News and Views: Problems with Blank’s wallet, Selig’s brain
When I hear, "News!" I feel nostalgic.
Welcome back for another edition of News and Views. This week, we ask the question: What do the World Series chances of potential National League pennant winners Philadelphia, Los Angeles and St. Louis have to do with San Diego pitcher Heath Bell? Ask Bud Selig.
But first: What’s up in Flowery Branch?
♦ News: Arthur Blank sells shares in the Falcons to four minority owners.
♦ Why should you care: Because it reaffirms that even your favorite self-made billionaire owner is having some issues.
♦ Views: There’s no reason to disbelieve Blank when he says he remains committed to the Falcons and has no interest in selling the team or even a controlling interest in the franchise. But the economic problems in pro sports are real, even if they exist on a different level in the NFL. Owners’ fortunes have been dented by the stock market and revenue streams have dried up because of decline in the retail industry, gas prices and Joe and Fred losing jobs. Blank also has dug into his own pocket for years, improving the area around the Georgia Dome and upgrading the Dome
This is a smart man.
itself. I’m not asking you to hold a canned food drive for the man, but he needs money. He needs liquid. Somebody else’s liquid. There have been layoffs and budget cutbacks within the Falcons’ organization just like everywhere else. The Arena League (where he owned/owns the Georgia Force) is all but officially belly up. He withdrew his bid for a Major League Soccer franchise. What Blank feels he really needs — and certainly wants — is a new stadium with built-in revenue that he can’t get at the Dome (which he doesn’t own). As our Darryl Ledbetter reported, Forbes magazine valued the Falcons’ franchise at $872 million, which ranks 29th out of 32 teams. If Home Depot ranked 29th out of 32 hardware stores, Blank wouldn’t be here.
♦ News: American League 4, National League 3.
This is not a smart man
♦ Why should you care: You shouldn’t. The problem is …
♦ Views: Because of arguably the dumbest rule in professional sports — no, not arguably; it IS the dumbest rule in professional sports — the result of an exhibition game again determines home-field advantage in the World Series. Here’s something for the Dodgers to think about if they go on to finish with the best record in baseball. Should L.A. face Boston in the World Series, the Red Sox would have home-field advantage because a Baltimore outfielder (Adam Jones) hit a sacrifice fly to score a Detroit outfielder (Curtis Granderson) off of a San Diego reliever (Heath Bell). Once again, with feeling: All-Star Games are not meant to be taken seriously. They are exhibitions. They are not staged or framed or managed or played like real games because if they were you wouldn’t have the starting pitcher go two innings and the two teams using 36 different batters for a nine-inning game. To try to artificially create some drama by saying the winning league will have home-field in the Series doesn’t add anything — other than mocking. And so, I mock.
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89 comments Add your comment
Terrence Moore
July 15th, 2009
11:05 am
The white man is behind the All Star Game issue.
FALCONS SORRY
July 15th, 2009
11:09 am
AUTHUR BLANK! HA! HA! YOU DESERVE TO LOSE EVERY CENT YOU EVER MADE FOR THE WAY YOU BETRAY MIKE VICK YOU SORRY DEVIL! VICK NEEDED YOU AND LOVED YOU JUDAS BUT YOU JUST ACT LIKE YOU NEVER KNEW HIM AND THEN BETRAY HIM! HE WAS YOUR TICKET TO THE LOMBARD TROPHY BUT YOU JUST THREW HIM AWAY FOR YOUR IVORY MATTY HOPELESS! WE ALL GET WHAT IS COMING TO US FOR OUR SINS AND YOU ARE GETTING YOURS NOW BLANK! YOU NEED TO GO BROKE FOR ALL THE EVIL YOU HAVE DONE! THAT IS WHAT YOU GET FOR USING PEOPLE! ONE DAY YOU OUGHT TO BE HAVING TO BEG VICK TO HIRE YOU FOR WORK! BLANK THE DEVIL IS NOW GETTING HIS DUE BY LOSING ALL HE HAVE! HA! PAYBACK TIME DEVIL!
Sherry Taylor
July 15th, 2009
11:22 am
Arthur Blank seems like a man who knows when to cut his loses, which he did with some players, but he isn’t the first owner to sell minority shares. More power to him. He’s the type of owner the Thrashers need, one who cares and will put his money where his mouth is.
GN
July 15th, 2009
11:24 am
“He news liquid” WHAT??!?
Terrible Truth
July 15th, 2009
11:26 am
The closest Michael Vick will ever get to the Lombardi Trophy is sweeping the floor beside the trophy case that contains one. It’s a shame he never met Sahel Kazemi.
Marcus
July 15th, 2009
11:27 am
The *real* Terrence Moore wouldn’t blame da ‘man. Somehow it would be either the fault of the ATL fans, the downtrodden history of the ATL franchises or owners, with partial blame to MV#7.
