Michael Turner finally admitting the obvious: He was fat

A slimmer Michael Turner helps Matt Ryan and the Falcons (Curtis Compton/AJC)

A slimmer Michael Turner helps Matt Ryan (Curtis Compton/AJC).

Michael Turner has been just like one of us when it comes to weight gain. He denies it.

He denied throughout last season that he was a step slower — before his ankle injury — because he was out of shape. Coaches and team officials stayed mum on the subject. His fans thought the media (like me) was being too hard on him. Then this offseason, Turner started to concede there might have been a problem. In a Q-and-A with our Darryl Ledbetter, he said: “I’m still the same [weight], it just looks different. I just moved it around a little bit to all the right places.”

Yes, moved it around. Who among us haven’t been trying to “move around” 10 pounds for years? Does insurance cover “move it around” surgery?

But here’s the good news: The more interviews Turner does, the closer he comes to actually saying, “I was a porkpie.”

He just flogged himself, relatively speaking, in a story with SI.com’s Jim Trotter. The meat of the story (so to speak):

“If you go back and look at some pictures of me from last year at this time, I probably looked big — a lot bigger than normal. I was heavy, too heavy. It was hard for me to overcome.”

Turner didn’t need the photos to know he was well past the 250 pounds that appeared next to his name on the roster. He knew things had changed when he struggled to pull his practice jersey over his midsection. It wasn’t as bad as a woman falling on her back and wiggling her way into a pair of jeans that are two sizes too small, but it was close.

The extra weight wasn’t the primary reason Turner ran for only 871 yards last season — a high ankle sprain was the leading culprit. It sidelined him for five games and parts of two others. Still Turner believes the added weight didn’t help him, which is why he reported for offseason workouts this year at a legitimate 250.

I’ve been high on the Falcons going into next season, Turner is the biggest reason why, even more than the improved defense and the expected bounce-back year by quarterback Matt Ryan. Remember, two years ago, when Turner finished second in the league in rushing with 1,699 yards and the Falcons went 11-5, Ryan was a rookie and the defense was a wreck.

A running game helps everybody.

In this case, so does confession.

Follow me on Twitter @JeffSchultzAJC and Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC

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97 comments Add your comment

SOUTH GA DAWG FAN

June 23rd, 2010
10:19 am

BigCaliDawg

June 23rd, 2010
10:20 am

Hope he keeps it up.

I thought you knew……

SOUTH GA DAWG FAN

June 23rd, 2010
10:21 am

turner lost the weight or turned it to muscle but can norwood lose the injury bug ?

lanier

June 23rd, 2010
10:25 am

Hope is stays effective and healthy cause he is all they got.

NC Braves Fan

June 23rd, 2010
10:30 am

Turner to Matt Ryan: “Does this practice jersey make me look fat?”

Matt Ryan: “Umm, errr, uhhhh, not at all. Hey, did you ever find that Muu-Muu Gonzo and I put in your locker?”

Turner: “The one hanging up, or under the box of Twinkies?”

Ryan: “Gotta go!”

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by . said: [...]

gdawginkalamazoo

June 23rd, 2010
10:38 am

According to the Government’s BMI chart he was obese.

482FF

June 23rd, 2010
10:42 am

All signs point to this being a great year for the Falcons!!!! Even with Slim Jim running the rock. LOL!

Mr. Phil

June 23rd, 2010
10:52 am

“Moved it around” Rofl

That is classic. Absolutely classic.

MT should just stick to “I am in good health this year” and leave it to that. Otherwise, he is gonna get wrapped up in words rather than tackles.

Here’s to a banner year for the Burner. Hilarious!

Portly

June 23rd, 2010
11:05 am

Matt Ryan needs to grow a set this year!!

Paddy

June 23rd, 2010
11:07 am

gdawginkalamazoo….90% of the players in the NFL would be obese with that BMI chart. Doctors don’t use it any longer, as it is meaningless. But MT was overweight nevertheless.

Jeff Schultz

June 23rd, 2010
11:10 am

Mr. Phil — ROFL sums it up. It is funny the explanations/rationalizations we all come up with.

The Grinch

June 23rd, 2010
11:11 am

I hope that’s the real reason he was less effective and not that he’d been overused the previous season. If it is indeed primarily about weight, this is very good news. If Harry Douglas returns to form and Micheal Jenkins realizes he needs to try harder, we should be in good shape (pardon the pun).

