matt ryan MATTY ICE HEATS UP The Atlanta Falcons selected Matt Ryan with the third overall pick in the 2008 National Football League NFL Draft The Falcons hoped he would be their quarterback for many years to come Ryan lived up to expectations He led several fourth-quarter game-winning game-winning drives He was named Offensive Rookie of the Year He also earned the nickname Matty Ice He was calm cool and collected But one thing eluded him in his first four seasons a playoff win Many people thought that Matty Ice melted when his team’s Super Bowl hopes were on the line 9
In each of his three playoff appearances he never passed for more than 200 yards The one thing I’ve learned specifically is in the postseason it’s hard to win Ryan said It’s difficult to do Ryan put aside those difficulties in 2012 The Falcons hosted the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional playoff round He threw three touchdown passes That tied a Falcons playoff record Atlanta built a 27 7 lead by the third quarter But the Seahawks surged back to take a one-point lead Thirty-four seconds remained Seattle was on the brink of the greatest fourth-quarter comeback in playoff history Ryan’s doubters shook their heads They thought it was the same old Matty Ice It wasn’t The Falcons had a good kickoff return Then Ryan connected with wide left Coach Mike Smith and Matt Ryan 10
Tommy Nobis Linebacker Falcons seasons 1966 76 Height 6-foot-2 Weight 240 pounds GRIDIRON GREATS THE CORNERSTONE Quick and aggressive Tommy Nobis was the type of player a team could build its defense around especially a young team such as the Falcons In 1966 he was named Defensive Rookie of the Year He became the team’s first Pro Bowl participant Nobis was later named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1960s Nobis possessed a no-nonsense no-nonsense work ethic A man ought to have enough pride to play every game as hard as he can wringing every bit of energy he has in him trying to win he said That’s the only thing that matters in football 11
