Time for the Atlanta Falcons to move on from Matt Bryant
By Ross Terrell
Matt Bryant’s time as an Atlanta Falcons player should come to an end. Let’s not understate his greatness over his career.
As the Atlanta Falcons kicker, he’s made 88 percent of his field goals. He’s been awfully clutch. You don’t earn the nickname Money Matt by not performing in crunch time.
But Harvey Dent from the Dark Knight said it best. “You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become a villain.”
Right now, Matt Bryant is looking villainous. He’s struggled this year. His future with the team this offseason was questionable as the team cut him. Fans wanted him back. Blogging Dirty wanted him back. But that decision is starting to bite this team.
Bryant has now missed 50 plus yard field goals in back to back games. With some of the other kickers and athletes out there, 50 yarder’s have become routine. But not in Atlanta. The Falcons had another guy on the roster.
Remember Giorgio Tavecchio? He struggled in the preseason. And the Falcons said he needed time to work things out. But he didn’t get that time. Maybe he should’ve. It would have at least cost this cap-strapped team much less.
Tavecchio also played well in the regular season last year. The preseason is practice and perhaps the Falcons overreacted.
Of course, nobody could foresee the Atlanta Falcons only being able to secure one win in the first seven weeks of the season. The team and fans expected Bryant’s leg to come in handy in winning one-possession games.
But that hasn’t been the case. Most of their losses have been multiple score ones. In fact, the one chance Bryant had to send this team to overtime and a potential win against the Arizona Cardinals, he blew it on an extra point.
He’s been a great player over his decade here. The memories with this team will last forever. The NFC divisional win, the game-winner in the regular season, and just the consistency. Through all the ups and downs, Atlanta had a safety net in Matt Bryant.
Next. Falcons offense no-shows until the second half. dark
But now that net has more holes in it than the one catching his kicks. Thank you, Bryant, but it’s time for Atlanta to move on.