugaclassof2004
You forgot about the younger Manning and Vick. (this should stir some things up)lol….
Mike Jay
June 17th, 2011
12:07 pm
SeldomFound,
Great article, thanks for posting. Ryan is a fantastic field General.
Matt Ryan is over rated and over paid!!!!!
June 17th, 2011
12:08 pm
Atlanta’s Matt Ryan, entering his fourth season, averaged only 6.5 yards per attempt. Now we see why the Falcons gave up so much to move up from near the bottom of the first round to acquire WR Julio Jones and his sub-4.4-second speed.Despite having a 6.5 yards-per-attempt average, Ryan manage 35 10-play drives (third-best in the league) and 15 10-play touchdown drives (tied for second). The Falcons’ coaching staff asked Ryan to throw only 38 passes longer than 21 yards. He completed only nine.
The addition of Jones should allow Ryan to try more downfield throws and open up the offense. Ryan completed 62.5 percent of his passes last year, but the Falcons ranked as the sixth-worst team for yards after the catch. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Falcons averaged only 3.87 yards after a pass-catcher grabbed a completion.
The Falcons won 13 games last year, but some of that success was the result of playing four NFC West teams, the league’s worst division. They have to be better at getting downfield to have hopes of getting close to that record this season.
Back to Bama
June 17th, 2011
12:14 pm
Enter your comments here
Back to Bama
June 17th, 2011
12:18 pm
“LARRY” get over it some people will always support Vick. The marquee color of the falcons most resemble your neck. Ryan is nobodies tier QB and that salary is way over the top!
middleoftheroadear
June 17th, 2011
12:45 pm
GB: Stafford? Kidding?
Pete
June 17th, 2011
12:51 pm
With the WORLD economy collapsing in front of our eyes these numbers are beyond sickening. And yet the NFL players are STILL not satisfied.
The stupidity of fans supporting these pathetic prima donnas is a sign of the times.
The “dumbing” of America is in full stride.
The Fixer
June 17th, 2011
1:06 pm
Never trust a guy wearing a bow tie. Matty Ice is good but not great. Doesn’t really matter what you do in the regular season especially when you stink up the joint at home during the playoffs. The Falcons had a Pro Bowl QB named Matt but they traded him to the Texans. Matty Ice gets all the pub based on potential because of the Vick fiasco. Time will tell but I think the Texans got the better end of that deal.
eM
June 17th, 2011
1:06 pm
What was Rogers doing his first 3 years in the league? Ok, let’s compare Rogers’s first 3 years to Ryan’s. Now, who’s the better QB? Look, Rogers is where he needs to be at seeing how long he has been in the league, just like Brees, Manning, Brady, Rivers, etc….. Ryan is heading that way. Man, some of ya’ll act as if Ryan has been playing for 6+ years, which he has not but has given his team 3 winning seasons in a row. Can any of the above mentioned QB’s say that? Without looking it up maybe Brady, not sure. GO FALCONS!!
True Falcon Fan
June 17th, 2011
1:07 pm
Pete — you have an alternative —- Exit the country and don’t come back —- you are breathing good somebody else could have!
Go Falcons
Blind Deaf and Dumb
June 17th, 2011
1:12 pm
Ryan over rated. I love how guy like you just make statements that the NFC south was the leagues worst division. We had the defending SB champs, and arguably the best young up and coming team in our division. Seattle won the NFC west with a 7-9 record, but the NFC south is the worst. It is rational like that which causes me to fear my fellow man.
True Falcon Fan
June 17th, 2011
1:22 pm
So what’s you point??
True Falcon Fan
June 17th, 2011
1:22 pm
So what’s your point??
True Falcon Fan
June 17th, 2011
1:29 pm
BD&D — What’s your point, you go from stating your opinion of MR2 to Saints/SB to Seattle, so what are you upset about or what is your point?
jim
June 17th, 2011
1:56 pm
get ready…ticket prices up up up!!
True Falcon Fan
June 17th, 2011
3:16 pm
BD&D – another Chuch N’ Duck
Blind Deaf and Dumb
June 17th, 2011
3:38 pm
Point is, some people are just so unbelievably stupid and say such absurd things, it is not worth the time to rationalize with them.
The Truth
June 17th, 2011
3:46 pm
Let’s tell the truth. Matt Ryan is a good qb. His problem is pressure in the big games. From Michael Vick shawdow to playoffs games, Mr. Ryan always seems to fold. So what pressure will he face this year? A highly talented qb in the Big Easy and two YOUNGER qb in Carolina and Tampa Bay. We can no longer use the “young qb excuse.” He has the size and maybe the arm, but I probably would take the Jets qb over Matt. I value winning in the playoffs!
