And with the first pick, Miami takes … not Matt Ryan!
Try to imagine Matt Ryan wearing a Dolphins hat on draft day. OK, nightmare over.
The other day in Weekend Predictions — a weekly and somewhat hallucinatory departure from this planet — I recounted how Bill Parcells solicited a job offer from Falcons owner Arthur Blank in December of 2007, only to then give him the standard hello-I-must be-going Bronx salute and take a similar position with the Miami Dolphins.
Actually, I’m not really sure Parcells ever gave Blank an official salute. He might have just left one of those little Bobby Petrino sticky notes on the door of the executive washroom.
But today, we recall another interesting tie between the Falcons and Dolphins, before Sunday’s season opener at the Georgia Dome: Matt Ryan.
Seems hard to believe now. But Ryan actually was only the third player selected in the 2008 draft. Miami passed on him first overall, opting for left tackle Jake Long. St. Louis passed on him second overall, taking defensive end Chris Long. What’s even harder to believe is really smart people like me thought Thomas Dimitroff must have been dropped on his head at some point for taking Ryan and passing on Kansas City defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey. (I was just kidding. Sort of like taking Georgia over Oklahoma State.)
We know the rest. Ryan threw a touchdown pass on his first NFL attempt. He was named Rookie of the Year. He helped heal a franchise, its owner and a city. He led the Falcons to an 11-5 record and the playoffs. Parcells is fortunate. Because if the Dolphins didn’t also have a strong season, and had tanked, he’d be fried in South Florida.
There’s certainly nothing wrong with Jake Long. Great left tackles are difficult to come by in the NFL, and obviously it’s an important position. But Long isn’t Ryan — and certainly neither is Miami quarterback Chad Pennington (solid but injury prone).
Knowing what you know now about Ryan, imagine how would you would feel if you saw him emerge from the tunnel Sunday in a Dolphins uniform?
The Florida Sun-Sentinel noted that former Dallas quarterback-turned-broadcaster Troy Aikman raised the issue during a recent Miami pre-season game, saying: “There [are] a lot of people that wondered why the Dolphins didn’t take Matt Ryan. If you know he’s a franchise quarterback, then you take him there. Something about it, the Dolphins didn’t think he was a franchise quarterback.”
They guessed wrong on that one. And think about this, if Parcells had signed with the Falcons and come to the same conclusion about Ryan, he wouldn’t have drafted him here either.
Parcells not coming here was the best thing that ever happened to the 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
95 comments Add your comment
DePlane
September 11th, 2009
7:14 pm
Ryan and Turner together made the Falcon’s offense potent. But add RW, MJ and TG to the mix with a dose of J-rock and a few other surprises and the Miami D is going to have their hands full. The assembly of this offense was methodical and has brought together a talented group that is going to grind out the win against a talented Miami team.
Hold the Tuna thank you…
PhinzFan54
September 11th, 2009
7:25 pm
“Can’t imagine what a Dolphins fan must be thinking.”
I’m thinking we have our franchise LT for the next 10 years, and you have your franchise QB. I’m thinking we did just fine last year with Long, and will continue to, while you guys will continue to be just fine with Ryan.
I’m also thinking that Matty Ice will be spending quite a bit of time on his back Sunday afternoon, courtesy of Jason Taylor and Joey Porter. I like Ryan. Classy kid. Starter for my fantasy team. But I think it’s safe to say both fan bases are happy with the guys they got. Should be a good one this weekend- enjoy it, and hopefully I can come back here Sunday night and talk a little junk after a Dolphins win.
Big Ray
September 11th, 2009
8:04 pm
Heh.
Dolphins fans are funny. The only way Ryan ends up on his back a lot tomorrow is if he holds the ball too long, something he’s not known for doing. Why hold the ball when you can give it to Mike Turner? Or Jerious Norwood? Or Roddy White? Or Tony Gonzalez? Or several others? Ryan proved that he will pass the ball to a variety of people (unlike a former QB). Taylor is good, but not as great as he used to be, and Porter better be looking for Turner and Norwood. If he concentrates on Ryan, he’s gonna have a rough day, because you don’t ignore a guy who got 1,700 yards last season. Nor can you ignore a Hall of Fame tight end.