Ted Striker
July 15th, 2009
11:27 am
I spy graffiti at 11:09.
Jeff Schultz
July 15th, 2009
11:29 am
Thank you for checking in Terence.
OMG. Please please PLEASE tell me this isn’t going to turn into a MV venting, because I will shut this thing down so fast your head will spin. DON’T MAKE ME pull this blog over, young man.
SHERRY –Agreed. If Arthur ever sets his eyes on another franchise, though, it’ll be the Braves, not the Thrashers. Maybe he’s got a friend?
some sense
July 15th, 2009
11:51 am
Jeff,
Is it really worth all your fine effort to give that idiot a forum???
Jeremy H
July 15th, 2009
11:55 am
FALCONS SORRY: you’ve got to be kidding me. I don’t even know where to start here… Vick was convicted of a horrendous crime, for which Blank wanted NO part of – and rightly so. Where does this make him evil, or worthy of being called “the devil”?
Sorry man, but you’ve lost your mind. With that said, Schultz didn’t say Blank was going broke, he simply inferred that – along with all others in this economy – Blank was in need of some extra liquid to keep things running smoothly.
midnite
July 15th, 2009
11:58 am
I sure wish I could find someone to betray me to the tune of $140,000,000.00, or even the meager $37,000,000.00 guaranteed portion.
Bernie?
July 15th, 2009
12:02 pm
Maybe as Mr Marcus’ fish die off at the Ga Aquarium, he could sell their carcasses to science/Chicken of the Sea and raise money to buy the Thrashers, who are also dying off.
LFP6
July 15th, 2009
12:04 pm
Ah, how nice….the man who speaks of Vick winning the Supper Bowl.
And the ‘Lombard’ Trophy? The Lombards didnt have a trophy; they DID have a crown, but I doubt you have even Bud Selig’s brain cells to figure that out -_-.
Back ON topic:
A. Mr. Blank is, for the most part, a shrewd man. To add other sources of cash is a good thing, especially in these hard times.
B. Selig needs to go….I don’t care where, just GO! And the sooner, the better.
panhandle buzz
July 15th, 2009
12:06 pm
Jeff, hello, hello, remember Bud is a used car salesman at heart. He is used to putting lipstick on a pig and selling it as a real beaut.
athensdawg
July 15th, 2009
12:10 pm
it’s too bad the economy stinks b/c i am hoping that mr blank will become the modern day version of ted turner – except he will own the falcons, too. All of our sports franchises could benifit from his leadership – and at the end of the day, my bet is that they would put a better product on the field.
as for bud selig….he lost my respect when they went to the divisional/wildcard format. why baseball couldn’t keep the two divisions and simply have the first half winners play the second half winners, I don’t know. that would have made the season exciting, created two pennant races, etc, etc.
all our sports now (save the NFL…but that’s gonna change) let far too many teams in the playoffs. It’s like we need to just cancel the season and have the season be a playoff. Why don’t the NHL and NBA just adopt a round robin world cup format and be done with it?
Ken Stallings
July 15th, 2009
12:28 pm
Bud Selig’s legacy holds this decision like a death grip, and it’s going to tarnish him for generations. Selig panicked because of the tie game, and vice a rational solution, fixed upon this radical concept.
You left one other point out of your article to strengthen your claim. The LaRussa ordered the intentional walk of Victor Martinez. It was his only at bat in the game and one must conclude outrage on the part of Indians fans who wanted to see their player perform in the EXHIBITION game!
On a personal note, Brian McCann is the best offensive catcher in the NL and he got precisely one AB, due in part to the need to keep the bench intact late in the game. That’s another result of Selig’s panic. The other part was the unfairness of the fan vote. At least Selig broadened the selection process.
C. Tampa Ironworse
July 15th, 2009
12:33 pm
I really don’t get the Bud bashing. The wildcard has been great for Baseball and as far as the All Star game/home field…alternating every other year was just as dumb. The wildcard allows San Fran to have a chance to win (the might just be the second best team in the NL) even though they’re in the same division as LA. As far as Roids goes nd Bud being to blame…can we PLEASE move on. Manny gets suspended and all heck breaks loose. I think we can safely say 10 NFL players will violate the Substance Policy in the next 60 days and jack will be said about it.
PS: Yea…no Mike Vick talk or Obama talk. Please…
C. Tampa Ironworse
July 15th, 2009
12:35 pm
MY bowtie is MUCH better than D. Orlando Ledbetter’s…
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 15th, 2009
12:47 pm
The World Series should be determined by inter-league play and not based on some stupid manager that shows favortism to his team or ballot box stuffing, misinformed fan voting. How the heck does McCann get shafted every year on playing time. Next year he might get in the game by the 6th inning.
jimmy
July 15th, 2009
12:51 pm
terrance back from his self imposed exile.i knew it wouldn’t last
AGTFan
July 15th, 2009
1:01 pm
The headline makes the assumption that Selig actually has a brain. I’ve seen no evidence to believe that assumption. Yes, home field advantage based on an all-star game is the supidest rule in all of sports.
