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
j
January 11th, 2012
5:04 pm
STRETCH, at least the Hawks win playoff games …Falcons just lose them. And by God, VanGorder is an idiot. Him leaving doesn’t do anything bad to the team, actually makes them better.
falcons are a joke
January 11th, 2012
5:06 pm
Freshmaker,
thanks for the humor,hillarious.cant stand the heat,get out of the kitchen
Crossroads
January 11th, 2012
5:07 pm
@Freshmaker, You are right and with the players the Falcons have you have to agree that this off-season is the most crucial ever. A new OC and DC is like a new team, things will be run a totally different way next year and I just hope that the changes are in the right direction for the team. I feel that the Falcons COULD be the next great NFL team and these moves that are about to made will determine that.
brava
January 11th, 2012
5:08 pm
open your eyes
comment was racist,and it has been reported.
Fred Benson
January 11th, 2012
5:09 pm
Braves: handed the Cardinals the World Series title by choking.
Falcons: Peter King’s Super Bowl pick was a bust.
Hawks: at least they’re doing well at 7-3!
Thrashers: 20-16-5 record, good to be in Stanley Cup playoff contention. As the Winnipeg Jets.
Georgia Football: lost to Michigan St. @ a bowl game.
Atlanta has not won a championship since the 1996 Olympics.
CNN is the lowest-rated news channel in the U.S.,and Atlanta’s powerful CNN is the 32nd most watched cable network.
“Georgia…out of my mind” should be the state’s new song thanks to your sports teams.
brava
January 11th, 2012
5:10 pm
i see on here that school is out ,kids abound with there racist remarks
calling coach vanilla
braves play in ghetto
or da hood
swear some of you need to grow up
tt44
January 11th, 2012
5:10 pm
Help Arthur! I LOVE the Falcons! I have been a long time fan since 1966! I will continue to be a Falcons fan! But I am an embarrassed Falcon Fan right now, I am an angry Falcon fan right now! As a fan, I deserve a better effort from the players! As the OWNER YOU ABSOLUTELY Deserve better! Go Falcons! And thanks Arthur for what you are doing with Falcons…you care and thats cool!
Crossroads
January 11th, 2012
5:11 pm
@falcons are a joke
When I can find a job in the SW US (Arizona, NM, Nevada, Colorado), I am out of here! Hard to do in this economy
Tony
January 11th, 2012
5:13 pm
I too am disappointed we did not make it out of the first round, but I am proud of our team and it’s owner who is committed to bringing us a Super Bowl winner. Guess, at my age I can remember all the years of losing records season after season at the “Old Fulton County Out Door Stadium” and I am thankful for our winning players, coaches and owner. Ok men lets make the right moves to assure us “old fans” we can enjoy a Super Bowl victory before us old timers make our last move.
brava
January 11th, 2012
5:14 pm
crossroads,
i feel for you ,i live in n.dakota ,50,000 jobs available,even target and mcdonalds pay 16/hr.starting.
what?economy is bad?
Fred Benson
January 11th, 2012
5:14 pm
More Losing. More Anger. That’s the Power of Arthur Blank, Owner of the Home Depot. If he wants to win a Super Bowl, then he must marry Jane Fonda…hey, it worked for Billionaire Ted Turner! And while you’re at it, Arthur: can you bring back that old Atlanta favorite, World Championship Wrestling?
brava
January 11th, 2012
5:16 pm
crossroads,
unemployment for the state 1.6% we work up here and dont need the govt.help
sports
January 11th, 2012
5:16 pm
what a sorry @ss bunch of losers
Falcon Fan 24-7
January 11th, 2012
5:17 pm
Sounds like Blank is being political in order to sell season tickets. Go figure.
OPEN YOUR EYES
January 11th, 2012
5:18 pm
FIRST OFF IM WHITE SO LETS CLEAR THIS ALL UP!!!
SECOND, WHEN I SAID MIKE SMITH WAS “VANILLA” I MEANT THAT HE LACKS NO CREATIVITY AND IMAGINATION BOTH ON OFFENSE AND DEFENSE. ALL I WAS DOING WAS MAKING A REFERENCED METAPHOR!!!!!
