11:17 am October 20, 2009, by AJC Sports

We heard NBC’s Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth go on and on about what a great QB Chicago’s Jay Cutler is Sunday night.
We listened to Collinsworth say, straight up, in his pre-game comments about the Falcons, “I just don’t think they’re that good.”
We keep hearing about how Falcons QB Matt Ryan is no Tom Brady or Peyton Manning at his position.
We say only this: The Falcons at this point are 4-1. Sunday night, Matt Ryan’s team won the football game. Jay Cutler’s team didn’t.
YOU TELL US: Are you Team Matt or Team Ain’t All That? State your case why you’re pro-MR2 or not sold yet on the kid.
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230 comments Add your comment
MLB
October 20th, 2009
5:33 pm
Jeff George! Now there’s a name from the haunted past that sends shivers through every Falcons fan! Please, never utter it again!
nhe
October 20th, 2009
5:33 pm
Who started this thread? D3? Someone else? You may want to get your facts straight – did you watch the whole broadcast?
Collinsworth’s “not that good” comment was in the context of how the Falcon’s suspect defense holds them back from being considered an elite team – it had nothing to do with Ryan.
Dungy went to great lengths to compare Ryan to P Manning several times, and Collinsworth didn’t say anything to contradict that.
I thought Ryan got very fair treatment throughout the broadcast.
Where are you getting this stuff?
I love MR2, but I think he gets too much love from the media, I would much prefer that he fly under the radar and just win (the way Aikman and Montana did). So would he.
John
October 20th, 2009
5:38 pm
I watched ESPN FirstTake the other morning and they had a question for the analysts, Skip Bayless and the two Stu brothers. After the Sunday night game, who would you take, Matt Ryan or Jay Cutler? Skip and one of the Stu’s said Jay Cutler hands down, because of his stats and his arm and all this other crap… my response? What stat matters the most, personal stats like 300yards passing, or the score board stat that said Falcons 21 Bears 14? Ryan freakin won the game, and don’t tell me that Jay Cutler and his “Elwayesque” arm could run the no-huddle like Matt Ryan. MR2 is gonna prove to the NFL world that the Falcons are legit. Just wait til Dimitroff and Smith have one more draft under their belts to finish up the defense. Falcons will be the next great dynasty! You heard it here!
Rocky Mountian Falcon
October 20th, 2009
5:39 pm
If I were the owner of the Falcons and had the choice to trade Ryan for Peyton or Brady, The answer would be NO!! 1st, The have more football seasons behind them than in front of them, 2nd, Once we get the final few pices in place, better depth, on both sides, then we will have a championship team. Atlanta has turned the corner, and will be a consistant winning team. Will we win the Super Bowl this year? I can dream, but I doubt it. This is the Saints year, and they are on a mission! Atlanta will have a good season, and make it to the playoffs. Soon, Very Soon, We will be placing the V.L. Trophy on display in Atlanta.
Sherfnot'inham
October 20th, 2009
5:39 pm
BigrEasy666 yu still their?! so if the sinks go 16 to 0 that mean they got to win in the dome right? you realy thin they gon get the FALCONS in the dome? with all that hoopin up in the dome?! i mean the ga dome not the supedome/just so you know
F-105 Thunderchief
October 20th, 2009
5:44 pm
These unnamed blogs from AJC sports seem to spring from Bizarro World. You, whoever you are, writes: “We keep hearing about how Falcons QB Matt Ryan is no Tom Brady or Peyton Manning at his position.”
From where do you hear this? I never do. All I ever hear, including Sunday night, is how good this kid is, how mature beyond his years.
This is like Bird Babe-quality stuff. You know the blogger who believed Darren McFadden was a quarterback and who wouldn’t be persuaded otherwise? Y’all aren’t letting her come up with these lame blog posts are you?
Until You Win a Couple Of Playoff Games you are............welll.....a BUST
October 20th, 2009
5:46 pm
END OF CONVERSATION
WITHOUT TURNER MATT WOULD WET HIS PANTS
October 20th, 2009
5:48 pm
If you shutdown Turner, so goes ole NOODLE ARM.
This scrub couldn’t find his way out of a 1-way exit.
John
October 20th, 2009
5:50 pm
that’s why turner only had 30 yards and we still won huh?
polskidawg
October 20th, 2009
5:51 pm
Love Matt Ryan.
When he marries Adriana Lima, then we can say he’s matched (or surpassed) Tom Brady…
John
October 20th, 2009
5:52 pm
Watch the games before you speak. Matt Ryan has won games when the running game was shut down. Hasn’t been much of a running game all year and we’re still 4-1. How do you respond to that? Douche
Eugene
October 20th, 2009
5:53 pm
That is one reason I turn down the sound and liston to the radio, when the falcons play.
