News and Views: Williams just another busted Hokie
Here's Jimmy Williams when he wasn't on drugs, as far as we know.
Welcome back for another edition of News and Views. Today, we asked the question: Who will be the next Falcons’ scout to dare step foot in Blacksburg, Va.?
♦ News: Colossal draft bust Jimmy Williams is suspended for a year by the NFL for using some kind of drug.
♦ Why should you care: Because Williams now resides in Falcons’ lore as one of their great day-one draft disasters, along with (you might want to cover your eyes for this): Aundray Bruce, Marcus Cotton, Steve Broussard, Mike Pritchard, Bruce Pickens, Tony Smith, Devin Bush, Nathan Davis, Michael Booker, Reggie Kelly, Bryan Scott … OK, that’s all I can do without falling over. But there is good news. The Falcons will never draft another Hokie! (we can only hope)
♦ Views: It’s scary to think about it, but at one time in 2006 the Falcons had five Virginia Tech players on their roster: Williams, Michael Vick, cornerback DeAngelo Hall, guard Matt Lehr and quarterback Bryan Randall. As it turns out, Randall — who’s now playing in the Canadian Football League — might go through his career with the least amount of baggage. Williams was the “Flounder” of the secondary: fat, lazy and stupid. He was released by a bad Falcons team, then signed and released by a bad 49ers team. To think: The Falcons (who had traded their 2006 first round pick) actually were thrilled to get Williams with the fifth pick of the second round. Rich McKay and Jim Mora gushed about him. They should have known better. Williams was a projected top-15 pick until his stock plummeted at the combine after bad workouts. The other VaTech alums to pass through Flowery Branch: Vick (from franchise savior to disaster); Hall (overpaid, overrated, selfish, lazy, Jim Mora’s best friend); Lehr (played for five teams in eight seasons, was suspended for steroids when he was a Falcon and last year was linked to a federal steroid investigation in Texas; Randall (just loving life as a Winnipeg Blue Bomber). Thomas Dimitroff can go a long way toward ensuring his longevity if he never looks at another Hokie.
When Kari Lehtonen's healthy, he usually covers the net better.
♦ News: Thrashers sign goalie Kari Lehtonen to a one-year qualifying offer ($3 million) because they couldn’t trade him and they weren’t going to give him a multi-year deal.
♦ Why should you care: Because it means Lehtonen, after being offered to any NHL team team in trade, will end up competing for the starting goalie job. That seems strange. Also, for as much focus as there has been on keeping Ilya Kovalchuk in the fold — and justifiably so – the biggest key to any hockey’s team’s record is goaltending.
♦ Views: Here’s the problem: General manager Don Waddell (with Ondrej Pavelec and Johan Hedberg already under contract) went to the draft prepared to trade Lehtonen. Maybe even wanting to trade Lehtonen. But with Marty Biron, Nikolai Khabibulin and others available in free agency, the trade market for goalies was unusually dry. “I talked to a couple of teams but I realized on draft day that things would pretty much be status quo,” Waddell said. He then added: “Actually, this could be a good issue. We’ll have good competition between three guys competing for jobs.” Not necessarily. Competition is good. But when a team has an unsettled situation at goalie and it doesn’t know who the starter is going to be, that’s not good. There are reasons the Thrashers made Lehtonen available. While he has undeniable talent, he is often injured, is maturing slower than hoped or expected and nobody is ever quite sure where his head is at. But goalies are a strange lot. Sometimes they mature late — very late. Dominik Hasek? He was waived and available in the expansion draft before he turned into the world’s best goalie in Buffalo in his late 20s and early 30s. Lehtonen is 25. The Thrashers are still waiting.
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100 comments Add your comment
Reid Adair
July 16th, 2009
11:40 am
It was a bit disappointing to hear Rich McKay and Jim Mora, Jr., talk about what a “steal” Jimmy Williams was when they got him. They acted as if the rest of the world didn’t know about Williams’ horrible workouts and his plummeting stock.
As it turned out, to no surprise of long-time fans who remember most of the other names Jeff listed, they were wrong – and the rest of the league was right.
Jeff Schultz
July 16th, 2009
11:53 am
Yes, Reid I was there for those quotes. Mora also said something to the effect of “He’ll be our cornerback for a long time Safety is way down the line.” But it was apparent in that first training camp that he couldn’t play corner.
MiltonDawg
July 16th, 2009
12:14 pm
I think the Falcons will do a better “review” now before making these draft picks. Soooo much money wasted on these players, it’s disgusting. Thank Goodness for TD who actually spends time researching these players. And after the Vick saga, maybe more into their personal lives as well.
Great signing for Kari..now just make Kovy a Thrasher for life.
Jeff Schultz
July 16th, 2009
12:27 pm
Getting a ton of folks on Twitter weighing in on their (un)favorite worst Falcons’ pick. But I wanted to add one oversight: Tony Smith. He gets the nod for a lot of folks because he was part of the Brett Favre trade, which, of course, didn’t work out so good.
Ken Stallings
July 16th, 2009
12:28 pm
Good and timely column, Jeff!
Makes one wonder if it’s not time for the Falcons (and every other sports team) to start giving out tests on integrity and thinking that’s the most important thing.
Character matters. A lot! More than talent!
Used to be talent could be measured as if it was more important because it was presumed good character existed equally. Today, character has diminished. We accord athletes special status before they reach teenage years.
We need to start acting like sports isn’t important until a kid reaches 18, then becomes slightly important until he reaches 21. Then it finally becomes important to a degree.
That way, kids play sports because they are fun. College kids play sports to earn a degree. Professionals play sports as a career, when it finally becomes important, but not more important than other professions that actually contribute more to the evolution of mankind.