Najeh Davenpoop
July 15th, 2009
1:25 pm
“C. Tampa Ironworse” is one of the best commenting names I’ve seen on any AJC blog. Props.
Herschel Talker
July 15th, 2009
1:27 pm
Schultzie – we love you. Nice interview on 790 yesterday. Too bad Terence Moore can’t spell his own name correctly.
FALCONS SORRY is a racist. And he likes men.
Don't Feel Sorry for Arthur
July 15th, 2009
1:59 pm
My take on Mr. Blank’s sale was simply a move to diversify his portfolio. If the team is really worth almost $900 million, I would not mind pulling 5% off the table to have a little folding money in my pocket. I think he sold at the top of the market as these teams can’t keep going up in value, particularly in this economy as more and more fans are happy to enjoy games in the comfort of their own homes on HD flat screen TV’s. He still owns over 90% of the team. Don’t feel bad for Mr. Blank, admire his financial acumen and the direction the Falcons are heading.
Jeff, I enjoy your work and I hope you are busy preparing material for the upcoming Weekend Predictions.
Sun Tzu 7
July 15th, 2009
2:09 pm
Jeff,
I loved the captions. “This is a smart man.” “This is not a smart man.”
Great stuff.
Hopefully God will do us all a favor and not allow ‘FALCONS SORRY’ to reproduce.
Michael
July 15th, 2009
2:15 pm
FALCONS SORRY: you are obvisouly stuck on the fact that mike vick was a victom and he is being persicuted more stern because of his color. the fact is MIKE VICK IS A MORON, and that is why ANOTHER MORON defends him still to this day. Oh yeah where is that 7 Million vick owes Blank. Arthur Blank has turned around a dieing franchise, even in the middle of a fedral case against his franchise player.We should thank Arthur and shun Mike Vick. All these issues that have surrounded the franchise are slowing gowing away and I cant wait for #2 Matty Ice to throw that falcons jersey on and Spit in the faces of all the VICK Fans.
MiltonDawg
July 15th, 2009
2:18 pm
I would pay Blank money to have Selig covered in honey-soaked dollar bills and fed to MV7’s dogs. Then everyone will be happy.
jeffrey d
July 15th, 2009
2:24 pm
Jeff – those pictures and captions are so simple, yet hilarious.
I’m not as opposed to making the All Star Game count as I am to fan voting and the “every team must have a player” rule. I mean for goodness sake….Mark Redman was an All Star!!
Ryno
July 15th, 2009
2:30 pm
Pretty sure my seats were right behind “FALCONS SORRY” all last season. The best part was when Matty Touchdown led the Birds to the comeback over the Bears. When Elam’s kick went through the uprights – you would have needed a bulldozer to pick his jaw off the floor.
I’m sure it was a long walk home for him. If only he would have won that Lombard trophy THE DEVIL
C. Tampa Ironworse
July 15th, 2009
2:58 pm
Thanks Poop…
David C
July 15th, 2009
3:06 pm
Blank has doubled his investment in the Falcons. Hard to feel sorry for him. Former GM plant at 85/285 would be a great spot for his stadium. Jerry Jones will be pulling in dollars for 30 years for non-Cowboy events at his stadium. Plus Falcons Sorry can take marta to doraville.
matty
July 15th, 2009
3:19 pm
Falcons story… wow comparing vick to jesus. im pretty sure thats blaphemy.
So what did you expect to see...
July 15th, 2009
3:31 pm
…when looking inside a “Blank” wallet?
A Realist
July 15th, 2009
3:43 pm
Some people are just simply stuck on stupid. NEWSFLASH: Vick is gone….as in gone forever. SO….can we please blog about the CURRENT Falcons team, stay on topic or not blog at all.
Back on topic…I am elated that Blank purchased the team from the Smith family. At least the team is now headed in the right direction and it’s fun to attend the games and witness a competitive team on the field, win or lose. Now that Blank has other investors involved, maybe the minority owners’ resources can help Blank start building that new stadium soon.
GO FALCONS!!!!
jake
July 15th, 2009
3:53 pm
Great point about the All-Star Game, Jeff, and you couldn’t have framed it better.
Paul H
July 15th, 2009
4:04 pm
TOTALLY AGREE that the dumbest rule in the history of sports is that the winner of the All-Star game determines home field. Why not make it more arbitrary? I say we use the winner of the Kentucky Derby. If the first letter in the horses name is closer to “N,” then the NL gets it. If the horses name is closer to the letter “A,” then the AL gets. THIS TIME IT COUNTS!
