'They Trust Me': Falcons QB Desmond Ridder Eyes Super Bowl
When 15-year veteran defensive tackle Calais Campbell signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons, he did so with full intentions of winning.
Campbell, 36, declared as such in his introductory press conference - with an ultimatum surrounding quarterback Desmond Ridder, who was named the starter by coach Arthur Smith and general manager Terry Fontenot at the annual league owner's meetings in late March.
"If Ridder continues to develop and be who I think he can be, I wouldn't be surprised if we're playing late in January and potentially February," Campbell said.
February? The Falcons, who haven't finished above .500 - let alone spent a game above .500 - since the conclusion of the 2017 season ... playing in February?
It's a possibility in Campbell's eyes, which is particularly noteworthy considering his track record of success in the league and focus on winning a Super Bowl to cap off a phenomenal career.
But Ridder's only made four career starts, holding a 2-2 record while completing 63.5 percent of his passes for 708 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions with 64 rushing yards mixed in.
And yet, from free agent signees like Campbell to Falcons brass in Smith and Fontenot, there's an unwavering sense of belief.
"They told me that they trust me, and they see what I do out on the field," Ridder said. "They see my leadership and that's important. I'm just going to continue to be myself, be who I am, be the leader I can be and go out there and just keep proving myself."
Ridder added that he spoke with the duo after officially being named the starter, though he felt it was his job from the start of the offseason - in large part because his belief in himself is as strong as that of those around him.
There's a heightened sense of optimism surrounding the Falcons after an expensive free agency period highlighted by the additions of Campbell, safety Jessie Bates III and defensive tackle David Onyemata.
But with optimism comes expectations, especially from the outside. The good news? Perhaps nobody - not even Campbell - has set their sights as high as Ridder.
"Obviously we want to go out there and win the division and then, No. 2, we want to go out there and win a Super Bowl," Ridder said. "That's what every team is preparing to do coming through OTAs and training camp. We want to progress in everything that we do.
"Whether it's mentally physically, as a team, emotionally; we want to progress."
It's a similar message to the one Ridder issued when the Falcons drafted him in the third-round last April, as he said they would "get a Super Bowl out of" his time in Atlanta.
The journey of doing exactly that started earlier this week with voluntary workouts, where Ridder and several other standouts such as offensive guard Chris Lindstrom, running back Tyler Allgeier and receiver Drake London are all spearheading this "progress" in pursuit of topping the NFL's highest mountain.
For Ridder, it's all about "pushing (others) and bringing everyone together" as the Falcons aim to keep their culture ascending.
The 23-year-old signal caller has been oft-praised for his leadership and appears to have only taken that to another level this offseason, placing a priority on "setting the example, being the voice (and) being that guy in the locker room that guys go to, to ask questions."
It's possible that "progress" is the best word to describe Ridder's Falcons tenure - after all, it's perhaps the driving force behind him being in position to lead the Falcons' offense come Week 1.
Amidst natural nerves and facing a stingy New Orleans Saints defense in a hostile environment, Ridder's debut wasn't quite a stellar display, as he completed only 50 percent of his passes for 97 yards.
But over the next three weeks, there was clear progress; Smith praised Ridder's ability to handle crucial game and down situations, along with how he didn't repeat mistakes.
Further, Ridder guided the Falcons to a pair of wins to close the season, something Smith said he needed to see in order to commit to the former Cincinnati Bearcat long-term.
The 6-4, 215-pound Ridder said that both he and Atlanta's offense "got better" across his four-game stretch, and while it wasn't where he wanted to be, there were glimpses of "what we can be and what we can do."
And for that, Ridder's optimism entering the Falcons' offseason program mirrors that of the fans and brass alike ... with his track record of development inspiring confidence that lofty expectations can be met.
"I'm excited for the progress that we showed," Ridder said, "and hopefully we can continue to have that progress moving throughout."
You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft
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