NFC South

MMQB: How the Colts and Falcons Negotiated the Matt Ryan Trade

By Albert Breer The Falcons’ big decision was 14 months in the making. Here’s how they approached QB-needy teams and involved the longtime face of their franchise. PALM BEACH, Fla. — It was summer in South Florida, Matt Ryan was still the Falcons’ quarterback, and after the team’s joint practice with Miami, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier went to his new Atlanta counterpart, Terry Fontenot, to give the first-year GM the proverbial pat on the back. You guys are gonna be better than people think. Grier was right. The Falcons found a way to win seven games and, if you looked hard enough at h…