Ryan shows rust in return but leads victory in the end

Just need to win these two we should win and the season can still be somewhat sucessful and something to build on.

• Link
• Report this comment

LMAO…..so predictable.

• Link
• Report this comment

The big difference was the better than usual pass rush.

• Link
• Report this comment

It was nice to see a dominant corner today, too bad it was for the Jets. Maybe its time for TD to get over his ego and decide the DBs on the team aren’t starting caliber.

Today was a good reminder of how patience is key for coaching,I woulod have gone ballsitic out there, they would have to haul me off in a paddy wagon

• Link
• Report this comment

These guys show a lot of pride and don’t give up. They’ll only get better.

• Link
• Report this comment

I have to agree Red, two more games to go. Let beat the curse!! It is a little empty, but after 40 years, it would have some meaning.

• Link
• Report this comment

This game was extremely frustrating on the offensive side until Tony stood up in the endzone with the ball in his hand. For most of the day the offense looked stagnant at best. I am glad that we were finally able to pull out a close and gritty victory. The defense looked alright, however I believe that Mark Sanchise was a major reason why the defense looked so good. As usual the linebackers and each safety played well, but the rest of the defense was still searching for an identity. I am relieved that the team got a win, and I hope they can take care of business at the Dome and Raymond James in the following weeks.

• Link
• Report this comment

Reid,
I agree. This organization is different.
Even if we don’t break the curse this year, I am proud of this team.
Previous Falcons teams might have cashed it in with all the injuries.
But not this team.
These players, some undersized, inexperienced, and just not the best talent…these players played hard.
They didn’t give up.
There was no quit in them today.
I’m proud of them.

• Link
• Report this comment

One thing this proves, Mike Smith still has this team.

• Link
• Report this comment

Mr. Charlie,

Beating that curse is EVERYTHING this year.
It is more important than going to the playoffs.
Beating the curse has a TON of meaning.
I don’t think this team or its fans can truly take the next step until we do.

• Link
• Report this comment

Jimmy, generally I am not a big fan of moral victories in the NFL…..but you may be right. If we flub one of these games, it is SOS, if we take care of business against two floundering teams, well, we will have turned a corner.

• Link
• Report this comment

@Falcons Obit Well if you need the boost feel free to use it…

• Link
• Report this comment

Joe Flacco:
Don’t mention it.
When you actually do something worthy to EARN your trip to the playoffs,
we might care.

• Link
• Report this comment

Actually, if the Falcons choke today, Flacco is not going to the playoffs….Think of the Irony.

• Link
• Report this comment

Mr. Charlie,

This franchise has been through hell.
The fans have been through hell.
When franchise beats the curse, we will have turned a corner.
Symbolically and psychologically, beating the curse is huge.
GIven that we own one of the most infamous streaks in pro sports,
We need to beat the curse to complete the transformation of the club.

• Link
• Report this comment

Pilgrim:
Excellent observation!!!

Mr Charlie,
Yes…I agree on the overpaying of high draft picks.
Good argument.
Draft picks are a crap shoot.
Always have been.
I’d rather sign free agents and fill the depth with draft picks.
We may get lucky on a 4th rounder and a get a star player, too.

• Link
• Report this comment

I take back everything I’ve ever said after watching this game. Ryan is a true leader. He was cold as ice tossing that game-winning TD on 4th down, even with Jets fans throwing snowballs at him.

Meanwhile, my former hero, Mike Doggykilla Vick, only had 2 carries for 2 yards and left the game with an injury. He probably aggravated some body part that got shanked in prison.

I’m such a pathetic moron. :-/

• Link
• Report this comment

I think that Mr. Dimittroff has done a great job of addressing the teams needs in the the draft.
You build thru the draft, get the young guys and groom them to your system.
add in some free agents for depth.
The guy can only do so much in 2 years and imo he has done great.
Foxworth WAS NOT & IS NOT worth the money he got in Baltimore

• Link
• Report this comment

[...] Matt Ryan completed only 16 of 34 passes for 152 yards in his return, but went 6 for 9 in the Falcons’ winning drive. (AP photo) EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — After a week punctuated by more news of players and their mind-altering substances, the forecast of a …Read Original Story: Ryan shows rust in return but leads victory in the end – Atlanta Journal … [...]

• Link
• Report this comment

Guys did you see how my deep ball was past the usual 20 yards to the tight end you are used to?

I know you guys were like “is the ball supposed to be thrown that far”?

Hey Matty when are going to win a playoff game? Madden doesn’t count.

• Link
• Report this comment

The Falcons score a gutsy win over a playoff contender on the road in lousy conditions with lots of injuries, and this is the best you can do?

I’m not sure if the memo has reached your desk yet, but football teams do consist of more players than the quarterback. No mention of Turner being hurt again. No mention of Norwood limping off and coming back in. No mention of a defense that pitched a shutout with the exception of one play.

You did manage to work in the 2 arrests last week. Good for you. Gotta keep that hard-hitting independent journalist cred.

After reading the last paragraph of your column, it seems pretty obvious you were pulling for a Falcons’ loss so you could unleash more of your knee jerk putdowns and clever sarcasm.

Too bad the Falcons went and messed up your intended observations. The professional perils of the hard working, hard hitting sports columnist.

• Link
• Report this comment

Mr Charlie — One thing this proves, Mike Smith still has this team.

Right on!! Mike is building a TEAM! One mission, to win as a team, regardless of how it looks to fans. One thing’s for sure…. I’m glad Mike Smith is here and not Jim Mora (see another Seattle loss – TB looking a little more formitable though, our last opponent)… or Petrino the hog, for that matter.

