Matt Ryan vs. Joe Flacco: The Great 2008 Debate

July 14, 2010   ·   Sean O'Brien   ·   Jump to comments

The careers of Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco will forever be compared because of their first round pedigrees.  Matthew Thomas Ryan was drafted third overall by the Atlanta Falcons while Joseph Vincent Flacco was drafted 18th overall by the Baltimore Ravens.
Both went on to take their respective teams to the playoffs in their first season.
Their paths to stardom, however, were far different.
Ryan was drafted to be the day one starter.  He was thought to be the quarterback who would bring the Falcons back from the dead to become contenders, in a few years.  Instead, his first NFL pass was a touchdown and he would help instantly transform the Falcons into winners during a season in which many thought they would win only one game.
Flacco was drafted to sit on the bench for a year or so and learn so he could one day step up as the starter.  Instead, injuries and a tonsil infection led to "Bazooka" Joe being thrust into the starting role from day one. ...

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