Mark Bradley Calls Matt Ryan Greatest Rookie QB

I'll do a more thorough examination of this later in the week, but it's a pretty incredible thing to write. It's even more incredible that I'm considering it a possibility.

7 months ago Dave the Falconer Comment 29 comments 0 recs |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

I’m still iffy…but then again, arguably the greatest QB of this current generation (Peyton Manning) spent his rookie season starting and ended up with a 3-13 record.

My only hope is that Ryan is not headed to peak too early. I want him to be a consistently amazing QB for his whole career with Atlanta.

"The nice thing about supporting a bedraggled-cum-decent team? Watching all those analysts eat their words."

by tlozwarlock on Nov 24, 2008 12:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

At first I thought the whole premise of this post was BS

Greatest Rookie QB ever? Come on. But after looking at the stats he makes a good case. I can’t say too much after he just blistered the Panthers. I for one am not surprised by Ryan’s success given I posted my admiration for him back before the draft. I still stand by my assertion that he put up one of the best QB performances I’ve ever seen by a college QB against Tech last year.

I wonder if the Dolphins and Rams regret not taking Ryan?

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Nov 24, 2008 2:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Dolphins? Probably not.

Rams? Absolutely, though their problems extend beyond the QB position.

"The nice thing about supporting a bedraggled-cum-decent team? Watching all those analysts eat their words."

by tlozwarlock on Nov 24, 2008 2:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Unprecedented

I don’t know that I would call him the best rookie QB ever, but I will say that no other rookie QB has had this type of season. The stats are nice, the wins are huge but what is unique is that he and the team have come along a ridiculously long way back from the brink of absolute crap.

The distance this team has come from the end of last season I say is nothing short of miraculous. Is Ryan the only reason? Nope. Is he the catalyst? Totally.

Wow, I think I just convinced myself that he is in fact the greatest rookie QB ever.

In a way, each of us has an El Guapo to face.

by runningback on Nov 24, 2008 3:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Seems as if every logical thought process leads to that one illogical ending:

Ryan is Superman, come down from Krypton to right a million wrongs against a storied but beleaguered franchise.

"The nice thing about supporting a bedraggled-cum-decent team? Watching all those analysts eat their words."

by tlozwarlock on Nov 24, 2008 3:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ha

Either that, or he is in fact Chuck Norris.

In a way, each of us has an El Guapo to face.

by runningback on Nov 24, 2008 3:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nah

If he was Chuck Norris, the Panthers wouldn’t have bothered showing up ;)

"The nice thing about supporting a bedraggled-cum-decent team? Watching all those analysts eat their words."

by tlozwarlock on Nov 24, 2008 3:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

if chuck norris wanted to score a touchdown...

he would bend down and pull the turf to him until he reached the endzone

Still, I wish I was here

by adirondackangelfan on Nov 24, 2008 10:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i have to change my summer username

to properly reflect my falcon fandom. born and raised in very upstate new york and been a falcon fan since bartkowski

Still, I wish I was here

by adirondackangelfan on Nov 24, 2008 10:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Welcome to the site!

Glad to have you aboard!

by Dave the Falconer on Nov 24, 2008 10:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

glad to be here

what a great feeling to be a falcon fan this year. this is so exciting. i told everyone here that even if we only won two games it would still be a great year because all the pieces were here. to now be in the playoff hunt, with a legitimate chance i should add, is totally awesome. go birds!!

Still, I wish I was here

by adirondackangelfan on Nov 24, 2008 11:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It is

Being a fan of this team has rarely felt so good, and I’ve only been at it for about 20 years.

by Dave the Falconer on Nov 25, 2008 12:15 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Bartkowski?

Those of us who remember Peachtree Bart know he’s the textbook example of how NOT to develop a QB. The early lines he played behind were atrocious.

"There's no such word as 'quit' in swamp buggy racing, Marigold"

by tom slick on Nov 24, 2008 11:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

thats still where i started

i’ll always love bart

Still, I wish I was here

by adirondackangelfan on Nov 24, 2008 11:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh yeah

That 1980 team IMO was the best Atlanta ever had, including the Super Bowl team. Bart was a hell of a QB once he got a supporting cast.

"There's no such word as 'quit' in swamp buggy racing, Marigold"

by tom slick on Nov 24, 2008 11:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Bartkowski "Where are they now" links

Here’s an ESPN article from last year, and another one about his being a cancer survivor. Bart’s like Sara Lee, nobody doesn’t like him. Cheers!

