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Kansas City is crazy about Matt Ryan. The Chiefs were very impressed with his interview, and if Ryan falls to No. 5, they will grab him. There is even a background check that goes beyond the combine and the film. Back in September, Ryan had an impressive game when Boston College beat Georgia Tech 24-10. The coach of Georgia Tech, Chan Gailey, is now the offensive coordinator of the Chiefs.
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But will Ryan go at No. 3 to the Falcons, or do they covet Glenn Dorsey? The Falcons need a playmaker and a cornerstone to build on. If Atlanta is convinced that there are no lingering issues with his leg, Dorsey would be a perfect fit. Will the Falcons take Dorsey, whom the Atlanta front office went to visit in Baton Rouge this week, or might Ryan be the guy? At 6-5, Ryan is the premier quarterback in the draft, although he doesn't have the status of a Peyton or Eli Manning, a Ben Roethlisberger or even Philip Rivers. Could he be the next Matt Hasselbeck, also of Boston College, or is he the best of a better-than-average bunch?
Why don't the Dolphins seem that interested in Ryan? He has the intangibles, pocket presence, seems to be a winner, and the Dolphins have needed a quarterback for about, oh, a decade.
But the Dolphins, who say less than the late Marcel Marceau, seem to be sending the message that Matt Ryan is ... just ... not ... quite ... good ... enough.
And what of Chris Long? The question about the defensive lineman from Virginia is whether he'd play end in a 3-4 scheme, as he did in college, or move to pass rushing outside linebacker. Parcells, who hasn't gone on record as to whether he'll go with his usual 3-4, nonetheless has the history of moving an end to linebacker, as he did with DeMarcus Ware in Dallas.
Guru Gil Brandt, the former head of player personnel with the Cowboys, said Long got "everything from his dad -- intensity, body build and honesty, and players gravitate toward him."
Howie Long is staying in the background, saying "it's Chris' time, I've had my time." The menacing Hall of Famer from the Oakland Raiders went to many of Chris' games, but sat quietly to the side. At home, they'd go over game film, but, as Howie says, "it's our family business -- other people have insurance or music or plumbing, we have football."
Whatever happens, we know this much. The No. 1 pick of the draft won't be a Long shot.
