Matt Ryan: 6 years, $72 million

He and Long have the same agent too.

I'm sure Long is having a very intense discussion with Condon right about now.

 

I liked him better when he was known as David Carr.

 

Kevin Mawae, NFLPA president, isn't really thrilled with the contract:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3406508

 

Well done

 

Long's still the highest-paid lineman in NFL history. I doubt he has problems with a highly-touted QB getting a bit more money.

This contract is a huge gamble though. If Ryan is a bust (and he's by no means a sure thing) the Falcons are in serious trouble. Simply being mediocre is not going to get it done...he has to be a perennial Pro Bowler for this to pay off.

 

the sad reality for jake long is that qb's taken that high always get more bucks. jake did fine for a non-qb in the first spot. oh, and condon had blank/dimitroff by the gonads after michael vick. they were set up to be easy pickin's.

hopefully, this will help lead to a legit rookie cap. the one now is a joke. vet players oughta make that a top priority for upshaw or whoever is leading the union on the upcoming cba talks.

the rookie inflation rate is ridiculous. in '04, eli manning got about 20 million guaranteed. now this kid gets almost 35 mil guaranteed? un-effin'-real.

 

Also, Blank couldn't afford to have his next franchise player be a holdout. Between Vick's situation, trading Schaub and letting Dunn walk, he needs some goodwill with the city of Atlanta.

I still would not have given him a contract anywhere close to that big...

 

Rock solid for one year in the ACC and being a "great guy" gets you literally no where in a league full of less than reputable characters who are ready to tear your head off.

 

We already knew that, but thanks for your help, Captain Obvious. 8)

 

So he's the one fan.

 

I know maybe one handful of them. And I live in the South.

 

So how much patience do they have with Ryan, particularly if this squad goes 3-13 and he struggles in his rookie season a la Peyton manning and the Indianapolis Colts. Does he get that kind of time to pan out or do they panic after 10 games of futility?