Falcons presser: Blank was ‘angry’ with season
Falcons owner Arthur Blank let the public know that he was 'angry' with how last season turned out. Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com
Falcons owner Arthur Blank admitted that he was “angry” after the team’s early exit from the playoffs in a press conference on Wednesday.
Blank, head coach Mike Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff spoke to the local media in the aftermath of a season that saw their Super Bowl hopes come crashing down in the wild-card round of the playoffs.
Before the presser, the team had already lost defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder to a “family decision” to return to the college ranks and around the same time, offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey was being introduced as the new head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Here are some of the other highlights from the press conference that lasted a little over an hour.
– The team stated that it wanted to support transparency, but that it would conduct its search for new coordinators in private.
– The team has 17 free agents and consider eight of them to be core players. However, all of them may not return because of financial considerations.
– Blank stated that the team is playing for “rings” and “championships.” He said, “We’re not about being in the playoffs. . . this organization is about greatness.”
– The team wants to add some tough, mean and physical players.
– Smith said that his offensive MVP was quarterback Matt Ryan. His defensive MVP was linebacker Sean Weatherspoon. He also had kind words for punter Matt Bosher and return man/coverage guy Eric Weems.
– He stated that Weatherspoon received some attention during the league-wide Pro Bowl voting.
– Running back Michael Turner’s touches will likely be cut down moving forward.
– Blank spoke about the “intellectual honesty” of Smith and Dimitroff. “They’ll be honest in their evaluations,” Blank said.
– Blank promised that the analysis of the team will be thorough. “We need to be careful that we don’t throw the baby out with the bath water,” Blank said.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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515 comments Add your comment
Dave
January 11th, 2012
4:20 pm
A coordinator that flatters Matt Ryan’s skills? So you’re basically looking for a guy who turns to mush in week 17?
Bartles & James
January 11th, 2012
4:20 pm
Denise, we’re thinking about raiding your coaching staff for an OC!
And we thank YOU for your support!
Patrick
January 11th, 2012
4:21 pm
Delta is ready when you are ?!?? Well now, that puts it in perspective, doesn’t it? I’m thinking that ESPN was so close to the truth–and if you are doubting this, read above—that it hurts.
Bartles & James
January 11th, 2012
4:23 pm
Wow, did anyone know Arthur Blank was an owner of Home Depot?! Thanks Fred….nobody in Atlanta knew that.
T
January 11th, 2012
4:24 pm
Anyone calling for the Falcons to trade or release Roddy is an idiot. Did he drop an unusually high amount of passes this season? Yes. Did he still catch 100 passes for over 1,200 yards? Yes. You don’t get rid of a player, who is only one of 8 WRs IN THE HISTORY OF THE NFL, to have five straight 1,000+ yard seasons and those seasons came with average QBs in a run-first offense.
I have always hated the “drops” statistics for WRs because there are times it is labeled a drop but it could be a pass, that while it could’ve been caught, was very difficult to do so because of coverage and location of the pass. How many times did a ball hit Roddy squarely in the hands, in the center of his mass and he dropped it? Very few. The others were very difficult passes under tight coverage and bad locations but he still caught most of them. There is no doubt in my mind he’ll cut down on the drops next year.
And for those praising Julio over Roddy, yes, JJ had a nice season but let’s not forget he would not have had that same kind of season if he didn’t have Roddy drawing the attention from every team’s best cover. Julio wasn’t going up against the double teams and the best defenders anywhere near at the rate Roddy had to. Roddy has been putting up big numbers for years without anyone to help take pressure off of him. Get off his back already
Ted Turner
January 11th, 2012
4:24 pm
King Arthur says “Bring me my viagra, I’ll show that ex wife who is the man in this family.”
zzzzzzzzz
January 11th, 2012
4:25 pm
zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
fooball4life
January 11th, 2012
4:25 pm
RG3, RG3, RG3, RG3!!!!!
Coach Ralph Fontaine
January 11th, 2012
4:29 pm
You morons have a short memory. I never heard a Smith make those kind of statements of disappointment. No it’s not perfect. But these things take time. How long was Drew Brees in the league before success? Manning? You are asking an organization that has been inept for 4 decades to all of the sudden turn it on? Sunday was horrible no doubt. But AB is learning like the rest of them and he will get better as well. He learned not to take a 13 win season as a signal that the next step will be to go deeper. AB will bring us a ring. I have no doubt. He lets football people make decisions and he holds them to those choices. Accountability works and he knows more about it than any of us wasting time on this blog. Plus anyone who gripes about a waste of money, no one probably feels more like he did’nt get his moneys worth than AB. He writes checks that are a lot bigger than any of us. I love what he is saying and cant wait to see where this goes. Go FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sonia woods
January 11th, 2012
4:31 pm
I believe that if Mike Smith and Cold as ice matty ryan dont do a change next year… they will be fired.. if you changed everything and still matt ice is not able to throw to your recievers. well there you go…. He never throws long balls and he is scary ice… He cant be a leader and hes not a leader ..so if your line protects you and you still cant make a complete pass.. its not them.. Its you It’s real simple. Everytime we reach the playoffs, we go out Matt Ryan Failed the coaching staff, fans and Atlanta. At some point he has got to make a play on the field and take some responsibility, because the coaches or not on the field.. matt ryan doesnt have a strong downfield arm.. hes always making excuses…changing the oc wont give matt ryan anymore arm strength or accurarcy on the deep ball. Maya Angelou said, it best “If, someone shows you who they are, Believe…them..
