A new report has shed new light on Matt Ryan’s breakup with the Atlanta Falcons.
On Mar. 21, the Falcons traded the 2016 league MVP to the Indianapolis Colts for the surprisingly low price of a third-round pick. The trade came after Atlanta failed to reach an agreement on a trade with Deshaun Watson, who was ultimately sent to the Cleveland Browns.
The Falcons left Ryan in an awkward spot by pursuing Watson, who will be suspended for the first 11 games following allegations of sexual misconduct by more than two dozen women. The failed Watson trade left Atlanta little choice but to deal away the franchise icon for below market value to Indianapolis.
More details on the Ryan-Falcons split have been revealed, courtesy of an in-depth piece from The Athletic’s Zak Keefer.
According to Keefer, Ryan “knew it was time” to seek a change as the Falcons pursued Watson. Keefer’s reported noted that was “quietly shopping” during this time, and that vice president of player personnel Kyle Smith contacted Colts assistant GM Matt Ryan about a trade.
Keefer writes:
“For the majority of their pursuit, most within the Falcons’ building assumed Watson was theirs. Smith was looking for a way to move the franchise’s all-time leading passer.
The Colts weren’t the only team interested, but Atlanta wanted to do right by him. Ryan, they felt, deserved it.“
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
Per Keefer, Ryan proceeded to call Colts icon Peyton Manning, who sold him on the idea of playing for owner Jim Irsay. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Ryan was one of several notable starting quarterbacks to switch teams this offseason, joining a club that also featured Watson, Russell Wilson (Seattle to Denver), Baker Mayfield (Cleveland to Carolina) and Carson Wentz (Indianapolis to Washington).
The Falcons signed former Tennessee Titans starter Marcus Mariota to a two-year contract in free agency. They proceeded to use a third round pick (74th overall) on Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder.
The Colts will open their season against the AFC South rival Houston Texans on Sunday. The new-look Falcons will commence their season — without Ryan for the first time in 15 years — against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
