[0:05] ..." part of his professional training right here as a part of the New England Patriots organization. He was named the general manager of the Atlanta Falcons last January 13 and he joins us on the line right"...

[3:49] ..." going to have a hopefully a viable running attack with -- turned Jerious Norwood and and I think that that's something that that you know Matt believes and he follows strong coaches and I think we"...

[4:06] ..." a very active draft day even before the draft you know moving DeAngelo Hall to the Raiders. I'm pretty good trade for you guys getting a second round pick in the fifth round pick. You jump"...

[4:42] ..." am where I am have to do -- My time with the New England Patriots and being under Scott pioli and and and build notes second. -- actually got you know basically had not him talking about"...

[9:31] ..." else -- that's that you guys did as a set before. Trade DeAngelo Hall to the Raiders got too valuable draft picks and then the Raiders moved on from DeAngelo Hall on the middle of the season were you surprised. That you know unceremoniously. -- the guy is just released."...

[11:13] ..." there's so many intricate parts that are in place. And I think Guss Scott -- very good list you know analyzing that roster and scrutinizing and always having someone in the hopper ready to go in"...

[13:42] ..." success so out of my dealings with the the New England Patriots them and you know it is the very classy organization and I really hope to. You know moving that direction here and"...

[0:00]" The architect -- one of the great stories in the National Football League this year. Got part of his professional training right here as a part of the New England Patriots organization. He was named the general manager of the Atlanta Falcons last January 13 and he joins us on the line right now Thomas -- profits with us Thomas -- Michael how -- Are you doing today. Doing pretty well while I can't believe you actually took time to talk to two scrubs like us. Yeah everybody. Keep my head above water guys valid at time you gotta thank you. This -- I said has been one of the great stories in the National Football League this year I mean I know you expected success you plan for success. But have things gone even better than you thought this year."

[0:44]" You know I I think it's been accelerated I mean I we've we've probably had over 60%. Change on our roster so I really figured it was going to be a little bit of a longer process before. You know the teams -- words you know. I was able to jail actually and -- seems like things to come together quite nicely I mean. We have a long way to go anywhere we're not in a realistic about this we understand well halfway through the season. And mistakes that fellow that I've been apart and have been groomed through the monster of one game at a time out there and in Boston so I've. I really I hope that that we can continue to do that here in Atlanta."

[1:20]" You mentioned acceleration earlier Tom. Do you think that applies that word applies to the development of Matt Ryan."

[1:28]" I yeah I agree I mean that. Matt has been has been a nice the development are ready amendment's -- he's he's mature beyond his years the way he handled things. You know both on the field the field for -- it has been a and has been very encouraging. It's obviously not an easy position to play and and -- the percentages we're against them. Being drafted you know everyone has mentioned that quarterbacks that this is -- tough tough go to to be successful early on. Obviously that has long way to go and hope that hard knocks along the way but it but we're encouraged by and again Matt. To me off the field the way he handled himself the way that he lead the -- and the veteran to buying into me as a feather in his cap as well."

[2:10]" Did you have a sleepless night or couple sleepless sleepless nights before the draft going back and forth between Matt Ryan and I don't know Glenn Dorsey or anybody else were. We pretty confident early on that Matt Ryan was going to be a guy."

[2:24]" You know we have mulled it over we cut from the very beginning you know Mike I think I've mentioned you before as well that you know those two guys but the problem by draft or Dorsey is is impeccable. The football player. And we felt -- Matt you know Matt had what we're looking for the quarterback position much space in the value of that position. I know this sounds odd but I mean you know Matt Ryan is going to make in the road is set it up to win the Chicago game not not the defensive tackle and in the end we need to have a quarterback in the system here that helped us -- direct this organization and and again. You know Matt under the weight two helping themselves that very and so yes we did at some sleepless night but in the end I think you it was a -- we needed to make."

[3:05]" How much -- his experience under first Tom O'Brien and then threw. A with Jeff jag is Penske last year at Boston College how much did that help prepare him for what you guys have asked him to do."

