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Matt Ryan's path to NFL stardom took root in the city Tom Brady already owned

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — One of many roundabout stories that connect Matt Ryan to Boston and Tom Brady begins in 2004, when Steve Logan became the head coach of the Berlin Thunder. His quarterback there was Rohan Davey, who had spent the previous two seasons in New England, serving mostly as Brady’s backup.

Before Logan embarked for NFL Europe, Patriots coach Bill Belichick invited him to practice. Logan spent three days with the staff, learning Brady’s preferred option route concepts, so Davey could work on them. Logan then installed them in his offense, won a World Bowl with Davey and four seasons later brought those same concepts back to the U.