Peter
January 11th, 2012
4:32 pm
well if Arthur is angry about the playoff game…… I wonder what he thinks of Matt Ice Cold’s fall down in bounds at the end of the 1st half ?
falcons are a joke
January 11th, 2012
4:35 pm
Enter your comments here
Burger Brian
January 11th, 2012
4:36 pm
I think Die Hard fan and T have it right. I will add that the Coordinator hires are CRITICAL. OC needs to be someone of a Sean Peyton Caliber ~ Innovate. As stated ~ the O-line is an Achilles. Smith needs to relinquish some of his “dictates” over the Defense. The rush four ~ soft zone scheme is NOT working. A guy like Spags should be hired and given a Loooong leash. This can be fixed with the right Coaching hires!! Let’s go TD ~ you’re a smart guy ~ do the right thing here!!!
Vince Lombardi
January 11th, 2012
4:36 pm
What the hell is going on around here??
falcons are a joke
January 11th, 2012
4:36 pm
NO ONE FROM THE ACC IS GOOD AT QB,CEPT PHILLIP RIVERS .LOTS OF BS TALK JUST LIKE THE BRAVES
skeptomania
January 11th, 2012
4:37 pm
One has to be concerned with Smith’s evaluation skills. Matty Slush as offensive MVP? This team is paying too much money to none elite players. No way Dunta, Edwards, Ryan, White, Baker, Jerry or even Abraham worth their big contracts. Should be clause in Whites contract to subtract for every dropped pass.
Arther Blank
January 11th, 2012
4:38 pm
CHFF-COLD HARD FOOTBALL FACTS 101
Looking at some of these bloggs, it seem that a lot of people seem to miss the SI.com article about the Falcons. Check this out if you didn’t see it- then I see what the reaction that article gleens. The more I read that article, the more the article articulated (in my mind) the obvious expert evaluation that I just never knew existed which was on a different level. Talk about learning something new everyday- I appreciate this article, because it now has sharpened almost like a razor-my football IQ as a whole, and more importantly, an NFL football fan who just happen to like the Falcons, because they are my home team, but now I see the light.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/kerry_byrne/01/10/julio.jones.trade/index.html
falcons are a joke
January 11th, 2012
4:39 pm
I GAVE MY FRIEND 10 PTS.AGAINST THE GIANTS.TO THE MORON TRYING TO COMPARE PEYTON MANNING TO THIS IDIOT,PUT THE PIPE DOWN.
ATLANTA IS WORST MAJOR SPORTS CITY EVER
falcons are a joke
January 11th, 2012
4:40 pm
THIS TEAM BE BETTER OFF TRADING MATT CHOKE RYAN
Doug
January 11th, 2012
4:41 pm
This is a BS article. I listened to the majority of the press conference and although each of these things were indeed said, there is way too much media spin put on this.
For example, Mr. Blank used the term “Disappointed” throughout the press conference. He was posed a question by one journalist of “Could the word “Disappointed” be replaced with “Angry”? His answer was “Of course I’m angry but misplaced anger is not productive”.
C’mon guys, Arthur Blank is a class act, present the story correctly.
A complete Blank
January 11th, 2012
4:41 pm
What a freggin Disaster….. Did AB really say he wants some mean tuff players on his team??? What they heck have they been doing the last few years????? 5-11 Next season and the Falcons will searching for a new coach… new GM and hopefully NEW OWNERSHIP!!! HORRIBLE!!!!
ctim
January 11th, 2012
4:41 pm
Priorities to improve Falcons:
1) Hire Hue Jackson as OC. He brings the fire, passion, and track record that should light a fire under the whole team, much like Greg Jackson did during the Saints’ Super Bowl run and this year.
2) Hire an equally fiery kick butt DC…I’m just throwing this out here…Jack Del Rio? He’s crap as a head coach, but he and Smith did help win a Super Bowl together with the Ravens…
3) Draft or sign a super stud Off Lineman…a Jake Long, Pouncey twin (do they have another brother? lol)…someone who can consistently blow defenders off the line…the go to guy you run behind when you need that critical fourth down…
4)Draft or sign..FINALLY! a super stud D Lineman….I think the tackles are ok, but if you can’t find the stud edge rusher (hello, Jean St Piere Paul)…then find the next Suh or Fairly…someone who can push the pocket from the inside.