Falcons Ticket Operator
July 15th, 2009
4:31 pm
Operators are still standing by…..blog fans with blog support are nice but only cash or credit cards are acceptable in terms of ticket purchases. Please stop the boycott of the Falcons, 2 tickets/2 jerseys $199!!!!
Hillbilly Deluxe
July 15th, 2009
4:37 pm
If Arthur Blank wants a new stadium, it’s fine with me as long as it’s paid for with private money.
Bud Selig has done something I would’ve believed impossible; he’s made Bowie Kuhn look half-way competent.
As for wild cards in any sport, if you can’t even win your division why should you have a shot at a championship? I thought 4 playoff teams in baseball was enough. That way you had quality teams. The way they are going it’s going to wind up like when the NHL had 21 teams and sent 16 of them to the playoffs.
sidslid
July 15th, 2009
4:47 pm
The wildcard has been a terrible thing. The last great pennat race was Braves-Giants in 93. Maybe the way to fix it is the team that wins the AllStar game gets to reassemble as a Superwildcard and gets an automatic bye to the World Series with the rest of the bracket being decided by double elimination played on the home field of the team with the best uniforms as determined by Oprah.
Interleague play has eliminated the balanced schedule that baseball had over the other sports. There is now an uneven playing field based on your interleague opps. Very shortsighted. Fox gets a 3.5 vs. 2.5 rating for a Saturday Mets-Yankees game in June yet the World Series ratings sink because of three minute commercial breaks and the loss of mystique of two teams playing each other for the only time during a year.
IVORY MATTIE ICE RULES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 15th, 2009
4:52 pm
Falcons sorry you are a racist idiot.Follow Vick and his THUGS to jail,Vick will not play in the NFL this year.Matt Ryan is smart enough to be a ALL PRO QB unlike dunb ass Vick,
GTDhoo
July 15th, 2009
4:59 pm
You can’t argue with the job Blank has done. He’s rebuilt this Atlanta franchise, not once but twice. He did it with Michael Vick and then he did it again with Matt Ryan once Vick was “no longer available.” Talk about rolling with the punches. Blank obviously knows what he’s doing
Now as far as Selig is concerned….the all star game thing was a terrible idea. It was a VAST overreaction to the tie game. But I like the move to the wild card. You can’t argue with that when you look at how many wild card teams have gone on to win it all. I think the NBA should go to the same sort of system. Seriously, they play what, 82 games to eliminate only half the teams? Then the playoffs go on for another two to three months. Completely unnecessary.
Bushwacker
July 15th, 2009
5:24 pm
I said a long time ago letting home field advantage be determined by who wins the all star game is ridiculous because:
95% of the players for both sides in the all star game WILL NOT BE IN THE WORLD SERIES and 75% of that 95 % already know by the all star break their team wwill not even be in the playoffs, so they don’t care who has home field.
Jimmy P.
July 15th, 2009
5:24 pm
Falcons Sorry, Sorry you feel so bad. If you put down the pot and listen to yourself, you would hear how stupid you sound. You sound like a 1960’s white guy, only now it is reversed. Grow up.
Thomas
July 15th, 2009
5:26 pm
Terrence Moore …. get a job … stop blaming everything on white people. Youre worthless.
allnyamouth
July 15th, 2009
5:31 pm
Blank SUCKS!!! Get a real coach, and your problems might be solves, you idiot
allnyamouth
July 15th, 2009
5:35 pm
IVORY MATTIE ICE RULES please explain to me what makes Vick a thug? What does that make hunters who hunt to just mount Game on their walls? Or the cockfighting that goes on in Louisiana, or the UFC!!! For goodness sake!!! Brock Lesnar is on tv knocking guys out on this HUMAN COCKFIGHTING SHOW, and no ones in jail? Or Sarah Palin moose hunting? Why dont you use the term that you want to use instead of thug? And we will see how good, MATTIE is without Michael Turner and Roddy (Butterfingers) White. Until then, continue to divorce your first cousin……..
allnyamouth
July 15th, 2009
5:36 pm
Jeff Schultz, you suck to…
Chris M
July 15th, 2009
5:38 pm
He has gotten plenty of my money since he bought the team. I have six season tickets and they have gone up every year. But he loves the fans though!!!!!!!!!!! LOL
Jimmy P.
July 15th, 2009
5:40 pm
Blank FINALLY got a real coach! This is the best chance the Falcons have ever had to get its first back to back winning seasons, and this is the best chance we will have to get back to the Superbowl and maybe even win it!. We maynot get there this year (very yound Defense) but within a year or two, I will not be surprised to see a V.L. trophy in Atlanta.