Another draft and few free agents and this team will play for all the marbles soon. No one thought the Falcons would have a great season this year, with the changes on defense and especially the injuries. I agree with a few bloggers earlier, though, Michael Turner needs to be rested the rest of the way. We’ll need him next season in one big piece. Speaking of which, Peace to all and to all a good night.

• Link
• Report this comment

This team has character, in spite of having characters (on the team). I am proud of them. They didn’t quit today.

GO FALCONS!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

why when i load up AJC the first thing i see is vick hurt…..last time i checked he played for the eagles and the falcons showed some guts today but 2nd fiddle on your site….why not put a spy on vick and report on every time he uses the bathroom…..it is really digusting journalism looking for readership (probably get banned)

• Link
• Report this comment

Yes, less Vick talk and more Falcons talk would be welcome.

If we can get a real left tackle next year, the return of Douglas will make a major impact on the offense. We could also use a change of pace back like Norwood only one who can play. I can’t Be-LIEVE that guy was an every down back in the SEC; he goes down faster than Chris Mortensen on Brett Farve.

However, I have high hopes for this franchise for many tears to come; They’re fighting with almost no ammo so when they get some they’ll be a force.

• Link
• Report this comment

Joe Flacco,

How many playoff games have you won?
Yeah…that’s what I thought.
You win some, you lose some.

When was the last time you played defense?
Yeah, that’s what I thought.

Your D doesn’t have Keith Brooking does it?

• Link
• Report this comment

Most of the experts say we need to replace the smurfs at CB, but our smurfs played really well today. I think we could use another OT, and maybe another DT or DE. I thought Mattie Rust Ice played pretty well today.

The experts also said that Turner should not be out there. That was dumb.

• Link
• Report this comment

“The Grinch”

Good one:)

• Link
• Report this comment

Breaking the streak has to happen this year. There are two sorry teams left on the schedule and if they lose to either, it will be almost as embarassing as what happened on Dec. 6.

Almost.

• Link
• Report this comment

Hey Mr Peterson, how are you liking playing linebacker for the Falcons? I know when Dante Culpepper beat you to the corner in the preseason, that I was going to the playoffs, and you were not. I will send you a post card.

• Link
• Report this comment

Look up overrated in the dictionary and you will see a picture of ….

Keith Brooking

• Link
• Report this comment

heathen,

I caught the “out of field goal range” remark too.
What the heck was he talking about?

• Link
• Report this comment

Eric Berry should would look good in our secondary next year. Hopefully our top two picks from this year can stay on the field and contribute next year. We really need upgrades on D Line.

• Link
• Report this comment

If the season ended right now, the Falcons would get the #17 pick. There should be some good players around when we step up to the podium.

• Link
• Report this comment

What a win–the Glanville/Reeves/Mora Falcons would have folded

• Link
• Report this comment

And Stockton IS a horrible announcer. But who on Fox is actually good? Joe Buck? Kenny Albert? They’re all horrible. The only analyst who seems halfway competent is Darrell Johnston, but to the Falcons he is like a black cat carrying a broken mirror–we’re doomed every time he is in the booth

• Link
• Report this comment

Mr. Charlie,
He starts on a team with a solid D.
His deteriorating skills are not as much a liability there.

• Link
• Report this comment

There is no way that’s the real “Choke”.

• Link
• Report this comment

Jimmy,

There are 11 players on the team, Brooking would not be one of them if he was not good enough, and the fact that his skills deteriotated, and he is still a starter for a good team, speaks of the ability he had to begin with. He has caught a lot of flack, but his accomplishments speak for themselves.

• Link
• Report this comment

Mr Charlie,
He was good. But the mere fact that he plays on a good D means nothing.
His pass coverage skills are what deteriorated.
They have not improved with Dallas.
If they don’t have to rely on him for pass D, then he is servicable.
On a good D, they have others who can cover.
And the fact that he is a starter does not necessarily speak to his ability.
We have some players starting for the Falcons that probably wouldn’t start for too many other teams.
It could also speak to the Cowboys ineptitude or desperation.
Your argument is not logical.

• Link
• Report this comment

Jimmy, so being a starter, being able to beat out all comers, to be able to man your postion good enough to have your defense be among the better in the league, does not speak of ones ability?

I don’t care how good the players around him are, if he cannot pull his weight, he would not be there. Now you argument is, he does not have to be the player he once was for what he is asked to do, well, that only speaks of what his ability was.

Regardless, Brooking is still alive for the playoffs, the Falcons are not. And in the NFL, that is all that matters.

• Link
• Report this comment

People talk about Vick and how he is with the Eagles, and how the Eagles are going to the playoffs when Vick does not even get meaningful reps, but Brooking is a starter for Cowboys, how are also likley to be going to the playoffs, and all you can say is “his skills are deterioated”.

How about Vick, are his stills deterioated too?

• Link
• Report this comment

Mr Charlie, Brooking is a pretty good cheer leader. Peterson made more impact plays in one game earlier this year than Brooking in his last three here.

• Link
• Report this comment

If Vick was a starter on a team, and they were going to the playoffs, could you imagine the bragging and trash talking that would take place? C’mon, give Brooking his due, obviously he had some gas left, he was ran out of town because of, well, we all know.

• Link
• Report this comment

Mr Charlie, you and Cowboys go ahead and count your chickens. Those eggs could be rotten by Jan 9.

• Link
• Report this comment

Playoff picture is complete: Saints, Vikings, Eagles, Cardinals, Packers and Cowboys.