Our O-line is not the swiss cheese unit it used to be. Baker, Clabo, Dahl, McClure, and Blalock. Not a bunch of patsies, I’m afraid.
The Dolphins are a good team, but so are we. Wildcat or no, our offense is superior. The comparison of defenses is another story. But we’ll find out tomorrow, won’t we?
Larry ,
So Dimitroff tells you all his secrets, does he? Is that before or after you shine his shoes?
Big Ray
September 11th, 2009
8:09 pm
One other thing. Jake Long is a great left tackle. But you never hear about a left tackle leading his team to anything. And even a Pro Bowl left tackle can’t protect an injury prone quarterback.
Funny, Pennington is known far more for his accuracy than his “strong arm.” I wonder how the usual naysayers missed that?
TP
September 11th, 2009
8:11 pm
Be prepared fans of both teams . . . The Fish and the Birds both overachieved last year; each was about three seasons ahead of schedule. This season could be a painful dose of reality. I like what the Falcons have done, but you need to be looking at next year especially when the defense has hopefully matured to see real success not the made for movie stuff that happened last year!!! And the dolphins are still a work in progress; until either Henne or another QB selection steps up as the replacement to Pennington it will be a work in progress. As for the argument, Ryan or Long: How can you say either went wrong? Falcons fans better hope Baker works out for 15 years or Ryan will have to learn to like the taste of turf, and Dolphin fans better hope the Dolphins find a qb replacement Pennington’s arm will only remain a sturdy rubbery material for so long. As far as having Parcells as your prez . . . you are out of your mind to act like you wouldn’t want him here. As I drove home from work the afternoon when Parcells was supposedly in town speaking with Blank I received five phone calls from excited Falcons fans and season ticket holders salivating over the idea of having The Tuna here. Don’t be stupid and act like you wouldn’t have taken him . . . that’s just sour grapes. As for Sunday, I think the fish have a little too much in the front 7 for the Falcons . . . at least a little more complete team because the Falcons’ D just haven’t looked good. If the Fish don’t win outright by 1 – 4 points, they should cover.
mike
September 11th, 2009
8:13 pm
Pennington’s numbers were better than Ryan’s across the board last year……..more yards, more TD passes, fewer INTs, much better QB rating. Plus, he did it with lesser receivers. The only advantage Ryan has is that he’s younger. 87 QB ratings like Ryan had are pretty average in the NFL; especially when the QB has a good running game. Everyone’s assuming that Ryan’s going to get better, but despite Schultz’ claim, he’s certainly not better than Chad Pennington right now. Plus, he would have been A LOT worse had he been drafted by Miami or St. Louis. Time will show that Matt Ryan is no better than Chad Henne.
Big Ray
September 11th, 2009
8:14 pm
From Jay Glazer, courtesy of AtlantaFalcons.com:
AF.COM: There has been a significant amount of buzz in the national media involving Falcons qrterback Matt Ryan suffering through the Sophomore Slump. What do you make of that talk?
JG: “I think the addition of Tony Gonzalez is the perfect sophomore slump buster for the Falcons. From what I saw when I visited Falcons camp this summer and from what people I trust around the league are saying, Ryan has improved this off-season. Ryan and I actually trained together last year at API (Athletes Performance Institute) and he actually looks bigger and stronger this year. Looks like Fish (Falcons Director of Athletic Performance Jeff Fish) worked him hard this off-season.”
Uh-oh. The possibility that “ol’ Noodle Arm” might get stronger and better never occurred to some people. Sounds like Bad News for some, heh heh heh!
Take Good With Bad
September 11th, 2009
8:19 pm
I telling ALL OF YOU PHINS FOR LIFE TO SUCK IT UP AND ADMITT THAT YOUR DUMB -SS OVER RATED GM MADE A BAD MOOOOOOOOVE YOU CAN HAVE LONG AND PARCELL I’M HAPPY WITH DIMMY,SMITTY,AND MATTY. New names for our 2 featured backs SEARCH AND DESTROY .JERIOUS(SEARCH)Michael(DESTROY SWIM HOME PHINS!!!!!!!!