Jeff Schultz

June 23rd, 2010
11:11 am

Portly — You think Ryan lacks courage?

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by ajc sports editor, How I C It Sports. How I C It Sports said: Wow! –> RT @ajcsportseditor: From @JeffSchultzAJC… Falcons RB Michael Turner admits: I was fat http://bit.ly/afpSgL [...]

Jenny Craig

June 23rd, 2010
11:15 am

Soooooo what is Turner’s current weight..or from mini-camp? Someone in Flowery Branch knows!

I guess it’s a secret and all we can know is “it’s down from last year”. So is there an official weigh in reported to the league and printed on roster at season beginning?

Steve

June 23rd, 2010
11:21 am

Jeff, good article. Random: See the Marlins fired Freddy G? No doubt in my mind now he is the next Braves manager.

JSS

June 23rd, 2010
11:23 am

Reality…
As Turner, Snelling, and Norwood on the offensive side as the clogs go; then as interior D-line goes, and finally how the the receiving corps goes will determine their season… Shut down corners get exposed when the middle is soft (welcome Dunta)… Matt Ryan, just turn left or turn right, hand the RB the ball, then get out of the way…

Pat

June 23rd, 2010
11:26 am

Turner needs to shut up and make up for is crap season. This guy is good when he wants to be but he is getting paid WAY TOO MUCH to act like a fat Elvis.

suwaneefalcon

June 23rd, 2010
11:29 am

Whomever thinks Ryan lacks courage has no idea what they are talking about. Ryan is a true leader and I have never met or heard of a leader that lacks courage. Turner will bounce back big this year as well Matt Ryan will have a big year.

GO FALCONS!

Matt the Brave

June 23rd, 2010
11:37 am

Kalamazoo, the GOVERNMENT would say that the Olsen Twins were obese on their chart. BMI never takes into account 1) frame size, 2) male or female, and 3) what their job is. I’m not saying that Turner wasn’t fat, but I’ve seen soldiers with 2% body fat who were ‘obese’ according to the BMI chart.

.

June 23rd, 2010
11:41 am

Fire Paul Bewitt…………..

Herschel Talker

June 23rd, 2010
11:57 am

Portly needs to grow a brain this year.

Fire Kenshin Kawakami!

FUZZUP

June 23rd, 2010
11:58 am

Matt "Choke" Ryan

June 23rd, 2010
12:02 pm

Why should he stay in shape and give your all, when you put up 1,699 yards in your 1st full season, gets over used carry the ball 350 times and all you hear is the CHOKE was the reason for the team’s turn around.

Turner proved one thing – He is the most important player on the team.

Without a healthy and productive turner, the Falcons are just mediocre. CHOKE is a game manager at best. If he was anything resembling “Peyton Like” he would have put the team on his back, just as Peyton has done.

CHOKE should be paying for a personal trainer for Turner, because if Turner is permanently damaged, the Falcons will once again saying “Wait till next year” – AGAIN!

dtanner

June 23rd, 2010
12:09 pm

happens to a lot of these sport stars, get the big contract then get fat and lazy,see andrew jones

Mimeograph

June 23rd, 2010
12:09 pm

Dear World,
I didn’t all of a sudden become a hockey fan in 1980 and I’m not going to become a soccer fan now, so leave me alone. The rest of y’all have fun. I’ve got the Braves to follow.
Hugs and kisses,
Mimeograph

Matt Ryan

June 23rd, 2010
12:11 pm

I am mad about how you people talk about me. I think I will wear Black Face for the games this year. Would that make you fans happy? I only choke when I swallow pills thank you very much.

The Producer

June 23rd, 2010
12:12 pm

He was just big bone-ded……

GT BABY

June 23rd, 2010
12:14 pm

turner is a beast, get over it UGAY fans! Y’all rip on everyone thats not hershy walker.

Pi$$onaDawg

June 23rd, 2010
12:14 pm

Mimeograph: following baseball over soccer. Watching Paint Dry meet Watching Steel Oxidize.

Matt "Choke" Ryan

June 23rd, 2010
12:21 pm

dtanner

June 23rd, 2010
12:09 pm
happens to a lot of these sport stars, get the big contract then get fat and lazy,see andrew jones

——————————————————-

1st it’s Andruw not Andrew.