Sherfnot'inham
October 20th, 2009
5:58 pm
BigGreazy830 you out there? look like you gon on the q.t. probably that stuff bout that goat. i told em it was serious/they need to leave you lone on that one/you know romance type stuff. oh well, Falcons to win NFC in 09. hey BigGreazy vini vidi vici/dont know what it mean/seen it in a piza hut HA
Sorka
October 20th, 2009
6:01 pm
Ryan seemed really off for stretches of Sunday’s game, especially in the first quarter. I was very worried during the first quarter. I think Ryan is terrific overall as a starting QB for the Falcons, in that he is talented, smart, works hard and behaves responsibly off the field. He is growing in his role, but he is not yet at the Brady/Manning level – I think he will get there, though, and maybe one day be superior to them. Brady did not start his first year, did he? And Manning had a terrible first year. So Ryan is way ahead on that time schedule. I gave up caring what national sports pundits had to say about our teams long ago – usually they forget we have an NFL team!
dyldawg
October 20th, 2009
6:08 pm
the south will beat the north this year in fball
Jim (not Mora)
October 20th, 2009
6:12 pm
I guess I watched a different game than a lot of people. I’m no huge fan of Chris Collinsworth, but I heard some pretty good props to Matt Ryan from him…especially about how good he is in his junior year. Looked to me like he was pretty impressed with him. But hey, it really doesn’t matter who thinks he is not a “Tom Brady” or whatever…or may never be a Peyton Manning..or whatever. Who gives a flip? The thing is, Matt Ryan is REALLY GOOD and will only get better. And he is respected by his team and he has some talent to go to and some pretty darn good guys to carry the ball. And we’ve got a team of men who are not all about “me,” but about “US.” And we’re having fun now and can be proud of our Falcons for a change. Again…who gives a flip what anyone else thinks.
KEEP IT 100
October 20th, 2009
6:16 pm
THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER MATT RYAN OR TOM BRADY….BOTH OF EM ARE DOING THEIR OWN THANG AND BOTH TEAMS ARE DOING PRETTY GOOD SO GET OFF OF MATT RYAN’S NUTS!!!!
"Mr, Falcon"
October 20th, 2009
6:25 pm
Ryan is good enough. He is only in his second year. Brady would not have won all those Super Bowls if he had not had such a great defense. Ryan can win a Super Bowl if the defense can stand up when they need to.
htownbravesfan
October 20th, 2009
6:27 pm
Being an unbiased observer, I think I can honestly say Matt Ryan is a good young quarterback, but anyone who would say he is better than Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, or Drew Brees should check in to the nearest hospital for a head examination. Think about it. If you were playing one game for your life, would you pick Matt Ryan to be your quarterback? That’s what I thought.
savannah dawg
October 20th, 2009
6:35 pm
Collingworth not only likes Cutlers big arm, he likes other parts of his body.
Larry
October 20th, 2009
6:40 pm
Matt Ryan is the next Matt Ryan!
With this one cannot argue!
paw paw
October 20th, 2009
6:40 pm
he is the best QB since steve bart. a helluva lot better than the last one we had.
David
October 20th, 2009
6:41 pm
The thing about Ryan is that he’s not allowing bad games or bad decisions affect him. Even during moments of adversity he’s keeping his poise and more often than not finding a way to keep it together and win, no matter what the stats say. That’s why the Falcons went 11-5 last year and are 4-1 right now. And that’s what separates the great (or future great) QB’s from the merely good ones. Cutler may be better in the physical and the stat department, but I have yet to see him consistently lead a team or give them the confidence to win that Ryan has with the Falcons.
And for the record, I think talk of the Falcons in the Super Bowl may be premature at this point. Their running game isn’t putting out right now like it did last year, and their defense, though it made all the plays it needed to against the Bears, is still young and mistake prone. But they’re playing like they have a purpose and, most importantly, they believe in Ryan. Give it another year or two and they well may be a Super Bowl contender. Right now, I look for the Falcons to break their streak of never having back-to-back winning seasons. That alone would be an accomplishment.
Larry
October 20th, 2009
6:43 pm
htownbravesfan,
Agreed, but today yours is an obvious question with an equally obvious answer as we’ve had many years to formulate an opinion on those three QB’s and 22 games to formulate one for Ryan.
Come back and ask this same question in 3-4 years!
John
October 20th, 2009
6:51 pm
Haters Hate, that they’ll do they’LL hate on you. Of course he’s not Tom Brady, he’s Matt Ryan
Alan
October 20th, 2009
7:28 pm
Matty Ice, what more can you say, he took his team to an 11-5 record as a rookie, how many have done that. The team believes in him, offense and defense and the coaching staff, the ones that don’t are jealous of his and the teams sucess.