Chris M
July 15th, 2009
5:42 pm
And Schultz you have some nerve to say you will “shut this thing down”. We don’t have to blog with you …. so lighten up and remember who pays your salary. And yes I do subscribe to the AJC (for now!) And I just pulled the plug on you….. bye!!!
Bad News
July 15th, 2009
6:09 pm
Blanks didn’t have money woes during 2002 – 2006 seasons. I wonder why……….hmmmmmm
Did it have anything to do with a glorified running back
Art Blank
July 15th, 2009
6:20 pm
Dammit Roger, how was I to know that Matt Ryan would choke in the playoffs. I knew I should have drafted Joe Flacco – I had to listen to that stupid coach Smith and wannabe Bill Parcells, T.D.
I thought if Vick could lead a sorry untalented team to the championship game, surely Matty Ice could at least win one playoff game with all the talent and coaching staff I put around him, and he screwed that up!
How many players do you see from Boston College? Hell, I should have known if it took him 5 years of playing college and not winning the weak A.C.C. championship, how could he win in the big leagues.
Sorry Roger, but did you have to give me such a tough schedule this season? How am I going to sell tickets now?
Stat Checker
July 15th, 2009
6:21 pm
NFL Network listed the “TOP” 10 number 1 overall qb drafts of A L L T I M E and guess who was on the list?
You guessed it……
The Legendary……….
M I K E V I C K
I know yall hate to hear that
It’s funny – didn’t see Matty Ice on that list
Scary Scenarios
July 15th, 2009
6:21 pm
I don’t like the brewing big picture taking place.
First we paid Ryan, an unproven rookie all that money.
Then the lack of ticket sales.
Then there is the proposed NFL lockout for 2011.
Pro bowl wr not getting a new deal (potential holdout).
John Abraham not getting a new deal (potential holdout).
Art Blank selling ownership to scrap for cash.
The big picture does not look good for Falcon football!
hounddog
July 15th, 2009
6:22 pm
The all-star game determining home field advantage has to be the dumbest rule in sports. Why don’t they make the total records between the leagues in spring training the desider. That is no less dumb.
If they have to have something deside the issue the total league records during interleague play makes more sense.
Honey Moon Over
July 15th, 2009
6:22 pm
The Falcon franchise was in such disarray in 2007 & 2008 so Blank called on Roger Goodell to bail him out. Afterall, it’s in Goodell’s best interest to keep the owners happy, since that’s where his bread and butter is.
So Blank hired a new GM & coach and after the commissioner laid the blue prints for the lowly Falcons to look good in the NFL community, buy giving them a very weak (9th easiest) schedule.
They finished the season at 11-5 and America loves a good story. The 2008 Falcons were receiving a whole country of sympathy and praise. So much praise that they really think the Falcons are bigger than reality.
So they billed the GM & coach as genuises for the remarkable turnaround. Sure on paper 2008 looked like a dynasty in the making. Now comes the tangibles.
Honey Moon Over
July 15th, 2009
6:23 pm
2008 was nearly flawless:
No major injuries
No contract disputes
No holdouts
Now it’s time for the great GM & coach to see what coaches like Belichek, Tony Dungee and GM Bill Parcell dealt with, keeping a winning tradition. They had to deal with stars and egos. None of that was existent with the 2007 & 2008 Falcons because there was no talent on the team, which makes one think how the previous qb was able to take the team to the championship game, just 4 seasons earlier.
Now the GM & coach has to deal with the intangibles – lets see how genius they really are.
Falcons Outlook 2009
July 15th, 2009
6:24 pm
Atlanta Falcons (8-8)
Coming off a surprising Wild Card berth, the Falcons will come back to earth a little bit. Matt Ryan and Michael Turner will continue to impress but the defense takes a big step back. The Falcons average 23.0 points per game (#8) and allow 23.3 points (#23) against a schedule featuring five games against 2008 playoff teams.
Absolute Record: 8-8
Most Significant Newcomer: Tony Gonzalez, TE – Gonzalez gives second-year starting quarterback Matt Ryan a big, sure-handed safety valve and redzone target along with play-making wide receiver Roddy White. Ryan shouldn’t have to worry about a sophomore slump with such a veteran presence. Gonzalez is coming off back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons. The Falcons’ focus on the run may not allow for that kind of production in 2009, but that’s not why they got him. Just being on the field should help everyone around Gonzalez and he’ll be most important near the endzone.
Biggest Strength: Rushing Offense – Michael Turner burst onto the NFL scene in his first opportunity to be feature back last year after playing behind LaDainian Tomlinson in San Diego for four years. Turner rushed for 1,600 yards on a very respectable 4.5 yards-per-carry. Backup Jerious Norwood may be even more explosive with the ball. In three seasons, he has averaged 5.8 yards-per-carry on 6.6 carries-per-game. Atlanta will still rely on the run in 2009. The Falcons may need to diversify the workload a little bit more than in 2008 to protect Turner. If most of those carries go to Norwood, that may actually help the team. In the projections, Atlanta runs for 2,501 yards on 561 carries.
Most Exploitable Weakness: Defense – Atlanta overachieved to go 11-5 in 2008. Despite ranking among the bottom half of the league in almost every relevant defensive statistical category, the team finished 11th in fewest points allowed per game. The team played smart and had good special teams, but the Falcons were also “lucky” to do as well as they did. The defense is still an issue and lost two of its starting linebackers, Michael Boley and Keith Brooking, in free agency without bringing in much to replace them.
Possible Fantasy Sleeper: Jerious Norwood, RB – After Michael Turner’s 376 carries in 2008, the Falcons will likely be a little more protective of him in 2009. Norwood is a great runner and a significantly better receiver – Turner’s lack of pass-catching abilities keeps him from being a fantasy top five running back – so Norwood’s touches should go up. The projections give Norwood 917 total yards and eight touchdowns on just over ten touches a game.
Closest Game: @Dallas Cowboys (Week 7) – This is the beginning of a brutal stretch where Atlanta will play four of five games away from the Georgia Dome against five teams who are all greater than .500 in our projections. The Falcons will want to start this run on the right foot and what a better way to do it than to win in Dallas’ new billion dollar stadium?
Fantasy Notables: Matt Ryan (10) 2978 yards, 21 TDs, 11 INTs; Michael Turner (7) 1599 total yards, 12 TDs; Jerious Norwood (30) 917 total yards, 8 TDs; Roddy White (9) 75 receptions, 1,127 yards, 8 TDs; Michael Jenkins (53) 34 receptions, 541 yards, 4 TDs; Tony Gonzalez (2) 70 receptions, 772 yards, 6 TDs; Jason Elam (21) 40/41 XPs, 23/26 FGs
Saints Outlook 2009
July 15th, 2009
6:24 pm
New Orleans Saints (9-7)
Two years removed from the NFC title game, the Saints win the competitive NFC South. Drew Brees continues his dominance over the league’s secondaries, leading the top offense in the NFL. The Saints average 25.9 points per game (#1 in the NFL) and allow 23.5 points (#25) against a schedule featuring seven games against 2008 playoff teams.
Absolute Record: 11-5
Most Significant Newcomer: Darren Sharper, S – New Orleans had issues in the secondary in 2008 and set out to address those issues in the off-season. The Saints signed Sharper, fellow safety Pierson Prioleau and cornerback Jabari Greer and used their first round draft choice on Malcolm Jenkins out of Ohio State. Sharper should have the most impact of any of those players. One of the most prolific ballhawks in NFL history, Sharper’s game has fallen off some in the last few seasons in Minnesota. He may no longer have the physical tools of some of the other new Saints, but Sharper is still a quality starting safety whole also brings 12 years of experience – and 54 career interceptions – to the young secondary.
Biggest Strength: Offense – Head coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees are perfectly in sync coordinating the most explosive offense in the league. This isn’t just a great passing team. With Pierre Thomas assuming the feature back role, New Orleans is brimming with weapons through the air and on the ground. The more balanced offensive attack again leads the league in scoring.
Most Exploitable Weakness: Defense – The improvement of the defense leads the Saints to playoffs, but it’s still their most glaring weakness. Losing starting defensive ends Will Smith to Charles Grant to suspension to start the season won’t help. Luckily for the Saints, they don’t play a divisional opponent until Week Eight. By then, they should have had time to find the right mix of contributors and get the new players up to speed.
Possible Fantasy Sleeper: Pierre Thomas, RB – With Deuce McAllister’s release, Thomas moves into the spotlight as the Saints’ feature back. Reggie Bush will still have a role on this team – and is still productive enough to rank in our top 20 fantasy running backs – but Thomas is the better pick. He’ll get the bulk of the carries and also has the ability to be an effective receiver out of the backfield. The projections rank Thomas as the 12th best fantasy running back with 1,328 total yards and 13 touchdowns on 253 touches.
Closest Game: New York Jets (Week 4) – This is the final game of the defensive suspensions and the opening game of a stretch of five games that includes four against 2008 playoff teams and four games at home. The matchup with the Jets likely features a rookie starting QB who will be in his first month. This could be a great opportunity for the weak secondary to come together.
