Fox’s Jimmy Johnson handicaps the NFC South
Jimmy Johnson (far right) likes the Falcons and the Saints in the NFC South. (Associated Press)
FLOWERY BRANCH – Fox Sports NFL analyst Jimmy Johnson believes the NFC South is a two-team race between the Falcons and the New Orleans Saints.
He gives the nod to the Falcons and the Saints because they have veteran-laden teams. However, he didn’t pick one team over the other.
“I think the Saints and the Falcons, both will be extremely strong,” Johnson said on a recent conference call. “I think when you look at the entire league, what we are going to find out in the early part of the season is because we didn’t have the offseason programs and all of the minicamps, I think because of that, the veteran teams and the teams that retained their coaches, will be much stronger and so much better than some of the other teams.”
Johnson doesn’t believe that Tampa Bay will build on their 10-6 season.
“I don’t see Tampa duplicating what they did a year ago when they won 10 ball games,” Johnson said. “They have a young team and they should get better.”
The former Cowboys and Dolphins head coach isn’t expecting much from Carolina and first-year coach Ron Rivera.
“Carolina is going to struggle with a new coaching staff and with some young players but the veteran teams like the Saints and the Falcons, I think they will look very good and so much better than the others early in the season,” Johnson said. “It’s a two-team race as far as I’m concerned.”
How are you ranking the teams in the NFC South?
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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95 comments Add your comment
Fox’s Jimmy Johnson handicaps the NFC South – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Football News and Topics
September 7th, 2011
9:44 am
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Tyrone Shulaces
September 7th, 2011
9:52 am
Rico Murray, cornerback, 6′0 200lb, young, started 4 games for the Bengals, a much better pass defense — is available; but oops passed on him, to go with Owens and Franks. These are the decisions that keep you out of the Big Show.
David Garrard – available, but nooooooo – same ol’ Falcons
louisianafalconsfan
September 7th, 2011
10:07 am
D-Led Can someone please ask coach Smith why are we still running a two receiver set instead of a two receiver and a slot in order to open up the field. Two receiver set to most teams mean the same old run every down offense. We need Harry D. in the slot to create more plays.
Mr. Swamp People
September 7th, 2011
10:19 am
how are my failcons and SAINTS fans doin, GEAUX SAINTS
gritzblitz
September 7th, 2011
10:29 am
Rico Murray and David Garrard? Yeah right… missing on those guys are keeping Falcons out of Super Bowl. HA! If that’s all you got, TD must be a better judge of talent than I thought.
Geaux Falcants - Not!
September 7th, 2011
10:30 am
Rise up, fall down…Falcants are losers…no ring, no ring, no ring…ya got nothing…
Geaux Falcants - Not!
September 7th, 2011
10:32 am
And, keep the hurricane and national pity comments coming…shows your jealousy…at least a dirty tub has a ring….lmao….FAILCANTS HAVE NO RING AND NO CHANCE….IMPLOSION…
gritzblitz
September 7th, 2011
10:35 am
BTW Shulaces, this Rico Murray you raved about and we passed on has played in a grand total of 8 games in 2 years (starting zero not 4) and has all of 2 passed defended. No INT. He was cut on 9/3 and no one picked him up but he’s not worth a roster spot. Except I guess on Cincy since they did again. Yeah we really are gonna miss the Super Bowl for passing on this guy. Why oh why did we sign Kelvin Hayden who has started for Colts and had an INT for TD in Super Bowl when we could have had Uncle Rico Murray.
SAMUEL
September 7th, 2011
10:53 am
If the Falcons win the division that’e fine. If not, going deep in the playoffs would be the goal. Say what you will about Matt Ryan the kid is smart and he wants to be the best. He’s one of the best up and coming quarterbacks in the league…
Ryan Top Five in NFL
September 7th, 2011
10:54 am
All you Ryan haters who still worship Vick need to quit bashing Mattie Ice cause he is gonna bring Atlanta a Super Bowl trophy.
kevin
September 7th, 2011
10:54 am
We need a good back up qb behind chris redmen we need to start James sanders and Kevin hayden
seenthisb4needsagirlfriend
September 7th, 2011
11:01 am
Seen is just a lonely desperate fool. the only pleasure in life he gets is from his bottle k&y for him only and trying to irritate ppl on the ajc blog. Wow what a life he leads. I’d rather pray that boy gets some common sense and a life before i argue with him.
Key Diver
September 7th, 2011
11:03 am
OK, well I’m gonna predict South Carolina or Florida will win the SEC east and that LSU or Alabama will win the SEC west.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
September 7th, 2011
11:05 am
Key Diver — Who’s going to win the MEAC?
kevin
September 7th, 2011
11:05 am
I meant Matt Ryan a good qb behind Matt Ryan and we need to start James sanders and Kevin hayden
seen (matty melt floating sideline ints) this (juliet jones dropping passes) b4
September 7th, 2011
11:07 am
this is a football blog..if you’ve got inferiority complexes to contend with, see a doctor….noting that you have that sort of response may indicate you have those tendencies you claim others may have…
Steve
September 7th, 2011
11:11 am
DUH!!! ….You have to be a football analyst to predict this??,…and is this really newsworthy….you are really digging for something to print…..Jimmy Johnson’s predictions don’t carry much weight with me….we all forget HE was the begining of the off field troubles at Miami….his teams were comprised mostly of thugs and troublemakers….
