Realistic Redman: May best QB win
With Ryan on team, vet sees himself as 'underdog'

By D. ORLANDO LEDBETTER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/13/08

Flowery Branch — Falcons quarterback Chris Redman did not fling his helmet at the flat screen when the franchise selected Matt Ryan with the No. 3 pick in the NFL draft.

The move signaled that Redman's days as the starting quarterback are numbered.

He had just made the long climb back up the NFL ladder from being out of the league to becoming a starter again. Now he's likely headed back to a reserve role.

While the Falcons staff doesn't plan to just give Ryan the starting job, No. 3 picks don't sit for very long. Last year's No. 3 pick, Cleveland's Joe Thomas, received a five-year, $42.5 million contract with more than $22 million in guaranteed money.

In the salary-cap era, you can't have that much money on the sideline.

"That's the nature of this game," Redman said. "You're going to have young guys come in and try to take your job, no matter what.

"When it comes to playing time, the best guys are going to play. That's the bottom line. I'm going to go out there and do my job. We're all ultimately going for the same goal."

Redman understands his plight. "I kind of like being the underdog," he said. "It's been like that my whole career."

Redman was the starter-in-waiting after being drafted by Baltimore in the third round in 2000. After serving an apprenticeship, he moved into the starting lineup in 2002.

"I kind of like it when I have to go out there and have something to prove every year," Redman said. "That makes it even more of a challenge."

With the Falcons scrambling to replace Michael Vick last season, Redman eventually rose to the No. 1 position. He finished the season with a dazzling four-touchdown passing performance in a win over Seattle.

"We finished strong and kind of showed that we have the athletes here," Redman said. "It was just a matter of putting it together on Sundays. We beat a playoff team in the last game of the season."

Entering last season, Redman had not played in the NFL since 2003 and had battled back from career-threatening back surgery, but he had an advantage: being a former Louisville quarterback running a Louisville-based offense. This season, however, the quarterbacks are on equal footing while learning new offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey's system.

"Any time you change offenses, you have to get the terminology right," Redman said. "For the most part, it's a great offense. I think Mike Mularkey is second to none. I'm real impressed with him."

The last high-profile quarterback transition in Atlanta got kind of messy. Chris Chandler wasn't exactly ready to yield his position after Vick was drafted No. 1 overall in 2001.

But Redman had a different situation in Baltimore.

"I don't have to help [Ryan]," Redman said, "but it's the way I am. If a young guy comes in, you help him. I was fortunate to have good quarterbacks when I was in Baltimore. Trent Dilfer helped me out a bunch. It was just the way that I was coached."

While not being a tough guy about it, Redman doesn't just want to concede the position.

"I've competed every year since I've been in the ninth grade," Redman said. "It's nothing really new to me. I'm going to go out there and compete as hard as I can and let the chips fall where they may.

"I'm excited about this year. I'm excited about Matt."