matt ryan

Matt Ryan and Atlanta have been great so far. In his Week 12 picks, Adam Schein wonders if they'll step up against Carolina.

Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco will forever be bound as the only first round quarterbacks in the 2008 NFL Draft, but their stellar play as rookies may write them into the history books.

The two QBs have led their respective franchises to six wins apiece in their first nine starts and are proving to be the franchise cornerstones league observers envisioned when they were selected in April.

Referee Ed Hochuli was at the center of another questionable call Sunday, flagging Julius Peppers for a roughing-the-passer penalty that wiped out Carolina's interception return for a touchdown in the first quarter against Atlanta.

After Matt Ryan's pass was intercepted by Richard Marshall, Hochuli threw a flag and announced Peppers made a helmet-to-helmet hit on Ryan.

Falcons rookie quarterback Matt Ryan threw for a 62-yard touchdown with his first NFL pass Sunday. Ryan, the third overall pick out of Boston College, hooked up with Michael Jenkins on the third play of the game against the Detroit Lions.

After two runs by Michael Turner, Ryan hit Jenkins on a slant down the left side.

In a stunning contract sure to have ramifications up and down the first round of the NFL draft, the Atlanta Falcons have signed QB Matt Ryan, the third pick in April's draft, to a six-year, $72 million contract with a hefty $34.75 million bonus.

Matt Ryan has signed a six-year, $72-million contract with the Atlanta Falcons. Ryan, the No. 3 overall pick in last month's NFL draft, is guaranteed $34.75 million in the deal signed Tuesday.

Falcons spokesman Reggie Roberts confirms the signing and says the team has scheduled a news conference for Tuesday night.

Ryan's guaranteed money is $4.75 million more than received by Jake Long, the No. 1 overall pick who also is represented by agent Tom Condon.