Ryan shows rust in return but leads victory in the end
Matt Ryan completed only 16 of 34 passes for 152 yards in his return, but went 6 for 9 in the Falcons' winning drive. (AP photo)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — After a week punctuated by more news of players and their mind-altering substances, the forecast of a blizzard for their upcoming road trip and then life-support finally being pulled on their playoff hopes, the Falcons didn’t project for a real uplifting finish to this season.
Fortunately, they had two things going for them Sunday: 1) They were playing the New York Jets, opponent of opportunity (they botched three field goals); 2) Matt Ryan kind of has something to prove.
Ryan was not good for most of Sunday. One reason was the wind, which often turned passes into knuckleballs. The other reason was nearly three weeks of inactivity, which helped turn an already struggling quarterback into a pedestrian one. (Ryan’s numbers before the Falcons’ final possession: 10 for 25, 115 yards.)
But you can tell a lot about a guy by how he finishes when misery is all around him — and what we see from the Falcons and Ryan in these final three games will go a long way toward what we think about the team and their franchise centerpiece going into the offseason.
Ryan provided a memory Sunday. How long had it been?
He completed five of his first six passes in the final drive and later drilled a fourth-down, six-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tony Gonzalez with 1:38 left in the game, giving the Falcons a 10-7 win over the Jets in the Meadowlands.
Is it cause for a parade? No.
Does it make up for the losses at Carolina or Dallas or the Giants, or certainly that comatose showing at home against Philadelphia? Hardly.
But how much would you be wondering about Ryan and the Falcons right now if they looked as anemic on that last drive as they did for most of Sunday?
Tony Gonzalez was ecstatic after the Jets' defense left him some room in the end zone for the winning touchdown. (AP photo)
“You can tell a lot from a game like today about a guy’s character,” center Todd McClure said. “When you’re not playing for the playoffs, it’s easy to just mail it in. Nobody did that today.”
That wasn’t an option, not for the Falcons (who at 7-7 still have a shot at a second straight winning season) and certainly not Ryan. He missed the last two games with turf toe. He took only 25 percent of the snaps in practice last week. Factor in the lingering effects of the injury (he wore a walking boot again after the game), the weather and the Jets’ defense (ranked No. 1 in yardage and points allowed), and Ryan at times Sunday was giving Falcons’ fans Joey Harrington-flashbacks.
But he wasn’t Harrington in the end. On fourth-and-goal from the six, Ryan ignored a thrown snowball that fell just to his left and fired a laser to the open Gonzalez. The Jets inexplicably were in soft zone coverage near the goal line, giving the Falcons’ obvious No. 1 receiving option way too much cushion.
Gonzalez’s reaction to the defensive call: “Oh my God.”
It’s the ending Ryan wanted, and needed.
Coach Mike Smith decided after warm-ups that Ryan would start. “You could tell Matt was pumped,” McClure said. “He started head-butting everybody.”
Ryan said, “It’s tough when you’re out for a couple of weeks. There’s nothing like playing a game.”
Smith said he thought his quarterback looked “rusty.” But he expected that.
Ryan didn’t use that word. “Not too bad,” he said of his performance. “There were some throws I would’ve liked to have made better. But that’s every game. My rhythm felt good. My timing felt good.”
Actually, timing on the field looked like it could have been better, although the wind played havoc in the passing game. The timing in the big picture was perfect. The Falcons had lost four out of their last five to drop to 6-7. Jonathan Babineaux’s embarrassing arrest report for felony marijuana possession, and Eric Weems’ DUI arrest report, both became public during the week. Then Dallas upset New Orleans Saturday night, ending a long-shot playoff scenario.
McClure: “The one time we need the Saints to win, they lose.”
And how’s this for a drought? Ryan hadn’t started and finished a win since Nov. 8 against Washington. No wonder it seemed like a while.
Ryan and the Falcons finish up with Buffalo and Tampa Bay. The shot at a 9-7 record and at least some sense of accomplishment is real. It’s not nearly at the level anybody expected. But things looked a whole lot worse before that last pass.
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235 comments Add your comment
Once "Recent" Reader
December 23rd, 2009
11:19 pm
Hmmmm . . . .. . last 10 or so blogs have the smell of another one Poster monologue . …..but I don’t want to be termed “sanctimonious blog police” again . . . .or was that “Once” Sanctimonious Blog Police. Alas . . …it is further proof that Certain Pro-Vick along with Anti-Ryan Fans are steadfast as are Pro-Ryan Fans along with Anti-Vick Fans . . . . and the twain shall never meet:)
Once "Recent" Reader
December 23rd, 2009
11:21 pm
OK I just read my post and think it needs clarification. I meant Fans that are Anti Ryan solely because he is not Vick . . . . .and Fans that are Pro Ryan solely because he is not Vick. Hope it all makes sense now . . .I do confuse myself sometimes!
