Rumor Mongering: Falcons Not Interested in Ryan?
Don Banks has some draft rumors he puts in his latest article on SI.com.
The No. 6 Jets are calibrating every potential move they make with the No. 7 Patriots in mind. These two really don’t like each other, and it’s not even close to being hype in this case. Under no scenario does New York want to see Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan make it to New England’s slot, because Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum and head coach Eric Mangini know the Patriots will promptly put their draft slot up for auction and reap a bounty of picks from some quarterback-needy team.
The Jets have even gone so far as to talk with the No. 8 Ravens about what it would cost them to trade up to sixth for Ryan. Anything to keep the Patriots from hitting the jackpot. Hearing that, it kind of leads one to believe the Jets have decided to pass on Ryan, even though they reportedly love him. Then again, they could anticipate having multiple options that they like — Chris Long or Darren McFadden among them — and wanted to see how much the Ravens would give up to get their franchise quarterback.
Exactly. It has seemed that the Jets have been trying to coax the Ravens into a move, and it doesn’t seem to have worked. Even so, it isn’t over just yet. John Harbaugh was on ESPN Radio today and readily admitted that Quarterback was their main need, so Saturday is a long time away. Banks continues:
Speaking of quarterback-needy teams that I’m just about to give up trying to figure out, a reliable league source told me Tuesday night that he’s hearing No. 3 Atlanta will pass on Matt Ryan even if LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey goes to St. Louis at No. 2.
No Ryan or Dorsey to the Falcons? Huh? Now I’m really confused.
I hear you Don, but the rumor is coming round late … which should make you more wary. The Falcons have likely already set their board, and this seems to be a reactionary rumor to the word yesterday that the Jets might be willing to trade up to No. 2 to get their man.
If the Jets have determined that they do want Ryan to be their franchise guy, now more than ever I would have to seriously consider moving up to No. 2 spot because it seems that the Falcons might be wanting to protect their options. On the other hand, it might be a way to entrap the Jets into moving up to make Glenn Dorsey slide to the No. 3 spot.
Congrats, we are now getting into Grade-A Vizzini style overthinking.
29 Responses to Rumor Mongering: Falcons Not Interested in Ryan?
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comesimangia says:
Well you got your bases pretty well covered their…but the whole Ryan thing, to me anyway, seems like Tangini are just trying their best convince everyone else in the league they actually want the guy so they can trade out at six. I just don’t buy the fact that they’ve seen enough of Clemens yet to draft Ryan, let alone trade UP to get him.
I’ve said it before, Tangini’s first draft went, D’Brick, Mangold, and then then Clemens at 49th overall. A tackle, a center and a QB, the building blocks of any offense. Say whatever you want about D’Brick and Clemens, but as far as I’m concerned both those players need atleast another year as starters before we call in the Jury. Tangini, in every draft they’ve done, have gone out and gotten the players they wanted, they target people and go get them, they dont just let the draft come to them. Clemens IS their guy.
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Obviously someone is going to point out that maybe Ryan IS their guy NOW, and they’re gonna go out and get him…I really have no clue…but Ryan isn’t exactly a lock by most people’s estimation, I mean if Atlanta, who needs a QB much more than we do, actually passes on him, and they play in a dome by the way, not in the swirling winds of the meadow lands, what makes tangini so sure he’s really the guy. But I have in Tangini…for now anyway…
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I’m with comesimangia — as I’ve said repeatedly, this is all part of an elablorate smoke screen, or “g.s.” as I called it in another thread: Green Smoke.
As they say, I’m expecting the unexpected. No one saw them coming out of the weeds to snag Revis or Harris last year, no one really expected them to take Mangold or move up to take Clemens two years ago … to be honest, with everything being written and said, I’d be more shocked if they stay at #6, and it’s actually McDaddy (or Ryan or Long).
Dang, this will be fun!
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Underappreciated Analysis says:
If the Jets take Matt Ryan, a Boston guy no less, who want my season tix?
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MS says:
I can’t wait for Saturday at 3:00 to actually get some answers. All these rumors are driving me crazy. Although, it will be a little more boring on Monday morning. I’m still crossing my fingers that we get McFadden.
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ian says:
this front office passed on cutler, leinart, quinn (and thankfully, russel and young). there is no way they are trading up to number 2 or 3 to get an average college qb–and that’s precisely what matt ryan was, average.
if they trade up, it’s for chris long.
