ATLANTA – There are times that come along in the NFL when the confluence of bountiful drafts, stars in their prime and a still manageable salary cap align to put a team in position to win a championship.
For the Atlanta Falcons, that time is now.
A franchise still scarred by blowing a 25-point lead in the Super Bowl two seasons ago looks poised to make another run at the franchise’s elusive first title, but the window of opportunity is starting to close just a bit.
Matt Ryan is 33, yet only two seasons removed from an MVP performance. Julio Jones put off his demands for a new contract until 2019. Tevin Coleman is still a year away from potential free agency. A talented young defense is poised to really make its mark.
“From a player’s perspective, the window is always one year,” said Ryan, who became the NFL’s first guaranteed $100 million player when he signed a massive contract extension during the offseason. “That’s something that you learn the longer you play, that sense of urgency, how quickly it goes by.”