Why worries over Falcons’ front-office structure with Matt Ryan are overblown

It isn’t that complicated.

This isn’t a Russian novel or rocket science or a Russian novel about rocket science.

With Falcons legend Matt Ryan being installed as president of football, many hands have been wrung and questions have been asked in recent days about the structure of the Falcons’ new front-office arrangement.

Who has final say? Can Ryan overrule his general manager in the draft? Will Ryan have a voice in game planning? What role will he play in the coin toss?

It seems like unnecessary concern.

Ryan stated it clearly Tuesday at his introductory news conference alongside owner Arthur Blank and team president and CEO Greg Beadles.

“The final decisions that head coaches have are going to be the final decisions of the head coach,” Ryan said. “The final decisions that general managers have are going to be the final decisions of our general manager.”

Apprehension about the way the Falcons operate just about anything, even down to (some might say all the way up to) the soft-serve machine in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium press box, is understandable and maybe even necessary. You do lose the benefit of the doubt when you allow eight years to pass without a winning season or playoff berth.

As a result, a change in the way the Falcons run their football business — particularly the decision-making structure — prompts scrutiny.

But, as unnatural as it feels to write this about the Falcons, this just seems to make sense.

Ryan will lead the hiring process for general manager and head coach. He will have the final decision and receive Blank’s approval. Then Ryan will let them do their jobs and support them as best he can.

“The general manager role is going to be exactly the same as what it’s been here before,” Ryan said.

That means the GM has final call on the draft and player acquisitions. The coach makes decisions on what happens on the field.

There will be collaboration, and there may be details to iron out, such as who has authority over the 53-man roster. But as long as those lines are established, there shouldn’t be a problem.

There surely have been instances where executives in Ryan’s position have done what the questions and worries seem to be getting at — overruling draft decisions or who starts at quarterback, for example. At news conferences like Tuesday’s, they probably made the same assurances Ryan did.

But, in this case, the skepticism isn’t necessary because of who the executive is. Blank hired Ryan for the obvious capacity that he brings to the job as an intelligent and driven person who spent 14 years as the team’s franchise quarterback and three years as a TV analyst.

But he also hired Ryan because of his loyalty to the franchise and his character.

Unless he has managed to fool everyone since he arrived in Atlanta in 2008 and he is, in reality, a Machiavellian schemer, Ryan is going to execute his job with not only uncommon wisdom but also humility and a recognition of his role.

“I’m not trying to call plays, I’m not trying to run your offense,” Ryan said. “I’m not trying to pull a Philip Rivers and come back and play. I’m not doing any of this.”

Another reason to have trust in this arrangement is that this isn’t Ryan’s dream job or something he especially needs. He won’t be desperate to do anything he can to hold onto it, like scapegoating the coach or undermining the GM.

He had a job at CBS he was happy with. He presumably doesn’t need the money. He said the Falcons were the only team he would have done this for.

His goal, he said, is to help the franchise win championships, the same as when he was playing. He spoke of “unfinished business” and having “zero agenda” beyond just wanting the best for the Falcons. That can be really powerful.

Now, it might turn out that he’s spectacularly bad at his job and makes his hires with the aid of a Magic 8 Ball:

“Arthur, I’ve made my decision on who we should hire.”

“Great. Hey, what’s that you’re holding behind your back?”

“Um, nothing. Certainly not a Magic 8 Ball.”

Be that as it may.