All others going home…moral victories are for little league teams that give out certificates to everyone at the end of the season for “participation”.

• Link
• Report this comment

Is that you, Joe? The SAME Joe Flacco that came into today with one LESS TD in two more games played than Ryan?

Hey, did JIM Harbough leave STANFORD to coach the Baltimore Ravens in place of his brother?

M-O-R-O-N-S abound.

Truth be told, the Ravens have won more than Atlanta because they have a stout defense and a DYNAMIC run-game that hasn’t had the injuries the Falcons have.

But Joe Flacco’s a pretty good QB; no arguing that. So is Matt Ryan, and over the long haul, the Falcons will be happy with their choice and the Ravens will, as well. Big deal.

The fact that the Falcons hung in with the Saints last week the way they did, then won on the road today says plenty about Coach Smith’s ability to lead.

Folks can come on here alll damn day and poke their sticks in the cage to upset the zoo; you don’t bother me or any other Falcons’ fan who knows the truth, and also is PATENTLY aware why you come here trying to question this team and every decision made about it. (Question, are “you” more than one person or just one really sad S.O.B. who logs on under many different names? HA! That’d be SO pathetic!!!)

• Link
• Report this comment

The Falcons will be sitting home watching the playoffs. Celebrating anything less is for losers.

• Link
• Report this comment

The REAL story here is that the mainstream media refuses to acknowledge the monumental mistake that is Mark Sanchez. What a joke.

• Link
• Report this comment

I guess “Choke beddytime is now. I live and breath E-A-G-L-E-S, I live in Atl. TRUST ME NO Eagles
fan wants ANYTHING to do with Vick. He is a sideshow freak that caused felonious acts against helpless creatures. I for one thinks he deserves a second chance.( Which now the Eagles are giving him.) But don’t think for one minute this guy was actually someone who could of brought Atl. a Superbowl. He regressed EVERY YEAR he was in the N.F.L. The Falcons had to change the West Coast Playbook every year because he could’nt grasp it.
So CHOKE either your a Falcons fan, or STFU!

• Link
• Report this comment

Mr. Charlie wrote: Jimmy, so being a starter, being able to beat out all comers, to be able to man your postion good enough to have your defense be among the better in the league, does not speak of ones ability?

If by ability you mean being in the top of the league at his position…no.
If by ability you mean being a starter…no.
Being in the NFL speaks to one’s ability.
It does not mean you are better than the second stringer on another team.
Every team must fill holes as best they can.
Sometimes that means they have to start a guy who should be a second stringer.

Charlie wrote: I don’t care how good the players around him are, if he cannot pull his weight, he would not be there. Now you argument is, he does not have to be the player he once was for what he is asked to do, well, that only speaks of what his ability was.

Again, the fact that he is starting for an NFL team only indicates he has the ability to play in the NFL.
It is only an indication of subjective conclusions in specific context.
On his team, someone made the subjective conclusion he was better than at least the worst guy vying for his position on the team.
His skill is not necessarily the reason he starts. Experience could be the reason.

That does not mean he would start for another team. He could be riding the pine with another team.
What would you conclude about his “ability” in that context?
By your argument, if some coach decided to make him second string, it would suggest his lack of ability.
You can’t judge his ability by the fact he is a starter.

I was a Brooking fan. Never did attack him when many others did.
But you are blind if you cannot see that his game, even in run support, has deteriorated.
He is not an every down player anymore, even if he does start.
He is now a marginal player near the end of his career.
That is really the point.
I’m going to call a spade a spade.

Regardless, Brooking is still alive for the playoffs, the Falcons are not. And in the NFL, that is all that matters.

Mr. Charlie,

Being in the NFL speaks to his ability.
It does not mean he is worthy of starting.
It does not mean he “beat all comers” either.

• Link
• Report this comment

FMO: Yeap, because when you’re 6-7 and eliminated from the playoff hunt, 9-7 is all you got to strive for.

Given the changes on defense this year, the tougher schedule and the injuries – 9-7 would really not be a bad outcome. Bigger and better things lie ahead.

• Link
• Report this comment

Cowboys beat the best team in the NFL and are headed to a deep playoff run—-mark it down!! Wade Phillips has the ‘boys peaking at the right time!!! Atlanta—another dismal year after making the playoffs. Maybe next year falcon fans. It’s hard to be humble as a Cowboys fan!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

Joe Flacco??? Look up his playoff QB rating. It’s obvious why the Ravens were in the playoffs last year. Flacco had about as much to do with it as the Ravens longsnapper. Maybe “Choke” is absent because he remembered how #7 mailed it in a few years ago in cold weather in Chicago.

• Link
• Report this comment

Choke. MV7 hurt his little thigh. He should not have left the game. He let his team down.

• Link
• Report this comment

The Kid just is a winner. You simply cannot ever count the kid out. Even when he and/or the team is playing badly, with #2 at the helm, you always have a chance. He has that “IT” factor that Vick never had and will never have.

• Link
• Report this comment

Could it be that Dick Stockton has dementia? There was the Falcons are out of field goal range remark when they were inside the 10. He referred to the Jets as the Eagles. And, after the Falcons’ touchdown, he said the extra point would tie it. I thought, surely he, or the producers will correct it, but they went into the commercial break with Stockton saying the score was tied at 10-10. Seriously, they need to get him to a doctor.

• Link
• Report this comment

Vick will be available for only a few mil in 2010—Blank needs to get out of his private box, call Vick and get him back to Atlanta—that’s the only hope for the franchise long term—an exciting QB who can make big plays. Scoring 10 points against the lowly jets is not going to win titles. Pay vick whatever he wants–he’ll be worth it!

• Link
• Report this comment

Saw the game last night, because I was watching a game that had playoff implications on NFL Sunday Ticket when the Falcons played live. Here are my thoughts on the game:

1. The Jets shut down Roddy White. Their defense was strong enough to shut him down and made Matt Ryan look for just one player. That was evident because Peele was open in the end zone a few times and Matt Ryan didn’t even look his way. He had tunnel vision for Gonzalez.

2. The Falcons played good defense (for a change.) It was nice seeing John Abraham getting a sack. It was nice seeing Brent Grimes get an interception. Oh, and speaking of Brent Grimes- he played a whale of a game! I always thought he showed flashes of what he can do, but he put it together yesterday (helped by the fact that Sanchez telegraphed a few passes. Brent Grimes just watched his eyes and anticipated the pass.) Even though the pass rush wasn’t stellar, the secondary was terrific, for a change.

3. Matt Ryan won the game. It was funny. I watched the replay of this game with my two sons- ages 9 and 11. When the Falcons lined up for that 4th down, they were both saying that Matt Ryan was going to Gonzalez. They were like “Ryan needs to find another outlet because they are going to swallow Gonzalez. There’s no way the Jets will allow Gonzalez to be open!” Lo and behold… Gonzalez was open, Ryan watched Gonzalez from scrimmage and just laid a nice pass to an open TE.

Nice play, but if my 9 year-old was the defensive coordinator for the Jets, Gonzalez wouldn’t have gotten the ball. But a win is a win.

4. That game was an ugly game. Dropped balls. Errant passes. Both offenses couldn’t move the ball. They kinda looked like the same team… offense- bad, defense-good. And the Jets aren’t a good team. It was 7-3 for 3 and 4/5th quarters. Ugly, ugly, game.

5. The win makes the Falcons a .500 team. They gotta win against teams that they should beat handily in order to have a “winning” season. (To me, the only “winning” season is a season that includes a postseason run, but I digress.) Watch out for the Bucs, though. They are getting better and better as time passes. If the Falcons beat the Bucs, there will be dancing in the streets in the ATL! Back-to-Back Winning Seasons, Baby! Take THAT, playoff-bound Michael Vick!!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

How bout that placekicker!! You da bomb dude………….!!

• Link
• Report this comment

now for a dose of reality……this team will go 6 – 10 next year…jamal anderson(bust), paria jerre( injury prone bust), ovie muhaley( highest paid FULLBACK in NFL history…..???for what, why??/&%!!…anyway, bust….tony gonzales( everybody knows all-pro TEs dont win championships…..(see recent NFL history)….. jerious norwood…(most talented offensive weapon…speed, great hands….relugated to spot play, thanks coach……OHHH gonzales just caught another pass, 10 yards, whhhooopee!!! john abraham(not affective anymore)…mike jenkins( career bust mostly)….basically, the last four/five years have been full of bad decisions thats gonna take about three years to fix.

• Link
• Report this comment

That’s a great discussion: What are your predictions for the Falcons next year? Since this season will be over in 2 weeks, we can go ahead and talk about it. Here are my thoughts:

I think the Falcons will be very good next season. I believe that this season served a good dose of reality that the Falcons will take into account in order to build upon. As a result, I believe that we will draft well and the pieces missing due to injury will come back strong.

For instance, I think that the Falcons know that Matt Ryan isn’t a superstar QB that can take over a game. He’s no Peyton Manning or Tom Brady or Drew Brees. The best that Ryan can be is a Tony Romo. That’s a good thing, because the Falcons will make sure that they put the face of the franchise in positions where he shines, and not in bad positions. Therefore I believe that the Falcons will get another WR threat downfield. And they will continue to teach Ryan how to use all of the weapons in clutch situations.

Here’s another thing that I think will happen. The Falcons will spend money and get them a shut-down corner. And Brent Grimes will improve.

They will draft D-linemen and O-linemen primarily.

The will integrate Jerious Norwood into the offense more.

Brian Finneran is done. (Even though he’s one of my favorite Falcons.)

Brian VanGorder will put more blitz packages into the defense.

All in all, the Falcons will make the playoffs winning about 11 or 12 games next year. The system will hold and Matt Ryan will even win a playoff game next year. (After that, they will lose in the next game.)

The bottom line? This year is significant because this is a learning year. The Falcons is a run-first team and they need to continue to build on it. They know that they need a playmaker on the other side of Roddy White, and either Harry Douglas will come back and fill that void, or they will get someone else to do so. (Michael Jenkins works best coming off the bench in 3rd and long situations.) And Matt Ryan is most comfortable when he isn’t asked to “win the game.” He works best when he can work methodically and not have to improvise outside the system.

And on defense, they will draft D-linemen and hire a good secondary. But they must continue to integrate the youngsters into the secondary because they are gettting better.

But all in all, things looks good for the Falcons in 2010.

P.S. For you Mike Vick fans, he’s going to a bad team next year, but won’t start until midseason. He may even go to a bad, dome team- like St. Louis. (St. Louis needs a new QB. Plus, they need to fill that Dome. And the draft is very light on QBs. Make sense, with the exception that the fan base might revolt. But if not St. Louis, the 49ers. Mike Singletary will have Vick calling him Daddy.

• Link
• Report this comment

I agree, looking at 2010 seems like a good idea right now. Here are some points on what I think we can expect to see.

1) Harry Douglas will come back and take over the #2 receiver spot. Jenkins has been around for a while, but never really developed into a good #2 man. I think next year, we can expect to see him relegated to being a third down receiver.

2) Jerious Norwood will no longer be a Falcon. He has been too snake bitten recently to be effective, and we’ll need a dynamic change of pace back that can stay healthy and play.

3) The defense will be much improved. The returns of Peria Jerry, William Moore, and Brian Williams will be very helpful, plus the draft this year is very deep on the defensive side of the ball. Sure, the Falcons don’t have a second round pick (right now), but the will get compensatory picks for Brooking, Foxworth, Boley, Milloy, and Jackson.

4) The schedule will not kill the Falcons. Save a complete collapse in the last two games and an improbable run by the Panthers, the Falcons will finish the season #2 in the NFC South. Unless the NFL adds more games, the Falcons schedule is pretty much set. They will host Carolina, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Arizona, St. Louis, Baltimore, Cincinnati, and (most likely) Green Bay. They will travel to Carolina, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, San Francisco, Seattle, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and whoever finishes 2nd the the NFC East. While dates and times are not yet set, it is hard to believe the NFL would give the Falcons 4 teams coming off of byes again, so expect a more middle of the road schedule.

With those points in mind, and barring any major injuries (Which this year has proven can cripple a team), I think the Falcons can win anywhere from 11 to 13 games next season. I also think New Orleans will fall back down to earth a bit (They will have a similar schedule to ours, except switch the home and road games and sub in Minnesota for Green Bay and the NFC East #1 for the NFC East #2). Carolina might improve, depending on there coach, GM, and QB situations, and Tampa Bay will probably be a middle of the road team. So in 2010, the NFC South and the playoffs should be within sight for the birds.

• Link
• Report this comment

Too bad about Mike Vick’s quad injury. Did four of his prison boyfriends get out and play to rough with him? Couldn’t have happened to a more deserving guy.

• Link
• Report this comment

Manny:

“And Brent Grimes will improve”?

Brent Grimes can only improve if he grows another 6 inches taller. This guy gives 110% every second of every play. If he weren’t so height challenged you would be looking at a Champ Bailey or Charles Woodson.

• Link
• Report this comment

The falcons had injuries and bad breaks all year. Matt Ryan will get it together next year and take Atlanta to the division title—bet on it!! He’s the best young QB in the league and the falcon management better give him a big raise and bonus to keep him happy, or he will start looking around soon.

• Link
• Report this comment

I agree with Jimmy O. Let us not forget 2005 and 2006 were two of the most disappointing, underachieving seasons in recent memory. You can blame Mike Vick for both seasons, but plenty of blame can be placed with Jim Mora and the Offensive Coordinator. Now if Dan Reeves could have remained as MV’s head coach, I think there is a strong possibility the Falcons could have reached the NFC Championship game more than once after 2003.

• Link
• Report this comment

Falcon Phil……………..lol, are you really Matty Ice?

Did you forget the 6 year $72 million contract you signed last year.

• Link
• Report this comment

Vick in 2010!

December 21st, 2009
8:12 am
Vick will be available for only a few mil in 2010—Blank needs to get out of his private box, call Vick and get him back to Atlanta—that’s the only hope for the franchise long term—an exciting QB who can make big plays. Scoring 10 points against the lowly jets is not going to win titles. Pay vick whatever he wants–he’ll be worth it!

“Well” according to the post interview on ESPN after the Eagles slaughter of the Falcons, it was said that Blank had invited Vick to his Mansion over the Summer – So you use your imagination about what they will talk about…. HA HA HA

• Link
• Report this comment

Jeff you said a mouthful: “…an already struggling quarterback into a pedestrian one.” Ryan was not paid $70 million to have a rating of 69. Ryan is NOT geting it done. The Falcons defense won this game. My 8 year old son could of led the Falcons to victory if the defense only allows 7 points. Yesterday, Ryan was just as instrumental in the win as the team wearing white jerseys… Unfortunately, most of our fanbase are clueless.

• Link
• Report this comment

That is the most idiotic blog entry I have ever seen. Seriously, EVER.

The Baltimore Ravens 2009 NFL strength of schedule was ranked 28th.

The Atlanta Falcons 2009 NFL strength of schedule was ranked 4th.

You went to a lot of trouble there fella to make a Non-Point. All but 4 AFC teams are essentially playing .500 ball. Whoop te do, big deal stats. If the Falcons were in the AFC they would be in the playoffs too.

• Link
• Report this comment

Excellent point “How about the Run D”

Falcons D held the Jets to under 100 yards rushing. The Jets lead the NFL in rushing.

• Link
• Report this comment

What was wrong with the B team announcers? Was Matt Ryan the place kicker? One of them even lost track of the score when the Falcons scored their go ahead touchdown.

• Link
• Report this comment

Sam, I heard the same thing…………..the announcer said the Falcons extra point would tie the game………..lol………!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

Sporty Black:

Laugh now,

Ryan “led the Falcons to victory” over the Jets.

• Link
• Report this comment

Schultz, sometimes I don’t understand if you’re a sports writer or a blog instigator. Ryan didn’t do this and Ryan didn’t do that, may that’s weak. Why don’t you mention first that the offensive line is not healthy, and that he’s got bench players running the ball. Also mention that most time his receivers either can’t shake free or quit on their routes. Oh you did finally mention the 40 mph wind gust that made most long passes an adventure. I really am tired of the constant discussion about QB’s and so little about how this “TEAM’S” failures to win games due to poor play of the “TEAM” offensively or defensively. Let’s not forget the wasted offensive plays yesterday on first down where the Falcons constantly ran up the middle for no gain. We may need more players for our team, but we need new writers that want to tell the story rather than starting every column with inflammatory subjects.