Fantasy Notables (fantasy rank at position in parentheses): Drew Brees (1) 4,183 yards, 30 TDs, 14 INTs; Pierre Thomas (12) 1,328 total yards, 13 TDs; Reggie Bush (19) 1339 total yards, 10 TDs; Marques Colston (20) 66 receptions, 969 yards, 6 TDs; Lance Moore (25) 76 receptions, 866 yards, 6 TDS; Devery Henderson (50) 22 receptions, 483 yards, 5 TDs; Jeremy Shockey (25) 35 receptions, 359 yards, 2 TDs; Billy Miller (27) 21 receptions, 285 yards, 2 TDs; Garrett Hartley (3) 46/46 XPS, 26/30 FGs
Dedicated40Years
July 15th, 2009
7:29 pm
Please leave MIKE VICK OUT of these senseless comments. It has been proven through research that when the economy is bad, all kinds of HATE cOmes into play. To suggest that MIKE VICK be compared to the senseless death of Mc Nair, we have a sick two legged animal running lose in our society and needs some professional help with his anger. Mick is not the monster you want to constantly protray. LEAVE HIM ALONE AND STICK TO THE TOPIC OF CONCERN.
Saints Ticket Operator
July 15th, 2009
7:45 pm
“Scottbravesfan” – New Orleans has one of the highest unemployment in the country and guess what – they have once again sold out their dome again for the 2009 season.
Any more excuses?
Drew Brees
July 15th, 2009
7:47 pm
Hey Matty Ice – my fans appreciate me. Another sold out season.
Joe Flacco
July 15th, 2009
7:50 pm
Matt want to borrow some of my ticket holders? We are already sold out.
Dedicated40Years
July 15th, 2009
7:57 pm
SCOTTBRAVESFAN
I do not know your age or where you are getting your facts. Blacks have always supported the FALCONS We are the only team dome that has been a sellout with black fans. Where was the great white hope fans? In 1992, we purchased season tickets with only 12,000 fans in the dome. It was an investment because we lived MA and traveled here to visit our family. When MIKE was selected, he made more money for the white city of ALANTA. HE FILLED THE DOME, HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, AND AIRPLANES more than any sports team in the city. ATLANTA was considered a black city during the civil rights movement. Once others saw that Atlanta was the promise land for greed, the blacks were forced out of the city. Look at the city now with all of its forclosures. Are they black or white investors? I do not feel SORRY for Blank because Blank let his pride get the way of helping to help VICK bring the Falcons FANS from all the country back to fill up the dome. I had 5 tickets and now I own 3. If this economy keeps going down, it maybe 0. Young man please do your homework before making senseless comments.
Jeff Schultz
July 15th, 2009
8:04 pm
Herschel Talker: Thanks on the radio plug.
Don’t Feel Sorry: Thanks. If you’ve got any extra 1-liners I can use them.
Sun: Sometimes I have more fun with captions than blogs/columns.
JeffD: see above.
Jeff Schultz
July 15th, 2009
8:09 pm
Jake – Thanks.
Chris M — You don’t pay my salary. And I’ve shut down blogs before when it devolved into race-bating vents, so that’s no out of the ordinary. That’s not what open commenting is supposed to be about. Sorry if you can’t deal with that.
JSS_62
July 15th, 2009
8:59 pm
Ha ha ha ha!!! I told you that the truth would come out on Blank and the state of the finances of the ABF!!! ROTFLMAO!!! This is too rich… By the way Michael, the settlement agreement between the Flacons and Michael Vick is in the unsecured debts section of the Bankruptcy proposal… You clowns should be praying that he gets back on a field in NFL or the UFL and is a success… This is delicious!!! Life’s rich ironies!!!
bigjohnbirdsfan
July 15th, 2009
10:19 pm
Saints win the NFC South?! Fat chance!!
GO BIRDS GO!!!!
Large in the Pants
July 15th, 2009
10:22 pm
Wow, the Saints sold out some games? Congratulations!
Call back when New Orleans has NHL and MLB franchises, you know, like a REAL CITY!!!
Large in the Pants
July 15th, 2009
10:27 pm
Wow, the Saints had some sellouts? Congratulations!!
Call back when you have NHL and MLB franchises to compete for the sports dollar, you know, like in REAL CITIES!!!
And does Baltimore have NHL and NBA franchises? No?
Congratulations on selling out one of your TWO professional sports franchises!! How’s the Orioles’ attendance these days?
Suckers.
it's me again
July 15th, 2009
10:48 pm
Who farted?
Vick Supporter
July 15th, 2009
11:35 pm
You people just can’t get over Vick can you, lmao. You people know what’s about to happen when he gets on that field……….not lookin so good for ole’ “ICE”….lol. That schedule is lookin pretty tough…
Vick 09
JSS
July 16th, 2009
12:01 am
Can’t resist…
Remember “Freddie’s Dead?”
1-2-3-4
Arthur’s Broke!!! It ain’t no joke!!!
Home Depot’ stock has gone in the tank now… Who’s that Dick Dastardly looking man, panhandling for brisket and some pan (that’s bread in Spanish)
Cause…
Arthurs Broke!!! It ain’t joke!!!