D. Orlando Ledbetter
September 7th, 2011
11:12 am
Just went to the Spam folder and found a bunch of worthy comments. Puting the “Spam Monster” in timeout.
Key Diver
September 7th, 2011
11:38 am
Well, I’m no authority on the MEAC, but I’ll do like Jimmy Johnson and go out on a limb. I would predict Bethune Cookman or South Carolina State, maybe Florida A & M.
Key Diver
September 7th, 2011
11:42 am
And Lou Holtz predicted Notre Dame would run the table and win the NC. Of course, Lou predicts this every year. I imagine he was torn on ND’s 1st game as they were playing South Florida with Lou’s son as coach. Skip did not listen to dad’s prediction however! lol
ASHCAN.
September 7th, 2011
11:50 am
Jimmy Johnson OPINION is just like everyone else.If tampa bay do have the same record or better,watch him try to cover up his opinion.
Cajun Crap Talker
September 7th, 2011
12:14 pm
Also, the presidential race will probably come down the republicans and democrats. Thanks, Jimmy!
MO
September 7th, 2011
12:45 pm
Page not found
warfalcons
September 7th, 2011
1:04 pm
4 more days,go Falcons
ATL Observer
September 7th, 2011
1:17 pm
Also, the presidential race will probably come down the republicans and democrats. Thanks, Jimmy!
Hahaha, thanks for that CCT, I needed a good chuckle today! :-p
Bird Dawg Country
September 7th, 2011
1:25 pm
Carolina and Scam Newton will be bottom feeders…What kind of pay cut did Scam take coming from Auburn?
Sid
September 7th, 2011
1:55 pm
Only way Green Bay loses to NO tomorrow night is if Rodgers goes down.
Sid
September 7th, 2011
2:01 pm
Geaux Falcants – Not! September 7th, 2011 10:30 am
*********************************
You’re not even original. But troll on, troll on.
Matt
September 7th, 2011
2:12 pm
man, don’t sleep on the Bucs… Josh Freeman is a beast
Hammerstone
September 7th, 2011
2:58 pm
D Led – seems like this year your falcons coverage is pretty weak compared to past years – are the Falcons being more tight lipped about stuff, or are you stretched thin by other areas?
Falcons Soar
September 7th, 2011
3:06 pm
I predict that a team that plays football will win the Super Bowl, I know I know, I’m going out on a limb here but I just got a feeling….
joe white
September 7th, 2011
4:07 pm
Go falcons sunday 9-11
Tony B
September 7th, 2011
4:57 pm
It is hard to take Jimmy Johnson seriously anymore since he started doing the ExTenze commercials. Did he really need money that bad????
trolls and such
September 7th, 2011
5:11 pm
Funny how an Aints fan can talk about it being 2011 and let’s get past last year, but wants to bring up the SB two years ago. Hypocrites as well as degenerates.
But hey, Ledbetter needs the hits on his blogs.
trolls and such
September 7th, 2011
5:14 pm
Seen is just a lonely desperate fool. the only pleasure in life he gets is from his bottle k&y for him only and trying to irritate ppl on the ajc blog. Wow what a life he leads. I’d rather pray that boy gets some common sense and a life before i argue with him.
The farm animals in Louisiana appreciate your prayers. From what I hear, that boy is wearin’ ‘em out down there. In between posting on falcons blogs that is.
hiramsaint
September 7th, 2011
5:52 pm
trolls and such- jealousy over seen doesn’t sem to be your thing . maybe you should try another approach. and just fyi… cutting and pasting doesn’t show your mastery of the computer, only your aps high school education. you seem to be a man of experience with the farm animals due to your extensive knowledge of what they appreciate… nudge nudge wink wink
SeenThisB4
September 7th, 2011
6:05 pm
Of course, on the other hand, SeenThisB4 has become a virtual celebrity around these parts! LOL!
hiramsaint
September 7th, 2011
6:23 pm
kudos to you seen. imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. i believe we have alot of closet who dats in atl.
SeenThisB4
September 7th, 2011
6:27 pm
Sid: That’s similiar to what they said about Indy: The only way Indy could lose the SB would be if Manning went down.
GEAUX BEARS!
SeenThisB4
September 7th, 2011
6:34 pm
Yo! HiramSaint! Getting ready for the Show Case game inaugural opener? Who Dat!!!!!
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & TIred
September 7th, 2011
8:50 pm
Someone at the AJC please edit these Falcons’ blogs. ….I’m tired of the same people constantly repeating the same old comments on a daily basis. It has gotten REAL OLD!!!!!
Sid
September 8th, 2011
1:05 pm
Have no clue why my comments were deleted…………….hey Dled, aren’t you and Seen one in the same
atlbeast
September 9th, 2011
3:19 pm
Hey I like those corners the aints have #21 is damn near on fire from getting toasted last night i hope he’s still around when we play the AINTS he’s on JJ side of the field 6′4″ running a 4.3 it will be UGLY…………….
(cursed) rott0n r0ddy white
September 11th, 2011
10:49 am
v o o d o o c u r s e b y r . w h i t e w i l l b e g i n 3 h r. to dooms-day u see u all will see
(cursed) rott0n r0ddy white
September 11th, 2011
10:53 am
voodoo curse of the dead cursed by r.white 1 pm doomsday curse begins u see u all will see