2nd he won 10 “STRAIGHT” gold gloves and had 9 straight years of 20 or more homeruns and 7 straight years of 90 or more runs batted in and after his last contract he put up 50 and 42 homerun seasons, with back to back 130 runs batted in seasons.

That is not sitting on a contract. How many gold gloves and 50 homerun seasons does Chipper have?

JSS

June 23rd, 2010
12:22 pm

@ Matt Ryan…
Why play that card? I don’t put Ryan on a pedestal simply because he throws INT’s in abundance whenever he sees a cover 2 defense, no more, no less! He is supposedly a great studier of tendencies and gae film; but he’s never corrected that… He’s not this team’s source of strength. A healthy and fit Turner, Snelling, and Norwood (I know that is a oxymoron) is the key to all things successful when the Falcons are competitive. The games show it, the stats show it…

Great Falconi

June 23rd, 2010
12:23 pm

Burner was overused in 2008, took a lot of time off during the offseason, got fat, showed the effects of both, got injured due to bad karma from all the ‘08 carries and January-June Twinkies, and, if we’re lucky, seems to have learned a lesson.

JSS

June 23rd, 2010
12:23 pm

“gae = game”

Terrell

June 23rd, 2010
12:26 pm

Matt “Choke” Ryan,

Shut up. Peyton puts the team on his back, because, like Marino, this is how he wants to play. He wants to throw the ball every play. It doesn’t hurt that he has over 12 years in the league. As a matter of fact in his first 2 seasons with the Colts he threw a bunch more interceptions and his teams won fewer games. This was having Marshall Faulk as his RB his first season and Edge his 2nd. He was a .500 QB after his first 2 season (16-17) as compared to Ryan (20-11) including playoffs

Terrell

June 23rd, 2010
12:27 pm

Pardon my error if you don’t include the playoffs Peyton was .500

Hollywould

June 23rd, 2010
12:27 pm

Stat boy to the rescue. Once again I learn more about everyone from stat boy. Choke boy, I saw your blog on PFT. Matt Ryan consumes you right?

Dr. Warren

June 23rd, 2010
12:30 pm

Jeff–
We aren’t professional athletes so comparing us to Turner is letting him off super-easy. Why has no one asked the obvious? Why does a multi-multi-million dollar athlete whose only off-season job is to take care of his body let himself get so overweight? He let his teammates, Blank, and the long-suffering fans down big-time–and I don’t think it’s overstating it to say his self-satisfaction after a good year and his lack of self-control cost us a playoff birth. The great ones don’t do that, plain and simple.

Terrell

June 23rd, 2010
12:32 pm

JSS,

What are you talking about. He has been allowed to do more than most young QBs because he does study game film. I guess you also see how many times he has thrown an int in that Cover 2 you are referring too and he’s about to get hammered. When he is allowed enough time he beats that coverage, but it’s hard to beat it when the ball is snapped and you get hit before you begin your drop.

Mimeograph

June 23rd, 2010
12:33 pm

Has Techman stopped writing love notes about Kenshin Kawakami yet? It’s been a few days.

Hollywould

June 23rd, 2010
12:36 pm

Jeff, Don’t get me wrong on this as I do like Turner and understand he is our feature back but I have no problem with Snelling getting 15 carries a game. That guy is a beast. With Turner getting in shape now and at the moment Norwood is healthy our running back situation is in solid hands.

The Sham

June 23rd, 2010
12:37 pm

@ Schultz – “I was a porkpie” – real quote or not, that is funny!
@Great Falconi – you stole my post… but with more accurate spelling than I usually bost. Great points!
@JSS – I think you were right the first time, but your fruedian slip meant to say “gay” not “gae”. JK Ice Man, we all know your mowing them down ;)
@GT BABY – watch what you say or Hershy will drag your diaper wearing butt in to the octagon and make you scream for your mommy!
@ THE SHAM – just because the BMI is being discredited in hear, doesn’t mean you can eat that banana split blizzard for lunch… oh what the heck… nom nom nom nom!!!!!

