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Stephen HolderESPN
INDIANAPOLIS — Summertime family football games at the Jersey Shore were just as intense as they were physically.
And, if we’re being honest, Matt Ryan had no business participating.
He was the youngest cousin, brother and uncle who threw their bodies around recklessly for bragging rights. They never made it very far, not if you add the distance to their local emergency room.
But, all these years later and even after starting his 15th NFL Season — his first with The NFL — he continues to be a part of it. Indianapolis Colts Ryan is aware that he shouldn’t have been there, as underage and undersized, and with a family that has many top-level athletes.
Ryan stated, “I had to ensure that I could keep up and shut up, not cry or whine, and not do any other things so they would include me.” “And you had have to be good enough so that they could say, Yeah, it’s cool.
It wasn’t me competing against other 10-year-olds. Whatever the reason, I felt that I could keep up with them and probably had an irrational sense self-confidence.
It’s more than a quarter century later. It’s all changed, but nothing has remained the same.
Ryan is not the youngest player on the field. Ryan, who is 37 years old, was the oldest player to be on the field Sunday against the Colts. Houston Texans Played to a 20-20 season-opening tie. He is still defined by his irrational self-confidence.
What is the difference? He believes he can compete against men his age in the sport he loves.
Ryan is not playing to be just respectable anymore. Ryan earned this long ago through an NFL Most Valuable Player Award He has accumulated just over 60,000 yards passing. Now the prize could be much greater, and one Ryan pursues with abandon, even though it has been frustratingly difficult for so long: A Super Bowl victory. Sunday will mark the next step in Jacksonville where the Colts have been eliminated from playoff contention with a loss. Week 18 upset loss This helped open the door to a quarterback switch.
Ryan said that at this stage in my career, Ryan believed “that’s why I’m here for.”
AS RYAN SITS It’s almost dinnertime when I go down to interview. Even though it’s more than a week until the Colts’ season openers, leaving early is not an option. Ryan puts his briefcase in his leather bag before he starts the conversation. This man is here to do business.
It’s easy to see why he is in Indianapolis after 14 years with the team. Atlanta Falcons. Ryan tried to land somewhere that would give him the opportunity to win a championship, when the idea of a deal finally became a reality. Ryan conducted extensive research and consulted former Colts quarterbacks. Peyton Manning Ryan only had one answer: The Colts.
Ryan is among several NFL stars who helped change the fortunes of their teams during the offseason. Here are some other examples Russell Wilson, Tyreek Hill Davante Adams Ryan and the Colts — have been in the news more than Ryan. If the Colts and Ryan succeed in their goal, then the headlines will follow when it matters the most.
What is your objective?
Ryan’s ex-teammate and Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez said that Ryan wants to get a ring. “He’s on a group that he thinks can take his there,” Gonzalez said.
Ryan’s Super Bowl obsession is evident even though the Super Bowl is an important topic for him. Ryan’s Falcons lost the game’s most notorious loss. The expression “28-3” is now a joke, referring to the seemingly unsurmountable lead that Ryan’s Falcons had over the others. New England Patriots The third quarter of Super Bowl LI. Atlanta lost the match after a historic Tom Brady-led comeback.
Ryan seems, um… thrilled when the subject is brought up.
He said, “It’s a pain.” It’s impossible to avoid it.
Ryan was able to complete 17 of 23 passes with two touchdowns, and no interceptions. His 144.1 passer rating is fourth highest in Super Bowl history.
He did so much more than he could have. Ryan is a professional and confronts the problem head-on.
He stated, “There’s a heavy burden that comes along with leadership.” “And that’s taking responsibility for failure and success. This can sometimes be very heavy. It can be quite heavy. That is something that I’ve always believed in. I know how quarterbacks should be judged.”
Ryan should be happy, as he could have looked elsewhere if he was trying to find a team that would let him avoid expectations. The Colts’ seven 2021 Pro Bowlers are back and the Colts have high aspirations. They don’t hesitate to express them. Although Sunday’s performance was not perfect, Ryan learned from Manning that it was a concern and has been reinforced ever since.
Jim Irsay, owner of the company, stated last month that “We’re set for excellence.” “Now we have to get on with it. Matt Ryan feels the same way.
“He’s here for his Lombardi.”
RYAN HAS BEEN Brady is friends with Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford for many years. After long stints in New England or Detroit, they both switched teams. Each of these moves led to Super Bowl wins in Year 1.
Ryan took note but never thought of leaving Atlanta. Not until the Falcons made their first move.
Atlanta plunged headfirst into the Deshaun Watson Sweepstakes began earlier in the year pursuing the quarterback He was selling himself to other teams that were interested in executing a deal with his former team, The Texans. Ryan has never publicly expressed any irritation over this.