JuliusCesaer
December 24th, 2009
1:01 pm
Vick Suppertor and Matt “Choke” Ryan bloggers: I dont know how you folks can support Mike Vick. Vick is the laughingstock of the nfl and he has overcome a great deal, however, he brought these problems on himself and deserves whatever heckling he gets. According to you dummies, Vick should be the starting quarterback in the pro bowl this year for ammasing 137 total yards of offense with one passing td and two rushing tds. Vick should also be made the MVP of the league this season and should be enshrined as a hall of famer for basically being a bum. Vick will never amount to much, hes done very little, and you can rest assured he will be kicked out of the league soon enough. Merry Christmas Matt “Choke” Ryan bloggers and Vick Supporter Blogers. Ya’ll are wasting your time on someone who is a complete joke.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 24th, 2009
3:02 pm
JuliusCesaer
December 24th, 2009
1:01 pm
Vick Suppertor and Matt “Choke” Ryan bloggers: I dont know how you folks can support Mike Vick. Vick is the laughingstock of the nfl
“Actually the laugh” of the NFL is being the only Franchise never to have back to back winning seasons, but the most pathetic of all is paying 72-million dollars for a quarterback that can’t win a freakin playoff game
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 24th, 2009
6:30 pm
PLAYOFF WATCH:
We have a Joe Flacco Watch………….
CHOKE where are you?
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 25th, 2009
1:47 pm
While Vick is getting fitted for his Lombardi ring……….
Meanwhile the CHOKE and his BLINDED fans are celebrating the possibility of a 9-7 NO PLAYOFF season………..
HA HA HA
Punk in# 2(Matt Ryan)
December 25th, 2009
7:00 pm
Is there a owner in the NFL with Balls to Give vick tools in Player (asQB)? To Prove The sport media wrong I dare ya!!
Punk in# 2(Matt Ryan)
December 25th, 2009
7:01 pm
Is there a owner in the NFL with Balls to Give vick tools in Players (asQB)? To Prove The sport media wrong
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 25th, 2009
8:22 pm
What happened to the dynasty
The reality is....
December 26th, 2009
9:59 am
Michael Viok is better than ryan and a better fit for the falcons. The man has done his time, paid his due and is completing a full season readjusting back to the NFL.
All of these idiots who still live in the past about dog fighting shows what level of fans are the loudest and most obnoxious. This is a bubba red state, with a bubba red news paper supporting bubba red mentality.
The reality is....
December 26th, 2009
10:00 am
* michael vick
The reality is....
December 26th, 2009
10:01 am
falcons are going down!
MV#777
December 26th, 2009
1:02 pm
WE LOVE MR.MICHAEL VICK……
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 26th, 2009
1:20 pm
72 million dollars and not a damn
- Pro bowl
- Playoff win
- Improvement over rookie season
What a waste of money.
Truthsayer
December 28th, 2009
8:26 pm
Hey, Nativebird or DUMB_SS, apparently you attended a Falcon game when Vick was soaring. Matt Ryan never won a big game in College or Pros. He beat VT with a game winning drive, but then, through 3 intercerptions in the ACC championship game. He sucked then and now!
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 28th, 2009
8:49 pm
cool dude
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 29th, 2009
12:26 am
One thing I can’t stand is a smelly “Atlanta Peach”. Especially those ghetto tricks that are too illiterate to use proper grammar and spelling
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 29th, 2009
10:38 am
Just can’t find any “fresh” peaches anymore, especially the “Atlanta Peach” – they are just plain “smelly”.
“How’d ya doing”
Falcons good luck in the playoffs
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 29th, 2009
11:24 am
The Tampa Bay rookie qb Josh Freeman has done TWICE what the CHOKE in his 2nd season has FAILED to do – beat an ELITE TEAM!
MV#777
December 29th, 2009
12:30 pm
IT FIRST BECAME obvious, this feeling between Michael Vick and his new teammates, a couple of weeks ago in Atlanta. It was his homecoming game, as it were. It was where he scored his first touchdown for the Eagles and his teammates bounded off of the bench in celebration, where cornerback Sheldon Brown said that he and some of the players were telling each other before the game that they wanted to win it for Vick.
