Saints gone, Vick gone and Falcons ready to defend turf
Brent Grimes (20) and William Moore are two reasons for the Falcons' improved defense.
The New Orleans Saints are gone. Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles are gone.
Can you do without the drama? Thought so.
The Falcons’ first opponent of this postseason will be Green Bay. That hardly qualifies as an easy draw. At the outset of this season, many considered the Packers the best team in the NFC. But with the potential of Vick returning to the Georgia Dome in two weeks (nobody really relished that scenario) and the possibility of a third game against division rival New Orleans (were you really hoping for a showdown game against the defending Super Bowl champions?), this was as good a scenario as the Falcons could have hoped for.
They will be at home. They have had a week off. They will be facing a Green Bay team coming off a physical and emotional win and playing in a short week.
If you wonder whether the Falcons are good enough to beat Green Bay, maybe you’ve forgotten that they beat this team in November 20-17 at the Georgia Dome, when the defense wasn’t nearly as good as it is now.
Goodbye, Saints. Goodbye, Vick.
Now it’s just about football for the Falcons and trying to remember what postseason success feels like. When they play the Packers Saturday night at the Dome, it will be six years to the day of their last postseason victory — a 47-17 dismembering of the St. Louis Rams (Jan. 15, 2005). The following week, they lost the NFC title game at Philadelphia.
Then came the slide, then the misery, then the cataclysm.
It’s there for them. They are rested and they have the advantage of playing on their home turf, where they’re 20-4 since their rebirth in 2008 and quarterback Matt Ryan is 20-2.
It’s worth noting that when the Falcons defeated Green Bay in November, wide receiver Roddy White proclaimed: “I have no plans of going to Lambeau Field in January. I plan on staying right here and sleeping in my own bed in the playoffs.”
So let’s see where their own beds and climate controlled temperatures take them.
The path to a Super Bowl is there. That’s not just because the Falcons have a smart and efficient quarterback in Ryan, a game-changer in White and a versatile offense that prefers to pound the ball with Michael Turner. It’s because of a defense that nobody talks about.
This isn’t a game of real estate; it’s a game of points. The Falcons’ defense ranked only 16th in yards allowed during the regular season and 22nd against the pass. But they finished fifth in scoring defense at 18 points per game. In the final seven games of the regular season, the Falcons allowed 17, 17, 24, 10, 18, 17 and 10 points.
Has anybody noticed that?
Jack Tatum, the former Oakland Raiders safety, once proudly declared, “I like to think my best hits border on felonious assault.” (Worth mentioning: If Tatum played in Roger Goodell’s NFL, he would be jailed merely for thinking of inflicting harm.)
The Falcons’ defense doesn’t remind you of Tatum. They seem less a felonious assault squad than they do a bunch of sneaky pick-pockets.
We just watched the New Orleans Saints give up 41 points to the Seattle Seahawks. They’re out. So is Kansas City, which allowed 30 points to a pedestrian Baltimore offense. So are the Eagles, who finished 21st in scoring defense and couldn’t stop Rodgers and the Packers when they needed to
The Falcons’ defense hasn’t necessarily been some impenetrable force. But more often than not, it has made plays to win games or hold leads.
Defensive end John Abraham, from start to finish, has been the team’s best defensive player (the numbers: 13 sacks, one forced fumble, his first career interception). But the biggest difference of late is that the secondary no longer resembles scattering ants. Cornerback Brent Grimes and safety William Moore — who spent most of his rookie season on a training table – each have five interceptions. They’re two of the big reasons the lampooning has stopped.
“We know Abe has been a productive guy,” defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder said. “Those two [Grimes and Moore] really have been the next two guys in terms of lively production. Grimes really has a comfort this year playing corner in the NFL. His growth has been unbelievable. It’s been fun to watch. William makes mistakes but his interceptions and his impact in tackling are evident.”
They’re better now than the last time they played the Packers. The Saints are gone. Vick is gone. So let’s see where this road takes them.
Tweet
♦
Follow me on Twitter @JeffSchultzAJC; friend me at Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
948 comments Add your comment
truth
January 11th, 2011
12:46 am
One of them being a nine year old girl.
Mike "Choke" Vick aka Mr Charlie
January 11th, 2011
12:46 am
Innocent people die every day, so many innocents died in Atlanta over the past week, I can’t keep track. Yet, nobody seem to want to take about the liberal message of how unfair everything is and how it might lead to people committing murder as a “right” to “get even”.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 11th, 2011
12:47 am
“All I know is I saw the exact MV7 in 2010 than i saw in 2002. He has not grown one bit as a QB…”
Again, it’s one thing to like or dislike a player, but when you have to blatantly lie and ignore the facts to support your point of view, your point of view is wrong. You are just the bizarro Choke.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 11th, 2011
12:48 am
Why the hell are people talking about politics and shootings on a football blog? I don’t get it.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 11th, 2011
12:49 am
@truth
You are funny.
