FanNation | EAP's Blog | With his $72M contract, when will Matt Ryan start?

Having criticized excessive rookie contracts in the NFL a few weeks ago, news of Matt Ryan’s $72m contract has left me somewhat aghast and dismayed.

I can understand paying Ryan more than than Jake Long if there was a consensus that Ryan was the best player and only fell to number three because the Dolphins already had a franchise quarterback (hypothetically).

The fact is however:, Ryan was never perceived as the best player in the draft and never a realistic shot to go first overall. He was perceived as the best QB in a rather weak QB class. Maybe I’m a little pre-occupied with perceptions but I think this contract is a little on the excessive side and I’m fairly sure that other NFL owners will think likewise.

But that said, good for Matt Ryan! Getting $34m guaranteed without even taking a snap in the pros….how bad?

The question now though is: when will he take his first regular season snap. Will Matt Ryan be the opening day starter for the Atlanta Falcons?

I’ve put the likelihood of that happening at 20%. He may only be up against Joey Harrington and Chris Redman, but the conventional wisdom is that rookies should sit and if Ryan starts and fails, Mike Smith will be blamed for starting him too early (hey…I blame Billick for Boller). They will be too scared to start him.

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May 21, 2008 04:57 PM ET

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I doubt he will start the first game, but with cash like that for a rookie who knows

GeorgiaFan1000

Canton, GA

Total Comments (955)

May 21, 2008 06:17 PM ET

With D.J. Shockley back the Falcons are in quite a pickle. Of the 4 QB's ,Redman has to go. Harrington could be a good teacher for Ryan and Shockley. Let Harrington start out the season and work in Ryan and Shockley then make a choice for the rest of this year. Then Ryan should be ready to get with it in 2009...................