I mean, win one for Mike? Really? We all observe from a distance, and it was so hard to see or to understand. But it was real. There is no doubt that it was real, this bond between Vick and his new teammates.
And, now, this:
The Eagles’ players have unanimously voted Vick as the team’s recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award, given annually to the player on each NFL team who exemplifies “commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage.”
Guilty of horrific crimes. Sentenced to a federal prison term. Forfeited millions and millions of dollars. Back in the league for only a few months, only through the good graces of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Eagles coach Andy Reid. Now, a convicted felon honored by his teammates for overcoming a terrible situation into which he had put himself.
“I’m not sure you can explain it unless you’ve gone through it here with him,” Reid said yesterday. “Everybody is going to have their opinion on it, I’m sure. Until you’ve been with him for the hours that his teammates have been with him and seen him through all these different things that he’s had to go through, that time-tested part of it, you can’t appreciate it quite as much.
“I don’t expect everybody to understand it, no, but I think it’s a tribute when it’s a slam dunk by his teammates voting him that. It was just a unanimous vote there.”
That this is just a gut punch to the people who have opposed Vick’s reinstatement goes without saying. For them, a PETA spokesman said:
“The Philadelphia Eagles fumbled when they gave Michael Vick the Ed Block Courage Award, which was named after a man who advocated in behalf of abused children. Michael Vick should not be the person anyone points to as a model of sportsmanship, even though he has now exchanged dogs for touchdowns after serving time for extreme cruelty to animals. We wish him well in educating others, but this is not appropriate and does not mark a joyous moment in NFL history.”
It is hard to disagree with any of that. It does seem too soon to be celebrating Vick. It does not feel right – and this comes from somebody who thought Vick deserved a chance to play this year, somebody who was looking forward to seeing what he could do on the field.
But here is the thing: I did not get a vote and you did not get a vote. This is a players’ award, voted upon by players. And whatever your personal feelings, it is impossible not to be fascinated by this team’s embrace of Vick, right from the start.
“I never worried that guys wouldn’t accept me,” Vick said. “That probably was one of the last things on my mind. The most important thing was to get in here and get to know the guys and get acclimated in the city and playing football again. You just let things happen naturally. You just be yourself.”
This is more than just teammates supporting a teammate. It is clear that they like the guy. Talking to them through the season, it is clear that they thought the punishment for the crime was so severe, prison-wise and especially financially, only because Vick was a celebrity. Their inclination as fellow celebrities was to root for him, and as fellow teammates to root for his ability to help them on the field. But the feelings still ended up going deeper, and this award demonstrates it.
“It means a great deal,” Vick said. “I’ve only been in this locker room for 3 1/2 months. For those guys to feel that way about me, it means a lot to me. The bond that I have with the players on this team and the way we’ve jelled has been outstanding.”
Someone asked Vick what kind of courage he demonstrated, per the award.
“I’ve had to overcome a lot, more than probably one single individual can bear,” he said. “Take a look at what I’ve been through. You ask certain people to walk in my shoes, they probably couldn’t do it – probably 95 percent of the people in this world. Because nobody had to endure what I’ve been through, situations I’ve been put in, situations I’ve placed myself in, decisions that I’ve made, whether they were good or bad. There are always consequences behind certain things and there are repercussions behind them, too. Then you have to wake up every day and face the world, whether they perceive you in the right perspective or it’s a totally different outlook on you.
“You just have to be strong and believe in yourself and be optimistic. That’s what I’ve been able to do and that’s what I display.”
When you talk to Vick, it sometimes takes him a minute to get to the key point: situations I’ve placed myself in. That is what rankles for some, still, that minute it sometimes takes. But it is all part of a longer process.
Anyway, Vick said, “The thing I told Roger [Goodell] was that, 4 or 5 years from now, when I come to him, I’ll be able to say everything I told you I was going to do, I’m still doing it. That’s what I pride myself on. That’s my focus and that’s my goal.”
That might have seemed a more appropriate time for an award such as this one, not now. Then again, this is all about a bond within a locker room, a place that none of us can hope to understand from the outside
MV#777
December 29th, 2009
12:31 pm
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Vick wins Ed Block Courage Award
Michael Vick has won an award.
The Eagles announced this morning that Vick’s teammates have voted him as this year’s recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award, which is given annually to a player who exemplifies commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage.