Yeah, I know, the laughter is loud. But, why is that? It really used to be that way, and people who wrote such words were not laughed at. Used to be that adults didn’t go stupid at kids’ games because they were for kids to have fun. Used to be a college scholarship was considered more an academic pursuit than a sports endeavor.
People who lived before us, who wouldn’t laugh at such a statement, would cry rather than laugh that such a philosophy would be laughable today. I just wonder how bad things must actually get before the laughter stops and we start feeling ashamed of ourselves!
Reid Adair
July 16th, 2009
12:32 pm
Jeff, yeah, it didn’t take long at all for everyone – other than perhaps McKay and Mora, Jr. – to realize Williams was not going to cut it at corner.
Ken Stallings
July 16th, 2009
12:35 pm
And Jeff, I submit that someone making fun of the VT mass murder shooting is a point where a blog post simply should be removed, and if you choose to remove it as I hope you do, please remove this one as it’s served its purpose.
Thanks!
PMC
July 16th, 2009
12:36 pm
meh, he was a second round bust even if they traded up, it’s more disapointing that Deangelo Hall wasn’t more consistant with less of a tude. That was just one of the other miserable moves like ditching Chris Draft for Ed Hartwell who was just horrid.
PMC
July 16th, 2009
12:37 pm
If anything with Williams he has himself to blame for sucking, he had talent and his attitude and lifestyle choices were so poor he’s now smoked himself out of the league. Essentially it’s an enherent problem with a lot of Athletes from Blacksburg.
Hollywould
July 16th, 2009
12:39 pm
Man, those VT players have some problems. I just hope the ones who are there this year
kick Bama’s arse at the dome.
War Eagle
ty44
July 16th, 2009
12:43 pm
Hey, Jeff, OMG, someone else besides ME finally acknowledges the Vick hokie buddy system! I wish u could go back and read my comments about this very thing. I am the one who has been begging the Falcons to draft more SEC players than ACC….My goodness, even our Razorback D End, is better than them hokies……well, maybe…, but, great article Jeff…
Go Falcons, Dawgs, Braves!!!!!!!
Archie
July 16th, 2009
1:04 pm
Is it just me or has Virginia Tech become the new Florida State when it comes to thug football players who waste their talent. Year in and year out, it’s the most overrated college program. Their teams aren’t as good as advertised, and the draft picks they send to the NFL almost always flop in the NFL.
Jeff,
Could the Thrashers really not trade Lehtonen because there were no takers, or were they asking too much and nobody was willing to pay the price? They’ll start the season with 3 goalies now, but when the trade deadline comes and teams start getting ready to overpay for players, Lehtonen will surely go then. Also, surely at least one goalie around the league will get injured and force a team to add depth to the position, so Lehtonen could be gone then. The demand for goalies will go back up, and the Thrashers still have a surplus so Kari will be traded sooner or later.
Dee VT Supporter
July 16th, 2009
1:12 pm
Well, if not Virginia Tech. How about Georgia??? LOL
Greg
July 16th, 2009
1:15 pm
Nice piece, Jeff. Do you think that one of the reasons Blank went with a player evaluation guy to be his GM is his own personal and painful knowledge of this record?
DAN
July 16th, 2009
1:16 pm
Who can forget the “borderline trained assasin” Darrien Connor?
VICK SUPPORTER 2
July 16th, 2009
1:19 pm
http://out-route.gloriousnoise.com/2006/06/further_proof_michael_vick_sucks.php
38-28-1 OVERALL RECORD (NOT BAD)
31-10 VS TEAMS WITH .500 RECORD OR WORSE (NOT BAD AT ALL)
7-18-1 VS TEAMS WITH WINNING RECORD (THAT’S HILARIOUS)
#1 OVERALL DRAFT PICK (SEE JIMMY ABOVE)
BILL
July 16th, 2009
1:24 pm
Wasn’t Gerald Tinker a first rounder back in the Van Brocklin days? Total waste of money.
Fightin Gobbler
July 16th, 2009
1:27 pm
You’re right about never drafting another Hokie… it would have been awful last year to have ended up w/ a rookie wide receiver like Eddie Royal or corner back like Brandon Flowers. I sure hope the Falcons aren’t dumb enough to draft hardnosed defenders like Daryl Tapp or Xavier Adibi either.
What is clear is that you aren’t interested in doing any research into former Hokies that are outstanding on and off the field as that might actually involve some genuine, original thinking on your part. Instead, you can continue to recycle the same old material about the same three guys (Vick, D-Hall, J. Williams) as if they just left Blacksburg yesterday.
lazydawg
July 16th, 2009
1:28 pm
I’ve been saying for about the last seven years to keep away from Virgina Tech players they run the campus there and fell a sence of entitlement in the real world.I believe Coach Beamer is a lot like Coach Donnan meaning he has no control of his players and it is a good thing he’s in th ACC and not the SEC because he would be run out of town at most Universitys in the SEC.
blord
July 16th, 2009
1:35 pm
Help me remember…wasn’t it Williams that at his first day of training camp made and int and did the Deion dance as he ran it back? I remember going to Flowery Branch and thinking that guy is huge for a db. To bad he didn’t have the desire.
Antonio Gramsci
July 16th, 2009
1:35 pm
Aundray Bruce was the Chris Washburn of the Falcons. I also thought drafting a one-eyed left tackle was a strange move, poor ol’ Bob.
jconservative
July 16th, 2009
1:35 pm
It is not the school they went to but the failure of the Rich Mckay system to measure Character. I have heard Mckay say they drafted “high character” guys only to lose them to “low character” acts.
Jeff Schultz
July 16th, 2009
1:37 pm
Ken — nice summation.
Archie — I’m sure other teams would take Lehtonen, they just weren’t offering much. I didn’t ask him but I would think Don wanted a relatively young, top-6 forward in return.