Big Ray
September 11th, 2009
8:21 pm
Mike,
Um, no. Pennington ought to be better than Ryan right now. Ryan is a rookie. So for Pennington to be better is no accomplishment. Ryan can and will get better. Will Pennington? Nope. If anything, you better hope Henne gets good soon, as Pennington cannot stay healthy.
Oh, and when Henne wins the awards and gets the stats that Ryan has had, then you can say that Ryan is no better than him. Until then, you don’t have a leg to stand on with that statment.
The Falcons are in rebuild mode, and this is year 2. Ryan was a rookie quarterback with a rookie head coach, and a rookie GM. And basically a gutted team. For him to do as well as a veteran QB with the best passer rating in the NFL, a seasoned GM and a defense featuring two Pro Bowlers says something. In time, Ryan will be better than Pennington.
Mike
September 11th, 2009
9:00 pm
Take Good With Bad – What do you have against our GM Jeff Ireland? He wasn’t even brought up in the article.
Ed-Covington
September 11th, 2009
9:13 pm
What no one has mentioned is that the ‘Fins didn’t even have Pennington when they drafted. Where would they have been if Favre hadn’t come out of “retirement” causing the J_E_T_S to cut Pennington? Was Tuna planning on letting Chad Henne start last year?
GO BIRDS!! BEAT THE ‘FINS!!
Sonny Clusters
September 11th, 2009
9:54 pm
Enter your comments here
Falcon 8211
September 11th, 2009
10:32 pm
all this talk about porter hitting ryan what about lofton hitting pennington. we will just have to see
dawglover
September 11th, 2009
11:56 pm
My father, Ken Chalker, Sr., passed last night at 8:08 after a long tough struggle with cancer. He was a huge falcons fan as we grew up in Atlanta. I’m talking Nobis and Van Brocklin years. The greatest game I recall was the 15-9 game vs. the Vikings in the early 70’s. That was the former bartender who kicked the 5 field goals. My buddies and I in Jr. high made a sign that said “Howie the mouth invades the south.” They put the sign on TV and we were all thrilled. We had season tickets then in the back row of the endzone of the old stadium. I never hear that game talked about much but it was really a big deal back then. I sat there with him and will never forget it. His funeral is Sunday at 4:00. Can everyone say an extra prayer that we have a win to start the funeral off with. Thanks for the enjoyment you gusy give with all your crazy comments, Obit is in the MDJ if anyone wants to view it. Pleae call your daddy and tell him that your love him.
Valandui
September 12th, 2009
12:02 am
The truth is that the Falcons had a lot more picks to play around with than the Dolphins in last year’s draft. We didn’t have anyone we could trade (ala DeAngelo Hall) for extra second rounders like the Falcons did. Our only consistent OL coming into last season was Vernon Carey, so LT was absolutely essential. Without someone like Long there, it’s very possible that Ryan would have gone the way of David Carr or Joey Harrington for us. With more trade potential for the Falcons, they were able to make a move up for a Sam Baker. The talent drop off between a Matt Ryan and a Chad Henne is nowhere near as significant as that between a Jake Long and a John Grecco. If you have the flexibility of the Falcons, absolutely go QB first. If not, you have to go with your biggest need, which in Miami’s case was Jake Long.
michaelgee
September 12th, 2009
12:38 am
Jeff,
I’d rather have Matt Ryan than Bill Parcells , Jake Long and Chad Pennington put together.
Real Falcons Fan
September 12th, 2009
1:09 am
Ok, enough talk from Fins fans, when you learn how to vote… Then you can act like you know football.. Since Dan/Shula left, you have nothing left…
DePlane
September 12th, 2009
2:13 am
dawglover,
I’m sorry for your loss. God bless you and your family in your time of grief.
Doug Pancoast
September 12th, 2009
2:20 am
Please defend how you can say with certainty that because Parcells preferred Long at #1 and passed on Ryan there, that he would have definitely passed on Ryan again with the 3rd pick? That is total conjecture on your part. I am curious if you really believe that or if you just had nothing else to write about it.
