Some pro football teams wait decades for a "franchise quarterback" -- one so good, he becomes the face and the hope of the entire franchise.
Other teams spend all those years trying to develop one, only to fail.
But the Atlanta Falcons appear to have obtained the services of two franchise quarterbacks in as many years.
Two years ago, the face and hope of the Falcons was Michael Vick, a fleet-footed quarterback who developed into a pretty darn good passer over the years. But his career was cut short by a federal conviction for dog fighting.
Without him, the team floundered last year, trying an assortment of journeymen quarterbacks in a dismal 4-12 season.
This year, after nabbing Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan in the National Football League draft, the Falcons appear to have already reloaded another franchise quarterback.
Most rookie quarterbacks are brought along slowly, watching from the sidelines the first year or two. But Ryan won the starting job in preseason -- and, remarkably, has the Falcons off to a 4-2 start, in just six games matching their win total over 16 games last year.
Is it too soon to make noises about rookie of the year, or "franchise quarterback"? You might not think so -- especially if you caught the end of the Falcons' game Sunday. The Chicago Bears scored a touchdown to take a 20-19 lead with only 11 seconds left. Many fans headed for the Georgia Dome exits, if they hadn't already left. Why not? Game over, right? Only two NFL teams since 1970 have come back to win after losing the lead with 15 seconds or less to go.
Make it three now. Ryan rallied the Falcons with a huge pass play with seconds left to put them into field goal range for a 22-20 win.
And Ryan's first career pass in the season's first game? It went for a touchdown.
If Atlanta has found a new franchise quarterback so soon after losing the popular Vick, then lightning has struck twice.
Let's hope so. At least it will help area fans get over the still-unusual feeling of no post-season play by the Braves.
Comments
Ryan and Vick are two of the most talented QBs ever and both are very smart and both are natural leaders. The big difference is character. It shows in every thing they do. On the field Ryan is a team player, but it was all about Vick when he was on the field. Off the field, Ryan feels the laws of the land apply to him and Vick had to be convinced. Character counts.
i would not say vick is smart............ he is definately on the lower end of IQ level. he has made about 80 mil and he is in jail and he is broke. he was also in my opinion too stupid to ever be a real nfl quarterback...............
PT, Vick was not very smart, nor a leader. He was a glorified running back. We also cannot know about Ryan's character since we personally do not know him. He might do bad things off the field and just know how to keep them behind closed doors.
Ryan, along with his team mates have emerged into the league this year with a new attitude in Atl. they are working as a "team" and NOT as "Vick and the others guys" this is what winning is all about...I'm excited about the "NEW" Falcons.
i would be willing to bet that matt ryan will never be caught with a water bottle with a secret dope compartment at the airport,
or lynch and drown dogs, or flip off the home crowd, or get sued for passing around herpes, or end up bankrupt and disgraced
stewartist ... ditto for me! Well said!
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