NFL: Once Again, Kudos to Agent Tom Condon

The Once Again title refers to an article I wrote last summer.

There are now two top draft picks signed from the 2008 NFL draft, both of whom are clients of Tom Condon. A week before the draft, the No. 1 pick Jake Long signed a five, $57.75 million deal with the Dolphins, of which $30 million was guaranteed. That deal also made Jake Long the highest paid offensive lineman in the NFL.

Matt Ryan, the No. 3 pick, just signed a six-year, $72 million deal, with $34.75 million in guarantees, making Ryan the highest paid rookie ever. Ryan may not have been the first pick, but he sure was paid like one.

I don’t think it is so surprising that Ryan received a bigger contract than the No. 1 pick, considering Long is an offensive tackle and Ryan is the top-rated quarterback. What is surprising is that Russell's deal is bigger than that of last year’s No. 1 pick: JaMarcus Russell.

Last season, Russell and the Raiders came to terms on a six-year, $61 million deal, with $32 million in guarantees. However, Russell had to hold out well into training camp to complete that deal. This mega deal for Matt Ryan speaks volumes of how much the Falcons love him.

I understand that every year teams have more money to operate with, and if Ryan was the top pick it would be very understandable. But to have the third pick this year sign a considerably larger deal than last year's top choice is surprising. There is no reason the No. 3pick should be paid more than a No. 1.

I believe this deal has a lot to do with the Atlanta Falcons' overall situation rather than just the potential of Matt Ryan. As we all know, the Falcons took a huge hit at both the quarterback position as well as from a PR standpoint. The Falcons made it a priority to get Ryan signed and in camp ready to compete for a starting position.

Everyone saw the debacle the Raiders went through last season with Russell, and the Falcons just could not afford to make that same mistake. A rookie quarterback holding out of training camp all but eliminates his chances of seeing considerable playing time as a rookie. The Falcons know this, and they know Chris Redman and Joey Harrington are not even close to the answer.

If a little bit of overspending is necessary to get your future quarterback in camp and competing for a starting job, then so be it. The Atlanta Falcons made the right call by getting their guy signed, and once again Condon made another client a very rich man.