Terrell

June 23rd, 2010
12:38 pm

Dr. Warren,
He’s still human. I’m pretty sure you don’t do everything right, and I’m pretty sure, now you can correct me if I’m wrong, that when you get a chance to relax you really do want to relax and enjoy yourself, and sometimes that can a good thing and other times it can be bad. Is he a professional athlete? Yes, are you? No, so you wouldn’t possibly imagine the wear and tear they have, and that makes it tougher to get back to doing the things you know to do. I’m pretty sure every person who works or is an athlete have had lulls and get lazy. This would be a concern if he wasn’t trying to get better.

X'sandO's

June 23rd, 2010
12:39 pm

Until the Falcons can put up 40+ points per game they will never stand a chance against teams like SAINTS,COLTS. Currently, Falcons have no legitimate deep threat to keep defenses honest…nor do they have the greatest offensive line…the O-line is much better now than the O-line Vick had but they still need work.. I still think just by watching film they don’t always create the necessary holes for any of the tailbacks to exploit…I honestly believe Norwood should get more playing time…all he needs is one hole and he’s GONE..not too many in the league that can catch him..Defensively…I still think we need a little more help on the secondary..I’m pleased with the offseason moves to address that…but if he gets injured…then what???…..On paper I’m ok with the offseason moves made in addition to the picks from the draft…I just hope it translates into W’s on the field….just a football coach with my 2 cents from my experience as a player and a coach….

Leopold Stotts

June 23rd, 2010
12:43 pm

I hope Justin Blalock is paying attention.

rekingball

June 23rd, 2010
12:45 pm

Informer on the blog.

Anton Chigurh

June 23rd, 2010
12:46 pm

I think our secondary is DEEP with Dunta, Williams coming back and the good Chris and Grimes were strong at the end of the season. Coleman, DeCoud, Moore. Pretty good group.

chem

June 23rd, 2010
12:54 pm

@ “Choke”

Andruw Jones was a failure. He was the ultimate 5 tool player as a prospect, and he survived through his twenties on pure talent alone. By age 31, he was exposed and almost out of baseball. If he spent just one offseason training he would have lost 20 lbs. He could have had a hall of fame career.

btw, good article schultz. I stay in shape and no one pays me to do so. I couldn’t imagine not training hard while getting paid $millions$ to be an “athlete”.

All I'm Saying...

June 23rd, 2010
1:02 pm

Good post, Schultz, and Turner would not be the first to have a great season and then rest on his laurels, forgetting what put him in the position to be so successful. Confession is good for the soul so its great to read that the Burner now fully acknowledges a contributing factor to his struggles last season.

On the other hand, what also must be acknowledged is that opposing defenses saw what Turner did two years ago and keyed on him in 2009 daring Ryan to beat them with the pass.

So, let’s also realize that Turner being overweight is not the sole reason Ryan struggled last year. Remember, Matt had another year under his belt of knowing the offense and we added a weapon, Tony G., to Matt’s arsenal.

In 2010, I expect Ryan to rebound, Turner to return to form, our defensive to be better due to the return from injury of a couple of key components on the d-line, and the secondary upgrade to be significant with the signing of Dunta relegating Grimes to nickel situations only (to name one).

LET’S GO FALCONS!

rekingball

June 23rd, 2010
1:02 pm

Maybe all of the teams that the Falcons played at the beginning of the season employing the 3-4 defense, could have caused Turner to ‘lose a step’.

Laughing at X's and O's

June 23rd, 2010
1:04 pm

Player and coach? Where? Rambling State?

Matt "Choke" Ryan

June 23rd, 2010
1:05 pm

Hey JSS,

How is everything going?

I see the delusional people can’t seem to understand your logics but I understand what you saying.

rekingball

June 23rd, 2010
1:06 pm

All I’m Saying………..could be that having a banged up line that could not keep the pass rush out of the Falcons backfield long enough for a play to develop was one of the reason Ryan ’struggled’

rekingball

June 23rd, 2010
1:07 pm

I also expect Ryan and the Falcons to have a great yr.

Go Falcons!

Reid Adair

June 23rd, 2010
1:11 pm

Did Michael Turner have some sort of surgery to assist with losing/”moving around” his extra weight?

