Sunshine time: Dancin’ Falcon; Wren’s move; D-Wade’s exit?
The Hawks have lost two straight. The Braves have lost seven straight. I think it’s time to lighten things up a little, don’t you?
So here’s our first “Sunshine Blog” — three things to feel happy about!
1. A Falcons’ receiver has some moves! (Kinda, sorta.)
The Falcons need a strong second receiver behind Roddy White. I’m not sure if Ryan Wolfe is the answer but at least we know he can dance a little.
Wolfe, who was signed as an undrafted free agent this week, led UNLV in receiving last year with 74 receptions for 760 yards and two touchdowns. More importantly, he and a UNLV teammate appeared in this ESPN/Kenny Mayne comedy short with Justin Timberlake last October.
In the bit, Timberlake is teaching potential NFL players to brush up on their entertainment skills for teams’ traditional rookie shows in training camp. Wolfe is No. 88.
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2. Frank Wren made the right on Javier Vazquez!
Life as a Yankee hasn't been good for Javy Vazquez.
As many problems as the Braves have had, Wren’s decision to re-sign Tim Hudson and deal Javier Vazquez to the New York Yankees was the right call, even if what came back for Vazquez (Melky Cabrera and prospect Arodys Vizcaino) isn’t much for a front-line starter who went 15-10 with a 2.87 ERA last year.
Hudson has looked strong since coming back from surgery late last season and this year is 1-1 with a 3.28 ERA in four starts, with opponents hitting .233. Vazquez is 1-3 with a 9.00 ERA with opponents hitting .309, and he is being booed at Yankee Stadium (which, granted, doesn’t put him in exclusive company).
He also was thrown under the bus by former pitcher Curt Schilling, who referenced Vazquez’ first time as a Yankee. “It is easier to pitch and be successful in the National League than it is the American League,” Schilling said on a New York radio station. “If anyone thinks that Javier Vazquez is going to be different the second time around than he was the first time I think they are fooling themselves.”
More Schilling: “I never ever thought the move to New York the first time was a good one [for Vazquez]. And I didn’t think this [move] was good as well. I don’t think he suddenly learned how to pitch when he went back to Atlanta and dealt last year. He’s a phenomenal National League pitcher. It’s hard to say this without sounding disrespectful and I don’t mean it that way — the National League is an easier league to pitch in, period. And some guys aren’t equipped to get those same outs in the American League, and he’s one of those guys.”
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3. Dwyane Wade almost officially can be yours (for a price)!
Was this Dwyane Wade's final post-game hug with Miami?
It doesn’t seem likely the Hawks, should they choose not to re-sign Joe Johnson in free agency, would have a strong shot at signing Dwyane Wade. But Wade may have played his final game with the Miami Heat Tuesday night.
Miami was eliminated by Boston and Wade is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Wade on his future: “I have no control over that. I hope it doesn’t end, but I really have no say-so.”
Wade is said to be leaning toward staying in Miami but he clearly is putting the onus on management to fix the team: “We’ve got some work to do, the front office has to do it, and there’s no pressure on me.”
So, do you have you sunny thoughts on D-Wade?
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Recent posts
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122 comments Add your comment
hiramsaint
April 28th, 2010
3:58 pm
matty slush, smitty and blank—- looks like another WINNING season..yipeeeeee!!!
Jeff Schultz
April 28th, 2010
3:59 pm
“Choke” … Here’s a link to stats: Ravens were 3rd, Falcons were 21st.
http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?tabSeq=2&defensiveStatisticCategory=GAME_STATS&conference=ALL&role=OPP&season=2009&seasonType=REG&d-447263-s=TOTAL_YARDS_GAME_AVG&d-447263-o=1&d-447263-n=1
Jeff Schultz
April 28th, 2010
4:00 pm
“Choke” — But I’ll give you the numbers on Flacco vs. Ryan. I like Flacco a lot, always have. Time will tell which is the better QB.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
April 28th, 2010
4:18 pm
MIKE VICK CAREER STATS:
Passing tds: 72
Passing int: 52
Rushing tds: 23
Total tds: 95
Rest of stats:
http://www.nfl.com/players/michaelvick/careerstats?id=VIC311467
Matt "Choke" Ryan
April 28th, 2010
4:23 pm
MATT “CHOKE” RYAY CAREER STATS:
Passing tds: 38
Passing int: 25
Rushing tds: 2
Total tds: 40
Rest of stats:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/stats?playerId=11237
hiramsaint
April 28th, 2010
4:55 pm
so whats your complaint about matty slush ? he’s the perfect qb for another WINNING season!
JSS
April 28th, 2010
5:18 pm
The real comparison is not between Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan in terms of statistics. Sans the Super Bowl victories, it is between Flacco and what Tom Brady over a 3 year period over the first three years. Flacco is only doing bizarre things that Brady and Roethlisberger have pulled off in the first 2 years as a starter for completions, yardage, and touchdown ratio. Now Ben has been a INT. machine, but he’s a winner on the field. he’s a sleaze off of it. Folks, Matt Ryan has never thrown for 3,500 passing yards. That is a benchmark, Flacco and Brady did so in year 2 (as starters), and the Pittsburgh OB pulled it off in year 3… What Flacco does this year will the line setter for me.
JSS
April 28th, 2010
5:20 pm
“will be the line setter”
JSS
April 28th, 2010
5:35 pm
@HiramSaints
I’m going to compliment Drew Brees (Breesus as you folks call him). His last 5 years were in Graham, Montana and Fouts territory… Not just over 4,000 yds once, but since the day he hit town!
Mitchell
April 28th, 2010
7:09 pm
Curt Schilling is a massive tool. Not to mention a douche.