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I know, I haven’t been this excited about a draft since 2002…All I wanted was Ed Reed. I knew we could get him, and fell, and fell, and then we were on the clock and I was dancing around my living room, putting in my order for a #20 jets jersey…and we took Bryan Thomas…I hope I don’t have buy a new remote after this year’s draft.
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Dave75 says:
Have confidence, the Tangini regime will get things right. It would be a luxury to take McFadden while it would be necessary to land Long, Gholston, or trade down for either McKlevin or Rogers-Cromartie. If they want to keep their job, they’ll take a necessity rather than a luxury
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The Ed(itor) says:
I do think there is a lot of Green smoke floating in the air, but then there is smoke coming from every GM in front of the JETS. And everyone ahead of the JETS wants to trade down. But nobody wants to pay the price to trade up. If the JETS are really targeting someone (PLEASE NOT MATT RYAN) then a trade of their pick + DRob to move up would make sense to me. But only to pick McFadden.
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seanmac says:
The Rams if they stay put are taking Dorsey. It will be interesting to see what Atlanta does in that spot- I firmly believe that they won’t have Matt Ryan as the top player on their board, and if they want to stick to value and follow the recent trend of not overvaluing the quarterback position, they’ll pass. On the other hand, there is talk that they might like to trade back up to take Ryan, using their three second rounders or next year’s first rounder in some combination as the bait. You could also see the Chiefs pass on Ryan at five and then look to trade back up for him using the 17th as bait. In some scenarios, the Jets might be best off taking Ryan and putting him up for auction. But then you need to be sure that the interest in him is there, and I think the interest level might actually be fairly soft due to the way this draft falls. There are going to be teams that need a quarterback who would far rather trade back for Chad Henne or Brian Brohm than pay a ransom for Ryan, who they may not have graded much higher than the other guys. After all this smoke, it’s still possible that Ryan is going to drop to Baltimore at eight, and it’s possible that the Ravens pass on him and he drops still further. It’s also possible that the Jets are serious about going up to 2 to take him (I can’t see the value in trading up for anyone else, and I say that as a non-Ryan guy). You’re looking at a player with a 2-17 draft range, which makes for some really volatile draft situations.
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zzzzz says:
How much longer is Chad going to be a Jet? Even if he wins the starting position this year, there’s a good chance that his body will only withstand six or seven games. When he’s out, we’re down to just Clemens as a viable QB.
Given the above, how long will it take Ryan to learn the offense and the team well enough to be a viable player? Ryan might not be the win-now option or as exciting as McFadden, but we may need to get another QB into the mix to protect our future. Not saying we have to use our six pick on a QB, though.
Regardless, I hope we draft McFadden. The same logic holds for him: Thomas Jones will be 30 before the season starts.
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SEANMAC
Matt Ryan is NOT worth trading up for seanmac. What are you talking about?? McFadden is worth the gamble. Off the field issues included. Ryan is a decent quarterback. Maybe good. But Im not giving up my entire draft, which is what it would cost us, probably our second and fourth (which would leave us with one 4th, a 6th, and 7th) for a guy who’s overall percentage to be a franchise qb is low.
The funny part is, the way it looks, do the Jets need to trade up to get him??
St. Louis will take dorsey,
Atlanta wants dorsey, badly, so those two might switch spots. with st. louis taking Long at 3. McFadden goes 4 to Oakland. THEY ARE NOT TAKING GHOLSTON SO STOP DREAMING JET FANS INCLUDING ME.
Gholston goes 5 to KC. Now we have M.Ryan in front of us. I think we trade out to 8. Pick up an extra second rounder from Baltimore. Then maybe we even trade to 10 with NO who wants Ellis. We get an extra second rounder from them. NE would take McKelvin or Rivers at 7. Ellis goes 8. Cinci takes an OT at 9 (Otah, Clady), and then I think we take Harver at 10. We pick up two additional second round picks which gives us 3, 2nd rounders and the ability to move up into the first round for someone that they like (Mayo, Sweed). Just my thoughts. I just don’t think McFadden will be there, and we don’t want Matt Ryan.- -
Sean says:
Whatever happens I do not want to pick a QB. Matt Ryan is only predicted to go so high because this draft is lacking quality QBs. For the last two months I have been pushing for Gholston and would still like to have him, however, I would have no problem taking, even moving up for, DMAC.