"There's no such word as 'quit' in swamp buggy racing, Marigold"

by tom slick on Nov 25, 2008 12:04 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'll always love Bart

Great guy to have around for the memories, even if they weren’t all good ones.

by Dave the Falconer on Nov 25, 2008 12:15 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That reminds me of....

…..a funny quote in some horrible movie who’s name I forget.

Q:“Who would win in a fight, Lemmy or God?”
A:“Trick questions, Lemmy IS God!”

In a way, each of us has an El Guapo to face.

by runningback on Nov 24, 2008 4:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Airheads!!!

The Lone Rangers….wait, how can you pluralize the Lone Ranger?

by SG Standard on Nov 24, 2008 6:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Mark Bradley loves his Kool-Aid

I like our Matty Boy as much as anyone, but Mr. Bradley might consider cutting his dosage a little. He has a history of getting carried away prematurely.

My favorite example is an article he wrote on the Braves in the 1980s. He authoritatively proclaimed one mid-summer day that the Braves would win their division, case closed, forget about it. Funny, he never brought it up again after the Braves imploded and lost the pennant.

Not to trash the guy, I generally enjoy his writing and think there’s genuine reason to hope that Ryan’s all they say he is. The timing is wrong to be using such superlatives, though. Sports writers are an impatient lot.

"There's no such word as 'quit' in swamp buggy racing, Marigold"

by tom slick on Nov 24, 2008 6:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

It's my Franchise Quarterback and I

need him now!

Call 1-800-WIN-4EVA

This message brought to you by M.G. Bradley and company. It’s your QB. Get it now.

"The nice thing about supporting a bedraggled-cum-decent team? Watching all those analysts eat their words."

by tlozwarlock on Nov 24, 2008 7:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think it's a fair argument

The stats may not completely bear it out, but he’s been part of a transformative effort for an entire franchise. I think you have to at least put Ryan in the discussion.

by Dave the Falconer on Nov 24, 2008 10:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

and the season isnt over...

He could finish with one of the top rookie qbs ever statwise, but anyone who watched the games knows the numbers don’t reflect what he has done.

" No, I think I'll sit in the balcony " - Abe Lincoln

by tapate50 on Nov 25, 2008 9:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Comparing QB stats

is risky business. The way the rules have evolved over the years to encourage the passing game, it’s pretty difficult to compare QBs from one era to another. Check out the career passing ratings for some of the greats here at PFR.com. Going strictly by those numbers, Michael Vick was statistically a better passer than Joe Namath, Y.A. Tittle or Terry Bradshaw. I’ll go out on a limb here and say that’s really f*cked up.

Going by win percentage (perhaps a better yardstick), who knows what will happen in the last third of the season? You have to wait and see, but it sure looks like Ryan’s going to be in some very elite company in a few months.

by tom slick on Nov 25, 2008 12:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting article fodder

Even though it is interesting to debate the point, and he certainly could be considered the best by the time the season is over, but longevity and consistency are the key. Great QBs are not measured by year 1 but by year 2, 3, etc., so whether he is the best in year 1 is not a big deal I don’t think, but if he keeps this up into next year then pass the kool-aid my friends.

My Music Blog: DBF

by BVaz on Nov 25, 2008 10:30 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Ryan

I think it is a legitimate argument that he is the greatest rookie QB ever. I am certain he is the greatest rookie QB I have ever seen. Marino’s rookie team had been to multiple playoff apperances and a Super Bowl before. He also did not start the season as the starting QB.

I think we all agree that Ryan is going to win rookie of the year, but I think the better question might be where does he fit in the MVP talk? I know he will not win, but does he have a shot at being at least discussed?

by Kenny483 on Nov 25, 2008 2:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Peter King is already discussing Ryan as league MVP.

Has him ranked 4th under Matt Cassell, Farve, and some other dude.

"The nice thing about supporting a bedraggled-cum-decent team? Watching all those analysts eat their words."

by tlozwarlock on Nov 25, 2008 3:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

MVP? Nooooo Mr. Bill !

Nothing against Ryan, but rookies shouldn’t be eligible for MVP (though I agree he certainly qualifies otherwise). Rookies already have their awards. Ryan will have another 15 or 20 chances for his MVP trophy later.

by tom slick on Nov 25, 2008 3:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs