Draft night (LIVE): Behind the scenes at Falcons’ HQ
FLOWERY BRANCH — I’ve arrived at Falcons’ Draft Central.
Actually, more like Falcons’ Draft South of Central. The media is on the first floor of the team’s offices. Arthur Blank, Thomas Dimitroff, Mike Smith and everybody who really matters in the front office is on the second floor. This affords the executive branch privacy during important matters such as NFL drafts and national security. I also have this theory that Dimitroff controls a trap door that will open directly above me, dropping a barbell on my head if I question one of his selections (because I’m also sure the room is bugged. Just remember: You’re not really paranoid if everybody’s out to get you).
Before getting into draft, here’s a little peak into where I am:
NFL teams have their "war room." We in the media have our "bunker." As you can see, it's a buzz of activity.
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I stopped at Chick-fil-A on the way. Figured the Falcons would serve us pizza. Didn't know they would actually cater the evening with, "Italian Marinated Grilled Chicken." And yes, I'll eat again.
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This is the AJC's signal-caller for the draft, D-Led. There's a story behind the green jacket. He played in coach Mike Smith's annual golf tournament and was voted the winner (loser?) of the Worst Swing Award. Strict rules mandated Ledbetter wear the jacket tonight.
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This is Reggie Roberts, the Falcons' vice president of football communications. By the time he gets finished with the news release, the Falcons will have drafted eight future Hall of Famers.
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OK, back to my keyboard. The Falcons, barring trades, will have eight selections over three days: one in the first (19); two in the third (83, 98); one in the fourth (117); two in the fifth (149, 165) and two in the sixth (171, 189). The fact they don’t have a second-round pick has prompted speculation that Dimitroff may try to swing a deal to get into the round.
There are no new rumors regarding the Falcons, just re-cast versions of the old ones. I still think it will be one of the five players we’ve discussed: center-guard Maurkice Pouncey, defensive end Brandon Graham, outside linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, wide receiver Demaryius Thomas and tight end Jermaine Gresham. I think it’s safe to say that, except for Gresham, whomever they draft will be ticketed for a starting job.
Oh, and I’m still not buying that Derrick Morgan will drop to 19th.
Nationally, the only new news is several outlets are reporting that the chances of the Pittsburgh Steelers dealing Ben Roethlisberger are close to dead.
That’s it for now. I’ll be back shortly.
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Earlier posts
♦ Draft day (Part II): Tebow top 15, Morgan to Falcons?
♦ Draft day (Part I): Falcon options; Berry rips Deion; Tebow to Vikes?
♦ Even with loss, Braves show they’re not going away
♦ Live blog: Braves go for two over Phillies (and maybe a sign)
♦ Goodell had no choice but to suspend Roethlisberger
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718 comments Add your comment
HugoStiglitz
April 22nd, 2010
9:50 pm
Congrats Bay Bay. Denver got a great player.
Slip1knot
April 22nd, 2010
9:51 pm
I wish we could have traded down and gotten a second round pick.
MAP
April 22nd, 2010
9:51 pm
I like the pick. But it ain’t over.
Scott
April 22nd, 2010
9:51 pm
To all the Bulaga fanboys…if you’d been paying attention over the last few weeks people have been questioning him majorly…now I’m not saying the guy sucks..but people that get paid to do this stuff for a living had concerns on him…and seeing as how he’s still on the board…apparently the Falcons aren’t the only ones passing on him.
Pi$$onaDAWG
April 22nd, 2010
9:51 pm
To TRUE LARRY
Eddie Cook
April 22nd, 2010
9:51 pm
There goes Bulaga
WW
April 22nd, 2010
9:51 pm
“A” with McClain, OLB pick.
Took one of the best players on the board, because the other choices were gone.
Looks like he can intercept the ball too.
Rod
April 22nd, 2010
9:51 pm
Falcons missed this guy, Bulaga
Slip1knot
April 22nd, 2010
9:51 pm
Glad we got Spoon though I think we could have gotten him a few picks lower.
mgdawg
April 22nd, 2010
9:51 pm
Weatherspoon, someone needs to go to DOL’s house and make sure he’s ok. You do not know how happy I was when pouncey was drafted, I don’t think that head turning that he was doing in the LSU game will work in the pros.
drew
April 22nd, 2010
9:51 pm
i like the spoon pick but what happened to kindle. why is he falling, why didnt we take him? wish we could have traded down though. oh well. oh and thank god we didnt get pouncey, i know d-led was upset about that one. well you just have to go to pittsburgh to suck him off now. follow him please!
JSS
April 22nd, 2010
9:52 pm
@Supes…
NO WAY that the Broncos take him (Dez Bryant) after the Brandon Marshall years!
Big L
April 22nd, 2010
9:52 pm
That is a genius pick by Green Bay. Monster to protect Rogers.
Say what?
April 22nd, 2010
9:52 pm
Oh well, Buluga is gone
atl xmen
April 22nd, 2010
9:52 pm
add up stafford and moreno’s pay check and add up derrick and bey bey pay check and see if they think they are even,,=)
Supes
April 22nd, 2010
9:52 pm
There goes Bulaga to the Pack…good pick for Green Bay. He’ll fit right in there. Also man handled Derrick Morgan in the Orange Bowl for Iowa. Do Tenn and Green Bay play this year? Book another domination for Bulaga if those 2 meet again.
MAP
April 22nd, 2010
9:53 pm
WOOOOOOOOOOOOSIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Not Don Waddell
April 22nd, 2010
9:53 pm
What the hell did Reggie White win before he got to play with Favre? NFL championships are won by teams with great QB’s. The Falcons have one, but are not surrounding him with an elite offensive line.
OLB has no value compared to OT. there is really no comparison of value. Hopefully, Hacksaw Reynolds is ready to start at LT next year when Sam Baker gets hurt again. Hope that Chris Redman is ready to start a few games.
michael
April 22nd, 2010
9:53 pm
all moot, we are not on the boards till third round……ya think there is gonna be anything to pick up there??
Rod
April 22nd, 2010
9:54 pm
I agree Big L. Monster pick by Green Bay to protect the franchise QB. Falcons missed out on this animal.
Dawgs2010
April 22nd, 2010
9:54 pm
What was up with Pouncey’s girlfriend/baby momma? She had to weight as much as him. Nasty white chick!
Delbert D.
April 22nd, 2010
9:54 pm
The problem with these Iowa guys is that they played against the Big 10, and then Tech’s lousy D in the Orange Bowl.
Whopper Dawg
April 22nd, 2010
9:54 pm
Ledbetter is an idiot. What woeful mock drafts he had for the Falcons. And he is the beat writer? Must be covering another team.
BigTimeTechFan
April 22nd, 2010
9:54 pm
Here comes tebow pick
david
April 22nd, 2010
9:54 pm
Yes,where are the beloved bulldogs in the draft?Seems like Florida is everywhere in this first round.chomp,chomp.
Supes
April 22nd, 2010
9:54 pm
JSS,
except that Marshall’s issues were attitude on the field and toward the coaching staff. Dez Bryant was an NCAA violation. Nobody ever questioned his on the field attitude and or if he works good with his coaches.
mgdawg
April 22nd, 2010
9:54 pm
BTW tech fans, last year our first round guys went first and twelth, your guys went 16th and 22nd. We all know which is better.
Jim Mora Jr.
April 22nd, 2010
9:55 pm
Eff.
That’s my grade of the pick and my opinion of the Falcons judgment. What sounds better? The Missouri Falcons or the Atlanta Tigers?
Hot
April 22nd, 2010
9:55 pm
First WR drafted comes from a TO school. Way to go DT!
Willy T
April 22nd, 2010
9:55 pm
I said last year the Falcons should not have traded a second rounder for Gonzalez. Nothing against him, but you don’t trade the future for a guy you might have for 2-3 years. Oh well, maybe they can still get in the 2nd round, but might have to give up a lot.