THIRD, I AM FED UP WITH THIS SENSITIVE AND SOFT PEOPLE IN THIS STATE THAT ALWAYS SHED A TEAR WHEN SOMEONE TELLS THE TRUTH!! THIS IS WHY WE WILL NEVER WIN BECAUSE OUR FANS BASE ALWAYS ACCEPTS MEDIOCRITY!!!! WHAT YA’LL NEED TO DO IS TAKE YOUR LITTLE PANTIES OFF AND SACK UP!!!!
todd
January 11th, 2012
5:19 pm
Yeah well I don’t like being around loser’s either. i.e. Goodgod. When the going gets tough, guys like you quit. I wouldn’t want people like you in my corporation, on football team, or as a fan so take your happy ass out of here and go get an Aaron Rodgers jersey you front runner. And that goes for the rest of you whiners. I’ve been a fan since 1977 and will always be A FAN. Now excuse me, I have work to do.
Barbara Stewart
January 11th, 2012
5:19 pm
I am also a angry fan which I do not plan to be a fan next year. I think I am going to give up on the Falcons. The coach and the offensive coach are who I blame for the stupid calls they have made this most of the season. Both coaches need to be have been fired
Crossroads
January 11th, 2012
5:20 pm
@brava
I can’t live here anymore because of physical pain and the desert is my only option to help it. N Dakota is a little too cold for a southern boy, thanks for the tip.
todd
January 11th, 2012
5:20 pm
Never say never OPEN YOUR EYES…
Falcon Fan 24-7
January 11th, 2012
5:20 pm
SPAGS For DC and MIKE MARTZ For OC.Pay them well Mr. Blank.
Crossroads
January 11th, 2012
5:22 pm
@brava
I do have a job, never have taken a handout from ANYONE
Falcon Fan 24-7
January 11th, 2012
5:24 pm
Brian Billick would never accept any position other than head coach.
Jeffisgoofingoff
January 11th, 2012
5:24 pm
Unforgiveness towards former players never works. (p.s. Blank is really pissed cause he can’t justify a new stadium).
brava
January 11th, 2012
5:25 pm
open your eyes
since you think u r internet tough go say that to mike smith personally.what i thought u must be a 2nd grader like poster said earlier
Fred Benson
January 11th, 2012
5:26 pm
Hey Atlanta: Give up on the Falcons! Give up on the Braves! You were better off with WCW than those choking Braves and the failing Falcons. Do me a favor…move to Winnipeg, where they love the Thrashers more than your pathetic selves. Atlanta is just known for Turner Broadcasting, in my humble opinion.
MrDan
January 11th, 2012
5:26 pm
Playoffs??? Are you kiddn’ me??? Playoffs??
Jay
January 11th, 2012
5:27 pm
I am as frustrated by the early playoff exit as anyone. To all these “fans” that say they’re fed up with Smith, Ryan and Dimitroff… How are you even still fans? We have just had our fourth consecutive winning season. Before these 3 guys we never had back to back winning seasons. You should have decided way back then to “never watch another game” or “not renew your season tickets”. You guys just stop watching or going to the game. We don’t want to hear from you anymore.
brava
January 11th, 2012
5:27 pm
@crossroads
never said u did was talking how your state and others are living off the unemployment benefits and wont work.
brava
January 11th, 2012
5:30 pm
funny how i saw no protest when the falcons raised there ticket prices in 2011.where will u be when they raise it again for 2012?
wins-by-a-link
January 11th, 2012
5:30 pm
Mr. Blank will produce a championship, I believe him when he says that he wants championships and will do whatever it takes, Unlike the Braves who are owned by an absent and nameless Corp that does not give a damn it the Braves win or lose.
Buffy
January 11th, 2012
5:31 pm
Mr Blanks too busy with his “personal trainer” to notice his team is a joke. Dump the arm candy, hire some football players.
Bob
January 11th, 2012
5:32 pm
Just thinking that A Blank might give Dimitroff the name of his tailor. Dimitroff dresses like he drafts (and signs free agents). Also, Dimitroff spends Blank’s money like a Kardashian.
OPEN YOUR EYES
January 11th, 2012
5:32 pm
@BRAVA- DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT I AM AFRAID OF MIKE “VANILLA” SMITH??? HOLD ON ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME GUY THAT ALWAYS HAS A CONSTIPATED FACE ON THE SIDELINES EVERY TIME WE GET OUR ASSES HANDED TO US BY A GOOD TEAM????!!!
Falcon Fan 24-7
January 11th, 2012
5:33 pm
The lost of Dahl caused us to lose our swagger up front. The injury to Ovie was huge. If Ovie doesn’t go down ,we beat the Giants and the Saints in the first game. He creates holes better than lineman for Turner.
brava
January 11th, 2012
5:34 pm
@crossroads gl to you
btw,since when did nevada,colorado have a desert?
