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Virtual reality: Rookie Ryan sparks Atlanta's resurgence

By Anna K. Clemmons
ESPN The Magazine

Monday, November 17, 2008

Matt Ryan was an Atlanta Falcon -- before he was an Atlanta Falcon. While at Boston College, Ryan and his roommates Ryan Poles and Ryan Thompson spent numerous afternoons playing Madden NFL video games. The man nicknamed "Matty Ice" always chose the Falcons for one reason. "He wanted Michael Vick so he could scramble in the backfield," Poles said. There was only one problem. "He usually didn't win," Thompson said, laughing. These days, Ryan is both in Madden NFL and winning as ...

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