I heard a great interview with Chris Mortensen on ESPN radio over the weekend. He talked about how all of the sports media outlets are blowing DMACs “off field issues” WAY out of proportion.
First, one of the incidences he was involved in was when someone was trying to steal his brother’s car. Who wouldnt do something about that?
Second, Mort said that if we are going to criticize him for being a father, we should also criticize NFL posterboy Tom Brady.
Guys, what college kid didnt do something ill advised between 18-22?
I dont put much credence into the off the field issues, unless it is a domestic violence issue or something very serious. Scuffles happen.
Earlier last year, I think over the Summer, DMAC was on the cover of ESPN mag. If any of you have it or had the chance to read it, it is a great article and talks about his character.
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steviek says:
I’ve been a little down on McFadden from the start, and thought he’d be the guy to drop. Granted that comes from only watching a handful of Arkansas games.
Now he’s not a bad player at all. And character has nothing to do with it for me. I just didn’t see a back that was going to be an upper echelon nfl back.
There are some things he can do very well, some less so. He’s seemed decent at picking up the blitz , which is critical to staying on the field in the NFL (tough to tell because he was usually out in a pattern).
But I can’t make a case that McFadden will be a big, everydown back over some of the other guys in the draft, except in straight line speed.
I’m a little hesitant on the 6 pick for a guy who’d get 10-12 touches a game at best. Unless that becomes the only rational option depending how Saturday plays out. Thomas Jones will be the redzone guy with McFadden. And remember we are northeast team that wants to win games in december and january. -
wayne80 says:
Seanmac, for what its worth the boys at ESPN swear STL really wants Long, not Dorsey, and their arguments makes sense.
They plan to keep Carriker on the inside, told him to bulk up over the winter, which he has. He now weighs in at 315 pounds, ready to be a force on the inside.
So C Long makes the most sense for them. They are trying to bluff ATL into moving up for Dorsey.
Agree with you 100% on Ryan, he would not have been a first round pick a year ago, in fact most of these guys will end up being picked 10-20 places higher than they would have been in last years class.
Another argument why the Jets should trade down at all cost.
If the Jets move up for anyone in this draft I will be sick, but it won’t be the first time I need an alka seltzer on draft day.
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The amazing this to me about this draft is that, at a number of positions, the guys who are being projected for Round 2 are almost exactly as likely to succeed as the guys taken in Round 1. I would put CB in that group – I think Cason and Porter are just as good as DRC and McKelvin – and probably WR, DE, and ILB too.
So, in a lot of ways, I’m more excited to see what we do with the #36 pick (or any picks between 20 and 50 that we trade into) than for the #6 pick. Whoever #6 ends up being, they aren’t going to be any more of a a sure thing than the second-round pick, and they’re going to cost a whole lot more.
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RK says:
I think it’ll be Gholston because it seems to me now the media, except for some mock drafts, is talking about everything but Gholston.
I see him falling, he shouldn’t have been mentioned as #1 and at 6 he’ll be at or near the spot he should be.
I don’t know if he’ll be a bust because he’s a workout warrior but if all he is there for is pass rush then let him get 12 sacks in his rookie year.
I’d rather a trade down too.
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neil herschkowitz says:
Its harder to plan this draft selection process then it was the logistics for the invasion of Normandy. There are so many choices and options and bluffs, and factoring in of other teams true intentions.
There is for certain some good talent available to us, and I have never waited with greater anticipation for any draft.
I think it was the late 80′s when we drafted a guy named Jeff Loggerman at DE, and moved him to OLB because he was to small. There has been since then a trend of doing this in the NFL, but we were one of the first. Sometimes it works…sometimes not. As it now stands we have 2 guys being paid a tidy sum that fit that position. Why then draft Gloston or Long when that need has been filled. I mean neither is a 280-300 pound traditional DE.
We also have what I feel is a great one two punch at RB with Thomas and Leon….these guys are both studs and with a better OL will produce a strong running game…so why McFadden?
I just do not see KC as being capable of getting the job done. I saw him miss open receivers when he had time to throw the ball by more then Vinny use to miss them. Chad has the heart and the wisdom, but as we all know lacks the arm.
I think we must bring Ryan into the equation, and take the risk and the hit on our cap. We have a brief window of opportunity with some of the talented but old FA we brought in to get the job done now.