Greg: Absolutely. I remember having a conversation with Blank once and I said something to the effect of, “Go try to find the next Scott Piloi.” It never occurred to me he might mine Pioli’s staff.
Fightin’ Gobbler — Just telling you how it’s worked out for this team. But if you want to parade around in you your VaTech jersey and wave a flag for the team, have at it.
Lazydawg — it does seem that way. But Bruce Smith certainly turned out OK.
Jeff Schultz
July 16th, 2009
1:40 pm
Ken — I read right over those earlier nonsensical ramblings. Thanks — it’s gone.
long time falcon
July 16th, 2009
1:44 pm
Jeff, the steve broussard pick was one of the worst memories of my falcon life. Why? Because Rodney Hampton was still on the board. I will never forget that day as me and some of my friends were gathered watching the draft. When it came time for the falcons pick we were all jumping up and down high fiving because we just knew the falcons were going to take Hampton. And when the commish said the name steve broussard I literally fell in the floor face in hands with an overwhelming feeling of disgust. Hampton went on to become the giants all time leading rusher when he retired and steve broussard…. well you know.
south ga boy
July 16th, 2009
1:46 pm
jeff i realize its easy to bash mckay & mora and they deserve it for falcon futility, but these days the main reason for most of the falcon’s woes , as a franchise, was rankin smith. his unwillingness to spend money, to give real authority to a general manager, and to hire a coach and stick with him thru thick and thin brought on 35 yrs of flailing around from one (5 yr-remember those)re-building plan to the next one. the man was a robber barron, turning a 6 million dollar investment into 550 million only because he was in a club (nfl) with some very smart ppl and thru no merit of his own. his family should get down on their knees and thank God for donald sterling because his existence is the only thing that keeps rankin smith from being considered the worst owner in the history of well owners. thank God for arthur blank
wahoo wah
July 16th, 2009
1:47 pm
Yes, as a UVA alum, I fully agree with your comments about Virginia Tech.
Of course, as a University of California alum, I was also down on that loser John Elway.
blord
July 16th, 2009
1:49 pm
Let’s not forget T J Duckett. He did some good things here in the dvd but he never lived up to the first round pick status. He looked like Tarzan but played more like Jane. I am not sure it made a lot of sense to take a rb in the 1st when you just invested money in the off season to one in Dunn.
Falcons Ticket Operator
July 16th, 2009
1:51 pm
yeah…its a “hokie” problem…..sure….and when will the AJC be actually reporting on the obvious domestic abuse problems with so many members of this team? What’s that all about? Don’t you care Jeff? Turner, Ojinnaka, and former Falcon Boley….hmmm….what’s with that?
Operators are still standing by! Please 2 tickets/2 jerseys for just the low low price of $199!! Please, how much more do you want? Free food? Free parking? OK…its been dropped to 2 tickets/2 caps for $99 if you’ll just make sure the home opener is sold out! Geez, why won’t you people support the Falcons???
Herschel Talker
July 16th, 2009
1:55 pm
Schultzie – Jim Mora Jr. likes men
Falcons Ticket Operator
July 16th, 2009
2:13 pm
Operators are still standing by! Please 2 tickets/2 #7 jerseys for just the low low price of $199!! Please, how much more do you want? Free food? Free parking? OK…its been dropped to 2 tickets/2 caps for $99 if you’ll just make sure the home opener is sold out! Geez, why won’t you people support the Falcons???
mn possum
July 16th, 2009
2:18 pm
BILL – Tinker was a second round pick, and he was a bad pick. Bruce was a bust, but scouting and his college suggested he was a viable player. Thus, Bruce was a not a bad pick; he just didn’t develop as a player. Gerald Tinker, aka Gerald “The Stinker” Tinker, was picked without evaluating his football skills, and it was a disaster. Tinker was a bad pick.
MiltonDawg
July 16th, 2009
2:31 pm
Falcons Operator: Please go away!! We want fans…not morons.
MiltonDawg
July 16th, 2009
2:35 pm
And all those other players you mentioned, did in fact get mention and discussed in the AJC. Typical MV7 fan!
Rachel Ray
July 16th, 2009
2:36 pm
One of you guys want to buy me a drink?
Fightin Gobbler
July 16th, 2009
2:38 pm
Jeff – Thanks for the reply but you completely missed my point. By dismissing all VT players you are thowing out the baby with the bath water. I agree that VT had a run of disappointing character guys but if you’ll notice, that run actually came to an end when Marcus Vick was kicked off the team. VT has taken a much, much tougher stance in the past 3 years. For example, Zach Luckett got a DUI right before the season started last year and he was kicked off the team for the entire year even though he was going to be a starting WR on a team w/ zero depth at that position. He is being allowed back on the team this year with a one strike policy. How many UGA (or Florida or Tennesse) players have been suspended for the entire year for a DUI????
Its easy to pot shot VT and Beamer but the facts are that those players and situations are in the past, in many cases several years in the past. If the Falcons want to avoid VT players at all costs that is certainly their right, I just feel its tremendously short sighted.
Otto
July 16th, 2009
2:41 pm
Schultz good article other than being that surprised Hampton wasn’t picked by the Falcons. IMO plenty of UGA fans were glad to see him in NY.
Otto
July 16th, 2009
2:43 pm
VT and Beamer maybe getting tougher but is that because of value or all the press the Vick brothers have generated combined with going to BCS bowls. Beamer better be careful he could end up in Bowden’s place without the titles.
Najeh Davenpoop
July 16th, 2009
3:14 pm
Hey Rachel Ray. How bout I buy you pork chops if you agree to stop screaming at me on the TV? Oh, and you can never ever fake laugh again.