• Link
• Report this comment

Navigator, so I see you are figuring out how it works. If they didn’t “write to incite” (hey, I coined that, don’t rip me off) only “Choke” would be here.

• Link
• Report this comment

As a lifelong Falcons fan, most of you people disgust me.

I’ve never seen so much celebration of a team not quitting. That’s like celebrating your priest not molesting the alter boys. It kind of misses the obvious point that they aren’t supposed to quit. I can understand coming down on them when they do seem to give up, but all the joy and glee because they came to work and did their jobs is so weak.

I cannot believe you Redneck homers would actually spend this much time and energy propping up Matt Ryan’s broken pedestal. Any other QB that played that badly, would have been roasted all over the place. When Vick put up those kinds of passing numbers he was vilified as nothing more than a glorified running back (conveniently ignoring the fact that he had more than likely put up close to 75 yards rushing and picked up a few clutch 3rd down conversions-and 3rd down conversions rarely ever happen for the Falcons anymore). Now your savior has a crappy game, by almost any measure you want to use, and all we can do is make excuses for why he was so bad, and pretend that he looked like a world beater on the last drive of the game (which he most certainly did not)? It’s pathetic, it’s embarrassing, and unfortunately, it’s vintage Falcons football fan foolishness.

Defense won this game. but while everyone gives the Jets defense credit for playing a good game (can’t even count how many times Reevis was given defensive player of the year creds, when all he really did yesterday was recover well on several under thrown Matt Ryan passes yet fail to intercept any of them. Roddy had the man beat at least three times that I saw, and two of those times Ryan threw a really crappy pass, and the other time Ryan would have had to throw the ball more than 25 yards, which seems to be against some new rule that is only applied to Falcons starting QB’s, so of course he threw the ball away.

It’s certainly right and proper to celebrate any Falcons win. It’s dumb as hell to attribute the Jets scoring only 7 points to their bad rookie QB play, and in the same breath, pretend that our 10 points was a stunning showing of courage and triumph over all kinds of obstacles by our slumping 2nd year QB. If Reevis had a good game yesterday, then Grimes and DeCoud played like Pro-Bowlers.

It’s certainly right and proper to hope and pray for a winning season (playing for a good draft spot is also a loser mentality that has too often been a Falcons fan mainstay). It’s still complete B.S. to pretend like this team has done anything other than under-perform this year. And much of that isn’t on the players, it’s on the coaching staff for not putting the team in better positions to win games against Carolina, New England, Philadelphia, New York Giants, and when the Saints came marching in last week.

Every NFL team has injuries to key players. Every NFL team has to go out and play the game against whoever shows up on the other sideline every Sunday. Some of the teams with bad records this year have shown that they can compete on any given Sunday even against some of the strongest teams in the league. Stop making excuses Falcons fans, Expect more from the team, management, and the fan base, and you might actually get what you hope for. A credible team that comes to play and plays to win on the field and in the coaching box, every single week. Then we could spend less time talking about curses and more time talking about football around here.

• Link
• Report this comment

Hey, give the Falcon’s credit for getting the win. They could have mailed it in and they did not. The Jets defense is seriously tough. Their corners were very good.

• Link
• Report this comment

Choke

You are the king of switching names you little weasel.

I was never banned. It was an imposter(we think it was you, you have a history).

Did you see the apology from Schultz?

It was probably you at one of your little friends houses.

Don’t you need to go give your boyfriend his rub down?

You two can talk about killing dogs, you know how you have bragged about that abusing animals.

You suffer from rejection and low self esteem. You are a pitiful little immature coward.

• Link
• Report this comment

The Falcons overcame the poor playcalling once again to win. Nice job! Unlike the Mora/Vick years, this team has real chracter and it showed today..

• Link
• Report this comment

Matt “Choke” Ryan

December 21st, 2009
11:29 am

I want to make it clear I am not writing these entries. Someone is trying to make me look like
an idiot. I know that is not difficult to do but it really isn’t fair since that is about all I’ve got. I only support MV7 because he is somewhat intellectually challenged like myself and I somehow feel I succeed when he does. Actually, truth is, right now my leg hurts and I am not sure why. I know Matt Ryan is an excellent QB, just if I admitted it nobody would play with me. So please, do not write like you are me, don’t be me, and don’t be like Mike either.

• Link
• Report this comment

- Price to send a franchise backwards…. 72 million

- Number of playoff wins since 2007 ….. Zero

- The owner hugging the former franchise quarterback at mid field…

PRICELESS

• Link
• Report this comment

Ricky

December 21st, 2009
11:59 am
Choke, what is wrong with you. Do you not realize how stupid it makes you look to compare Ryan and Stucco?
********************************************************************************************

That is the most idiotic blog entry I have ever seen. Seriously, EVER.

The Baltimore Ravens 2009 NFL strength of schedule was ranked 28th.

The Atlanta Falcons 2009 NFL strength of schedule was ranked 4th.

You went to a lot of trouble there fella to make a Non-Point. All but 4 AFC teams are essentially playing .500 ball. Whoop te do, big deal stats. If the Falcons were in the AFC they would be in the playoffs too.

“BOO HOO HOO”

Would’ve……Could’ve……Should’ve………

This is not horse shoes and hand grinades………. HA HA HA

• Link
• Report this comment

Atlanta Falcons you have won your 7th game of the season and miss the playoffs, what are you going to do?