Even if it means trading with the Rams for the number 2 pick. How stressful will it be for us fans to watch this team come together…and it will, but lack a QB that can take us to another dimension.
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Johnny Styne says:
We should trade our #1 and Chad to Baltimore for their #1 and a #2.
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JustAGreenGuy says:
Matt Ryan is not a #2 pick. 3 picks to get ourselves a QB who is not expected to go until 8. We can take a QB, but that is the definition of bad Gming. I’d rather run the option all season then see that move be made.
Matt Ryan is not Peyton Manning. He isn’t even Eli Manning. He is a guy who threw 19 picks last year and fumbled multiple times in his last /biggest game in college. Can his arm handle swirling winds? He is a 1st rounder. Top ten is generous top 5 is nuts to me.
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Considering that we do not need another running back, nor do we need another DE that is to small and must be moved to OLB; well to me we must then address our most immediate need.
As I said if Gloston or Long fit the traditional 280-300 pound DE I would jump on it. If we did not have Thomas and Leon, well McFadden would look pretty darn good to me.
I honestly believe that we absolutely must draft Ryan. He is the best available QB in this draft. He had some interceptions, but he also had 34 TD passes, and his receiving core was fair at best. Half his picks came off the hands of his receivers as a deflection. He also has intangables that second round QB’s do not this year.
Let him compete with KC and Chad in camp. Sure its a risk, and a hit on the cap…..nothing worth having comes risk free, and if we get stuck with Chad and KC it will come back to bite us…and hard.
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DSmizzle says:
*Jeff Lageman
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DSmizzle…I am spelling challenged to say the least….thanks for the correction…always liked Lageman
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SackDance99 says:
I’m with you Neil. Ryan had a mediocre supporting cast at BC and no running game. Gosder Cherlious gave up 5 1/2 sacks at LT, and he was BC’s best O-lineman. Over 4,500 yards passing, the team on his back, 11 wins, etc., etc. McShay thinks he’s as good or better than all QB prospects since Big Ben in 2004 (he has him ranked as good as Eli, and better than Rivers, Leinart, Young, Cutler, etc.) I think he’s worth trading up for, but I didn’t trade up to draft KC in the second round in 2006. Trading up and drafting Ryan is such a bold move, that I think, if it happens, Jets fans should dance in the streets because it means that Mangini/Tannenbaum think he’s a franchise QB and I trust their drafting skill.
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Are you going to trust their drafting skill if they have a chance to take Ryan and pass?
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Yes, grudgingly, I will trust their judgment, but I’ll be pretty skeptical and unhappy if they pick Gholston. He’s the one guy that I think could be a huge bust and I really don’t think the Jets need him after signing Pace. Gholston just isn’t a beast, he was a nice player on a good defense. He disappeared some times and was generally mediocre against the run and not a violent form tackler. Any other pick or move, I’ll be cool with, but Gholston will put me in a bad mood.
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Of course, if he sets the NFL rookie sack record, I’ll be trading in my vintage no. 99 for a Gholston…as a fan, not an FO columnist, I can afford to be fickle. :-)
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Sack Dance 99…I will trust the FO to make the best choices based on the fact that they forgot more then I will ever know about selecting and evaluating talent. They also see our current players every day and are getting a clearer picture of their true ability. I have problems separating the emotion of being a fan from the analytical process of pure evaluation
As much as I complain, I believe they made some great moves in FA, and set themselves up beautifully for this draft.
Having said that, I love our RB’s and feel we do not need nother one, and we have 2 DE’s that are now OLB, and do not need any more.
I personally would feel a great sense of excitement and hope to have a new young gun with very good talent, and outstanding leadership skills compete for the starting QB job
I believe this team is very close now to being for real. I also feel very strongly that we are hurting badly at the key QB position. Quite frankly we must take the required risk and draft Ryan no matter what.
I swear to god I go to bed at night and have bad dreams about Chads floaters staying in the air and moving in slow motion with defenders dancing to some unknown song waiting on the ball, or I see LC on a hospital stretcher with his eyes rolled up…all very surreal. Then I see KC riding on a horse out on his farm in Oregon with a bushel full of footballs trying time after time to hit the broad side of a barn…and missing. See what being a fan does to your dreams, not to mention your sleep patterns.
If the Jets trade up to take Ryan than either a) Tangini are geniuses on the level of Stephen J. Hawking, or b) they are morons.