Whopper Dawg
July 16th, 2009
3:18 pm
Jeff,
Don’t you dare forget Joe Profit. My favorite though has to be Bruce Pickens, number 3 overall a CB out of Nebraska – back in those days the Big 8 threw maybe 10 passes all year and we are picking Nebraska cornerbacks – surreal experience being a Falcon fan. It is like living in Bizzaro World.
TCM
July 16th, 2009
3:30 pm
Interesting article. It isn’t fair to attack one school because of three athletes even though the investments made in them were very high. It doesn’t mean ATL should stay away from them on draft day. If you see a guy at your pick of need who is available and can make a difference you take him if everything checks out.
Would you stop buying fruit because every once in a while there is a rotten apple or orange in your batch? Had Matt Ryan been a Hokie instead of an “eagle” at BCollege would you have passed on him too? You can’t judge everybody in the pot based on a select few. It’s funny we don’t hear about VT players on other teams across the league being busts….I wonder why that is?
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 16th, 2009
3:33 pm
3. Andrea Bruce 4. Steve Broussard 5. Bruce Pickens 6. Joe Profit
But the two worst picks ever……….Reggie Sutton in the late rounds and you say whats the big deal…..he was headed to jail for drugs. And #1, (drum roll) Jammi German, round 3 ahead of Hines Ward
Brian Hunt
July 16th, 2009
3:37 pm
I don’t think that it’s fair to have Mike Pritchard, Reggie Kelly, and Bryan Scott on that list. Kelly was a great blocking TE that helped the Falcons and Bengals to pretty good running games. Scott was a pretty good SS until he hurt his shoulder and lost the ability to be physical, but he’s still a starter in the NFL (Bills). Pritch was good in June Jones’ Run and Shoot.
Michael
July 16th, 2009
3:44 pm
I hope Kevin McCadam doesn’t come across this article
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 16th, 2009
3:48 pm
Falcons Worst Draft Picks revision a: 1. Jammi German 2. Reggie Sutton 3. Andrea Bruce 4. Bubba Bean 5. Tony Smith 6. Devin Bush 7. Bruce Pickens 8. Joe Profit 9. Michael Booker 10a. Marcus Cotton 10b. Steve Broussard
Does not include Gerald Tinker, Gold Medal winner. He was a sprinter not a football player, not his fault.
Spud Webb
July 16th, 2009
4:12 pm
ahhahahahahaha, I love VA tech, Bruce Smith, QUALITY, every other athlete, LOSERS> ahhaahhaha, beautiful.
Texas Ranger, I forgot about Jammi German, classic. I don’t know though, Bruce and Pickens we’re HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!
FreeMikeVick
July 16th, 2009
4:12 pm
Your crazy if you think Mike Vick was a bust. The Falcons are the bust for turning there backs on him.
mn possum
July 16th, 2009
4:21 pm
Bank Walker “Does not include Gerald Tinker, Gold Medal winner. He was a sprinter not a football player, not his fault.”
Exactly… Tinker was not a bust; he was a “bad pick.” The Smith Gang forgot to evaluate his football skills.
JSS
July 16th, 2009
5:29 pm
Are you kidding me? Character matters? Are you kidding me? And your owner brings someone like Derek V. Smith of ChoicePoint in as a minority investor!!! Two words: Fantasy Island!!!
Falcons Ticket Operator
July 16th, 2009
5:30 pm
Hey Miltondawg, dont get mad with me because he Falcons have only blogger fans that support them “spiritually”, but definitely not 70,000 that support with their wallets!!
Again….operators are standing by…and falling asleep….you can get 2 jerseys with your 2 tickets for just $199!!! Any jersey at all!! Come on!! You have to order them, you know the Falcons 365 stores closed…both of them…apparently there are not as many Falcons fans as there where when it was decided to open those stores. oh well!!
Blacksburger
July 16th, 2009
5:47 pm
“it is a good thing he’s [Beamer] in th ACC and not the SEC because he would be run out of town at most Universitys in the SEC.”
Hmm. Not Arkansas (Petrino, lol). In all honesty, if we had a competition (bad choice of words, I know) to see who had more arrests and NCAA infractions in the past say, 5 years, the SEC vs. the ACC, I think the SEC fans would be embarrassed. There’s a column for you Jeff. And everything needs to be annotated please.
Don’t blame a school for an NFL team having poor talent evaluation. For the 2004 NFL Draft, I sat in my dorm in East Ambler Johnston, missing the first half of VT’s spring game, only to see my beloved falcons take the overrated MeAngelo Hall. I was so mad, I kicked a hole in my mini-fridge.
Case in point – that season we played a good Pitt team at Heinz Field. Hall was suspended for the first half because of an altercation with a Miami player the week before (THIS WASN’T A WARNING MCKAY?!?). Eric Greene came in and shut down Larry Fitzgerald, I think he had like 25 yds receiving in the fist half. Hall comes in the second half, and gives up two scores, including the game winner. Again, that doesn’t set off a warning bell?
But Jeff, to say “All players from VT are thugs and don’t pan out, we shouldn’t draft any of them” is just amazingly “fat, lazy and stupid”. – Can you really call yourself an objective journalist if you call ANY player this? Honestly?
JG
July 16th, 2009
5:51 pm
What an embarrassment to journalism you are Schultz. Look, there are plenty of VT players who have had success. Maybe you need to blame the Falcons for taking Williams as a corner when he wasn’t fast enough or because…if you did ANY research…his attitude was in question enough that Beamer mandated him not to speak to the media and made him keep his nose clean at VT. Beamer sheltered him, kept a tight leash on Hall, and there were never any problems with Vick, Hall or Williams at VT…coincidence? NO. Beamer was a leader who watched over the guys. It’s not his fault that once they were on their own in Atlanta with tons of money that they strayed. And by the way, DeAngelo Hall is a VERY good player at DB who is like a lot of other prima donna DBs in the league. They have to be a little cocky. Problem in Atlanta was the entire defense around him stunk to high heaven and he was frustrated with it. I haven’t heard a bad word about him from the Redskins and I live in Redskins country with Redskins radio round the clock.