Other than that, the team is mostly set. WR is a strength, not a weakness. And watch how the secondary play improves with a real pass rush.
RONK
January 11th, 2012
4:41 pm
We had arough,tough,mean player, but would not sign Harvey Dahl to a new contract!!!!!!!!!!!
Arther Blank
January 11th, 2012
4:42 pm
Here are a few excerpts. Enjoy.
“So the game was not just a win for the Giants. It was also a win for the only force in football since the 1972 Dolphins to go undefeated and untied: the Cold, Hard Football Facts Shiny Hood Ornament Man Law.
If you’re new to the Mighty CHFF, this Man Law tells us that wide receivers are nothing more than Shiny Hood Ornaments decorating the engine of NFL teams. They look all nice and flashy and they cause fans to “ooh” and “ahh.” But they don’t make the engine run any better.
The Cold, Hard Football Fact, proven through all of NFL history, is that the impact of wide receivers is wildly overvalued by fans, analysts and, most damningly, by teams, coaches and executives, like Dimitroff, who should know better … but don’t.
The Shiny Hood Ornament Man Law proved so powerful in the 2010 season that we elevated it from the Shiny Hood Ornament Theory to its present status. It is no longer an idea or a concept. It is an irrefutable state of nature and exists all around us. Call it gravity for the gridiron.
The 2011 Falcons are the latest team to challenge the Shiny Hood Ornament Man Law, then hurt itself plummeting back to Earth in the process.”
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/kerry_byrne/01/10/julio.jones.trade/index.html#ixzz1jBjmsHg9
dagnabit
January 11th, 2012
4:42 pm
Get rid of Arthur Blank! Keep the bathwater.
Arther Blank
January 11th, 2012
4:42 pm
So the game was not just a win for the Giants. It was also a win for the only force in football since the 1972 Dolphins to go undefeated and untied: the Cold, Hard Football Facts Shiny Hood Ornament Man Law.
If you’re new to the Mighty CHFF, this Man Law tells us that wide receivers are nothing more than Shiny Hood Ornaments decorating the engine of NFL teams. They look all nice and flashy and they cause fans to “ooh” and “ahh.” But they don’t make the engine run any better.
The Cold, Hard Football Fact, proven through all of NFL history, is that the impact of wide receivers is wildly overvalued by fans, analysts and, most damningly, by teams, coaches and executives, like Dimitroff, who should know better … but don’t.
The Shiny Hood Ornament Man Law proved so powerful in the 2010 season that we elevated it from the Shiny Hood Ornament Theory to its present status. It is no longer an idea or a concept. It is an irrefutable state of nature and exists all around us. Call it gravity for the gridiron.
The 2011 Falcons are the latest team to challenge the Shiny Hood Ornament Man Law, then hurt itself plummeting back to Earth in the process.
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/kerry_byrne/01/10/julio.jones.trade/index.html#ixzz1jBjmsHg9
falcons are a joke
January 11th, 2012
4:42 pm
DONT WORRY FANS,YOU STILL HAVE THE BRAVES.AFTER THERE HISTORIC COLLAPSE GREAT MOVES DURING THE OFFSEASON.LOLBATTLE THE METS FOR LAST PLACE…..GUARANTEED
Crossroads
January 11th, 2012
4:43 pm
I have lived in the Atlanta area for all of my 40 years of life (unfortunately). I have to say that this HAS to be the WORST professional sports city in the country. The Braves are the lone titlist thanks to Ted Turner. I still think Blank is a great owner, but talk is cheap. The Falcons are at the “fork in the road” and this off-season will be huge in hiring a new OC and DC along with player transactions. I am so tired of these excuses that run rampant in the state “young team”, “rebuilding” , “next year we will be good”. UGA is the king of the state with those excuses BTW (I know they aren’t pro, but it is too similar to our pro teams). Will someone ever end this BS and put up results? It is YOUR time to show us what you can do Mr. Blank, so what’s it going to be?
Doug
January 11th, 2012
4:43 pm
and “T”, you are absolutely right…..
