Poor ol' DJ Shockley

As I type this, the NFL is about half an hour into their yearly ritual of minting new young millionaires. Already, the Atlanta Falcons have bumped up Boston College's average graduate starting salary by taking Eagle quarterback Matt Ryan with the third overall pick.

Ryan comes to Atlanta already equipped with a lame nickname (called "Matty Ice" for his coolness in the pocket, not his love for cheap beer... we hope). He's also got a strong arm, and he'll soon have a massive contract that will demand that he find his way into the Falcon starting lineup sooner rather than later.

I am not a football coach, and I'm certainly not a draft scout. So, it's probably best to disregard the fact that I wasn't blown away by Ryan the three or four times I was able to watch him play on TV. I have a feeling that Boston College's improbable last-minute comeback against Virginia Tech this season probably made him a bunch of money, catapulting him into the spotlight and up the draft boards. Click play below if you want to check it out... he's got some great skill on the run, but I suspect the game-winning touchdown probably has more to do with the fact that Virginia Tech's defense made an inexcusable mistake to let a receiver get open in the end zone.

"MATTY ICE"... TOO COLD

Anyway, I hope Matt Ryan does well and enjoys Atlanta. But, I'm a little disappointed in the pick because it almost certainly means that D.J. Shockley's chances at becoming the Falcons' quarterback are getting even more slim.

ODD MAN OUT?DJ Shockley.com

Shockley waited four years to get his chance to be the starting quarterback at UGA, taking advantage of his chance as a fifth-year senior by leading the Bulldogs to an 11-3 record and the SEC Championship. The Falcons drafted Shockley in the 6th round in 2006. He made the team as the third quarterback, backing up Michael Vick and Matt Schaub. When the Falcons dealt Schaub to the Texans after the '06 season, Shockley had a shot to move into the primary backup role. Instead, the Falcons' new coaching staff opted for newly signed Joey Harrington. When Vick's legal troubles came to light, Harrington became the starter, but Shockley stayed put at #3 on the depth chart because new coach Bobby Petrino preferred one of his old quarterbacks from the University of Louisville, Chris Redman. When neither Harrington nor Redman nore Byron Leftwich could hold on to the starting job, Shockley could have taken over... but he tore his ACL in the preseason.

Shockley should be ready to compete again once the summer training camp rolls around. But, the Falcons once again have a brand-new coaching staff. So far, Shockley hasn't had a chance to impress since he was sidelined during the team's mini-camp. Joey Harrington and Chris Redman are once again back, and now Matt Ryan is on the team. He'll certainly be getting a roster spot. Both Harrington and Redman have a shot to start. Shockley might be the odd man out.

Professionally, I had the chance to get to know Shockley a little while covering him at UGA. Unprofessionally, I'm a fan as a Georgia graduate. So, it would make me happy to see him have a chance to succeed with his hometown team. Hopefully, if he does end up as the odd man out with the Falcons, he'll have a chance to catch on with another NFL team and finally get back out onto the field.

DJ's official website: DJ Shockley.com
YouTube: Matt Ryan leads BC on their final drive to beat the Hokies