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2007 is a year I'd like to forget. Rihanna's "Umbrella" topped the charts. Chris Benoit was the fifth-most prevalent Google search. Aiden was the most popular baby name. And Joey Harrington was the Falcons' starting quarterback.
The Falcons have grown exponentially since then. It's almost an entirely different team now. Different coaches, different players, and most importantly, a different culture.
To be frank, Michael Vick's shenanigans the ensuing aftermath are ancient history at this point. We've moved on, and we're better for it. Matt Ryan is the leading MVP candidate. Our receiving corps is ridonkulous. Thomas Dimitroff recently earned a hair product sponsorship.
“Having played against the Eagles [with Vick] so many times, I don’t think it’s something the guys in here talk about or even think about that all that much,” Matt Ryan said today. “There’s probably only a handful of guys left that played with Mike. I think we are probably a little bit beyond that at this point, five years removed.”
Everything is fairly copasetic five years later. Avenging last year's lost is by far the biggest storyline. Sure, the commentators will probably have something to say about the quarterback battle. Vick's regressing like Dave at a Chuck E Cheese, while Ryan is doing his best Peyton Manning impression.
As always, I'm curious what y'all think. So discuss!