Art Blank
July 16th, 2009
12:02 am
Mike please come back! I’m sorry, I didn’t know Matty Ice would stink up the place. I can’t make a profit without you. I don’t want to file a chapter 11. I am so sorry – pleaseeeeee come back
Roger Goodell
July 16th, 2009
12:06 am
I have to sadly announce the Falcons are formly the property Fort Lauderdale. Arthur Blank has sold all rights to the banking partners of South Beach.
This is based mostly in part due to lack of fan support during the 2007 and 2008 seasons. The “new face” marketing campagne was a major failure.
Roddy White
July 16th, 2009
12:16 am
Art where is my money man – you don’t want me to get butter fingers this year do you?
If it wasn’t for me, that 5th year college player would have sucked!
John Abraham
July 16th, 2009
12:19 am
Vick is gone, Art is broke. I am getting the hell out of here.
Mike Vick
July 16th, 2009
12:42 am
I told you fools I would be back. Prison can’t keep a real man down. Yall was talking trash about how I was just a glorified running back, but look who needs who now.
The dome hasn’t been sold out since I left. Art is broke. Roddy and Abraham are getting shafted, but they want to pay that college wannabe pro quarterback all that money and he can’t even win a playoff game.
I built this town – the dome is my house! I sold out every game that I started. I was the highest paid player in the history of the NFL! Now old Artie turned his back on me, but now he wish he had Mike back, but he betrayed me and took advange of my revenue to the team and city.
Now if he wants me back, it’s gonna cost him big time!
Bad News
July 16th, 2009
1:27 am
Apparently this topic of Art Blanks selling part of the team, goes even deeper. It was reported by “The NFL Network” that Art Blank has paid a visit ot Mike Vick’s Virginia home.
http://isupport7.l.makeforum.org/2009/06/15/arthur-blank/page1/
If I was Matty Ice, I would be very nervous. Looks like Art is getting cold feet about his decision to release Vick.
tru fan
July 16th, 2009
1:30 am
Some of you people are idiots(you know who you are).
GO BIRDS
JSS
July 16th, 2009
5:08 am
Whoa!!! Completely off the race baiting subject; but did the alarms and the sirens not go off in the AJC or in fans minds when D. Ledbetter included the names of the new investors involved in the minority owners that Blank brought in? Low and behold one Derek Smith of ChoicePoint!!! The same company that put hundreds of thousands credit and personal information at risk in 2005 with a giant security breach… Wow!!!
Joebrave
July 16th, 2009
8:17 am
This is why I can’t do your Blogs Schultz, Instead of even mentioning Vick’s name why don’t you find a fresh new approach to things….All you are doing is laying a race baiting trap sir….
As for the Negroid sector her I wish you would all just go to hell!!!
bigjohnbirdsfan
July 16th, 2009
9:38 am
Can we have a football discussion IN ATLANTA without mentioning FORMER PLAYERS?!
Trust me, sometimes ALL CAPS is necessary!!
VICK SUPPORTER 2
July 16th, 2009
10:49 am
MATTY ICE WON AN ESPY FOR BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE!!
UMM……….I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY.
OTHER THAN HE BEAT OUT #1 OVERALL DRAFT PICK DEREK ROSE.
MATTY ICE IS A #1 OVERALL DRAFT PICK KILLA!!
GOTech610
July 16th, 2009
10:56 am
Art Blank will be fine. This is purely an economic strategy to help achieve economies of scale in the long term by doing what is necessary in the short term, in this case liquidity. From an accounting stand point over the next five or so years the Falcon’s franchise will look better as a going concern. It’s happening to most small businesses in the country as we speak. Blank is just fortunate enough to have majority interest in a partnership, which is something that small businesses don’t have right now. This is a great economic environment for ownership of property or interests therein. Instead of having liability for all losses, as in a sole proprietorship, Blank has a means of getting some liquidity without even giving up more than 10%. That’s a great stance considering the state of the economy.
Good move Arthur. I do admire your business model, and you continue to make sound business decisions! It just goes to show you, when this economy turns around everyone needs to have a majority interest in some property. Even if you own extra property and the housing market falls and you don’t want to sell, you can easily rent the property for the extra money.
I can see that a lot of you aren’t taking Mr. Blank’s decision to be merely a financially sound adaptation to the economy. It could be that or that most of you lack any ability to make any business decisions. Art does not need any one player to make him money, Arthur Blank has been made from nothing to something and he was something way before he ever met any one person. Read his biography and I think you’ll agree.
JSS
July 16th, 2009
5:39 pm
Yeah, like that great choice in CEO’s that he made as he exited Home Depot… Blank reputation took the hit it deserved… Now you need to go and look at the stock and earning performance for the 2 years proceeding his being forced from the active Board of Directors to the great Home Depot purge of 2007… He set up that company to go into the tank… Blank was a corporate hustler, Marcus was the rudder that kept it out of rough seas…
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