Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is always looking to improve, and not just on the football field.
Ryan has a few television commercials that get heavy local air play. It would be reasonable to conclude that he’s no Peyton or Eli Manning, who are a hoot as hucksters.
“They are good,” Ryan said. “I’ll tell you what, they are better at that than I am. I’ll give them credit, they’re funny.”
The Super Bowl-winning Manning brothers are getting rave reviews for their commercial for a satellite TV company about getting "football on your phone."
“It was well done by those guys,” Ryan said. “I enjoyed it, that’s for sure.”
While Ryan can work on his acting next offseason, he’s ready to lead the Falcons, the defending NFC champions, in their season opener against the New Orleans Saints at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Superdome.
“It’s fun doing it, especially with teammates like Julio (Jones),” Ryan said of his commercials. “But, I know I’m better at playing quarterback than I am at acting.”
Ryan ascended to elite status in the NFL by guiding the Falcons to five consecutive winning seasons and four trips to the playoffs. Last season, Ryan led the Falcons to the NFC Championship game and had them within 10 yards of making the franchise’s second trip to the Super Bowl.
In the offseason, the Falcons made Ryan the second-highest paid player in the league with a five-year, $103.75 million contract extension.
However, neither the money nor the commercials will change his approach to the game.
“I understand that there’s a business side to it, and I’m extremely grateful for the place that I’m at and the opportunity that I’ve been given here,” Ryan said. “But that’s never been the motivation for me.”
The Falcons have never won a league championship.
“That’s what drives, in my opinion, everybody on this football team,” Ryan said. “I think everybody collectively has that mindset. My motivation is higher than it’s ever been. I think collectively our motivation is as high as it’s ever been.”
Ryan believes the success of last season and the team’s previous playoff failures under coach Mike Smith are rallying points for the 2013 team.
“Part of it is the fact that we have been close in the past, and part of it is the fact that we’ve fallen short, too,” Ryan acknowledged. “It’s a combination of those things that keep you motivated.”
It helps that Ryan has gone out of his way to bond with his teammates on offense and defense. He’s arguably the most respected player on the team.
“It’s takes a different kind of guy to lead a group of men and get those guys to play,” Jones said. “Matt does a great job with that. He talks to everybody like they are a man. Everybody just wants to play for him.”
Even better is that he picks up the tab when he invites players out for dinner.
Center Peter Konz is a big fan of his leadership style.
“He’s the total package, and being humble is part of that because people are responsive to humble people,” Konz said. “He showed humility by helping me transition from guard to center. He takes responsibility for everything in the offense. He’s just ‘The Guy.’”
Konz, a second-year player, expected something different from Ryan.
“I thought he’d be a little bit above us, on pay scale and everything else,” Konz said. “But no, he’s just a great guy. It’s been a great surprise.”
Ryan knows that he has a firm grasp of the team that was in tatters when he was drafted in 2008. He’s comfortable as the leader and as the face of the franchise.
“I understand that the position that I play carries extra weight for whatever reason, but I’ve always just tried to lead by example and do the best that I can and have myself as prepared as I can be,” Ryan said. “I think that’s probably why guys have bought into it. But I also think it’s important for there to be leadership collectively from amongst our football team. I think that’s an important dynamic. I think that we have that.”
