Matt Ryan has signed his deal:

[massraider]

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Atlanta Falcons today agreed to terms on a six-year contract with first round draft choice quarterback Matt Ryan. Financial details of the contract were not disclosed. Ryan was the third overall selection in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Following a stellar career at Boston College, Ryan emerged as a Heisman Trophy candidate while earning ACC Player of the Year honors as a senior. The Golden Eagles finished eighth in the nation in total offense last year as Ryan established school records for 400-yard passing performances in both a career and a season while tallying 4,507 passing yards.

Ryan completed 807 of 1,347 passes for 9,313 yards and 56 touchdowns in his Golden Eagle career. His career completions and attempts set school records while his passing yards and 59.9 completion percentage both rank third in the school’s all-time record book.

Of the Division I-A quarterbacks in this year’s draft who started 24 or more games, Ryan won 76.5 percent of his 34 starts while recording a 3-0 record in bowl games.

The deal comes less than a month after the NFL Draft and quicker than teams signed rookies from a year ago.

No NFL team signed its first round choice before July 3 last season (Greg Olson,Chicago). The Falcons last top pick, defensive end Jamaal Anderson, signed on July 26 of last year.

Ryan is the second first-round pick to sign on the dotted line this season following No. 1 selection Jake Long (Miami). The St. Louis Rams selected Virginia defensive end Chris Long with the second overall pick.

[massraider]

Will hopefully allow the Run DMC nego's to happen quickly.

[007]

Wow.

Signs for more than the #1 in 2008 and 2009...

It puzzles me how these rookies can make this much money. I would love a pay scale predicated on draft slotting.

DMC will firmly be in the 30+ guaranteed now, with probably 6 years, 65 million?

[massraider]

Wow.

Signs for more than the #1 in 2008 and 2009...


Well, I am sure that number is best case scenario, based on escalators and incentives.

I agree that a rookie pay scale is optimum.


If the new CBA includes a rook pay scale and better benefits for retirees, it'll be a success.

[007]

Yep.

Should be interesting, as I see a bunch of guys signing over the next couple weeks...

DMC should be able to get in on time, at least. The framework is set, IMO.

[hawaiianboy]

They should have waited till after the preseason was over, like we wisely did with our rookie QB... :shakehead:


I tell you, our front office needs to get it's collective shit together and get Mac Daddy and Nnamdi signed and in every camp this year...

[007]

I cant believe Matt Ryan signed for Tommy Kelly money!

[RZ]

NFL Network's Adam Schefter reports the contract is valued at $72 million, with $34.75 million guaranteed.

[massraider]

I cant believe Matt Ryan signed for Tommy Kelly money!

REP!

stupid 10 char limit

[doingthisinsteadofwork]

72 million.I may be mistaken but isnt that more than were paying Russell?As much as I wasnt a Russell fan Im glad we ended up with him and not Ryan.

[007]

Russell got somewhere near 6 and 60, I think.

[doingthisinsteadofwork]

Thats what I thought.Im also pretty sure Russell got 30-32 million in gurantees whereas Ryan got 34 million in gurantees.They overpaid him.

[007]

Definitely.

Im not being a hypocrite, because all rookies get overpaid (IMO) but the Falcons overpaid on the QB, and out of draft position...

I get the whole 'QB premium' thing, but jeezus...

[Postmaster]

The Falcons just made Chris Long and DMAC a lot richer that they thought they were going be.

[007]

If Im Darren McFadden, the preliminary contract negotiations just went out the friggin window.

Im asking for 6 years and 60 firm, not the 6 years 46 mil that Adams got last season...

[NIPS]

Like I tried to tell all the dopes over at KFFL when they all fell outta the chair laughing at what we paid Russell

Its the sign of the times...

Only person I see that got f'ed was Jake Long, I'm not sure his numbers off hand but I gotta believe he's a little pissed right now

Big winner?

Chris Long

Wow, dude went before Ryan and dont be surprised to see a holdout from Long

DMC?

I dont think he's gonna have much room to negotiate, QB's vs RB's?

Theres always been a huge gap in rookie cotracts

Chris Long just hit the 80 million powerball

[NIPS]

Wow.

Signs for more than the #1 in 2008 and 2009...

It puzzles me how these rookies can make this much money. I would love a pay scale predicated on draft slotting.

DMC will firmly be in the 30+ guaranteed now, with probably 6 years, 65 million?


I think it'll be a little more than what Gaines Adams got last year at #4

I'm thinking 50 million with a 22 million guarantee

Somewhere around there

[Raidermania12]

I think he may(not saying he will) miss a lil time, but unlike Russell, he has hungry competition at his position in Bush and fargas even. So that may be a factor in him getting on the field.

[007]

NFLN posted where Ryan ranks as far as the QB pay scale...

3rd all time.

higher than Manning, Brady, Bulger,McNabb, Hasselbeck, VY etc.

Nuts.

[NIPS]

Heres a guy that was filling out a compatability form on e-harmony and now he'll being slingy dick with the best of 'em..

Wonder if Jessica Simpson... naw....

[massraider]

BTW, I am going to be in ATL for week 1.

My buddies father is friends with Matt's fiancee's father. kind of convoluted, but my buddy has struck up a friendship with Ryan. We will be in th box next to Blank's, apparently. :eek:

[RHC]

BTW, I am going to be in ATL for week 1.

My buddies father is friends with Matt's fiancee's father. kind of convoluted, but my buddy has struck up a friendship with Ryan. We will be in th box next to Blank's, apparently. :eek:Cool, you can watch Ryan hit his receivers right in the numbers just before the receivers drop the ball.