Ginger Kid
January 11th, 2012
5:36 pm
Oh no, here comes the pass rush! What do I do? I know. I’ll run that way. Oh no, there’s big mean guys that way! I’m so sleepy and my feet hurt. I just want to lay down right here . . . Wait! It’s this football in my hand the mean guys are after. I know what to do. I’ll run that way and then throw the ball as far as I can, maybe 30 yards, out of bounds down the sideline and then the mean guys will chase it instead of me.
Whew! Glad that’s over. Now let me get in this no-huddle offense and hurry in case the mean guys come back.
Arthur Blank
January 11th, 2012
5:37 pm
Changes are coming!!!
Dont forget,season tickets go on sale march 8.
Thanks for your support
Rod Paradise
January 11th, 2012
5:38 pm
I am with Todd. I too am a lifelong Falcons fan. This is Georgia this is my team good bad or ugly.
I seriously hate that so many people in Atlanta wear there crap gear around here and act like they are doing something.
@Goodgod. Why don’t you go do the discount double check with Aaron Rodgers?
OPEN YOUR EYES
January 11th, 2012
5:38 pm
@BRAVA- ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE SAME GUY THAT ALWAYS SAYS THE “SKY IS NOT FALLING” IN EVERY INTERVIEW AFTER WE HAD JUST BEEN BLOWN OUT BY A TEAM??!!!!! HUH???!! IS THAT WHAT YOUR INSINUATING???!!!
Arthur Blank
January 11th, 2012
5:39 pm
We will have plenty of money after i close 50 stores and layoff hundreds of employees but hey,my facons will be super bowl winners!!!!
Byron Leftwich
January 11th, 2012
5:41 pm
Joey Harrington
Joey Harrington
January 11th, 2012
5:41 pm
Jeff George
Jeff George
January 11th, 2012
5:42 pm
Tony Graziani
KG
January 11th, 2012
5:42 pm
Immediately after the embarrassing loss on Sunday, I said the Falcons should part company with Van Gorder, Mularkey and Smith. Well, two down, one to go. I don’t think Smith has what it takes to be a successful head coach in the NFL. Coordinator? Yes. Head coach? Heavens no. He has benefitted from being in a fairly easy division(minus the Saints) since arriving here in Atlanta. It is quite clear to me that Smith’s seat is hot as he is running out of excuses with the departure of Mularkey and Van Gorder. So here’s the question – who in the world is he going to get as coordinators? The potential candidates would have to know that they would be on a one year plan – fair or unfair. If the Falcons are unsuccessful next year, Smith gets canned and so do the new coordinators after one year here in Atlanta. To be clear, it will be tough to fill both positions with quality candidates.
That’s why I say once again, Mr. Blank sir, please cut your losses and part company with our head coach. Let’s truly start over….
Arthur Blank
January 11th, 2012
5:42 pm
Dont worry guys,i will sign mike smith to an extension,when my divorce is final.Excuse me while me and chipper go to hooters for dinner.
OPEN YOUR EYES
January 11th, 2012
5:43 pm
WE NEED TO GET MIKE MARTZ AS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR AND RAHEEM MORRIS AS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR!!! MIKE MARTZ CAN BRING HIS LABORATORY OF OFFENSIVE SCHEMES DOWN HERE AND WE CAN FINALLY PRODUCE AS A WHOLE ON OFFENSE (SCREEN PASS). MEANWHILE RAHEEM MORRIS, WAS DOOMED FOR FAILURE WITH THE BUCS, BUT NOW THAT HE HAS TALENT HE WILL LIGHT A FIRE UNDER THIS WHOLE DEFENSE AND GET US TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE!!!
falcon employee
January 11th, 2012
5:44 pm
HOME DEPOT TO CLOSE 50 STORES
SOURCE.WWW.CNN.COM/BUSINESS
You better get this right!
January 11th, 2012
5:44 pm
OK Folks! I just watched the press conference, and I for one feel a little better…I would tell any of you that are still mad about all of this crap to watch the press conference. Watch Arthur the whole time! He does not smile or even attempt to smiled once. He is MAD, just watch him.
We got what we wanted, MM, GONE! Now let these guys go to work, I promise, by the look in Arthur’s eyes, if this does not turn around, and I meen next year, TD and Smitty are history! Our owner wants a Championship and he is going to get it, with or without TD or Smitty!
falcon employee
January 11th, 2012
5:45 pm
OPEN YOUR EYES.
MIKE MARTZ,R U CRAZY?ASK ST.LOUIS RAMS HOW DID THAT WORK OUT THIS YEAR!!!
IGNORANT COMMENT OF THE DAY
falcon employee
January 11th, 2012
5:47 pm
Whey glad i got my raise before the falcons played the giants