Dr. Warren

June 23rd, 2010
1:12 pm

@Terrell–
I hear you, and I find your view to be kind and sensitive but also immature and entitled-sounding. I’m not a pro athlete, but I don’t think I need to be one to understand the meaning of doing one’s best at work, or following through on a contractual commitment to perform at my best. I’ve lived in China for four years now, and I know many educated people who bust their butts from literally 7AM to 10PM every day, often seven days a week, and make less than $200 a month. In fact, that’s the norm. And they take great pride in their work and in their co-workers. I’m sure you’ve read about this country’s meteoric rise? Now you know the reason for it. Terrell, I don’t feel sorry for men making $30 million to play a game, and I don’t think they need apologists, frankly, particularly in this economy. I’m a university professor. If I drank too much beer before the 2009 fall semester and didn’t stay sharp intellectually and didn’t prepare for my classes and didn’t publish articles, I’d feel very bad since I didn’t perform to the level that I expect, my colleagues expect, and my university expects. Sure, I like to relax, and no one is perfect, but I’m not a kid anymore and when it comes to work, I am dead serious about fulfilling my obligation and mission. Maybe Turner doesn’t feel the same way–and if that is true, he should retire. Truth is, if the American university that employs me only paid me $30 a year, I’d still put out my very best effort because I love what I do. It’s a privilege. Give up Dove bars and Funyons to continue to excel at what I do? Pleeeaze. In a heartbeat. And don’t go telling me being a running back is a harder job–it’s all relative, my friend.

Anton Chigurh

June 23rd, 2010
1:14 pm

Well, the Marlins have freed up Bobby Cox’s successor. That worked out pretty well.

truth

June 23rd, 2010
1:17 pm

Someone please compare the first 10 games Turner played in, in 2008 and 2009 and show mw how he “lost” a step. I would but I’m at work and can’t pull the stats. Thanks.

Matt "Choke" Ryan

June 23rd, 2010
1:18 pm

The Matty Ice Song……………….

“ONE OF US”

We don’t care if on June 6th, you lost the crowd

Even if the chants of a former, were heard quite loud.

You are one of us, so forget the fuss

Results mean nothing, you are one of us.

Oh Matty Ice, you are one of us

That’s all that matters, cause you are one of us.

Playoffs are overrated, just keep looking good

Its cool dude, you aint from the hood.

Sophomore jinx, oh what’s the big fuss

Forget about it, you are one of us

One of us, one of us, one of us.

Bartkowski you are not, but you look the same

Even if we lose, we will support your game.

The good ole days, you take me down memory lane.

45 years of losing, but that’s okay

Cause you are one of us, the good ole boy way.

Hollywould

June 23rd, 2010
1:22 pm

Stat boy/ at least your boy was #1 again in most hated. Saw your race card on PFT even though 2 white guys were in the top 3. Don’t let stats get in the way.

ATL Fan

June 23rd, 2010
1:23 pm

Does this mean that Matt Ryan will be handing the ball off to “Fat-Burner” Turner?

Eric C.

June 23rd, 2010
1:47 pm

Great commentary Jeff…nothing helps a defense better than a good running game. Turner’s better shape could lead to a couple of more wins this year.

cdog

June 23rd, 2010
1:55 pm

WE KNOW THAT MICHAEL TURNER.WE SAW THAT OBVIOUSLY. THATS WHY THE FALCONS SHOULD HAVE RUNNINGBACK DEPTH IN CASE THE SAME THING HAPPENS THIS YEAR.ALSO, WE DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE NEW ORLEAN SAINTS ANY MORE, THEY’VE HAD THEIR KATRINA GIFT FROM THE LEAGUE THIS PAST SEASON.THEY WILL BE BACK TO NORMAL NOW, LOSING AGAIN

Willy

June 23rd, 2010
1:57 pm

I DIDN’T RECOGNIZE THE GUY! He almost reminds me of Warrick Dunn.

Matt "Choke" Ryan

June 23rd, 2010
1:58 pm

ATL Fan

June 23rd, 2010
1:23 pm
Does this mean that Matt Ryan will be handing the ball off to “Fat-Burner” Turner?

———————————————-

It requires an “elite” qb to handle that major task – it can wear out the arm…………..

HA HA HA

JJB

June 23rd, 2010
2:01 pm

Does anyone actually read “Matt Choke Ryan”’s prose? I see it and move the wheel on down to the next one

rekingball

June 23rd, 2010
2:09 pm

Matt Choke Ryan@1:05pm……..and his buddy, in a league of their own.

JJB@2:01…..ever hear of ignore it and it will go away. Well, it doesn’t work with that member of the insane clown possee. The only relief you can get, is when the law has it, incarcerated.

rekingball

June 23rd, 2010
2:10 pm

I spin the wheel also.

rekingball

June 23rd, 2010
2:12 pm

I hope I wasn’t too harsh, but I couldn’t resist it.
I hope I don’t get turned in by the Blog Police.

JSS

June 23rd, 2010
2:34 pm

@ Terrell…
From Randy Johnson, Bob Berry, Bob Lee, Scott Hunter, Kim McQuilken, Steve Bartkowski, Chris Miller, Bobby Hebert, Billy Joe Tolliver, Jeff George, Chris Chandler, Chris Redman, and even Michael Vick were never given as much of a protection cocoon (mass protection blocking schemes, lack of long vertical routes, and pure reliance on power running scheme) as has Matt Ryan. When a depleted Tampa Bay Bucs defensive team can intercept you twice in the final game of the year. When a team has to scrape its screen game in order to provide you max protection and you still can not see the free safety or the rover slipping underneath the receiver by now? They aren’t running Monte Kiffin out there anymore, it was Raheem Morris! You don’t hear the Saints or Carolina making excuses for their poor play against the Bucs. Carolina is getting a new QB and the Saints spent a huge part of the off season addressing their “Tampa Bay problem.” However, Atlanta has a excuse for everything (injuries, lack of blocking, pass coverage). It is well documented that the Saints had more significant injuries over the whole year than we did! They lost their entire cornerback core! You people always scream about accountability, it is a two way street. Prove me wrong, then I’ll stop questioning his accoutrement on the field. We attempted 40 more passes than our opponents, and were still outgained by 300 yards in the air! We only outrushed them by 165. You can blame the D all you want, this team has to run, run, run!

Gt4ever

June 23rd, 2010
2:46 pm

Matt “choke” Ryan is a TOTAL IDIOT! He has got to be a UGA fan!

JSS

June 23rd, 2010
2:48 pm

@ MCR…
Thanks for the greeting, my Mother had her eye rebuilt on Monday morning so I’m home in GA taking care of her for the next three weeks. She has to stay still and immobile, so I get to blog some while she rests…

Now for a little house keeping matter with another blogger who keeps acting like a pesky bug…
@ Rekingball… I addressed your little petty sniping at 9:01PM on the 20th (more than 3 days ago)
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2010/06/17/poll-time-which-atlanta-team-is-closest-to-a-title/comment-page-3/
@ Rekingball…
There was nothing undercover about what I and others did concerning that silliness of the 16th and 17th. Each person bears a responsibility for what they do here, this is not an anonymous environment, just anonymous user names. A better statement may have been: “Be careful who YOU hitch your wagon to, they may just carry you over the cliff too…”

falcon fan

June 23rd, 2010
5:24 pm

Hey “choke” I heard Matt Ryan and Freddy Falcon are gonna come out and do doughnuts in the General Lee on the 50 yard line during the “good `ole boys” half time show at friday night lights this year. I would`nt miss it for the world! Yee Haw!!!!

[...] ♦ Michael Turner finally admitting the obvious: He was fat [...]

Matt "Choke" Ryan

June 24th, 2010
11:19 am

Now that’s funny.

[...] ♦ Michael Turner finally admitting the obvious: He was fat [...]

Paulitik

June 24th, 2010
7:05 pm

Hey Schultz,

While I appreciate any Falcons coverage we can get. Could you maybe, just maybe write an article that isn’t based on some other writer’s article on our team? It seems like all of your coverage is based off other’s.

I enjoy your work, but come on!

[...] ♦ Michael Turner finally admitting the obvious: He was fat [...]

[...] ♦ Michael Turner finally admitting the obvious: He was fat [...]

BurningRedBleedingBlack

June 25th, 2010
12:43 pm

Turner gonna be fit and ready to go at the weight hes at now. Guys got some pop in him. I think the injury and weight was the reason for the off season. He’ll be ready to go come kickoff season.