[3:15]" I think quite a bit I mean again I think. Matt has has a leadership ability about him where he he's very mindful of the team and the way he approaches the team he's a very competitive guy. Not a round leader at all you know very encouraging and and yet had a tough side -- where he can improve it on the field take the big. I've shot -- get back up all that's what offenses about here you know on the way to my electric system here the power. Sort of a power game and he knows that Matt Ryan is very aware that he's going to throw the ball 125 times in. We're going to have a hopefully a viable running attack with -- turned Jerious Norwood and and I think that that's something that that you know Matt believes and he follows strong coaches and I think we have some some coaches -- so I think he's used to following our coaches do. Who us stand -- the system it may dictate."

[4:06]" But I had a very active draft day even before the draft you know moving DeAngelo Hall to the Raiders. I'm pretty good trade for you guys getting a second round pick in the fifth round pick. You jump back into the first round to draft Sam baker obviously picking up Matt -- all these moves on draft day he really is the art of the deal. How how. How much did you use the principles that you learned in two new and learned in New England on draft day."

[4:33]" Our main analysts say to that set the tone for me I mean I I. I have always mention from the very beginning of my in my tenure here of that the reason that I am where I am have to do -- My time with the New England Patriots and being under Scott pioli and and and build notes second. -- actually got you know basically had not him talking about draft principles and approach -- specific scouting. My again it you saw a lot from new England and I think a lot of the positive aspect of what I had learned with the Patriots as far as. You know. Drafting as far as a free agent acquisition and approach and in differentiating between both. In analyzing the draft and analyzing the free agency market in in in the value of the positions I mean again. I would not be where I am but didn't spend time dealing with Scott pioli system."

[5:26]" You know we had a debate on aero about a month a month and a half ago. What with the scout with the former scout Chris Landry. Who insisted that it was it was all of telecheck in new England and that Scott pioli was pretty much caught a paper pusher -- not really in evaluating -- talent. We we disagreed but really we don't have the the inside information. While like you do how is it how does that play out in New England is it. Is Belichick strictly in. In game planning in pioli is deal is dealing with scouts and evaluation how does that work."

[6:02]" You know let I believe you know I ended up getting. All the back let someone it sent the sentencing on line and I was. I was just beside myself thinking that that was you know it's totally incorrect. Obviously is -- as an incredible football mind and they have a very special relationship their villains got. My dealings with on the personnel side obviously had a lot to do -- Scott pioli and Scott pioli is. Exponentially more than paper pusher in this league he's very adept to evaluate or is it. -- incredible administrator and he's very very organized and and that -- that he would just be they've been minor. Cog in the wheel is it is it is just totally off the wall to me and and that again. I was surprised to hear that I mean I hope that the feedback from the that the fans around there revealed the same."

[6:56]" As a young and new general manager in the National Football League when you go to higher your first head coach. Probably easy now would be to go find an old head coach in National Football League. You didn't go that route and you brought in Mike Smith who apparently at this point has been the perfect guy. What made him the guided that you work in trusting your organization to on the field."

[7:20]" the interview process with Mike we said that we're supposed to sit -- for about an hour and a -- three -- very quickly and I remember -- knocking on the -- sticking his -- and we -- like turn around quickly got to give a dirty look like they were still talking get out of here right now -- we need to continue this conversation. So what I'm saying -- the very communicative guy he's easy to get along with. And he understands is that he understands the program and I think for me. Not only was he that it but he also is an excellent defensive football mind as well would really look like really came to the table that was. The fact that he respected the scouting process he respected evaluating football players. He split time at evaluating football players he's not just calling his friends around the country. The find out how they evaluated person you know I spent countless hours looking at that video -- with but at the agency or through free agency. And draft preparations in and to me that was a very big thing he actually came to the interview would put so many reports that we discuss -- declare that I had scouted and and to be quite honest he was in my opinion he was on the money on a lot of these players who have been allotment."

[8:28]" You know when you look at the Patriots from the outside like we do you marvel at how Scott pioli is able to get the exact kinda player. Bill Belichick wants. Is that what you and Mike Smith are trying to get the same page on as well but that he it communicates to you what he needs and you make sure he gets what he needs."

