I've thrown firm or yards than anyone ever.

What thoughts go through your mind?

Well, I'm proud of that, for sure.

You know, I think there are a lot of things that go into that, you know, staying healthy, being available weekend and week out, playing through some things that require, you know, a little bit of grit.

And and then, you know, playing with really good players and good and, you know, not not this past year or the year before that.

But playing off some really good teams early in my career, midway through my career and hopefully getting back to that.

That's what that's what excites me.

Being a part of a team that that's making a push this time of the year.

Matt Ryan is here with me today, in part because of the Salute to Service Award presented by you say we will talk all about that.

But as you talk about moving forward in your career, we had a long conversation on TV this morning about Tom Brady still doing what he's doing at the age of 43.

As you sit back and look at it.

You know, I asked the question, Is that gonna become a new normal?

Maybe not 43.

But should we rethink what constitutes old for a player in, in, in any sport and certainly in the NFL.

How do you look at that question and of how long you think you can keep doing it at a high level?

Well, you know, number one, I think it takes a unique skill set, uh, to be able to play.

You know, Thio that age, Um, you know, Tom, Tom strength is being in the pocket, delivering the football from the pocket.

Uh, you know, he's done an incredible job of taking care of his body, his arm.

Um, you know, But there's there's different types of players that are coming up now to and guys that are arm or dependent on on their speed and athleticism getting outside the pocket.

So I'll be curious to see, you know, I think the rule changes have really helped that I think protecting the quarterback and, uh, you know where we can and cannot get hit.

I think I think that's made a huge difference in guys being able to stay healthy and and play later into their careers.

Um, but I think there's a lot of changes in the quarterback position.

You know, whether or not guys they're going to be ableto, you know, play play that long with different skill sets remains to be seen because of the hit that they take.

It's actually a very interesting and important point.

Matt Ryan has missed only three games in 13 years, so let me make this straight talk brought to you by straight talk wireless.

I don't expect you to have scouted quarterbacks, but I have sort of fallen in love a little bit with Mac Jones, the kid from Alabama.

And as you know, he'll be one of those whose be drafted this year.

And Matt, what everyone keeps telling me is, but he can't run, and I'm old enough to remember a time when that really wasn't part of the equation.

As we were analyzing quarterbacks and evaluating these guys coming in.

Do you think we're entering a time in pro football where if you can't make plays and move the chains with your legs that that at some point here, there won't be a place in the game for that quarterback.

I don't know about that, you know, you know, part of part of what I've watched, too.

I mean, we watched a lot of Alabama one.

Steve Sarkeesian, former offensive coordinator for us, was coaching there.

So there's, you know, an interest in a guy that you spent a lot of time with and you're watching what they're doing.

But I also got two wide receivers from from Alabama, and, uh, all they want to talk about is Alabama football what they're watching.

So I watched quite a bit of it.

I think one of the things is, you know, you don't necessarily need to be a great runner, but you have to have the ability to extend plays and to get, you know, 468 yards when you need it.

And I think you know, when I watch Mac Jones, I think one of the things is he's good enough.

He's not a great runner, but he's good enough and I've always felt like for myself, you know that that was that was part of how I played, you know, not a great runner but, you know, 23 times a game, you're gonna get outside the pocket, you're gonna extended play.

You're gonna pick up a first down when you need it when they're playing.

Man coverage on those are the kind of things that you know.

I still think there's a place in the game for those guys.

And how insufferable where Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley during that run, like, just give me a sense of eggs element, they just annihilated everybody.

How insufferable was that?

The Onley?

Good part three.

Only good part was, you know, that they weren't covering every week because the lines were so big.

They were killing people, but they weren't covering every week, so it made it okay.

It wasn't insufferable.

But those guys, uh, you know, they never stop straight talk wireless.

No contract, no compromise.

The great Matt Ryan is with me here.

Okay, so let's let's talk about your future.

Um, you know that the team sort of came to a little bit of a crossroads here with making the coaching change and the general manager change and you start thinking about is it time for a fresh start for everyone and I wondered aloud multiple times.

Is it time for a fresh start?

For Matt Ryan, you are to the point you made earlier young enough to still have, like, a complete second chapter somewhere which we've seen a lot of quarterbacks do.

How do you view you're that that part of your future at this stage of your career?

Well, I don't think you ever know how things were going to shake out moving forward.

Uh, you know, But I have the mindset now.

I love Atlanta.

I love our organization.

I'm fired up about the new coaching staff.

Uh, and it's my responsibility as professional to be, you know, ready to go and and excited about that.

And I am, And I want to be here.

Um, but that being said, you know, it's not all in my control what they want to do, moving forward.

What they view, you know, is is best for the organization I respect and get that.

I still think I've got a lot of tread on my tires.

I still think I'm playing at a high level, and, uh, you know, I still think I could go for a handful more years, so I'm gonna, you know, keep my mind set on training, doing everything I can to be the best I could be and and hopefully that will be here in Atlanta for a long time.

Matt Ryan was with me here.

One more thing I want to ask you before we get to the program that you're involved in.

And I've had so many players talk to me over the years about the experience of of losing this game of, of losing the Super Bowl.

You know, no one needs me to remind them of how difficult the loss you had in this game several years ago, and I love.

I enjoy asking players if they ever get over that, like, like do have you?

Would you say you've gotten over losing the Super Bowl?

What's that four years ago?

Now, whatever that is five years ago, would you say you've gotten over it?

No.

E think I don't think I don't think that ever lead you.

You know, I think there's there's scar tissue, uh, that that's always there.

But I also think, you know, it's it's like anything in life.

You're better for it.

You know you're better for the tough parts of life that you go through, and it's always kind of a notch that I'll have on my belt that I'm disappointed in the way it shook out.

But I know for sure I'm tougher and, you know, mentally, just better for it.

And and so, you know, I think the next time I get there I'll be able to handle the situation better than we did the first time.

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