Big Ray
September 12th, 2009
5:45 am
Ed Covington,
Good point.
Valandui,
That actually makes sense. Nice post.
Greg
September 12th, 2009
6:02 am
I like the way Ryan has turned out, of course. he’s going to be a great one. But what I said at the time I still say: we SHOULD in fact have taken Dorsey, and we could have traded up for Flacco for our QB.
BravesFan79
September 12th, 2009
6:41 am
Dawglover: sorry to hear about your loss. May his spirit help the ol dirty birds win it all with some good luck! Im thinking maybe a mysteriously blocked field goal in the Superbowl ; )
Baba O'Riley
September 12th, 2009
7:26 am
Greg- Taken Dorsey? Seriously? Flacco is a game manager and one of those QBs you tell “You don’t have to win the game, just don’t lose it”. Matt Ryan can win games. How good would Flacco have been without the Ravens defense?
falcon fan from the past
September 12th, 2009
7:53 am
tell all fish fans we got our left tackle later in same draft not the 1st pick of draft but we thank them for doing what they did all the way to the playoffs for about 10 years
falcon fan from the past
September 12th, 2009
7:57 am
dawglover sorry for your loss, but be glad he will have a smile on his face in heaven looking down on sunday.
Dolphins Fan
September 12th, 2009
8:43 am
You are acting like Jake Long isn’t doing anything special in Miami. He is one of the players who has helped the Wildcat work so well. Without his blocking the Dolphins would be nowhere near where they are today. Matt Ryan would have helped, but I am glad we took Long instead of him.
DePlane
September 12th, 2009
9:08 am
Good for Jake…but we have the personnel to defend the wildcat…Jake or no Jake. He’s a great player, but I would rather have a franchise quarterback now than one OLman to build around a six year vet who has had his opportunities. There is no substitute for experience and CP is a decent QB…but he’s no MR. Who knew MR would be so well equipped to make the transition to the Big Time? T.D. that’s who.
Falcons 31 Phins 21
Singletary
September 12th, 2009
9:12 am
DawgLover, when you think of your Dad, I hope the warm memories will ease the grief you feel right now. He’s still with you in spirit and in the person you became. I remember my parents didn’t allow me to sit with my classmates until my JR & SR year, so I learned a lot of football. I was six when the Falcons came in to the NFL, and I’m thrilled that we actually have a clue of how to have two winning seasons. Here’s my shout out to the D to play up, hit often, and dominate.
I
Birds and Braves
September 12th, 2009
10:42 am
There’s another take on the Parcells thing here.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/253051-falcons-dolphins-just-a-game-for-players-something-more-for-blank/poll_results#poll
Lowercaseg
September 12th, 2009
10:55 am
Parcells has never won a SB without Bill Belichick as his defensive coordinator. Parcells is good but his status as being a top football coach/gm was based on his work with Bill Belichick. He’s not done much since that relationship split.
TRUTH
September 12th, 2009
1:12 pm
Lowercaseg,
You hit the nail on the head…TUNA ain’t jack without Bellichick !!!
Navigator
September 12th, 2009
1:12 pm
I glad on both accounts, but we know championships are built in the trenches, so you can’t blame him for taking the top linemen in the country.
Bill
September 12th, 2009
2:00 pm
Amen Jeff!! Keep up the good work.
JOE THE BOLGGER
September 12th, 2009
4:28 pm
Remember when all of those experts criticized Dimitrov for taking Ryan over Dorsey? Hard to believe as we look at it now. Maybe it was Karma… or maybe we were just incredibly lucky. Either way, this town was overdue for some good fortune. Go fulcrums (I used to call them that when I was a kid).
t larry
September 12th, 2009
4:56 pm
WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO FALCONS SORRY, I’M MISSING HIS COMMENTS
Dolfan4life
September 12th, 2009
6:30 pm
What Dolphin fans think, is that both teams got what they wanted. Jake Long will be protecting Dolphin QB’s for the next 10 years. Ryan looks like he is going to be a great QB for a long time. Everyone is happy. But since you want to be a butt about it Jeff, you and the rest of the Falcon fans saying idiotic things like “Taylor was good 5 years ago”…I say bring it on Falcons, and prepare to lose your home opener. Jake Long will handle Abraham….who will be sackless and Pennington, who YOU seem to proclaim not as good as your sophmore Ryan, will have not only a better performance, but a winning game. Good Luck Atlanta.