Condemning a school for 3 guys is bush league. Save your bitterness for the failures of the Falcons management to have any semblence of a defense for the better part of the last 6 years.
If you want to slam a quality college program, go write for a GT, UVA or Alabama blog and don’t do it on a reputable newspaper’s site.
Falcons Ticket Operator
July 16th, 2009
5:55 pm
Selling 70,000 tickets a week was hard. Back then at least I knew I could go on vacation after week 17. Now I have to work into the post season. Thanks a lot Matty Ice!!
the truth...
July 16th, 2009
5:57 pm
Right twice today…first that Franceour shouldn’t have been traded, and now about VT players….
Anyone that knows football should know that VT stands for Virginia Thug…didn’t you know that?
Boemer Ball? How about Thug Train….yep he can pick them can’t he?
Even had two Vicks back to back…
I second the recommendation….no more Virgian Thugs…
Saints Ticket Operator
July 16th, 2009
6:17 pm
“Recession Proof:
June 2, 2009 at 7:27 pm
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Matt Lehr
July 16th, 2009
6:21 pm
I’m the only VT Thug that sucked!
Bust Hall of Fame
July 16th, 2009
6:27 pm
In recognition of the “1 & done” club, we would like to welcome our newest member.
Everybody give a warm welcome to Matty Ice.
Past member honor role:
Joey Harrington, Ryan Leaf, Carson Palmer……
Congratulations Matty Ice…………..
We will reserve your 2nd consecutive award in 2009!
Julie Clowdis
July 16th, 2009
6:59 pm
Jeff Schultz, yet another reason why the AJC is losing subscribers everyday. Thanks for pointing the Hokies that have done good things in the NFL rather than the mistakes of the Falcons scouting.
Brian
July 16th, 2009
6:59 pm
Wow. What a hurtful column to a hokie alum. Having attended VT during the years several of the players you specified were enrolled, I have met many of those guys mentioned in this article. D. Hall was one of the biggest pricks I had ever met, that was until I met Jimmy Williams. Both extremely talented, both extremely not good people. Maybe the falcons should rate character more highly?
There are dozens of hokies in the NFL who have kept their noses clean and made an honest living by doing things the right way. I find your column to be a generalization, accusatory and very short-sighted. You mention yourself the list of horrible falcon draft picks, obviously the falcons’ brass need to do a better evaluation. Might prove valuable rather than blaming it all on one university.
Bspn
July 16th, 2009
7:05 pm
It seems that some people believe Jeff Schultz is a journalist. People, this is just a blog. These are all over the internet, you dont have to have any qualifications…you just have to have internet access.
Reg3870
July 16th, 2009
7:22 pm
That was the Falcons in the past. There’s a new breed of players and they are headed in the right direction. This is a senseless article.
Big T
July 16th, 2009
8:25 pm
Just curious. Did you go to UVA? Have you evaluated the success and failures of pro players from other schools? If so, how about dogging them too while you are at it.
Trivia Time
July 16th, 2009
8:32 pm
Between Boston College and Virginia Tech, which school has the most current NFL players to make the pro bowl?
Trivia Time
July 16th, 2009
8:35 pm
Who was the only NFL player banned from football for gambling on NFL games?
Hint: He was caucasian and not from Virginia Tech.
Red Grange
July 16th, 2009
8:43 pm
Fightin Gobbler, if you’re going to claim Luckett is an example of Beamer discipline, don’t shortchange us on the facts. Luchett had TWO (2) DUIs (that’s a lot for someone under 21), & a driving on a suspended license. He isn’t being given multiple chances because he’s a redeemable soul – it’s ’cause Frankie thinks he can contribute on the field.
Frank Beamer would sell his soul to the devil for a win.
Tim
July 16th, 2009
8:47 pm
Obviously those of you talking badly about Beamer don’t know the man. I find it ironic that Dawg fans would even go there. Even Mark Richt (who I admire greatly) has had his share of player issues. Both are great coaches, but more importantly men of fine character.
Granted, the Falcons have had a bad run with some former VT players. I would suggest that they had issue with other players not from VT (anyone remember a certain LB that got into trouble before a super bowl?)
But I can understand message board “fans” taking pot shots. But a so-called jounalist painting with such a broad brush tells me that he really is no better a “journalist” than the average message board fan.
I don’t condone what Vick did. It was wrong and he paid the price for it. The others didn’t pan out for whatever reason. It happens. But I can assure you that you will also fine numerous former Tech players in the NFL that are the epitome of class and character that would be more than happy to talk to you about the man that Coach Beamer really is.
Fatboy
July 16th, 2009
9:28 pm
Shultz is a bigger loser than the guys he is talking about. What has he ever done besides sharpen his pencil and sticking it in his pocket protector. Maybe he should blame Atlanta….. the 5 Hokies were all fine when they were in Blacksburg.
theATL
July 16th, 2009
10:04 pm
the 5 hoakies were fine when they were in bleaksburg? get real, they weren’t fine when they were in school and they are not fine now. and for the comment about beamer cleaning up the program since these guys have been gone i offer you this:
July 2009 Jahre Cheeseman faces misdemeanor assault, petit larceny, and obstruction of justice charges.
May 2009 Virginia Tech signee Peter Rose was arrested on felony drug charges.
But why stop with just these players? Lets talk about the fans…..anyone know why the hokie respect campaign was implemented? it wasn’t because the fans were all about sportsmanship!
the issues shouldn’t be pointed directly at beamer, if i pointed my finger in any direction is would be at their AD Jim Weaver.
