Atlanta Falcons: Spoon’s attracting early Pro Bowl hype
Eagles quarterback Michael Vick (7) fumbles the ball, stripped by Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon (56). (Jason Getz / jgetz@ajc.com
BIRDLAND — Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, who’s set to enter his third year in the league, is receiving some extremely early Pro Bowl hype.
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We checked in with Spoon back in May. CLICK HERE.
Also, it is clear that defensive coordinator Mike Nolan has high expectations for Weatherspoon.
“He’s playing the same position in this defense that he was before, so there are no changes there,” Nolan said. “It’s very familiar to him. The expectation of him is that he continues to play well.”
Weatherspoon figures to have a big role in Nolan’s pressure packages.
“All players like to have their numbers called when you are pressuring and things like that,” Nolan said. “I’d like to think we’ll spread it around a little bit more than most. A lot of that depends how good of a guy he is at doing those things. Spoon is a very good player. I would hope that if he was pressuring or not, he would be making plays.”
Gregg Rosenthal, of NFL.com, is doing an around the league feature before training camps open. He predicted a breakout season for Weatherspoon in 2012.
I’m uncomfortable making Weatherspoon my “Making the Leap” pick for the Falcons, because he’s already made a sizable jump. He’s the leader of this Falcons defense. (Why do you think they let Curtis Lofton walk?) Weatherspoon is already one of the best 4-3 outside linebackers in football. He easily could have made the Pro Bowl last year, but he’s not a big enough name yet.
He’s listed here because he deserves more attention. Those Pro Bowl nods are often built on reputations gained one or two years after a player truly earns recognition. I’m doing my tiny part to elevate Weatherspoon’s reputation now.
Last season, the NFC Pro Bowl outside linebackers were Green Bay’s Clay Matthews, Dallas’ DeMarcus Ware and Chicago’s Lance Briggs. Weatherspoon had more tackles than all of them and more sacks than Briggs, according to NFL.Com stats.
Ware had 58 tackles and 19.5 sacks. Briggs has 105 tackles and no sacks. Matthews has 50 tackles and six sacks. He also had 12 passes defensed and three interceptions.
I don’t think Rosenthal is off the mark at all. But, do you all think, Weatherspoon will make the Pro Bowl in 2012?
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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133 comments Add your comment
canadian falcon
July 6th, 2012
2:44 pm
The problem with saints fans and the bounty is that people are thinking of this through the eyes of the law. a system that is completely retarded. Eveyone can know someone did something, with overwhelming evidence but without admission , and having a good lawyer, helps people get away with murder,rape etc. No different here…. he didn’t say bounty in his admission he said maim. whatever, these players and the nflpa are wasting their money on lawyers instead of booking a holiday somewhwere warm and tropical.
SeenThisB4
July 6th, 2012
2:55 pm
Gee, and I always thought that New Orleans was warm and tropical. The problem with falcan’t fans is that they are just plain dumb.
canadian falcon
July 6th, 2012
2:58 pm
that was a good one….if we all had comebacks that good they would call this grade one blog.
tim
July 6th, 2012
3:01 pm
Big whoop……..spoon is just doing what he’s paid to do.
seems like it all about ME……
Jim
July 6th, 2012
3:26 pm
The excitement of Spoon next year + JJ and Marvin trade. Good things are coming to Atlanta.
Had to light up a hookah in celebration:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARczJkBwYGE
Dirtybird 82
July 6th, 2012
3:32 pm
Seenthisb4, do you have a job? It sure seems like you have an abundance of time to blog. I see you are on the ESPN blogs all day too. I feel sorry for your family if they are depending on you to bring home the bacon. lol
Barry
July 6th, 2012
3:49 pm
Hey Y’all:
“THE SPOON” is ready to dish out some NASTY MEDECINE!!!! This is his year. He is backing up his talk since he got healthy last year. THE SWAG IS BACK!!! It is all for the better for the defense. With Nolan putting an aggressive defensive game plan, I am eager for the season to start to watch the defense scare the hell ot of folks in the style of the old Pittspurgh Steelers. We will make a name for ourselves with this group of players and a sound defensive scheme. GIVE THEM THE NASTY MEDICINE WITH A “SPOON”: WITHERSPOON, THAT IS !!!!!!