GO MATTY AND THE OFFENSE, GO DEFENSE, GO FALCONS AND GO SOUTHERN RUSH, GEE’S I AM PROUD TO BE A FALCON FAN.
"Chef" Tim Dix
October 20th, 2009
7:29 pm
My post game comments on Chris, ” I just don’t think you are any good.”
George Holman
October 20th, 2009
7:34 pm
This guy saved the franchise! Period……………I have been a fan since their inception, and after the Vick debacle and the 4-12 season, this kid came in and calmly took charge, earned the respect of the team, and led the team to the playoffs. Hats off to the new GM and to Arthur Blank for having the foresight to hire Mike Smith and for having the courage to believe in an untested rookie. Thanks to all the future is bright (for the first time in 50 years) for Atlanta Falcons football!
morris
October 20th, 2009
7:35 pm
In reality Ryan is ahead of where Brady, Brees, and yes even manning were at this stage of his career. Both Brees and Brady were warming the bench their first couple years. And Manning went 3-13 his rookie year and had a much lower QB rating than Ryan had in his intial season. Sometimes it seems almost everyone actually expects to much of this kid who has only started 21 career regular season games. Give him a little more time and he is going to be one of the elite QB’s in the NFL. Jesus christ he’s 15-6 as a starter in the regular season so far in his career. What more should people expect? Do you think if the RAMS or Dolphins had a do over that they would’nt take Ryan over Long and Long? You bet your a$$ they would.
Todd - Dacula
October 20th, 2009
7:43 pm
Heck – they all are overated for the job they do. Many times, winning is placed on the QB for passing and handing the ball off. Factor in the RB reading the holes, thats opened for him by lineman and factor in WR’s putting on moves and runs after the catch.
QB’s are overated, including Matt Ryan (nothing against QB’s, but they are over rated).
Todd - Dacula
October 20th, 2009
7:45 pm
Then, there is old saying, ‘DEFENSE WINS GAMES’… with that statement, QB’s marginalized
BigEasy830
October 20th, 2009
8:15 pm
Sorry Sherfnot’inham, I had to leave foe awhile…….I was out making your woman “feel” like a woman again. If she screams my name in her sleep tonight I’m sorry, I have that “BIG” of an effect on women.
ww1cooks
October 20th, 2009
9:10 pm
hey, great, yahoo I’m last.
Good , Bad or Indifferent, the Birds(and MR2) have to earn their RESPECT by first; have a winning record in back to back to back to back to back seasons ya’ know what I mean. Second, let’s win some championship (divisons, conference, Superbowls) and then watch the LOVE flow from all corners, stations, blogs, talking heads experts, Hall of Famers….
Marco Perdomo
October 20th, 2009
9:19 pm
I GUESS YOU DONT NEED TO KNOW MUCH OF FOOTBALL TO BE A COMMENTATOR.
rheddy
October 20th, 2009
9:24 pm
Ryan is no Brady. I think that’s fair. While you’re pointing that out please remember to point out that in his second year Brady was no Tom Brady, in fact he wasn’t even Matt Ryan. Collinsworth was such a Bears homer he should be reprimanded. If you didn’t look at the score you’d of thought we were getting slammed listening to this bafoon shake his Bears’ pom-poms.
Ryan’s precision has lacked a little early on. I think he’s been less accurate than last season, although his completion percentage says my perception is wrong. I expect the accuracy to improve as the season moves forward. His decision making, arm strength and moxey remain unquestioned.
I consider my self a knowledgable fan and 3 of the 4 wins I came away not thinking the Falcons played well. Isn’t that the sign of great teams though, winning while everyone doesn’t think you play well. More importantly, I think we all think Ryan and lots of other Falcons have their best games in front of them and yet they’re 4-1. I don’t think anyone thinks the Saints aren’t already playing their best football. I’m hoping that by the time mid December rolls around the Saints are dropping off while Ryan and the Falcons are just peaking. It could happen so you better watch.
He’s not Tom Brady or Peyton Manning at this point. Check back in 10 years and then let’s count rings. I like my boy’s side then, but now it’s silly to throw his name in with Manning and a healthy Brady. Instead let’s do like Mike Smith and hope he outperforms Tony Romo which is all that’s relevant for the next 5 days.