VT_jlee
July 16th, 2009
10:19 pm
The only pattern I notice is that once a promising Hokie player is drafted by the Falcons their careers are done. Are the Falcons just that bad at evaluating talent or can they not develop college talent into NFL level talent? Either way, the Falcons are sure to continue to be the perennial losers they were before they hit the jack pot and lucked ass-backwards into drafting Mike Vick.
PS… thank you for not drafting Eddie Royal, Brandon Flowers, Duane Brown or any other Hokie in recent years. At least they have a chance at having productive NFL careers.
VT_jlee
July 16th, 2009
10:20 pm
theATL – Cheeseman was already kicked off the team when he got arrested and Peter Rose was in HIGH SCHOOL when he got arrested. Terrible, misinformed post.
Jack
July 16th, 2009
10:21 pm
Did you go to UVA or are you related to Al Groh? Ha Ha!
Jeff Shultz
July 16th, 2009
10:24 pm
I am sorry I wrote that article. I lost my mind. I have a deep love for Al Groh and seeing him beat year after year just got the best of me.
Jeff Schultz
July 16th, 2009
10:27 pm
I secretly have a fantasy about Frank but he rejected me. I was so angry that I wrote that nasty article. Please forgive me.
Gary
July 16th, 2009
10:34 pm
That is some funny stuff. Exactly the feedback a hack needs.
Sports Nation
July 17th, 2009
1:38 am
3-Days until the sports world stands still……..
All sports stations will be microphone hogging in a location in Virginia to conduct endless interviews with the great……..
Mike Vick
Betting FBCC: Houston Texans » Thursday’s sports briefs
July 17th, 2009
3:23 am
[...] News and Views: Williams just another busted Hokie Here’s Jimmy Williams when he wasn’t on drugs, as far as we know. Welcome back for another edition of News and Views. [...]
isproab
July 17th, 2009
7:57 am
I don’t think its fair to call Mike Pritchard a bust. He played in the run and shoot here in Atlanta and had 3 good season with the Falcons. Sure, after he left he did not do much, but Atlanta seemed like a good fit for him. I’m not sure why he was not retained. year-receptions/yardage: 1991-50/624, 1992-77/827, 1993-74/736
Robert2246
July 17th, 2009
9:21 am
Good points about Williams. Interesting comments regarding Va Tech players, just like most schools there are some really good players and some that don’t work out. Put the blame where it belongs – the Falcons made POOR PICKS. Blaming/pointing fingers at Va Tech because of poor draft picks/anlysis by the Falcons ‘talent gurus’ is missing the point. William – what was Atlanta thinking ? (they weren’t) As for Vick – he did prety darn well for the Falcons and yes, he royally messed up and paid for it. D Hall o or as we called him at VT -’me’ Hall – is a great talent and made All Pro, like many athletes he does have a poor attitude. By the way Falcons, how about Petrino – nice choice.
MB_incognito
July 17th, 2009
9:34 am
Virginia Tech has had 47 players drafted since 2000. Three of them have had problems. Pitty the Falcons for picking the three Hokie draft picks that stunk it up. Boo hoo. Also, how could Bryan Randall be considered an NFL bust, when he wasn’t even drafted?
Look at last VT’s 2008 draft class:
Eddie Royal – starter at WR with 90 catches as a rookie.
Brandon Flowers – starter at CB that didn’t give up a single touchdown
Duane Brown – starter at Houston at LT
Xavier Adibi – starter at LB for Houston
Josh Morgan – projected starter at WR for San Fran
and on and on and on.
What about David Clowney who is reportedly tearing it up at the Jets camps this summer.
What about Daryl Tapp? DE, Seattle
What about John Engleberger?
What about Shayne Graham? K, Cincy
What about Jeff King? TE, Carolina
Should I continue?
The Jahre Cheesemen thing is a joke. He is not on VT’s team anymore for one. For two, most of his charges were dropped by a judge. he’s trying to transfer to a school in Colorado so he can play his senior year. He got into an argument with a VT employee and grabbed papers from them, and left when they called the cops. Not cool, but hardly “Assault” or “Larceny.”
The Peter Rose thing is stupid too. His scholarship was rescinded as soon as he was charged. He’d never stepped foot on campus as a Hokie when he got into trouble.
As for Beamer not making it in the SEC due to disipline? That’s the king of all of the idiotic remarks I’ve seen on here. Are you kidding me. The conference Phil Fulmer called home?
Fan
July 17th, 2009
9:45 am
Jeff, You are an idiot. That is all.
UVA Carruthers
July 17th, 2009
9:49 am
Your a putz and should be looking for a new career even in this tough economy.
Jim Mora = Problem
Al
July 17th, 2009
9:53 am
Thanks Jeff, I’ll pay you Saturday.
Jim
July 17th, 2009
9:55 am
Gotta wonder about the Falcons in general, as well as the NFL. As a VT fan, for 20+ years, I can say the signs were there that Hall and Williams lacked the character that the Falcons should be looking for. Both seemed to care more about applying cheap shots on opponents than winning ball games (Hall cost VT a chance to play for a national championship in 2000, by getting called for a late hit on a failed 4th quarter 4th and 20+, with VT leading by 2 scores vs WVU). Williams was no better. Bryan Randall was a solid NCAA QB and a class act, but there was no way that he was going to make it as an NFL QB (even a novice like me could see that), but his style of play is well suited to the CFL. What were the Falcons thinking when they drafted him?.
Vick is well documented, but early reports said gambling and dog fighting is a prominent sub-culture in the NFL and within the Falcons team (this in no way justifies Vick’s behavior, but does seem to point to the notion that something his horribly wrong within the Falcons team and it isn’t just a matter of drafting players from a single school). The NFL successfully swept the matter under the rug.