Now, to convince the offensive coaches to go to the ZONE BLOCKING SCHEME so that are running backs and linemen can get NASTY like the defense. Let’s do this in “ONE HEARTBEAT!!!”.
GO SPOON!!!!!
GO FALCONS.
“FALCONS RISE UP” IN “ONE HEARTBEAT’!!!!
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a SECRET from a FALCON FAN. TELL EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
…………………………”ONE HEARTBEAT, BABY!!!!!………………………….
Drew Brees is insufferable and arrogant
July 6th, 2012
5:35 pm
#4: Do you really think that Drew Brees, who has to wear a kevlar flack jacket just like every other NFL QB, is really worried about other player safety? Really?! I think that is clearly laughable!
************************************************************************
SeenThis–he’s one of the bigwig leaders in the NFLPA. it’s his job to be concerned about player safety. Remember his reaction to the proposed 18 game schedule? Yet when his own team stands accused…when his own (now former) defensive coordinator admits to it…when his team’s computer records and GM and HC are all reviewed and suspensions issued–and he still denies the program, tweets about this being like the “lack of WMDs in Iraq,” etc–he looks like an idiot. (PS-ask the Kurds about Iraq not having WMDs, by the way). Any other QB in Brees’ position would have been grilled by the sports media. For whatever reason–maybe still due to Katrina or the faux earnestness he oozes–Brees gets a pass. It’s BS.
You really think that Gregg William’s quote is so ambiguous? Seriously ? Sure…maybe he was talking about Chris Berman calling the opener on ESPN or the new OT rule. Any of those also “roll the dice with player safety.”
Firsttimer
July 6th, 2012
6:37 pm
I have no interest in the Aints or their immoral programs. I want to talk Falcons. Spoon, (avoiding injury), is a lock for the Pro-Bowl. Not just this year but for many to come. He will be the best known LB wearing # 56 since a guy who played in NY.
Firsttimer
July 6th, 2012
6:40 pm
And BTW, I like his talking on the field. We need more trash talkers and intimidators. Let them know you are out there.
tim
July 6th, 2012
7:16 pm
The “Pro” bowl……a group of guys leaning on each other so they won’t get dirty.
The embarrassing bowl.
John John
July 6th, 2012
8:56 pm
I must say that is possibly the stupidest poll question ever? I mean, “who’s going to be the NFC pro bowl outside linebackers?” . Then you procede to give us 4 choices, in different combinations of the 4. WTH?? I mean that’s like saying “where will the next olympics be held? Germany, Japan, Australia, or Mexico? I mean, there are 192 countries and you just pick 4? Now, you can say “oh well those are the best 4 linebackers to anyone who knows football”? I disagree….I mean there is so much parity in the NFL and unexpected, pleasant surprises every year, and those 4 linebackers could all be injured (let’s hope not, at least with Spoon) most of the year, and none of them make it. I mean Thomas Davis could return to form and win it…One of the Giants linebackers could easily win…a San Fran backer could easily win it. I’m just saying, that is too broad a question for having only 4 choices, like its set in stone…FAIL…
cantTouchthis
July 7th, 2012
1:24 am
2 Legit
JSS
July 7th, 2012
6:26 am
TFF…
You couldn’t out think a new born bi-ped! Remember your alphabet, sixth and twenty-first? They still apply to you!
@ Ledbetter…
Isn’t this what you said about DeCoud in 2009? How many #56 plays were negative plays? How many passes defensed? How many INTs? How did he grade out in coverage?
The problem (for Weatherspoon) is that Briggs and Matthews all made multiple plays in the pass defense game! Ware is a freak! Seriously, nothing wrong with being the 4th or 5th best OLB in the NFC… Here’s the good news for him, Stay healthy, and when they get eliminated (in the playoffs again) he can slip into the “Pro Bowl” as an alternate. I guess then everyone can be happy?