“I’ve had to overcome a lot, more than probably one single individual can bear,” Vick said. “Take a look at what I’ve been through. You ask certain people to walk in my shoes, they probably couldn’t do it — probably 95 percent of the people in this world. Because nobody had to endure what I’ve been through — situations I’ve been put in, situations I’ve placed myself in, decisions that I’ve made — whether they were good or bad. There are always consequences behind certain things and there are repercussions behind them, too. Then you have to wake up every day and face the world, whether they perceive you in the right perspective or it’s a totally different outlook on you.”
Eagles coach Andy Reid said the vote was a unanimous one. Actually, it wasn’t. Vick said he had a vote and that he didn’t cast his for himself.
“I won’t say who I voted for,” Vick said.
Reid was asked if he was worried about how the award would be interpreted in light of Vick’s past. In case you just awoke from a 3-year coma, Vick served 18 months in a federal prison for his role in running a dogfighting ring, was released in the summer and signed not long after by the Eagles amid a storm of controversy.
“I’m not sure you can explain it, unless you’ve kind of gone through it here with him,” Reid said. “Everybody is going to have their opinion on it I’m sure. Until you’ve been with him for the hours that his teammates have been with him and seen him through all these different things that he’s had to go through, that time-tested part of it, you can’t appreciate it.
“I don’t expect everybody to understand it. I think it’s a tribute when it’s a slam dunk by his teammates voting him that. It was an unanimous vote. It’s not something that we as coaches … or anybody else promotes. We don’t sit there and promote a player to win the award. It’s picked by the players and only by the players.”
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 29th, 2009
12:58 pm
- Cost for a 5 year senior qb…….72-million dollars
- Cost for 2nd straight year without a playoff win…..72-million
- Playing for the 2nd seed playoff team…..PRICELESS
MV#777
December 29th, 2009
1:55 pm
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 29th, 2009
5:36 pm
2009 Ed Block Courage Award Winners
There’s been a lot of consternation about the Philadelphia Eagles players voting Michael Vick their 2009 Ed Block Courage Award winner, so below is a look at each team’s winners, as voted on by the players.
Arizona Cardinals – DE, Kenny Iwebema
Atlanta Falcons – LB, Coy Wire
Baltimore Ravens – S, Dawan Landry
Buffalo Bills – WR, James Hardy
Carolina Panthers – LB, Dan Connor
Cincinnati Bengals – G, Bobbie Williams
Cleveland Browns – S/WR, Mike Furrey
Dallas Cowboys – G, Kyle Kosier
Denver Broncos – S, Brian Dawkins
Detroit Lions – T, Jeff Backus
Green Bay Packers – S, Nick Collins
Houston Texans – LB, Zac Diles
Indianapolis Colts – CB, Marlin Jackson
Jacksonville Jaguars – T, Richard Collier
Kansas City Chiefs – QB, Brodie Croyle
Miami Dolphins – G, Justin Smiley
Minnesota Vikings – LB, E.J. Henderson
New England Patriots – Hasn’t been announced
New Orleans Saints – DE, Anthony Hargrove
New York Giants – NT, Fred Robbins
New York Jets – LB, David Harris
Oakland Raiders – S, Tyvon Branch
Philadelphia Eagles – QB, Michael Vick
Pittsburgh Steelers – DE, Aaron Smith
St. Louis Rams – DE, James Hall
San Diego Chargers – LB, Shawne Merriman
San Francisco 49ers – CB, Shawntae Spencer
Seattle Seahawks – WR, Nate Burleson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – RB, Cadillac Williams
Tennessee Titans – C, Kevin Mawae
Washington Redskins – DE, Phillip Daniels
“Even the CHOKE’s teammates” don’t respect him
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 29th, 2009
7:08 pm
2010 PRO BOWL
Wow, I saw Peyton on the list but didn’t see “Peyton-II” or “Eli-II”
Not a single Falcons player on the list – PATHETIC
MV#777
December 29th, 2009
7:26 pm
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JuliusCesaer
December 30th, 2009
1:27 pm
The Falcons and the Braves both are not serious about winning. They are just serious about their franchises making money. Both franchises could care less about their fans and bringing them championships. The Falcons in the pre-season released or let go of defensive talent that would have enabled them to make the playoffs and contend for a superbowl (despite the woes of Ryans sophmore season and Elams chip shot misses). The Braves just got rid of maybe (arguably) the BEST PITCHER IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE in Vasquez. How do you do something that stupid? Vasquez will win the Cy Young award this season. The Braves are making so much money they could care less about bringing a champsionship. I wont support either franchise until they get new front offices.