Rhesus1
July 17th, 2009
10:12 am
Wow. This guy is an idiot. Sure, there have been some busts that have come out of VT, but that happens at every school. The falcon scouts are the ones missing the real talent at VT. There have Been a lot of good players that are also good people to come out of VT, but the Falcons seem to go for the ones that glitter…not the true gold. Kieon Carpenter was a Hokie and long time Falcon. Beamer is often lauded for his ethics and the way he runs his program. Maybe this has more to do with the Falcons poor scouting than it does an inherent problem at VT.
As the gentelmen down below stated, Eddie Royal, D. Tapp, Andre Davis, Brandon Flowers and others have turned out great. I like the Falcons, so it pains me to say this, but EVERYONE at VT knew that MeAngelo Hall was a selfish guy. Most every VT fan saw the same attitude from Jimmy Williams as he waved his arms up and down before the plays rather than focusing on the tasks at hand. All the Falcons scouts had to do was ask someone at VT about these two guys. They obviously didn’t do their research. Here is a hint for the Falcons’ scouts, this year take a look at Jason Worlids and Sergio Render. Both fine young men and damn good ballers. Again, this is not a VT problem…it is a Falcons scouting problem.
Carl Miller
July 17th, 2009
10:14 am
As a Virginia Tech alumni and fan, I take exception to your characterization of the entire VT program, now and in the future, based on a couple of athletes who were in the program nearly a decade ago. I do not think anyone would have guessed what a mess Vick turned out to be, but it was obvious Jimmy Williams was a bad egg (although a great talent) when he was in school. By all means, stay away from VT without considering anything about their current players. And while you are at it, stay away from every other school that has had any players who were busts in the NFL, or used steroids or other drugs, or had problems with the law. That strategy should make for some exciting surprises on draft day!
Scout
July 17th, 2009
10:23 am
Frank Beamer and his staff run one of the most respected programs in the country, don’t blame them for these bad apples blame the ATL organization for not seeing what everyone else could.
There are plenty of good apples… hard working people with good character coming out of Va Tech to overshadow these guys, and many that have been succesful in the league. We take these guys as the norm from Va Tech, not the ones mentioned in your article:
Xavier Adibi
#52 – 6′ 01″ – 236 lbs – 2 Years
TEXANS OLB SIGNED
James Anderson
#50 – 6′ 02” – 232 lbs – 4 Years
PANTHERS OLB SIGNED
Duane Brown
#76 – 6′ 04″ – 308 lbs – 2 Years
TEXANS OT SIGNED
David Clowney
#87 – 6′ 00” – 188 lbs – 2 Years
JETS WR SIGNED
Andre’ Davis
#11 – 6′ 01” – 195 lbs – 8 Years
TEXANS WR SIGNED
Anthony Davis
#68 – 6′ 04” – 322 lbs – 6 Years
SAINTS OT Signed with Saints June 10, 2009
Chris Ellis
#93 – 6′ 04″ – 260 lbs – 2 Years
BILLS DE SIGNED
John Engelberger
#60 – 6′ 04” – 268 lbs – 9 Years
Released by Broncos Feb. 16, 2009
Brandon Flowers
#24 – 5′ 09 ” – 187 lbs – 2 Years
CHIEFS CB SIGNED
Brandon Frye
#76 – 6′ 04″ – 305 lbs – 3 Years
DOLPHINS OT Signed by Dolphins Nov. 05, 2008
Vincent Fuller
#22 – 6′ 01″ – 189 lbs – 5 Years
TITANS S SIGNED
Shayne Graham
#17 – 6′ 00” – 197 lbs – 9 Years
BENGALS K Franchise Tag
Have until July 15th to agree on Contract
Eric Green
#21 – 5′ 11″ – 196 lbs – 5 Years
DOLPHINS CB Signed by Dolphins March 12, 2009
Jake Grove
#60 – 6′ 03” – 300 lbs – 6 Years
DOLPHINS C Signed March 2, 2009
Five Years, $29 Million
Justin Harper
#14 – 6′ 03″ – 215 lbs – 1 Year
RAVENS WR SIGNED
Victor “Macho” Harris
#35 – 5′ 11 ” – 187 lbs – Rookie
EAGLES CB SIGNED
Kevin Jones
#27 – 6′ 00” – 228 lbs – 6 Years
Bears RB SIGNED
Jeff King
#47 – 6′ 05” – 256 lbs – 4 Years
PANTHERS TE SIGNED
Jonathan Lewis
#75 – 6′ 00” – 304 lbs – 3 Years
JAGUARS DT SIGNED
Orion Martin
#48 – 6′ 02” – 260 lbs – Rookie
DOLPHINS DE SIGNED
Will Montgomery
#63 – 6′ 03” – 312 lbs – 4 Years
REDSKINS SIGNED
Josh Morgan
#84 – 6′ 00″ – 219 lbs – 2 Years
49ERS WR SIGNED
Jason Murphy
#69 – 6′ 02” – 304 lbs – 1 Year
TITANS OG SIGNED
Carlton Powell
#75 – 6′ 03″ – 300 lbs – 1 Year
BRONCOS DT SIGNED
Pierson Prioleau
#31 – 5′ 11” – 188 lbs – 11 Years
SAINTS S March 29, 2009 – Signed with Saints
1 Year – $745K + $50K bonus
Aaron Rouse
#37 – 6′ 04″ – 223 lbs – 3 Years
PACKERS S SIGNED
Cav
July 17th, 2009
10:26 am
This whole article is pointless. It seems to be pointing fingers when all schools and NFL teams have problems. Wow 3 players screw up from one school and every player, coach and fan should be held accountable. I think not.
Bobby Dowell
July 17th, 2009
10:31 am
This article is funny, sad and true. All of the Falcons miserable history can be tied to poor drafts. That is why Mr Blank is one of the smartest owners in the league. Thomas Dimitroff is using draft grading metrics designed for this century. He’s not drafting workout warriors and he’s looking at leaders as well as talented football players. Our future is very bright with the Falcons franchise in his hands.