[8:46]" No no question about that I think that is is incredibly important I think. Sitting down and being -- talked with Mike in his coordinators. So that I can did have a a very -- idea of what we -- looking for and I can actually disseminate that information to our personnel staff so that they know. Going into these schools that this is system specific and there's it matters not what another team has created a player it is what we -- Atlanta Falcons. In this player is for us and and so that I've I've held -- that that's something that I've obviously learned along the way and I and I can't stress that enough. Knowing our system is very important for our scouting staff."

[9:24]" You said at the beginning of this interview that you're trying to keep your head above water understand. You try to run your own organization can't worry about anybody else -- that's that you guys did as a set before. Trade DeAngelo Hall to the Raiders got too valuable draft picks and then the Raiders moved on from DeAngelo Hall on the middle of the season were you surprised. That you know unceremoniously. -- the guy is just released."

[9:48]" Yes you know I was surprised that I that said from the beginning of De'Angelo all of this is a talented football player. He went out there and you know that was. The decision that was made by both parties. And -- to see that he became available via that that surprised me and and now he has a new in this situation to. Deal look at Washington and then again he's a very talented football player for us. We had other ideas with the organization and and we. We don't let -- move obviously and com news you know we had been contacted here whether we were still interested in you know. We addressing possibly bringing him back in and that it has not been in our -- and and is it not our plan."

[10:35]" From the outside looking in in only recently on the outside. You know and looking and are you surprised the Patriots have been able to have to put together a six and three season despite the loss of a guy like Tom Brady."

[10:47]" Well yeah I mean I've always felt that you go to quarterback goes as a lot of us in this country do it with the Mets in the National Football League. He means a lot of that team obviously and and I've been very fortunate to be around them -- his success to build that. Use Tom Brady as the benchmark for a quarterback that we had gotten was was huge for me that said I know that. You know that that team is about the team and they've talked about forever and I think there's so many intricate parts that are in place. And I think Guss Scott -- very good list you know analyzing that roster and scrutinizing and always having someone in the hopper ready to go in and and I think it shows I think this is a very. You know this is the very impressively as they're they're carrying out this season given -- not being around."

[11:34]" You know before you got to Atlanta. Tom the the Falcons were perceived as a franchise franchising chaos head coach leaves. Obviously there was the Michael Vick situation that jumps out at a lot of people. Obviously I'm asking you about Michael Vick right now but before I asked the question. How many times have you have been asked about Michael Vick this year and is that even on your radar."

[11:58]" I have. Very very few times and I've been asked about Michael Vick and end it right now if not I mean we are about the president the first us. Two. Continued to be competitive on the football field we're we're talking about where we are right now not about smoltz was 2007 season at about 2008. It's about Mike -- culture here at about you know it's about the team that in place here and again I really believe that this team really understand that. That they -- about rebuilding here and they have to continue to believe in each other not not what happened before and not think about the past. I know that sounds cliche but that's exactly what does he was about Mike continues to trumpet that due to the team. On the that we made a concerted effort to get players on this team who believe in going forward not looking back -- can deal with the hard not that was resilient and we feel like we're we're quite encouraged by our our roster here in that in that --"

[12:56]" Final question from me Thomas and I'm just curious -- you've talked very eloquently about the lessons that you brought with you from New England in your and your experience here. Was there anything that when you lefty is that you know I don't want to do that when I'm on my own team was there a lesson you didn't want to bring from here."

[13:13]" You know now I mean obviously you're going to bring all the positive aspects merit there are certain things that it along the way no matter where I've -- in any organization. I've also learned from some of the the issues that that word at hand and done that nothing specific stand up my mind. Really I really believe it then and I know you guys may well here's something different but I I really believe that it it was so positive for me and and again the very reason I'm here by you know by -- success so out of my dealings with the the New England Patriots them and you know it is the very classy organization and I really hope to. You know moving that direction here and help you know mr. blank be a part of something that is is synonymous with what New England has."

[13:57]" Well congratulations on what has been a remarkable first season at the Helm. We watch for a lot of interesting reasons around here not the least of which is Matt Bryant but congratulations and thank you for taken a few minutes to join us."

[14:09]" That I appreciate Michael I'd appreciate it as well."

[14:12]" Okay Thomas take care -- thank -- so. -- estimate trop is the general manager."