JimDawkins
December 30th, 2009
1:33 pm
The Hawks have also followed the pattern of the Braves and Falcons. Last season the Hawks had one of the best sixth men in all of basketball (Flip Murray). They parted with Flip although he is one of the greatest 3-point shooters in NBA history? How do you let go someone who is so valuable to their team? It beats me and of course the Hawks are worse of because of it. Last night, for example, the pathetic Hawks went (count it) 8 1/2 minutes in the fourth quarter without scoring a single point. That is futility at its best. The Hawks were lucky they didnt get completely shut out in the fourth quarter. The Hawks were so overconfident in the fourth quarter that they kept turning the ball over and making mistakes and couldnt settle down, get into their offensive sets and score the basketball. I wont support the Hawks until they change ownership and get a head coach in here that knows how to evaluate talent and knows how to win consistently.
JorgeMeltdown
December 30th, 2009
2:00 pm
Belated Christmas Present to Matt “Choke” Bloggers AND Vick Supporter Bloggers: As a fellow blogger pointed out earlier, Vick will probably get sweet revenge on the Falcons this season if the Eagles WIN the superbowl. This way, Vick will get fitted for his “Vince Lombardi superbowl trophy” ring AND Vick should end up in the hall of fame for his improbable, historic 1000 yard rushing season as a qb, despite maybe also getting enshrined in the “Dogfighters Hall of Fame” no doubt. Stay tuned.
ZeussRichardson
December 30th, 2009
3:22 pm
Vick should not be a poster child for the nfl or even have a job with the Eagles. Vick should get commercials for the tv movies such as “Nightmare on Elm Street” or “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” for the grizzly details of his insideous, heinous, brutal, massive destruction and execution of poor, defenseless, innocent dogs and puppies. Vick should have been given enough community service to right some of the wrongs he committed and show some sort of remorse for all the killings that he took part in. There are some out there who felt that Vicks prison sentence should have been much longer because his victims (the dogs which were killed cannot be brought back to life) whereas he continues to take his breaths which to me is totally unfair and unjust.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 30th, 2009
5:22 pm
Everybody is upset that nobody from the SORRY Falcons made the pro bowl – like that is a big surprise or something
Last season the LOSER fans were saying how the CHOKE made Roddy a pro bowler, even though he managed his 1st 1,000 season without him, but now Roddy didn’t make it and Tony G missed his 1st pro bowl thanks to the CHOKE.
Nobody respects the Falcons because they knew the day that Vick was no longer a Falcon, the team became IRREVELANT, just like they were before he was drafted
When Vick made the pro bowl in 3 out 4 seasons, all you IDIOTS were saying that was no major accomplishment, yet nobody on the ENTIRE team was selected on the roster
I thought the team had Peyton II & Eli II on the team
This franchise is now mediocre and the NFL shows them NO RESPECT
ZeussRichardson
December 30th, 2009
7:23 pm
Matt “Choke” Ryan: You need to get your facts straight about the Falcons not making the pro bowl. Tony G missed the pro bowl because he came up a few yards short of 1000 yds probably for the first time in his career. Ok. I’ll admit being on the Falcons hurt Tony G’s chances. Ill agree with you there. But as for Roddy “Rotten Apple” White, White didnt make the pro bowl because despite the fact that he did collect his 1000 yds, he still dropped a ton of passes and didnt make enough spectacular plays to warrant the pro bowl bid. Roddy needs to mature as a player and quit wearing “Free Mike Vick” t-shirts and concentrate fully on his pathetic game. Roddy is not a “true” pro bowler like Reggie Wayne or even Plexico Burriss for that matter. Roddy is just a spoiled brat who thinks he is much greater than he really is. The only guy who I thought who should have made the pro bowl for the Falcons was Snelling, because he smelled the end zone and got into it much better than anybody else on the Falcons. Another guy who should have been given consideration was Weems. Weems was outstanding on special teams and was the bright spot for the Falcons on a pro bowl snubbed team, and justifiably so. OTHER THAN WEEMS AND SNELLING, no one deserved a pro bowl spot.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 30th, 2009
9:36 pm
ZeussRichardson
3 Words……………
Stay
Off
Crack
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 30th, 2009
10:39 pm
A Falcons player making the pro bowl is like an “Atlanta Peach” earning a G.E.D. – impossible
Has to be the smelliest “Atlanta Peach” in town
“How’d ya doing”
HA HA HA
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