VICK SUPPORTER 2
July 17th, 2009
10:32 am
http://www.hulu.com/watch/1794/saturday-night-live-weekend-update-michael-vick-really
JUST TRYING TO GIVE VICK SOME ADVICE……………….REALLY!!
Tommy Vercetti
July 17th, 2009
11:30 am
Seriously? I can see why my AJC and its staff are shrinking. Any more of this BS and I’ll cancel my subscription too.
paul
July 17th, 2009
11:38 am
i understand your angst, the NFL is chock full of thugs. once the money starts rolling in, coupled with little or no actions in response to thuggery on and off the field, the rising star becomes a polluted mess. do you think you could lead a media effort to focus on the good guys? i show my kids what the daryl tapps of the NFL are up to but you won’t find those articles on espn, foxsports, ajc, etc.
Hokie_Fan
July 17th, 2009
11:56 am
This is the problem with writers who write about programs they know very little about. VT fans were thrilled when D Hall, Jimmy Williams, and the likes of Ronyell Whitaker left the team. They had talent, but they caused problems on the field and in the lockeroom, and made the team worse despite there talents. This was not a secret, absolutely everybody knew it. Somehow Rich Mckay didn’t…that is his fault. He also gambled on a run first QB, which, dog fights or not, has never worked in the NFL and probably never will.
VT has continued to produce NFL talent that has not caused any problems and produces on the field..in the 08 draft VT had the 2nd most players taken from any college football team in the draft. Do you know who they are or what they are doing? I would bet the author of this article doesn’t. Scientists don’t back up hypothesis with a small sample size and neither should writers…perhaps he should investigate (ie. actually do his job).
It just so happens that the Atlanta Falcons reached into the bucket of VT apples and kept picking the rotten ones. In your job if you were recruiting from UGA and kept hiring poor performers… Is UGA the problem or is it the evaluator of the talent and/or the methods of evaluation? At the end of the day every D1 college football program has a few bad apples, and no where in the country should this resonate more than in SEC Country, which is why this article seems so out of place.
VICK SUPPORTER 2
July 17th, 2009
12:02 pm
7-9 FOR ‘09 THAT’S FUNNY
“SCOUT” – GOOD WORK ON YOUR RESEARCH!
CAN WE GET A LIST OF BOSTON COLLEGE?
OH THAT’S RIGHT IT TAKES 5 YEARS OF COLLEGE BALL AND THERE IS ONLY 1-PLAYER TO BE DRAFTED AND HE IS A BUST
Informed Responder
July 17th, 2009
12:50 pm
“Randall — who’s now playing in the Canadian Football League — might go through his career with the least amount of baggage.”
Really?
Bryan Randall is all class. Always has been. The man has no baggage. None.
Also, as outlined in several posts above, VT has had as many NFL success stories as any school over the last 10 years or so. This article can be critical about the Falcons scouts, but to blame VT for character issues with DeAngelo Hall and Jimmy Williams is just asinine. Anybody that had done 3 minutes of research could’ve told you those two guys were risks.
Vick Supporter
July 17th, 2009
1:15 pm
The Great Mike Vick shall return……
VICK SUPPORTER 2
July 17th, 2009
1:21 pm
http://joecartoon.atom.com/videos/603-michael_vicks_plea
JUST TRYING TO SET THE RECORD SKR8!!
2002 Hokie
July 18th, 2009
7:34 am
Yeah this article does make it sound like VT has put some players with some problems in the league.
But what about Darryl Tapp? What about Eddie Royal? What about Jeff King? What about Brandon Frye? What about Xavier Adibi? What about Kevin Jones? What about Andre Davis? What about Duane Brown? What about Brandon Flowers? What about Aaron Rouse? What about Eric Green? What about Jake Grove?
Oh that’s right they all have one thing in common…they all play in the NFL but none of them ever played for the Falcons!!!!! You’re also forgetting to mention other former Falcons that played their college ball at Virginia Tech under Frank Beamer (Cory Bird, Anthony Midget, etc.)
Look…there is no doubt that the Falcons picked some doosies with Jimmy Williams and Deangelo Hall. As a VT fan/grad I can tell that they did their damage to VT teams as well (see Jimmy Williams in the 2005 Gator Bowl and the 2nd half of the 2003 season for Deangelo Hall). However, I think the Vick fiasco is highlighting the problems with other players and the problems are not the same. To say that the actions and attitudes of these players is becasue of a systematic problem with Frank Beamer and the Virginia Tech football problem is unfair at best when you go through the list of other players I mentioned above that have all been drafted within relatively the same period.
Also, in my opinion you can’t compare drug use (Jimmy Williams and Matt Lehr) with someone who takes care of business off the field and lives clean but plays with a “me-first” attitude (Deangelo Hall). Not to mention that Hall’s release from the Raiders seems to have shocked him into reality a bit.
Derrick
July 18th, 2009
8:06 am
Please do not draft any more VT players because the Falcons are one of the worst franchise in the history of the NFL. Every blue moon you have a good team and the next year you stick again. You continue to take two players (Vick and now Williams) and form an entire opinion of a school. There is not a major college football team without baggage (Ex. Tennessee with Travis Henry, Stallworth, and Little). Thanks for helping both VT and the Falcons out because I’m not sure I could stomach having to root for a lower tier team again.
Joe
July 18th, 2009
12:43 pm
What a crappy article. It is no wonder the Falcons can’t sell tickets to home games with fans reporters like this. I had always thought of Atlanta as a sister city to Richmond VA and had considered going to see some of their games. If this is the way people in Atlanta feel about VT and the ACC, I will take my money and see games elsewhere.
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