JSS
July 7th, 2012
7:16 am
Oh yeah, he sure covered the heck out of Darren Sporles on that record setting TD! Geez!
D man
July 7th, 2012
8:35 am
It may take a few games for the falcons to get used to the new schemes but they should be an improved team all around this year.
kendall
July 7th, 2012
9:46 am
SeenThisB4: Gee, and I always thought that New Orleans was warm and tropical. The problem with falcan’t fans is that they are just plain dumb.
If we are so plain dumb, what the heck are you trolling this blog for. If you want to pump up the hype for the Saints, go to a Saints blog. Final word is, the Saints fans love their team, and us Falcons fans love our team. Be it that they good or bad. Good Grief!!!!!!!!
Firsttimer
July 7th, 2012
1:44 pm
# 56. Pro Bowl bound. Once Nolan unleashes him on the rest of the league.
Disgusted
July 7th, 2012
3:03 pm
Spoon has been one good TD pick, the oppostite of that disgraceful BUMB Sam Baker.
Really?
July 7th, 2012
4:16 pm
seen this b4 is your typical taint’s fa. He is obviously either drunk or cracked out when he posts but that is how most new orleans folks spend their entire lifes. Well as drunk and high as their welfare check and begging for handouts allows them to be.
He better post as much as possible b4 the season starts because the taint’s will be out of post season contention quickly. Every time another saints cheater files another complaint that’s another couple of missed late hits against the taint’s officials will ignore. Poor little drew won’t get his long term deal because he won’t make it through the season and the taint’s front office knows it.
One super bowl win that was gifted to the taint’s out of pity and no one outside of that cesspool of crackheads and beggars will ever take that win seriously. LOL LOL LOL
SeenThisB4
July 7th, 2012
5:20 pm
Like I said, just plain dumb.
Trailboss
July 8th, 2012
11:46 am
I was in the middle of a Disaster assistance deployment doing the draft I had a bet that the Falcons with The Spoon to my surprise when I got back to camp and got on a computer and the Falcons had drafted The Spoon so, to answer your question. I see him not only making the Pro Blow but leading it in tackles after leading the Falcons to a Super-Blow win. GO BIRDS.
Samuel
July 8th, 2012
12:15 pm
Not so fast……..
CaliDirtyBird
July 8th, 2012
12:46 pm
Glad to see someone else riding STB4 about Brees acting like Bill Clinton! “Well, that depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is….”. Yes, they would like it to be called “pay for performance” because it is the LESSER sin! It sounds about like my six your old. He starts admitting he did something once. He realizes I know he did it but then it turns into “Yes, Dad, I did it BUT it was an accident!”
This continued fight by Saints players has as much to do with the players union trying to wrest control from the commissioner as it does with anything specific to the Saints OR player safety.
If the Saints players are innocent then why aren’t these same players suing Pamplion (sp?) for his “Scorched Earth” (as Pat Yasinski called it)?! They are suing everyone else about everything else…
It is typical deny and blame tactics to obfuscate the truth. The reason Goodell won’t release more proof is because he doesn’t have to! The players want him to so it can be used against the league in their lawsuits by former players over player safety.
Both sides know the guilt of the Saints, that isn’t really why it is still being talked about by players or the NFL, at least. There are obviously plenty of misguided fans and media members. Or do many in the media understand the real issues at play and are just stirring the pot because they know they can?
Either way Drew Brees looks more and more like an idiot to the discerning mind.
BTW- I’m sure STB4 will no doubt have a I’ll constructed response but unlike him I don’t have all day to debate something that really shouldn’t be a debate anymore.
SeenThisB4
July 8th, 2012
2:04 pm
@Calidirtbird: You don’t have all day? Or is it that you have no valid arguments?
Why should the Saints players sue Pampion? Simple, cause he didn’t release anything that implicates any of the players. End of story. Besides, Pamplion didn’t susped anybody.
