FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Pro Football Writers of America selected quarterback Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons as the NFL’s 2016 Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year.
Ryan is the first Falcons’ player to earn PFWA’s MVP award in its 43-year history and is a top candidate for the Associated Press MVP Award, which was voted on before the playoffs and will be announced during Super Bowl week.
Ryan already has been voted to the 2016 Associated Press All-Pro team and the Pro Bowl. It was his first All-Pro selection and fourth Pro Bowl honor.
Ryan has passed for a franchise-record 4,944 yards with 38 touchdowns and only seven interceptions while completing a career-high 69.9 percent of his passes.
The Falcons earned the NFC’s No. 2 seed are set to face the Green Bay Packers in the NFC championship game Sunday at the Georgia Dome.
Ryan will face quarterback Aaron Rodgers of the Packers, another MVP candidate, who has led Green Bay to eight straight victories since the Pack was 4-6.
«I don’t specifically have to go out on the field and defend Aaron (Rodgers) which is a good thing for us,» Ryan said. «It’s fun. I’ve played against him a number of times and I’ve gotten to know him throughout the years. He’s a good friend and I respect him so much because he’s such a great competitor. »
Rodgers knocked Ryan and the Falcons out of the playoffs as the No. 6 seed back in Jan. 2011 with a 48-21 pasting. The Falcons took a switchblade to a gunfight and couldn’t keep up in what turned out to be a shootout.
«Regardless of the situation, he goes out there, competes hard and plays really well week in and week out,» Ryan said. «He’s had an unbelievable year.
«For me, I think once we get into it it’s about trying to do the best we can against their defense and focusing on how well we can play. At the end of the day, that’s where my focus will be at on Sunday. »
Ryan has studied Rodgers’ ability to make plays out of the pocket.
«He makes a lot of really good plays and he’s not just been doing it last week,» Ryan said. «He’s been doing it for his entire career. He’s a great player. There is no question about it and has made some great plays throughout his career. »
Ryan carries the burden of having not taken his team to the Super Bowl. He’s not sure if that will be required to be considered in Rodgers’ class.
«I don’t know,» Ryan said. «It’s not really for me to decide. I don’t think about it all that much. I think one thing I’ve learned throughout my career is that if you sit there and you’re worrying about all these things that don’t make a difference for this week, your focus is not where it should be.
«Would it be nice to do that and all those things that you mentioned? Absolutely, but it’s not going to help us Sunday. At the end of the day, the only thing that really matters is trying to focus all of my energy and my mental preparation toward what’s going to have us play our best Sunday.
«I don’t think about those things all that often and certainly not this time of the year. »
—Falcons All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones did not practice Wednesday because of a lingering foot injury.
«We will get him more work as the week goes on,» Falcons coach Dan Quinn said.
Quinn said earlier in the week that there is no doubt Jones will play against the Packers.
Jones has dealt with foot/toe issues for more than a month. He didn’t finish the divisional playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday after he was in and out of the game several times.
Jones played 42 of 72 offensive snaps (58 percent) against Seattle and caught six passes for 67 yards with a touchdown.
Jones played the final two games of the regular season after missing two games because of a sprained left toe, but hasn’t regained his usual form.
In victories over the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints , Jones didn’t appear to have his usual explosiveness and periodically took himself out of the games.
—When the Falcons’ playoff run is completed, the San Francisco 49ers hopes to name Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan as their new head coach.
While it’s not 100 percent certain Shanahan will say yes, owner Arthur Blank became aware of San Francisco’s level of interest last week when he spoke to 49ers owner Jed York at NFL owners meetings.
«I know (Shanahan) has been interviewed and I know he has interest,» Blank said. «I saw Jed York at an owners’ meeting and we chatted a little bit about his candidate pool. I spoke highly of Kyle. We’ll see what happens. »
Blank said losing Shanahan, who with quarterback Matt Ryan has orchestrated the NFL’s highest scoring offense this season, would be a significant loss, but he didn’t appear overly concerned in terms of the future impact on the team.
«That’s what happens in the league,» Blank said. «It’s the same for any organization. »
—Falcons safety Keanu Neal and middle linebacker Deion Jones were selected to the Pro Football Writers of America’s All-Rookie team on Tuesday.
Neal, who was drafted with the 17th overall pick last year, finished second on the team with 105 tackles. He started 14 games and added a physical presence to the defense.
Jones started 13 of 15 games and led the team in tackles with 106. He also had three interceptions and 11 passes defensed.
NOTES: WR Julio Jones (foot) did not practice on Wednesday. … DT Jonathan Babineaux (shoulder), WR Taylor Gabriel (foot) and SS Keanu Neal (foot) were limited at practice.
