Peter King of SI.com made some interesting observations when he recently sat down with Boston College quarterback prospect Matt Ryan. King drew comparsions to when he sat down with former first overall pick JaMarcus Russell.
• Russell dressed like all the players at the combine, very casually. Ryan dressed like none of the players at the combine, in business attire.
Two other things: Russell’s arm is one of the best to come out of college football; he can throw the ball 82 yards on a windless field by simply winding up and taking one step. Ryan’s arm is better than average but not great. Neither player threw at the combine.
As for the future, it’s hard to read. Russell held out through training camp, then reported to the Raiders in September at 272 pounds — not exactly the commitment you’d want in your franchise quarterback. Is it too much to ask for a player who’s signed the richest rookie contract ever by a quarterback to come to work in shape?
The guess here: Ryan will be a better pro than Russell.
I’m buying into the Ryan hype. I think intangibles are actually too often overlooked, instead of the other way around. Remember when Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf came out? You heard stories that Leaf wanted to buy expensive, material items with his rookie signing bonus – Manning wanted to buy a high tech video machine so that he could study film. Ryan might not have Manning’s talent, but he certainly seems to have the same desire and commitment to the game of football.