We are going to Disney Land

• Link
• Report this comment

After watching that game all you can come up with is Ryan’s rusty performance and how he led the Falcs to victory in the end?? How about the defense stuffing one of the best RB’s in the league ALL DAY LONG??? Seriously dude, Ryan this and Ryan that. How many games has the Defense won us this year? The answer is 1 and it happened yesterday. Again I ask you Schultz, WHAT THE F?!

The DEFENSE won that game yesterday dude, what the hell were YOU watching?

• Link
• Report this comment

Good bye “Throw up”, your existence certainly puts you at the high end of the slug and snail class, Gastropoda. Congratulations.

• Link
• Report this comment

WITH NO PLAYOFFS HOPE IN SIGHT!!!!

Is it me? Or is it Coach Smith? Shouldn’t the Falcons sit Turner the Burner until his ankle fully heal!!!

COME ON COACH SMITH LET TURNER HEAL!!! SAVE YOUR PREMIER RUNNING BACK FOR NEXT SEASON!!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

Jesus why all the Falcon haters? The defense was awesome. Remember the offense did score a touchdown on the Jets defense. That is something that had not happened for a while. With the cold and the injuries, any other Falcons team would have lost that game. This is a much tougher schedule this year, all these teams coming off of bye weeks, let’s face it, this was a tough schedule. We won a game, I know we aren’t going to the playoffs but I was born here and have always cheered for the Falcons and last time I checked, winning a game was something to be happy about. Call me old fashioned but I cheered when they scored the go ahead touchdown with just over a minute left against the leagues best defense in their place. Doesn’t matter who threw it, doesn’t matter who caught it. They were both Falcons. If you don;t like the Falcons, why are you on this blog?

• Link
• Report this comment

What the hell does Vick have to do with this? I’m tired of hearing all of B.S. these lame PETA folks talking about Vick like he was the only damn one. Do us all a damn favor, leave the man alone, he’s back, get over it, and go do your damn job and catch some dogfighters. Falcons might just finish 9-7 but that’s just not good enough with the potential. Blank needs to recruit some coaches cause this coaching squad is a disaster.

• Link
• Report this comment

DHunt..WELL SAID

• Link
• Report this comment

Regarding the Falcons: WHO CARES!

Not me.

• Link
• Report this comment

Teams our starting to figure little mattie out. There is nothing special about this guy.

• Link
• Report this comment

Ryan shows rust? He’s been rusty all season long. This kid has some growing to do before all of you anoint him the next Brady or Manning.

• Link
• Report this comment

Gamer

December 21st, 2009
1:10 pm
WITH NO PLAYOFFS HOPE IN SIGHT!!!!

Is it me? Or is it Coach Smith? Shouldn’t the Falcons sit Turner the Burner until his ankle fully heal!!!

COME ON COACH SMITH LET TURNER HEAL!!! SAVE YOUR PREMIER RUNNING BACK FOR NEXT SEASON!!!!

Turner is being sacrificed. His ankle may never fully heal with these asanine actions.

• Link
• Report this comment

Its really a shame that the Falcons acted so RACIST towards Vick after Vick paid his debt to society. The only organization that would open their hearts and checkbooks to Vick were Jeff Laurie (owner of Eagles) and Andy Reid. The Falcons could have used Vick when Ryan went down for the count. Vick would have stabilized things and probably gotten us into the playoffs like hes done for Philly. Thanks to Arthur Blank, Vick will soon be getting fitted for a superbowl championship ring AS SOON AS THE EAGLES FLY AND SOAR HIGH TO A SUPERBOWL CHAMPIONSHIP VICK-tory.

• Link
• Report this comment

Ryan is a second teir QB that just the fact. look at his numbers. ints 12 passer rating 79. He is a punk under pressure melts when heat is applied. hope ? to some . punk to most!!! Gm bust look at this yers draft picks need I say more!!

• Link
• Report this comment

Mike Vick Named: 2009 EAGLES COURAGE AWARD WINNER

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Biggs-Vick-receives-courage-award-from-Eagles.html

Not bad for a backup quarterback…… HA HA

And the CHOKE was named………….

2009 FALCONS “CHOKE” of the year

• Link
• Report this comment

vick’s last year he had 1039 yards rushing and 20 TD passing 2 rushing . all Facts! No other QB has done that in the history of the Game none in one season!!

• Link
• Report this comment

When you have sportswriters like Bradley & Leedbetter celebrating the possibility of a non playoff season, just as they break a meaningless back to back winning season, it is no wonder this City is so pathetic.

Who cares if you win 9 games, when you are out of the playoffs with 3 games to play?

The mentality in this town is one of insecurity and low self-esteem. Baltimore on the other hand are headed to their 2nd straight post season, further showing the Falcons drafted a JOKE and a CHOKE.

• Link
• Report this comment

Hmmmm . . . .. . last 10 or so blogs have the smell of another one Poster monologue . …..but I don’t want to be termed “sanctimonious blog police” again . . . .or was that “Once” Sanctimonious Blog Police. Alas . . …it is further proof that Certain Pro-Vick along with Anti-Ryan Fans are steadfast as are Pro-Ryan Fans along with Anti-Vick Fans . . . . and the twain shall never meet:)

• Link
• Report this comment

Vick Suppertor and Matt “Choke” Ryan bloggers: I dont know how you folks can support Mike Vick. Vick is the laughingstock of the nfl and he has overcome a great deal, however, he brought these problems on himself and deserves whatever heckling he gets. According to you dummies, Vick should be the starting quarterback in the pro bowl this year for ammasing 137 total yards of offense with one passing td and two rushing tds. Vick should also be made the MVP of the league this season and should be enshrined as a hall of famer for basically being a bum. Vick will never amount to much, hes done very little, and you can rest assured he will be kicked out of the league soon enough. Merry Christmas Matt “Choke” Ryan bloggers and Vick Supporter Blogers. Ya’ll are wasting your time on someone who is a complete joke.

