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Saturday, April 26, 2008
Dimitroff: Tough choice between Ryan and Dorsey
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff came out to address the selection of quarterback Matt Ryan with the No. 3 pick.
“We are definitely excited about Matt Ryan,” Dimitroff said. “Going forward, we’re excited about him being the quarterback of the future for the Atlanta Falcons.”
Dimitroff said the decision came down to Ryan or LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey.
“We had options for sure and obviously as it has been written, Glenn Dorsey was a legitimate consideration,” Dimitroff said. “We respect the ability of both players. It came down to us, as far as a tipping point, us considering the value of that position and the need that we had. But most importantly we decided that the skill set that Matt Ryan possessed along with his intelligence and leadership ability, we were excited about going in that direction.”
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Ryan speaks; Falcons searching for way to protect him?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
New York — I just got done interviewing Matt Ryan and he’s pretty stoked. He said that general manager Thomas Dimitroff made the first call to notify him of the choice and that he told Dimitroff then that he was glad Atlanta took him because that’s where he really wanted to play.
He said that his interview with Dimitroff, coach Mike Smith and owner Arthur Blank blew him away — as well as Atlanta’s Triumverate were taken by Ryan — and he felt that Atlanta was where he was best suited.
To follow that, I asked him if he understood that my coming to this franchise at this time and playing the position that he played, he will be linked in a variety of ways to Michael Vick. Be it turning the page, not living up to Vick’s expectations, be it simply as the successor, Ryan will be compared to, fairly or unfairly, to Vick in some regard.
Ryan said he understood the dynamic from afar and that the only thing he could do was play his best, hopefully win games and get the masses to accept him for being a competitor and someone who helps Atlanta win.
In moving forward with the draft, don’t be surprised if the Falcons use one of, if not two second-round picks to move into the teens or early 20s to draft an offensive lineman to protect its new investment at quarterback. Though 11 picks, Michigan’s Jake Long (No. 1 overall) was the only offensive lineman taken. Jeff Otah, Brandon Albert, Chris Williams and Gosder Cherilus are still available.
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What’s behind the Ryan pick?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Flowery Branch — All coach Mike Smith talks about is building “up the middle.”
GM Thomas Dimitroff said he’s a “Quarterback snob” and noted that the Patriots drafted Tom Brady in the sixth round.
Why didn’t they take the best player (at least on Mel Kiper’s board) in LSU’s Glenn Dorsey. Who’s behind this move?
There will be plenty of speculation that Arthur Blank made the call on this one for business reasons (we’re hearing that a lot of season tickets holders haven’t renewed). The rationale goes that fans will part with their cash with a new quarterback.
Ryan was good at Boston College, but this Peyton Manning talk doesn’t seem justified. At least, he’s a cool guy. We met him at combine and Steve Wyche chatted with him today.
Boy, Dorsey could have anchored that D-Line for years to come. Now the Falcons get to turn the page on the Michael Vick era.
They better get Ryan an offensive line.
At 3:18 the pick was made amidst boos in New York.
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Looks like Ryan but trade talk heats up
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
NEW YORK - I’m here in Radio City Music Hall and the place is a mad scramble of people and rumors - and the biggest buzz involves the Falcons.
More and more people I have spoken to said the Falcons have locked in on Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan, even if LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey is on the board.
If the Falcons choose Ryan, they will land their quarterback of the future - they hope - and they will close the door in Michael Vick coming back to play quarterback for the franchise once he gets out of prison…
Wait, hold that thought, I just talked with an NFL official that said Baltimore is trying very hard to get up to No. 2, where St. Louis picks, to get a shot at Ryan. If that is the case, Atlanta will get Dorsey at No. 3.
It's about to be on . . .
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Wheel turning a few hours before the draft
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
New York — Well, the wheels are turning big time, with reports from ESPN that the St. Louis Rams are going to select Virginia defensive end Chris long with the No. 2 pick.
Rams personnel chief Billy Devaney said on the network that he is still entertaining trade offers - but none of those have come from Atlanta.
If St. Louis does take Chris Long - Miami took Michigan OT Jake Long at No. 1 - LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey and Boston College QB Matt Ryan will be there. GM Thomas Dimitroff said he has a tiebreaker already established in such a scenario but he didn’t tip his hand.
I’ve spoken to two people today who said they feel the Falcons will take Ryan regardless, but those people are not officially in the know. Only Dimitroff, coach Mike Smith and maybe owner Arthur Blank are said to know the choice. For the longest time it seemed that Dorsey was the top player on Atlanta’s board but over the past few days, the people I’ve spoken feel the Falcons are leaning more to Ryan.
The Falcons could entertain trade offers but with Dorsey and Ryan there, it is unlikely they would pass on either since both are projected as long-term difference makers.
It’s all guesswork not but at about 3:30, we’ll know what the Falcons will do. If there are any updates, I’ll be sure to post them ASAP.
