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I bet Ryan doesn't run either!

As the Atlanta Falcons prepare for their most important game of the season against the rival Saints next Sunday, one memory from last season's matchup at the Mercedes Benz Superdome is sure to be recalled.


Much was made of the illegal hit quarterback Matt Ryan took from Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro. The play drew the ire of Falcons owner Arthur Blank, because he felt no one stepped up in defense of Ryan.

Receiver Roddy White remembers the play all too well.

"That ain't going to happen again," White said of the Saints taking any late shots at Ryan. "No, no that ain't going to happen again. Yes, I was pissed about that. But, like I said, that's not going to happen again."

The Falcons vowed to be a "tougher" team this season, and that has shown at times throughout the season. It started in the preseason, when offensive linemen Joe Hawley, Lamar Holmes, and Ryan Schraeder ran to the defense of Ryan after Ryan took a finger to the face from Titans linebacker Zach Brown. Then during a November game at Carolina, Devin Hester went after Panthers cornerback Josh Norman as Norman was wrestling with Harry Douglas on the ground.

It fair to argue that no one has shown more toughness than Ryan this season -- not in terms of going after anyone, but just in the way he constantly pops up to his feet after taking big hits. Such was the case during Sunday's loss to the Steelers, when he was blasted by linebacker Jason Worilds after tight end Bear Pascoe missed a block. Worilds was flagged for roughing the passer.

Ryan looked disoriented as he remained on his back for a minute.

"He's a battler, man," White said of Ryan. "That's what you expect from your quarterback. I've been playing with him for the last seven years, and he's been that way the whole time. I can't recall him ever being hurt. He always gets back up.

"You're always worried when you see your quarterback go down. He's a Pro Bowl quarterback and the leader of our team. So when you see him get hit like (against the Steelers), it's scary. When he gets hit like that, you just hope and pray that he gets up and finishes the game. But he's a warrior, man. He's going to get up after they hit him and keep going."

Roddy White on Kenny Vaccaro-Matt Ryan hit: That ain't going to happen again - Atlanta Falcons Blog - ESPN

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