• Link
• Report this comment

PLAYOFF WATCH:

We have a Joe Flacco Watch………….

CHOKE where are you?

• Link
• Report this comment

Is there a owner in the NFL with Balls to Give vick tools in Player (asQB)? To Prove The sport media wrong I dare ya!!

• Link
• Report this comment

What happened to the dynasty

• Link
• Report this comment

* michael vick

• Link
• Report this comment

WE LOVE MR.MICHAEL VICK……

• Link
• Report this comment

Hey, Nativebird or DUMB_SS, apparently you attended a Falcon game when Vick was soaring. Matt Ryan never won a big game in College or Pros. He beat VT with a game winning drive, but then, through 3 intercerptions in the ACC championship game. He sucked then and now!

• Link
• Report this comment

One thing I can’t stand is a smelly “Atlanta Peach”. Especially those ghetto tricks that are too illiterate to use proper grammar and spelling

• Link
• Report this comment

The Tampa Bay rookie qb Josh Freeman has done TWICE what the CHOKE in his 2nd season has FAILED to do – beat an ELITE TEAM!

• Link
• Report this comment

Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Vick wins Ed Block Courage Award
Michael Vick has won an award.

The Eagles announced this morning that Vick’s teammates have voted him as this year’s recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award, which is given annually to a player who exemplifies commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage.

“I’ve had to overcome a lot, more than probably one single individual can bear,” Vick said. “Take a look at what I’ve been through. You ask certain people to walk in my shoes, they probably couldn’t do it — probably 95 percent of the people in this world. Because nobody had to endure what I’ve been through — situations I’ve been put in, situations I’ve placed myself in, decisions that I’ve made — whether they were good or bad. There are always consequences behind certain things and there are repercussions behind them, too. Then you have to wake up every day and face the world, whether they perceive you in the right perspective or it’s a totally different outlook on you.”

Eagles coach Andy Reid said the vote was a unanimous one. Actually, it wasn’t. Vick said he had a vote and that he didn’t cast his for himself.

“I won’t say who I voted for,” Vick said.

Reid was asked if he was worried about how the award would be interpreted in light of Vick’s past. In case you just awoke from a 3-year coma, Vick served 18 months in a federal prison for his role in running a dogfighting ring, was released in the summer and signed not long after by the Eagles amid a storm of controversy.

“I’m not sure you can explain it, unless you’ve kind of gone through it here with him,” Reid said. “Everybody is going to have their opinion on it I’m sure. Until you’ve been with him for the hours that his teammates have been with him and seen him through all these different things that he’s had to go through, that time-tested part of it, you can’t appreciate it.

“I don’t expect everybody to understand it. I think it’s a tribute when it’s a slam dunk by his teammates voting him that. It was an unanimous vote. It’s not something that we as coaches … or anybody else promotes. We don’t sit there and promote a player to win the award. It’s picked by the players and only by the players.”

• Link
• Report this comment

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

2010 PRO BOWL

Wow, I saw Peyton on the list but didn’t see “Peyton-II” or “Eli-II”

Not a single Falcons player on the list – PATHETIC

• Link
• Report this comment

The Falcons and the Braves both are not serious about winning. They are just serious about their franchises making money. Both franchises could care less about their fans and bringing them championships. The Falcons in the pre-season released or let go of defensive talent that would have enabled them to make the playoffs and contend for a superbowl (despite the woes of Ryans sophmore season and Elams chip shot misses). The Braves just got rid of maybe (arguably) the BEST PITCHER IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE in Vasquez. How do you do something that stupid? Vasquez will win the Cy Young award this season. The Braves are making so much money they could care less about bringing a champsionship. I wont support either franchise until they get new front offices.

• Link
• Report this comment

Belated Christmas Present to Matt “Choke” Bloggers AND Vick Supporter Bloggers: As a fellow blogger pointed out earlier, Vick will probably get sweet revenge on the Falcons this season if the Eagles WIN the superbowl. This way, Vick will get fitted for his “Vince Lombardi superbowl trophy” ring AND Vick should end up in the hall of fame for his improbable, historic 1000 yard rushing season as a qb, despite maybe also getting enshrined in the “Dogfighters Hall of Fame” no doubt. Stay tuned.

• Link
• Report this comment

Everybody is upset that nobody from the SORRY Falcons made the pro bowl – like that is a big surprise or something

Last season the LOSER fans were saying how the CHOKE made Roddy a pro bowler, even though he managed his 1st 1,000 season without him, but now Roddy didn’t make it and Tony G missed his 1st pro bowl thanks to the CHOKE.

Nobody respects the Falcons because they knew the day that Vick was no longer a Falcon, the team became IRREVELANT, just like they were before he was drafted

When Vick made the pro bowl in 3 out 4 seasons, all you IDIOTS were saying that was no major accomplishment, yet nobody on the ENTIRE team was selected on the roster

I thought the team had Peyton II & Eli II on the team

This franchise is now mediocre and the NFL shows them NO RESPECT

• Link
• Report this comment

ZeussRichardson

3 Words……………

Stay

Off

Crack

• Link
• Report this comment

[...] games have great story lines. In the AFC, the New York Jets haven’t lost a game since losing to the Falcons last month. (Afterward, the distraught Jets coach, Rex Ryan, said: “This obviously is t0ugh because now [...]

• Link
• Report this comment