Atlanta’s Patriot Way

One useful lesson that Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff, the director of college scouting for the Patriots from 2003 to 2007, learned from former boss Bill Belichick: what to look for in a franchise quarterback. In 2008, with the Falcons reeling after QB Michael Vick was sent to prison for dogfighting, Dimitroff used the No. 3 overall pick to draft a college quarterback cut like Brady: Matt Ryan, known as Matty Ice for his cool under fire. Ryan immediately became the team’s starter, and the Falcons reached the NFC title game in his fifth season before faltering the past three years. But 2016 marked a resurgence: Ryan threw for almost 5,000 yards and is the leading candidate for league MVP. New England taught Dimitroff well. Maybe too well.

–S.G.