Roddy White dropped so many passes because he was “thrown” so many more passes than most receivers.
falcons are a joke
January 11th, 2012
4:44 pm
ARTHUR BLANK SHOLD BE ANGRY
HOME DEPOT IS CLOSING 50 STORES
Not a Fan
January 11th, 2012
4:46 pm
I’m sure glad I don’t live in Atlanta. Never in my 50 years have I seen such pathetic, fair-weather, bandwagon… ahem, fans. Under Blank, Dimitroff and Smith; the francise has risen from “never had consecutive winning seasons” to consecutive playoff appearances. Is there work to be done? Does coach Smith to gamble less on fourth down (interesting that Blank singled out the punter for praise)? Of course, but Blank very clearly stated it’s not about winning or playoffs; it’s about the Lombardi trophy. Point is; you can’t win the whole thing without winning more than you loose, and getting to the post season. You have to crawl before you walk and walk before you run. No true fan should be satisfied with 24-2 or last year’s embarassment at the hands of the Packers (eventual champs), but this armchair nonsense is for the birds (npi). Why don’t you fair-weather rubes go watch the Kardashians or something?
DaMan
January 11th, 2012
4:47 pm
What about a ruff and tuff coach
falcons are a joke
January 11th, 2012
4:47 pm
Crossroads,
Sorry for your loss.Don’t worry ,in 3 months you can go watch the braves play in da hood.
dub366
January 11th, 2012
4:48 pm
if Matt Ryan MVP OF the offense then the head coach need to go.
OPEN YOUR EYES
January 11th, 2012
4:49 pm
THE BIGGEST WORD THAT MIKE SMITH HAS EVER USED IS “DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION’!!!
HE NEEDS TO TAKE HIS VANILLA/ARCHAIC ASS OUTTA HERE!!!!
40 Years Of Falcon Fandumb
January 11th, 2012
4:49 pm
Arthur is still too new to the Falcons if he is angry over them wetting themselves in primetime again.
The rest of us shrug and yawn. It’s really hard to give a s— after 4 decades of faceplants and underachievement.
The only thing they ever “rise up” to is mediocrity, and that doesn’t last long.
Arthur says this organization is about rings and championships?? Which organization is he talking about? The Falcons have a couple of division titles, an NFC title and the infamous, self-awarded California trophy to show for 45 years of this crap.
robert pearson
January 11th, 2012
4:50 pm
matt ryan , THAT your problem, he need to take note from Tim Tibow he has a heart to win, to play and he not afraid to run and get hit to make a first down.
falcons never win
January 11th, 2012
4:50 pm
joke
Just Looking
January 11th, 2012
4:50 pm
T
Roddy White get 100 catches because the ball is thrown to him a high number of times. Which is a bad thiing. Look at the Saints, they have like 4 or 5 WR’s. None have probowl type of numbers but as a unit they are the best in the league. Then they have Sproles and Jimmy Gramham. I wish we could have a offense like that…or even 70% of it.
skeptomania
January 11th, 2012
4:53 pm
Hire the SI writer to replace Dimitroff.
falcons never win
January 11th, 2012
4:53 pm
HOPE AND CHANGE
all atl. teams ?????
January 11th, 2012
4:57 pm
FILL IN THE BLANK
Nativebird
January 11th, 2012
4:58 pm
Everything that comes out of this hammer salesman’s mouth is…..uh….er….Mularkey. Appararently, “talking” about doing great things is all that is needed in the corporate world he’s used to swindling.
no excuses
January 11th, 2012
5:00 pm
I saw better defense during the BCS Championship game than I did this year from the Falcons! That’s the kind of defense I want to see!
Columbus
January 11th, 2012
5:00 pm
With this lasting over an hour, I expect a more indepth column later. Lost offense and defensive coordinators. The offensive one is a blessing in disguise I hope.
all atl. teams ?????
January 11th, 2012
5:00 pm
BE HAPPY AND QUIT ROOTING FOR THE BRAVES/FALCONS.OH I FORGOT,MOST OF YOU ARE LOSERS AT EVERYTHING ELSE YOU DO.
Crossroads
January 11th, 2012
5:00 pm
@falcons are a joke
Sorry, I don’t get what I lost? I am not here to insult or argue, just to state an opinion and a few facts
Freshmaker
January 11th, 2012
5:02 pm
Wow you guys are retarded lol. “Fire the coach! Get rid of the QB who just set the franchise passing mark! Ditch the Pro-Bowl WR who also set a franchise receiving mark!”
I swear. Bunch of 2nd graders on here. Except for the falcons are a joke guy, who’s obviously still in remedial kindergarten.
falcons are a joke
January 11th, 2012
5:03 pm
Crossroads,
Im sorry you have to live in a ghetto city like atlanta
Buffy
January 11th, 2012
5:04 pm
TD’s interview in the AJC today was about as whitewashed and canned as it could be. Concerns me.
Mr Blank, please get rid of the pretty boys and their dreds and hire football players, FOOTBALL PLAYERS, that want to knock the snot out of some people. The team I saw could have easily ended up 6-10 if not for some 4th quarter miracles. We need a team that controls and protects the football, tackles the football, and catches the football. Players that have heart and desire, Players that want to earn their check each and every Sunday. Not give it 60% and collect a fat check.