FALCONS SORRY
September 12th, 2009
9:26 pm
OMG LOL BBQ!!! TOO BAD FALCONS FANS, CAN’T BEAT THE PHINS NO WAY NO HOW!!!!111eleven NOT YET MOM I’M NOT DONE WITH THE INTERNET AND I DON’T HAVE PANTS ON RIGHT NOW!!! MIKE VICK FOR PRESIDENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KakNiqueTree
September 13th, 2009
12:44 am
Jeff Schultz makes me laugh. The Dolphins got an anchor to their offensive line for what surely will be a long time. They got their qb anyway, courtesy of the Jets. Nothing at all against Matt Ryan, but the Dolphins made a great choice with Jake Long.
Big Ray
September 13th, 2009
3:52 am
Yes, the Dolphins got a good one in Jake Long. But I’ll say it one more time: Left Tackles don’t take you to the playoffs or to the SuperBowl. ‘Nuff said. 9 hours. Game on.
rob
September 13th, 2009
5:50 am
Here’s a Dolfan’s explanation…
Miami had made sooo many previous bad draft decisions (ie Ted ginn jr at 9 instaed of Brady Quinn, etc. etc.) that they needed to take less risk and select Long over Ryan. There are so many #1 quarterback selections that don’t pan out and you can’t afford that at 1-15. Ryan looks great… but its only one year. Still, now that Ryan’s performed, Miami lost out by playing it conservative. Enjoy the game… Go Fins!
NikkiFree
September 13th, 2009
5:57 am
I’ve always believed in the saying that everything happens for a reason.
Stephen
September 13th, 2009
12:12 pm
If you read Michael Lewis’ book “The Blind Side,” then this column takes on a pretty ironic hue. Parcels, the man who “coached” LT and refused to acknowledge the importance of a left tackle in the evolution of football, chooses a left tackle over “a franchise quarterback.” I am not a Ryan hater by any stretch, though I did vote against picking him. He had a great season, and I hope he repeats it. But the Dolphin fans may be on to something, and the pressure from the blitz may get to him.
Oddly enough, left tackles DO take you to Super Bowls, and they make mediocre QBs look like legends– see the 49′ers of yore (who beat Parcels).
Today, watch Abraham vs Long. If Long wins the battles, then ask yourself “Could the Falcons have drafted Long, then used the Abraham money to get a QB at least as good as Matt Ryan?” If so, the Falcons would have been better off with Long.
Should be an interesting game. Go Falcons!
dave
September 14th, 2009
9:29 pm
ryan missed wide open guys all day. he had 19 td last season that’s just ok #’s. I guess falcons fans have not seen a franchise qb in a life time so this guy will do
DC Dolfan
September 16th, 2009
5:33 pm
Give me a break, you act as though the Falcons are some storied franchise, do me a favor, go to 5 super bowls then we’ll talk, that’s what I’m thinking. I’m thinking, we had a franchise QB, and we didn’t win a Championship with him, so check yourself. I’m so tired of this NFL draft/Mel Kiper BS, “pick this guy, not that…” Fact is Matt Ryan fit the Falcons very well, you can’t say he would have done the same in Miami considering that our O-Line was in shambles. THAT is why we picked Jake over Ryan. So we could have had Ryan and a shaky O-Line, or had Jake, solidified the line, and Chad Pennington. Oh, and Pennington was a better statistical QB than Ryan was in ‘08, so there’s that.
Countdown cleansing: Mora, Bowden and Wrestlemania! | Jeff Schultz
September 29th, 2009
3:51 pm
[...] be coming back. Again. A few weeks ago, I played Hindsight Is 20-20 Theater and remarked how Bill Parcells should be catching heat for passing on Matt Ryan in the draft. That heat just got turned up. The only drops if Chad Henne, a second-round pick, can [...]