The reason Goodell won’t release more proof is cause he doesn’t have to? Or is it cause he has none? I’m inclined to believe that when the media and the public are questioning the reasonableness of an investigation, that the accuser would provide the proof they say they have. Instead of hiding behind some flimsy pretext of confidentiality.
Of course, there are always those gullible fans that will believe anything, as long as it gives their own weak teams a competitive advantage.
And yeah, the whole issue is still up for debate, and much to your chagrin, still has a long way to go before it is put to bed.
This Gets Old
July 8th, 2012
4:55 pm
Don’t you guys see how this idiot troll turns the Falcon blog partially into a Saints blog? Ignore the troll and he’ll go away.
Sean Payton Used Cars
July 8th, 2012
5:11 pm
Enter your comments here
JSS
July 8th, 2012
5:31 pm
“Ignore?” Easy to see who didn’t read the thread…
Michael M.
July 8th, 2012
6:13 pm
After a lovely vacation, it is nice to be back home.
I wouldn’t worry too much about the Aints football team this upcoming season because they are having all kinds of worries and distractions from the suspended coach and his divorce and bountygate conspiracy and who knows what else will come out on the table before the Preseason even gets started…….I laughed so much I hurt from all their nonsense.
Back to being serious I am looking forward to seeing what the new coordinators will put out on the football field this season . I honestly believe we all will see what we wanted to see a few years back this Season. I saw something that mentioned Atlanta would be last year’s 49 ers, but I think if that holds true………..that the Atlanta team will be much better because they have a better Quarterback at the controls and he is tough as nails.
Seen this B4, you clown…….go get a job at the Circus !
Wy are the FAILCANTS so jealous of the Saints?
July 8th, 2012
7:13 pm
SeenthisB4 owns you…fact…until your loser football teams wins a playoff game, much less a SB, it is time for every Failcant fan to kiss our ring and stfu….stay classy, loosahs….
Wy are the FAILCANTS so jealous of the Saints?
July 8th, 2012
7:14 pm
Because Saints > no ring Falclowns
SeenThisB4
July 8th, 2012
10:50 pm
@Michal M.: Where did you read that your falcan’ts would be last year’s 49ers? The comic strips perhaps?
Statick
July 9th, 2012
10:10 am
The NFL punishments are big time Karma for the Aints and their lame-@ss, backwood fanbase.
Heck, until Bountygate happened, the only way Aints fans ever understood what karma is was to have the word ‘Hurricane’ come before it.
Delbert D.
July 9th, 2012
10:20 am
I thought the NFL was shutting the Pro Bowl down.
Rick
July 9th, 2012
10:52 am
Directed at “SeenthisB4″ – - – - Dude you have lots of talk for a Saints fan……….the same organization who wont or choose not to pay the best player on the team…………not to mention you now have another troll to help you patrol the Falcons blog………..almost like a due you paid a “Bounty” to help you hurt Falcons fans. LOl. I am speaking of you “Wy are the FAILCANTS so jealous of the Saints?” Wow never got so much pub from Saints fan who declare that you have the best team on earth. LOL.
Megan
July 9th, 2012
10:53 am
JumboBoard Football Scoreboard will make your College Football Blog or NFL Blog Awesome http://bit.ly/NULq2Z
SeenThisB4
July 9th, 2012
11:05 am
Directed at “Rick” — Dude, there are some on this blog that don’t want to make this a Saints blog. So, stay on topic and try to keep your comments falcan’t-centric. Like for instance: Why weatherspoon is only a marginal OLB that consistently gets victimized by opposing young NFCS TEs.
St Simons - we're on Island time
July 9th, 2012
11:44 am
Spoon is faster than I thought when they drafted him.. With experience,
he can add quickness to the speed, (there’s a difference). And he’s a
better hitter & tackler than I thought when he came out of that
soft cow-pasture league. Yep, he’s baaad now.