BurningRedBleedingBlack

June 25th, 2010
12:46 pm

To all the Tech Falcon fans…Im a UGA fan, but i’m also a huge FALCON fan. Just because the falcons are in Atlanta doesn’t mean Uga fans can’t like them. Grow up and lets leave college stuff on the college pages. GO FALCONS!!!!!

PreyDawg

June 25th, 2010
1:50 pm

Hey Burning, dont let em get ya down. We dont need em to leave it on the college page. We can take em on both places.

Does anybody remember about a two game stretch around mid season (my memory is failing me as to which games it was). But Turner came back after missing some time and was absolutely dominant. If I remember correctly, he was averaging 7 yards per carry in the game where he sprained his ankle. I know I am right about the yards per carry but I cant remember which game it was. But for two games there before he got hurt he was actually more dominant than the year before.

If he can come close to that now that he is in shape….WOW!!

Hey Matt Choke Ryan

June 25th, 2010
5:13 pm

Can still see you are pissed off because Matt Ryan who is 20-11 as the QB for the Falcons is now playing well instead of Vick the dunb ass who is a convicted felon,GET OVER IT. VICK IS A LOSER VICK IS A LOSER HA HA HA HA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

VICK IS A LOSER

June 25th, 2010
10:10 pm

Mike Vick is a pot smoking thug who is a hood rat that loves to kill dogs!!!! LOSER7

Vick 'n trouble again

June 26th, 2010
7:13 am

JSS,

Last I heard from Mike Smith, this team was going to be a running team. This team’s game was to be built off of the running game. So OF COURSE we have to run. Wasn’t that the gameplan all along? I don’t understand the hate for Matt Ryan. Young QBs make mistakes. And this team also didn’t defend well. Yes, Turner was and is a huge part of this team. But he was overweight and injured last year, which hurt us.

Why are we talking about what a QB did, when this team’s gameplan AS STATED BY Mike SMITH from the beginning, was to be a running team?

Anyway, I ain’t even going to address your homeboy “Choke” over there. We all have known what his problem is for a long time now.

Vick 'n trouble again

June 26th, 2010
7:15 am

“You can blame the D all you want, this team has to run, run, run!”

I guess that means the Falcons need not play defense. Hilarious. You know NOTHING about football.

ATL Observer

June 29th, 2010
4:17 pm

Matt “Choke” Ryan needs some therapy to get over his obsession (no one said Ryan was the next Peyton Manning so why hold him to that standard?) but I completely agree with his original point: as Turner goes, this team will go. If he’s healthy, I think the Falcons win the division. If not, the team will be 8-8 and no more.

oldesrfalconfanever

July 10th, 2010
7:12 pm

like I said DJ just could not beat out B.Finn.

oldesrfalconfanever

July 10th, 2010
7:15 pm

OK what can falcons get for J.ANDERSON

joe suggs

July 13th, 2010
4:11 pm

Who cares ? Professional sports makes thugs into millionares. You clowns put these idiots up on pedestals. They run up and down grass fields and make millions . What a screwed up country .

Sean Limbaugh

July 16th, 2010
2:22 am

I don’t fight dogs but i hunt defenseless animals. does that make me a murdering killer too?

Vick Supporter

July 17th, 2010
6:11 pm

The Great Mike Vick Has Returned

Punk style AT QB #2

July 18th, 2010
2:07 pm

Fat or not with out Turner at 100% the falcons fall apart The (leader). 45 million worth of pay out to a fear of foot step at QB . Turner is not a punk but #2 punk is what punk do 100% fearful punk! his shoulder is a big as a dime(weak arm weak heart!

Furman Bisher

July 23rd, 2010
3:13 am

Ok, so now is it time for Schultz to admit he’s a subpar writer?

Where’s my bedpan, I got a real steamer brewing!!!!

MV777##1

July 26th, 2010
7:14 pm

The NFL has completed its investigation into the shooting at Michael Vick’s birthday party last month in Virginia Beach and he has been cleared to play, a league spokesman told the Daily News today.

In an email, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said, “there is no change in his playing status.”

AJC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! REPORT THE GOOD NEWS SOMETIMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[...] sought-after stability. Offseason additions to the defense (Dunta Robinson, Sean Weatherspoon), a slimmer running back (Michael Turner) and a quarterback (Matt Ryan) whom some believe will make the often-seen jump in year three says [...]