Bryan
April 22nd, 2010
9:55 pm
Tebow to the Vikes
extremus
April 22nd, 2010
9:56 pm
Still a lot of picks to go; I’d say before they’re done the Falcons will in some way address the needs on the offensive and defensive lines.
Alphare
April 22nd, 2010
9:56 pm
What did Oklahoma win this year that they deserve 4 players in the 1-round already?
bigdawg
April 22nd, 2010
9:56 pm
Oh well, my work day is done!
Catch y’all tomorrow!
JB
April 22nd, 2010
9:56 pm
Only thing I hate here is we might not take a flyer on Rennie Curran later in the draft. He is a football player and a great kid.
Toole
April 22nd, 2010
9:58 pm
I like the pick, but was hoping we could trade back and pick-up another selection in 2nd, 3rd, or 4th round. Maybe we will strengthen our interior lines.
Tim Tebow's Tears
April 22nd, 2010
9:58 pm
White and Jenkins are soft. Falcons are going to regret passing on Bay Bay. Write that down.
Not Don Waddell
April 22nd, 2010
9:58 pm
Broncos’ coachesare going to sh*t themselves when they ask BeBe to run an in-route and he just sort of blankly stares at them.
BigTimeTechFan
April 22nd, 2010
9:58 pm
NE trading down, know they can get Tebow later, very smart
Delbert D.
April 22nd, 2010
9:59 pm
Georgia 1st rounders in 2009 lost to Tech, Tech’s 1st rounders in 2010 lost to Georgia. I don’t think that is of any significance.
Mr. Phil
April 22nd, 2010
9:59 pm
Dez Bryant a Cowboy! WOW!
Say what?
April 22nd, 2010
9:59 pm
maybe this Dez Bryant thing will give some guys cause to act responsibly. Great talent, suspect character.
Tron5000
April 22nd, 2010
9:59 pm
Hey Larry, re: Matt Ryan, I “really, truly knew at the time.” I saw him destroy GT. I saw the comeback. The VT game. I said all along I wanted the Falcons to draft him. Heck, I even would’ve traded up to #1 to do it. So, yes, some people did know. Including the Falcons brass. Obviously you were not one of those people.
Delbert D.
April 22nd, 2010
9:59 pm
I love it. Dez Bryant goes to Jerry Jones. They deserve each other.
Big L
April 22nd, 2010
10:00 pm
Of course Dallas takes Dez. Jerry loves a head case.
rduck
April 22nd, 2010
10:00 pm
Dez Bryant to the Cowboys. Thug U in the NFL!!!
Eddie Cook
April 22nd, 2010
10:00 pm
Trade back? Draft an OL instead of an OLB? Draft Thomas or Bryant? In the long run, does it really matter at this point. I mean everything is speculative. We don’t know how any of these guys will pan out. If you do know how all of them will pan out, I want you to pick stocks and bonds for my portfolio.
In any case all I really care about is that the Falcons make the playoffs and make a run to Super Bowl. Who they draft is not really a big concern. It’s just a nice way to pass the time.
By the way, to the person who suggested the Falcons passed on drafting Calvin Johnson, how exactly did that happen? He was picked second overall by the Lions. Were the Falcons supposed to pull a Ditka and trade all of their picks to go up and get him?
JoD
April 22nd, 2010
10:00 pm
Please no midgets, dont draft Curran. We need players, not actors!
Not Don Waddell
April 22nd, 2010
10:00 pm
Wow, look at what Dez Bryant is wearing. Whoever picks him might-as-well take a stack of hundred dollar bills pour a gallon of gas on them and throw a match on them.
Pi$$onaDAWG
April 22nd, 2010
10:00 pm
DALLAS the new OKLAND RAIDERS. Too much Money Not NUFF Brains and a JACKA$$ for an OWNER. HHAHHhhhHhH DEZ will be ARRESTED before the calander turns to 2011