It should not be forgotten that Watson was also doing this at the same time. facing 22 lawsuits He was accused of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct during massage sessions. He was traded to the Cleveland Browns.
“I’m not naïve,” Ryan said. “I know how this industry works.”
This is a mild way of putting it.
Ryan’s long-time friend and retired Atlanta center Todd McClure said, “Nobody wants that.” “I love my Falcons but the way this whole deal was done was a slap in our faces.”
Ryan struggled with his emotions. Ryan had always envisioned himself as a Falcon and had a deep devotion to his teammates. It was more than that. Ryan was committed to a whole region. Atlanta was his only NFL city.
Gonzalez stated, “He is the greatest quarterback in that franchise’s history.” “Obviously, there was a huge connection between Michael Vick and the community. Ryan, simply put, is the best.
That connection was strengthened when Ryan and Sarah were inspired by the George Floyd protests in 2020 to form ATL: Advance the Lives. This charitable organization’s mission is to “fight the systemic barriers that Black youth face.” This was the result of a personal $500,000 donation It is a result of many years of community involvement.
Ryan’s humility was as appealing to Falcons fans as his proclivity for touchdown passes.
Taylor Stanley, ATL’s program director, said, “When he walks into a room, it is where he introduces himself.” “He says, ‘Hi, I’m Matt.’ Yes, we do. “You’ve been the franchise quarterback 14 years!”
It was difficult to accept that the Falcons had plans for Ryan that didn’t include him, given their relationship with Atlanta. Ryan did the right thing.
“There comes a point when it is not possible to do so. [change] “Maybe it’s the best,” he stated.
Ryan then asked for a trade. The Falcons dealt him to Indianapolis A third-round draft pick was made — a bittersweet ending to a 14 year-long relationship.
Stanley stated that Stanley was proud of Stanley’s determination to Atlanta. They told me that throughout the whole process. Atlanta will be our main focus. However, Indy has the opportunity to succeed.”
COACH COLTS HEAD Frank Reich spent 12 days in the Colts trade of 2021 starting quarterback Carson Wentz To the Washington Commanders Their deal to place Ryan in a perpetual state o’ uncertainty on March 9,
Irsay summoned Reich’s general manager Chris Ballard to a meeting after the humiliating loss to the Jaguars. Reich said that Irsay was demanding and held people accountable. Reich was under immense pressure to win, but he didn’t have a starting quarterback, even though Wilson and other options were on the board. Did the Wentz decision go sour?
Reich was excited when a Ryan trade became available. Reich had been rotating through different quarterbacks for many years. The Colts had used a different starter each season. Ryan’s meticulousness required a complex pitch. Reich had to switch on the charm.
During a Zoom conference with Ryan, he did just that, along Ballard, the Colts’ offensive assistants.
Reich stated, “It’s just like going on your first date.” “You wear your best outfit.”
That meant that the Colts had to put together a reel that included about 30 plays. Reich shared his screen with the group and allowed the conversation to flow.
“I showed some of the core runs with Nyheim [Hines] [Jonathan Taylor],” Reich said. “And [Ryan] Was like, “Oh, I get the chance to play quarterback in an offensive that runs this ball so well?” And then I said, “Now, look at what we do in play-action off this, and how the defense reacts.” Naturally, I am showing him the best plays. I won’t show him any plays that we haven’t learned from.
“It felt like we had been on the phone for just 15 minutes, even though it was two hours long. It was something that we all knew. It is still something we all talk about, even now.
He wants to get a ring on him, and he’s in a team that can help him do it.
Tony Gonzalez
The Colts finally found their match after one date.
The relationship has only grown over the years. Ryan has successfully taken his place alongside Colts young players, who have gravitated towards him. Even in season No. Ryan exudes enthusiasm, intensity even in season number 15.
Receiver: “I recall on rookie report day, that he was just as fired up,” Parris Campbell said. “The vets weren’t even here yet. He was so happy. He was so ready to go that I arrived in the training room just three hours before practice. It’s not an accident. This is him every day.”
However, passion can take on many forms.
“He’ll explode. Gonzalez, who is an NFL analyst for Prime Video, stated that he’ll let everyone know if they’re not doing it right. “There were times when he would tell everyone in the huddle shut the f—ing up. He said it to me, and I was the older guy. I was like, “Hey, hold on! Now!” It was a great experience.
Ryan isn’t young anymore. Ryan is 16 years older that the youngest Colt, rookie safety. Nick Cross. However, he still has that absurd ability to believe he belongs. It was the same one he showed at 10 years of age.
Ryan believes that Ryan can win it all because of his boyhood confidence.