Smart Play by Calvin Ridley
 

Contrary to popular opinion, I think it was a smart play by Ridley to focus on disrupting the play and helping make the hail mary an incompletion. Think about it. The Falcons don't need a meaningless win. Ridley doesn't need a meaningless win. They aren't going anywhere this year. What they need is a higher draft pick to find a long term solution at QB. Lots of QBs could succeed with Jones and Ridley at WR. Many of those QBs cost less than 30 million a year and have actual leadership skills and intangibles. Ridley headhunting CGJ was actually a good move for his career and the Falcons franchise. He may be the only one who gets it on the entire roster. The Falcon's do have a great kicker, but history has proven that in the playoffs you need a QB to lead the offense, especially if you never have a great defense. If Ridley is smart he will keep disrupting key passes until someone else is throwing them and he has a legitimate chance to contend. The Eagles moved on at QB despite the specter of dead money. Its got to be frustrating to him that the Falcons refuse to do the same.

Re: Smart Play by Calvin Ridley
 

Matty Ice ain't the problem dere. I'd be willing to wager he'd flourish under a SP tutelage.

Re: Smart Play by Calvin Ridley
 

There isn't a single player or coach that gives a flying rats ass about the franchise getting a higher draft pick. They are only concerned with their own job. That is a fact. I have heard far too many coaches and players spell this out over the years. Only fans think in that manner and not all fans either. To me any win is worth more than some draft slot. I HATE losing with a passion.

Re: Smart Play by Calvin Ridley
 

Don't know if I want to see him in a Saints jersey, but he would do well somewhere else. I heard a rumor of him going to the 49ers. With the talent there, he could flourish. Entirely different organization.

Re: Smart Play by Calvin Ridley
 

I pointed this out in another thread. Atlanta is stuck with Matt Ryan at least through the 2022 season because of his recent contract. He would cost the Falcons around $50 million in dead money if they cut or trade him next season. They would still take around a $25 million cap hit if they waited until 2022. He'd still cost them about $8 million in dead money in 2023, but that's the first year it would even be feasible.

We get the pleasure of facing Ryan as a Failclown at least four more times.

:D

Re: Smart Play by Calvin Ridley
 

If this ever happens, I will gladly wager against you. I think it is completely illogical how our society openly accepts the concept that certain players are 'good under pressure' and 'come up big in the when it counts' but just assumes the rest of players are just normal and that there is not a subset of players who perform very poorly under pressure. Performing worse under pressure is probably more common and for every Mr. October and Tom Brady there are probably 2-3 Matt Ryan's. Having a QB who performs great under low pressure and terrible when expectations build or the game and moment are critical is worse than having no QB like the Broncos. You don't get the draft picks nor do you have a chance to win it all. Your fans are trolled with false hopes over and over and over. I would take a $50 million hit to get rid of Matt Ryan. No team should lose on purpose but no team should stick with a player who is clearly not the answer. If Atlanta was smart they would trade Ryan while there is a market and take the $50 million hit. $25 million hit the following year is a no brainer, much better to pay a player you can't rely on in the playoffs to not play for you than to pay them the same to play for you. He is not a bad guy, he doesn't lack talent, its just that he is uncomfortable performing under pressure or expectations that will always happen before a season can culminate in a championship. If he loses in the first round of the playoffs enough years in a row he may get to a super bowl again due to lowering expectations, but if he gets to a super bowl again it will elevate expectations, and he will choke again. No reason to pay for that doom. There are other QBs who can put up decent numbers with two pro bowl receivers and don't have that flaw.

Re: Smart Play by Calvin Ridley
 

You could argue it might inadvertently help in long run, but I don’t think Ridley was thinking that during the play, nor do I think the extra spot or two difference the win would have made either way is important. It means something at spot one or two, but not at 8 or so which is where they will likely draft.

Re: Smart Play by Calvin Ridley
 

You obviously don't get it. The Falcons cannot cut ties with Ryan with the current cap structure. The cap hits would put them WAY over the cap and the league would not allow the moves. It was a toxic contract, but they want Ryan so he remains. There is no option on their moving on from him until 2023 at the very earliest.

Re: Smart Play by Calvin Ridley
 

I’d rather have him than Winston.

Re: Smart Play by Calvin Ridley
 

Agreed. His actions are reflect poor leadership from the franchise more than anything.