Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan’s impending contract extension: a new perspective

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is a busy guy. He’s got newborn twin boys at home. He’s getting ready for the Falcons offseason program. He’s trying to negotiate what will be his last contract as a professional football player. In short, he’s got a lot on his mind.

We’ve all waited patiently for Ryan’s new deal to come to fruition. And I think “mixed emotions” is a fair description of how the fan base is handling all this waiting. Most of you expect both sides to come to a fair, team-friendly deal in the not so distant future. Others can’t stop complaining about the impact Ryan’s impending deal had on free agency. I want to focus in on the latter group for a moment.

This group, a minority of Falcons fans, seemingly faults Ryan for his market value. This group wants Ryan to throw up his hands and say, “oh, never mind, I don’t need to make as much as my similarly-situated peers; the team is all that matters!” Imagine a world where Ryan thought like that; really think about it for a second. What kind of whacked out, alternative reality would that be?

I’ll be frank, none of us should fault Ryan as he looks out for his own best interests. He’s got every right to secure his future and that of his family. We’d all recoil if our bosses suddenly asked us to accept less compensation than we’re worth. Why shouldn’t Ryan do the same? Ultimately Ryan’s deal will get done, and the Falcons will still function financially. Don’t believe me? Fair enough. But know this: it’s neither speculation nor shortsighted naiveté; it’s an educated, logical guess. Try that on for size.