In response to our assessment that Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan might not be drafted until the bottom of round one at the earliest, a league source advises us that there’s a belief in league circles that Falcons owner Arthur Blank is smitten with Ryan, and that the Falcons would take him with its first pick in the 2008 draft, which currently is among the top five selections.  (The final spot will be determined by flip(s) of the coin this weekend in Indy.)

Of course, this is the time of the year when all sorts of smokescreens begin to emerge, so it’s not really clear at this point whether or not there is any factual basis to the rumors making the rounds.

Still, the overriding point is that, even if 31 franchises say “no,” all it takes is for one to say “yes.”