INDIANAPOLIS — Matt Ryan felt he would be a quarterback of one of only two teams next season: the Atlanta Falcons or Indianapolis Colts.
His desire to play for a different team for the first time in his 14-year NFL career came last weekend after a Zoom call with Colts general manager Chris Ballard, head coach Frank Reich, offensive coordinator Marcus Brady and assistant quarterbacks coach Parks Frazier. The Falcons traded the 36-year-old Ryan to the Colts on Monday for a third-round pick in this year’s draft.
“Their passion, their commitment, their professionalism, the accountability Chris has for himself and what he does, the empathy Frank has for my situation of understanding of being in a certain spot and done it for one way,” Ryan said Tuesday during his introductory news conference as the Colts new starting quarterback. “I just knew the roster they have and the belief in the way…