Marco Perdomo
October 20th, 2009
9:28 pm
I really hope the saints are still undefeated for Nov 2 when the falcons beat the crap out of them, then the Falcons well get the respect that they desreve!!!!!!!!!!!
rheddy
October 20th, 2009
9:37 pm
Went back and reread some of your comments. Those that say Collinsworth called it down the middle are wrong. You’d of thought it was the ‘85 Bears the way he was acting, and really the game felt in control nearly the whole time, with the possible exception of the 45 seconds between their second TD and Weems return. Even if they scored at the end I felt sure Matty Ice was going to get us a game winning field goal attempt. Collinsworth did a poor and one sided job.
falcon21
October 20th, 2009
9:39 pm
I think this is a Falcon fan blog and not a Falcon hate blog. If any of you haters have a favorite team then please go to their blog. We have no use for your comments. Hate for a team is one thing but being stupid is another. Go cheer for your team and leave us the hell alone. If you are a fan of another team, you would not be here anyway. You are only a fool with nothing to look forward too. Get a life my friend.
DrJ
October 20th, 2009
9:47 pm
It works out best if they believe Atlanta is the underdog, I sure don’t want them telling us we are favored. I watched the game live on tv and several times on recording, and didn’t think CC dissed us too much, considering they didn’t expect us to win. At the beginning of the game I think they expected Atlanta to drive right down the field and score, and when they didn’t, and the Bears did, they jumped on the Chicago wagon. Wrong move! Never count the birds out. I think Chicago may become believers.
bravehawkfalcon
October 20th, 2009
10:01 pm
No he’s NOT Tom Brady…he’s Matty Ice!! Chris Collinsworth must be smoking some high powered stuff.For him to say“I just don’t think they’re that good.” 15-7 since the start of last season.Men lie,numbers dont
D.Ellis
October 20th, 2009
10:03 pm
Big EASy/VS2 just hating seeing the boy Ryan winning football games I tell you. Yep shut down Turner and ol Ryan ain’t nothing…..last time I checked the stat book Turner was 15 th in th league in rushing…..and we’re still 4-1. It must get old every week hoping for the down fall of the Atlanta Falcons QB
And your a Steelers fan Big Easy….how dare you turn your back on Rothlisburger and jump on Brees’s back for the comparison….hahahahahhah
Thomas Cianfrogna
October 20th, 2009
10:13 pm
I don’t understand how Collinsworth is still in this business. He is the absolute worst announcer in the game today. He makes Thesiman look good…almost. The Falcons aren’t pretty, and losing Williams will hurt, and they may lose at Dallas (gut feeling), but they will beat New Orleans on MNF.
falcon21
October 20th, 2009
10:22 pm
Weak arm, noodle arm, call it what you think. The man can play and has an arm that wins games. Thats all that counts.
falcon21
October 20th, 2009
10:30 pm
Thomas C, the Birds will not lose to the Cowboys. If I am wrong then look me up and give me hell. Just a fan talking crap Thomas. It’s all in fun but I do believe in my Birds.
Big Bird Fan
October 20th, 2009
11:01 pm
Don’t fool yourself people, the Saints are now flying high and in the spotlight and everybody is starting to put them in the Super Bowl bcause they are undefeated. Remeber the Titans last year, they were predicted to win the Super Bowl because they were beating everyone and when they got into the playoffs they were beat in the first round. Being undefeated now does not mean that ateam is going to the Super Bowl. There are too many games left to try and put someone in the Super Bowl at this point, the injury bug can plaque can hit any team at any given time and all hope can be shattered. Over the last three seasons a surprise team made it to the playoffs and then to the Super Bowl. Due to the Falcons schedule we are winning games that oher people thouht we should lose. The Falcons passing game, running game, and defense will manifest itself starting with the Cowboys and will continue to improve throughout the rest of the season and will shock the Saints and Giants……………………… GO FALCONS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rico Niles
October 20th, 2009
11:02 pm
Matt Ryan is not the next Peyton Manning ro Tom Brady. He is the Next Matt Ryan who in the end will be better than both of them!
Rico Niles
October 20th, 2009
11:02 pm
Matt Ryan is not the next Peyton Manning or Tom Brady. He is the Next Matt Ryan who in the end will be better than both of them!
Steve C
October 20th, 2009
11:22 pm
Big Easy = Vick Supporter = Falcons Sorry = Shoulda Drafted Flacco
Lot of jealousy over Ryan being a winning quarterback.
E43
October 20th, 2009
11:47 pm
brady and peyton are 30 plus. making that statement about a falcons team that by the way has not had its running game come alive is just ignorant. say whatever but we’re 4-1 cry about it,make excuses for and do whatever i dont care we lost to brady but brady lost to kyle orton and mark sanchez
Shadyman
October 21st, 2009
6:26 am
Collinsworth was talking about the defense when he made that comment, not Ryan or the Falcons entire team. Geesh you guys( AJC) are lazy…