Rick
July 9th, 2012
11:50 am
Yet you comment on nothing but Saints………..catch up or pipe down cha cha!!!!! Deal with it Spoon is the man and once again he will feed the NFC with his play this year…………directed . at “SeenThisB4″
Michael M.
July 9th, 2012
12:01 pm
D-led, Does Seenb4 get paid a check by you to come on here and rag out our Town, State, Falcons, Bulldogs,etc.etc???? It seems to me he is extremely jealous of what we have here.
In answer to your question b4, ” Where did you read that your falcan’ts would be last year’s 49ers? The comic strips perhaps? “………………I saw it on one of the Sports stations on television at a really fine dining establishment in Tennessee the 4th of July week.
You know, I honestly think you are worried and scared that our Atlanta Falcons are going to the top of the Mountain and and going to hang out up there for quite awhile. Hiring Nolan on defense is huge and was the wildcard they needed on defense and trust me, he will keep a lot of other team’s Quarterbacks sitting on the sidelines throughout the games this year.
We may not have all the best players in the league but sometimes you don’t need to have all the best to be the best. I don’t know what our Falcons will do this year but it will certainly be better than what we had last year points per game. We do have a talented football team out here. With the right direction now and a little luck, I see no reason why they can’t win against the Big Guns in the league. We shall soon find out !
Oh yes, since I am retired and this heat affects us old folks why don’t you be nice and come on over to my place and do all this yard work I need done. I will pay you well and you will have some money to buy tickets to watch your Saints get clobbered by the Falcons this year ! ! Ha ! ha ! ha ! Ha !
SeenThisB4
July 9th, 2012
12:03 pm
Directed at “Rick”. You are incorrect, I respond to falcan’t fans that bring up the Saints. The only thing spoon is going to feed anybody, is his nonstop chattering on the field, but he’s going to get beat like a drum, especially by young TEs that were drafted the same year he was drafted.
SeenThisB4
July 9th, 2012
12:12 pm
Mike Nolan, previous defensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins, and prior to that, the Denver Broncos….not exactly blood chilling, is it?!
Like I previously said, keep these names in mind: Joe Vitt, and Pete Carmichael. They will hold prominient spots on your list for your head coach search after the season is done.
Rick
July 9th, 2012
12:13 pm
Directed at “Seen”……………..we have better LB here in Atlanta, dont forget you guys picked up our wash down linebacker we put on the street….hahahah. “Aint” fan……….Go do the right thing and sign Drew or shut up! LOL. You guys cant even get that correct.
SeenThisB4
July 9th, 2012
12:33 pm
Directed at “Rick”………trust me, signing Lofton was a bitter pill for me to swallow, he still stinks of that filty falcan’t stench, but he convinced the powers around here that he wanted to play for a real winner, and in front of real fans. They felt pity for him and threw him a bone, what can I say?! It’s not like it was Morton Anderson, or Bobby Hebert, or Joe Horn, or Grady Jackson, or any other of dozens of Saints cast offs that you all have picked up over the years.
Michael M.
July 9th, 2012
12:36 pm
@ b4………..the two teams you mentioned above , Broncos and Dolphins, didn’t quite have the talent on offense or defense that Atlanta has either and you know that so quit grasping at straws and get your facts straight . You just throw anything on your posting to try to intimidate the superior fans in Georgia and really just try to be an annoying pest !
Rick
July 9th, 2012
12:46 pm
Like you said Seen stick to the facts at hand. We are mot focused on years past like you leep doing we talking about this year cha cha!
SeenThisB4
July 9th, 2012
1:12 pm
@ M……”the talent on offense or defense that Atlanta has”….that so?! That’s what you’re hanging your hat on?! SMH. Still believing that it was just all the coordinators fault, huh?! LOL! Good, keep believing that
Rick
July 9th, 2012
2:30 pm
And you have talenr on the defense in New Orleans…….really?
Rick
July 9th, 2012
2:31 pm
Wait San Fran just scored again on that Aints Defense!
SeenThisB4
July 9th, 2012
3:00 pm
And look, Drew Brees just broke the passing record on the falcan’ts again!