Someone has to say It
June 17th, 2011
4:30 pm
Let’s tell the truth. Matt Ryan is a good qb. But I don’t blame his salary on playoff wins. Ryan was drafted to be the opposite of Vick. The Falcon organization wanted to show the public they moved on.
So as a result. Mr. Ryan got a nice contract. He wasn’t a great qb in college,but to his credit receivers don’t exist in Boston Colloge.
The big problem! We can no longer use the “too young excuse” with Ryan. He has two YOUNGER and upcoming qbs in Carolina and Tapa Bay. Their success can add to Ryan’s pressure. He does not play well under pressure!
True Falcon Fan
June 17th, 2011
6:03 pm
BD&D, The Truth & Someone trying to say something meaningful ——– A Nope!
You guy’s all are very similar
Go Falcon’s
REAL FAN 84
June 17th, 2011
6:38 pm
Ryan 2 Rodgers 1
We got to be the hot team going into thje playoffs, that saints loss hurt us, bad. Exposed Chris Owens.
SeenThisB4
June 17th, 2011
8:42 pm
True Falcan’t Fan: If you took the time to read the blog thread, you would see that BD&D was responding to the guy who’s name was Ryan is overrated…” No wonder you don’t get the point.
Jeffrey
June 18th, 2011
4:08 am
Hate to be a downer, but has anyone notice that this guy never shows up for the big games.
He is 0-2 in the playoffs. Not to mention the multiple picks he throws when the running game gets shut down. Not SOLDED on Mattie ice, he seems to melt under pressure???
D man
June 18th, 2011
8:26 am
Marty Ice got his nickname for what he does under pressure. He will continue to improve and will be one of the best if not the best QB the Falcons have ever had. Steve Bartkowski was the best to date. Too bad he kept getting hurt…
Preston
June 18th, 2011
5:24 pm
GB is smoking crack, the good kind. WTF are you even talking about man, Bradford and Stafford better than Ryan?? Not even close to Ryan
Preston
June 18th, 2011
5:26 pm
Not Even CLOSE!
Matty Ice and ATL Falcons FTW!!!
Preston
June 18th, 2011
5:32 pm
@ Jeffrey
I think its still too early to be basing Matt Ryan’s worth to this football team on two post season losses. I mean come on its just 2 loses and quite frankly, if our Defense had shown up in the last one, I dont think we would have lost, Ryan hurt our chances with a bad pick six but he was under tremendous pressure cause our Defense couldnt make any impression on the Packers what so ever, they just got handled, the whole game.
hiramsaint
June 18th, 2011
8:48 pm
0-2. that about sums it up but if it makes you feel good- cheer him on.
Section 108
June 19th, 2011
9:03 am
How many games over the last few years has Matty Ice led for 4th qrtr comeback wins? He’s a leader and a stand up guy. Our previous “star qb” was neither.
He’s worth every penny
Steelers fan
June 19th, 2011
10:48 am
I don’t agree with his off the field actions, but look what Big Ben has done on the field. Rookie year AFC championship game. 2nd year Super Bowl champs and has another Super Bowl win. Last year went to the Super Bowl. Ryan does have better off the field actions, but on the field, not even close. Go Steelers.
Dukester
June 19th, 2011
3:22 pm
The part that bothers me with Matt Ryan supporters is you say in one breath he is “a young QB” but in the same breath your quick to call out all the good things he has done. But when someone calls out his bad things you say ” he is young he has time”. You cant have it both ways. Either say lets not rush to judgement on his playoff trips and giver him time. By the way he is young and I am willing to give him 6 years so I call it how I see it. I dont give him flack and I dont give him credit. I think he is a smart kid but I also think his weak arm will be his demise. Unless of course we can run a west coast kinda like the old 49ers ran with Montana and Rice. Problem is that was innovative for that time and I dont believe with the athletes on the field today that it will work.
Reality Check
June 19th, 2011
5:26 pm
Matt is 26 going on 30 and no playoff wins…..
Just sayin……
Matt Ryan The Beast
June 19th, 2011
6:57 pm
ALL YOU GUYS ARE IDIOTS… MATT RYAN IS READY AND HES A BEAST… ITS NOT HIS PROBLEM THAT THE TEAM DOESNT HAVE DEFENSE!!!!!
Real American
June 20th, 2011
6:53 am
Matt Ryan is the not even the best player on the Falcons…he’s not even the best on the offense, he’s decent. Not great.