Falcons' owner Arthur Blank: Must plan for QB Matt Ryan's successor

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Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank says the team must have a succession plan at quarterback even while Matt Ryan appears set to continue as the starter in 2022.

The Falcons face more complicated decisions at wide receiver, where Calvin Ridley's status remains uncertain.

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Blank, in Los Angeles for Sunday's Super Bowl, said the team still has not had direct conversations with Ridley since the Falcons' top wide receiver missed the final 11 games last season while addressing mental health issues.

"It’s a matter of HIPBA regulations in terms to what we have access to or should have access to," Blank said Wednesday night. "We’re here to support Calvin as he goes through this journey he’s on and it’s a difficult journey."

Following Julio Jones' trade to Tennessee before the season, Ridley entered 2021 as Atlanta's top target for Ryan. That changed after Ridley was a last-minute scratch before the 19-13 loss to Carolina on Oct. 31.

On that day, Ridley posted on his Twitter account he needed to "step away from football at this time and focus on my mental wellbeing." That remains Ridley's last tweet on his account.

"As an organization we’ve done the best job we could just to support Calvin and do everything we can for him," general manager Terry Fontenot said after the season.

The Falcons can only hope Ridley returns for next season.

"Yeah, sure, absolutely," Blank said. "I mean, who wouldn’t want him? He’s a great player. He’s a great teammate. He and Matt had a wonderful chemistry and played well together. He’s able to succeed at a very high level. And he’s always practiced hard and played hard."

FI