Dismissing Matt Ryan is a cry for attention

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan continues to be disrespected by those that see him the most – the Atlanta media.

Those working in the Atlanta media market learn very quickly that if you need attention, simply talk about how overrated you think Matt Ryan is. Put out a Top 10 list of quarterbacks in the NFL and leave him off of it and POOF you instantly get all of the attention that you want.

You won’t find anyone that believes Matt Ryan is the best quarterback in the NFL, no one is that foolish. However, making declarations that quarterbacks like Dak Prescott, Philip Rivers, or Carson Wentz are while leaving Matt out, are some of the most ridiculous statements that one can make.

For example, earlier this week, Atlanta radio host Mark Zinno, put out the following Top NFL QB’s 10 list:

1. Patrick Mahomes
2. Russell Wilson
3. Aaron Rodgers
4. Lamar Jackson
5. Dak Prescott
6. Tom Brady
7. Deshaun Watson
8. Drew Brees
9. Phillip Rivers
10. Carson Wentz

Matt Ryan is the only quarterback on this list to have nine consecutive 4,000-yard seasons. Sure, Mahomes is a Super Bowl winner while Brees and Brady are two of the best ever. But in no way, shape or form is Jackson, Watson, Rivers, or Wentz better or more reliable than Matt Ryan.

All of the young guys on this list are exciting to watch (as a Clemson alumnus, I love Deshaun) but I am not taking any of them with the game on the line. Ryan is one of the all-time greats in comebacks.

The only QB in the league who had more fourth-quarter comebacks than Ryan was Russell Wilson – Wilson led the Seahawks to four while Matt led the Falcons to three.

Matt Ryan is among the league’s best

In 2019, the only two QB’s on this list that had a better completion percentage are Drew Brees and Deshaun Watson. Only Jared Goff and Jameis Winston attempted more passes in 2019 than Matt Ryan who was able to sustain his 66 percent completion rate despite more than 600 attempts and being sacked 48 times.

Oh, and he wasn’t throwing five yards slants to Michael Thomas either.

Fans of the Atlanta Falcons seem to drool over some of these young quarterbacks and love to talk about the fact that they have MVP awards while in the same conversation dismissing Ryan’s 2016 MVP as the result of some elite offensive coordinator; who by the way hasn’t had the same offensive success in his career with any other quarterback, while Matt Ryan has replicated that success.

After 12 seasons in Atlanta, Matt Ryan no longer has the shine that he once did to some, but to say that he is not among the best in the absurd and simply not true and stating such nonsense is nothing more than a way to seek attention.