You knew this would happen though. Everybody could predict Javy would have trouble going back to New York and adjusting to American League hitters and that BS DH.
The Braves couldn’t afford him. It’s as simple as that. Wren shouldn’t get credit for the move even if on the surface it looks like a savvy decision.
Yes, he had a career year but he’s still one of the best in the game. We’d be so much better off with him than Lowe but that’s how it goes these days.
I do like Frank. I’m not hatin’ on him as they say. The made moves last year that gave the team every chance to make the playoffs and Bobby effed it up.
The Braves of July, August and September ‘09 would absolutely murder the current collection of individuals in Braves jerseys. Not even a contest.
Kristeen
April 28th, 2010
7:17 pm
DWADE needs to stay put in Miami. He belongs with that team.
Big Ray
April 28th, 2010
7:33 pm
Here’s the idiocy in the “Flacco vs. Ryan” argument (which shouldn’t exist, but a certain moron just won’t let it go)-
Draft picks are paid according to their draft position. It would have cost us just as much to draft Flacco at #3 as it would have Ryan. We could have waited and drafted Flacco later, but would he have been there when our second turn came around? No. We would have had to trade down to get him, and the possibility still existed that he would have been picked before we could make our pick.
So the whole argument is stupid to begin with.
Flacco had a much better defense to lean on. Ryan did not. Flacco has a stronger arm, that’s about it. If you must remain a flea on Flacco’s jock, why can’t you do it on a Ravens blog? Like Jeff said earlier, too much logic for some people’s tastes…
Big Ray
April 28th, 2010
7:38 pm
I fail to understand why we’re suprised that Ryan doesn’t throw for 4,000 yards on a team that has REPEATEDLY SAID AND PROVEN THAT THEY ARE A RUNNING TEAM .
I’m not making excuses for Ryan, he doesn’t have the stats of some other guys like Flacco. Good for Flacco. The Ravens don’t even play on our side of the League, much less in our division. Ain’t worried about them. The Saints are a different matter. Brees, watch out for the Spoon. He’s got a piece of turf with your name on it, biatch..
hiramsaint
April 28th, 2010
9:01 pm
big ray– i guess you haven’t watched brees but he usually gets rid of the ball before anyone gets to him . how do you figure some rookie is gonna do it. anyway, good luck to the falcons and another WINNING season. they can celebrate again this year like last year by watching the playoffs from thier own comfy sofas
FF Falcon 1
April 28th, 2010
9:36 pm
Matty Ryan will be hurt again this year, and miss 4-5 games. The falcons will be lucky to make the playoffs. They should try to bring back vick as a backup—but it will cost big money.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
April 28th, 2010
9:56 pm
Poor Little Ray – ha ha ha
It’s not Flacco’s fault he has a “REAL” gm and not a Belichek left over
Didn’t your mamma tell you if you can’t win an argument, that name calling only makes you appear to be even more irrevelent………. ha ha ha
1, 2, 3 years from now, you will be using the same tired excuses….. ha ha ha
We shall see when the Ravens play the hapless Falcons who the Falcons should have drafted………. ha ha ha
Matt "Choke" Ryan
April 28th, 2010
9:59 pm
It has been 6 years since the Falcons……………..
- Won a playoff game
- Won a division title
- Been to the championship game
- Sent their qb to the pro bowl
In Baltimore that is considered being a loser
Pat
April 28th, 2010
10:57 pm
“Najeh — Well, that’s an interesting discussion. Sign and trades involving Joe-and-Wade. OK. Let’s take Smith and Horford off the table. Who WOULDN’T you throw into that deal with JJ?
The only players I would consider untouchable would be Horford, Smith and Crawford. JJ is good, but he’s a Robin and the Hawks desperately need a Batman.
The Braves have officially become an embarassment–not just because of the 8 game losing streak, but because of the lack of focus, apparent desire to actually compete and generally amaturish play.
MitchC
April 28th, 2010
11:52 pm
Jeff, Wren should be fired, bottom line. A team in as deep a funk as the Braves are in has to do something. I was very unhappy tonight when I read that Wren said there are no moves immenent. How long is he going to wait?
As for Vazquez, who knows about that? Maybe he did just have a career season in 09, but, if the Yankees win the World Series in 2010, and the Braves don’t make the playoffs, it wont much matter, will it?
As for the Hawks signing D Wade. I dont know if that will happen. It would be nice, but I see him going somewhere more.. marquee. Maybe.. to the Knicks. (Even though they stink) The Hawks are a solid, young team. Its too bad they havent shown that in the last three games against the Bucks.
I think the Hawks are going down in Game Six, and I think the Braves season is in serious danger of going down the drain, unless they either start hitting, or Wren does something, very, very, soon.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
April 29th, 2010
1:05 pm
Sorry CHOKE hopefuls – still no playoffs AGAIN
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/385333-2010-nfl-predictions-post-draft
Maybe next year………. ha ha ha
Maxx
April 29th, 2010
5:09 pm
Let JJ go and sign Wade! Fire Woody, hire Mark Jackson, release Bibby and Randolph Morris, trade Marvin for someone like C.J. Watson, draft a 7ft Center like Solomon Alabi or Jerome Jordan, get some quality role players and we’ll be ready to go! Or keep the band together sans Woody, and sign Bosh!
ryan
May 2nd, 2010
8:34 pm
This is why i think D . Wade could end up in the ATL reason 1 he wants to make it to the 2nd round of the playoffs and the Hawks have done that in 3 seasons reason 2 Rick Sund might be able to pull a sign and trade deal with Joe Johnson. Reason 3 D. Wade would not have to be the main guy if he came here. So can happen!