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A16 sports
Tuesday 22 March 2022
AP source: Colts get QB Matt Ryan in trade with Falcons

BY MICHAEL MAROT peared headed for its first
AP Sports Writer Super Bowl crown when it
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The took a 28-3 lead over the
Indianapolis Colts may New England Patriots by
have found another short- late in the third quarter only
term answer at quarter- to see Tom Brady engineer
back by trading for Matt the greatest comeback in
Ryan. How much longer title game history for a 34-
the soon-to-be 37-year-old, 28 overtime victory.
four-time Pro Bowler sticks What the Colts are get-
around isn’t clear. ting in Ryan is a model of
On Monday, Indy acquired consistency — something
the 2016 league MVP from they’ve lacked following
Atlanta for a third-round the retirements of Luck and
pick in this year’s draft (No. Rivers and the departures
82 overall,) a person with of Tolzien, Brissett and Wen-
knowledge of the deal tz. Ryan has two seasons
told The Associated Press left on his current contract
on condtion of anonymity and the Colts are well-posi-
because the trade had not tioned to absorb the salary
been announced. cap hits each season.
The Falcons wasted no Ryan posted 10 straight
time finding Ryan’s re- seasons with more than
placement — announcing Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) throws during the first half of an NFL football game 4,000 passing yards until just
they’d signed free agent against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, in Atlanta. Associated Press missing the mark last year
Marcus Mariota to a two- with 3,968. He’s thrown for
year contract. chise whose vice chairman want to return to a team franchise rocked by coach at least 20 touchdowns ev-
For Indy, the deal com- Bill Polian once said he where he had played his Bobby Petrino’s departure ery year of his career, total-
pletes a two-week search considered Ryan the most entire NFL career and then after 13 games and Vick’s ing 367 in his career with
for a successor to Carson similar player in the league openly tried to replace him. imprisonment for running a 170 interceptions. And he
Wentz, who was traded to Peyton Manning. Watson supposedly nar- dogfighting ring. has only missed three starts
to the Washington Com- “You’ve got to be right (at rowed his potential choices With Ryan running the of- in his 14-year career.
manders after just one sea- quarterback) and even for a trade to New Orleans fense, the Falcons rebound- His 59,735 career passing
son with the Colts. For Colts if you’re not right, you’ve and Atlanta -- with specu- ed from a 4-12 mark in 2007 yards are No. 8 in NFL his-
general manager Chris got to keep firing away lation the Falcons were to make the playoffs in tory, and he will likely pass
Ballard, it’s also the latest until you get it right,” Bal- the favorite since Watson 2008 — the first of five con- Dan Marino (61,361) for the
attempt to plug a hole cre- lard said during the NFL’s is a Georgia native. But he secutive winning seasons No. 7 spot on the list next
ated by Andrew Luck’s sur- annual scouting combine. changed his mind and ac- and three postseason trips. season.
prise retirement at age 29 “We’ve got to get it right.” cepted a $230 million, fully Until Ryan’s arrival, Atlanta Even though the Falcons
just before the start of the The deal also makes some- guaranteed deal with the had never even managed made one more playoff
2018 season. thing else clear: The Fal- Cleveland Browns who sent back-to-back winning sea- appearance with Ryan, in
Ryan will become the sixth cons are entering rebuild three first-round picks to the sons since joining the NFL as 2017, they never seemed
quarterback to start in mode. Texans in the deal. an expansion team in 1966. to recover from the stun-
Week 1 for the Colts in six Shortly after the Falcons Ryan is undoubtedly the After several down years ning collapse on the NFL’s
years, adding his name to made a highly publicized greatest quarterback in for the team, Ryan turned biggest stage. Atlanta has
a list that already is com- but failed bid to acquire Falcons history, the No. 3 in his greatest season in endured four straight losing
prised of Scott Tolzien, Luck, Houston quarterback De- overall pick in 2008 who 2016, throwing for a career- seasons, including a 7-10
Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers shaun Watson last week, it stepped in to replace Mi- best 4,944 yards with 38 mark last year, and is clear-
and Wentz. He joins a fran- became clear Ryan did not chael Vick. He steadied a touchdowns. Atlanta ap- ly in rebuilding mode.q

Burns withdraws from Match Play as

groups set for Austin

playoff to become a back- Burns moved to No. 10 in from the top 16 seeds, one
to-back winner at the Val- the world with his victory in from Nos. 17 to 32, one from
spar Championship. Florida. He was replaced in Nos. 33 to 48, and one from
The 64-man field at Austin the field in Texas by Maver- Nos. 49 to 64. The winner of
Country Club will be missing ick McNealy. The field is de- each group after round-
four players from the top 12 termined by the world rank- robin play advances to the
in the world ranking. Cam- ing from a week ago. Three knockout stage. Jon Rahm
eron Smith (6) withdrew players moved into the top is the No. 1 seed and will
after winning The Players 64 from their performance start Wednesday by play-
Championship, Hideki Mat- last week — Shaun Nor- ing Sebastian Munoz, the
Sam Burns poses with the trophy after winning the Valspar suyama (12) is recovering ris and Dean Burmester in second straight year they
Championship golf tournament Sunday, March 20, 2022, at from an upper back injury South Africa, Stewart Cink squared off on the first day.
Innisbrook in Palm Harbor, Fla.
Associated Press and Rory McIlroy (8) previ- at Innisbrook — but are not Bryson DeChambeau is
ously said he plans to play eligible. playing for the first time
By DOUG FERGUSON the Dell Match Play on the Valero Texas Open as The 16 groups were finalized since he withdrew from the
AP Golf Writer Monday, one day after his final event before the Monday, each group filled Saudi International with in-
Sam Burns withdrew from outlasting Davis Riley in a Masters. randomly with one player juries. q