Don’t try and twist it.
You didn’t answer the question:
Since “you” people think Vick is in the 1st stage for being a serial killer for killing animals, what should be the punishment for a “mass murderer” of actual humans?
Nice try to twist it
Night losers
truth
January 11th, 2011
12:52 am
Matt “choke” Ryan brought up the shooting in arizona in a way I thought was tastless. And Vick is still the same old Vick. sure his stats changed a bit this year but the end results are the same. He was on a decline AGAIN once he was figured out AGAIN and if Andy Reid is smart he’ll let Vick walk and keep Kolb. The Eagles fans don’t want to end up like the Atlanta fans saying “oh he’s “progressing”, just wait till next year.”
Mike "Choke" Vick aka Mr Charlie
January 11th, 2011
12:53 am
I believe the mass murder should be taken out and shot tomorrow to be honest. What is your point? Does that justify torture of animals?
truth
January 11th, 2011
12:55 am
“you” people??? What you don’t like black people? If you don’t think he did was sick you are out of your mind. Vick didn’t make a mistake he knew exactly what he was doing and the sick part is he liked it.
Mike "Choke" Vick aka Mr Charlie
January 11th, 2011
12:55 am
Yea, Vicks wheels are gone, sitting in jail for 2 years cost him. He will be battling leg injuries the rest of his career, and unless he learn to stand in the pocket, find he hot receiver on the blitz, he will never do jack.
truth
January 11th, 2011
12:57 am
Ok I get it, a black man can’t stand against the torture of dogs and be a republican. A racist is bad……especialy among your own.
Mike "Choke" Vick aka Mr Charlie
January 11th, 2011
12:58 am
Actually, I understand Vicks dog fighting issue. He attended his first dog fight at 8 years old. It speaks to the culture, and lack of parenting, than it does that MV7 had some deep psycho problem. When my child was 8, they were going to piano lessons, not attending dog fights.
truth
January 11th, 2011
12:58 am
Defend Vick all yopu want Poop, I did it enough.
truth
January 11th, 2011
12:59 am
When a boy becomes a man, he knows right from wrong.
Mike "Choke" Vick aka Mr Charlie
January 11th, 2011
1:01 am
Why did it turn to politics, cause Choke brought it up to deflect the real issue, Ice has advanced farther in the 2010 playoffs than Vick did without even playing a game.
Mike "Choke" Vick aka Mr Charlie
January 11th, 2011
1:03 am
Vick was guilty of being incredibly stupid more than anything.
truth
January 11th, 2011
1:03 am
We need better filtering.
truth
January 11th, 2011
1:04 am
Bed time.
ijonathan
January 11th, 2011
1:26 am
Mr. Poop, Hello! Let’s recap some of your postings recently:
1. It’s also quite relevant to point out that as fashionable as it may be to credit the WRs’ success to their QB, Michael Jenkins continues to suck with Matt Ryan throwing to him just as he did with Vick throwing to him.
2. Again, it’s one thing to like or dislike a player, but when you have to blatantly lie and ignore the facts to support your point of view, your point of view is wrong.
So, apparently you don’t like it when someone “ignores the facts” to support your point of view, and you claim that Jenkins sucked with Vick and he sucks with Ryan.
Just ain’t so, Poop.
2005-2006 with MV7 heaving it to him (2004 he didn’t play much):
30 games
75 receptions (2.5 receptions/game)
944 yards (12.6 YPC)
10 touchdowns
2008-2010 almost exclusively with Ryan (yes I know Redman filled in a couple of games)
42 games
141 receptions (3.4 receptions/game)
1,917 yards (13.6 YPC)
6 TD
So, let’s review. About 1 more reception per game with Ryan. 1 more YPC with Ryan. Yes, fewer touchdowns…but we all know that the emergence of White as a star and the acquisition of Gonzalez led to that, right? So, it is undeniable that Jenkins has performed much better with Ryan than with Vick (as has White). But that doesn’t refute your assertion, necessarily, as Jenkins’ improved performance with Ryan might still objectively “suck” right?
Using this year as a benchmark, Jenkins’ 13.6 YPC under Ryan would place him with Devery Henderson and James Jones, at 34/35th ranked among qualified receivers…or a fairly highly ranked #2 receiver (assuming each of the 32 teams has 3-4 wideouts). I would say that definitely does not suck. Jenkins’ 12.6 YPC with Vick would place him 50th among qualified wideouts this year, or near the bottom of “second receiver status”. I would still say that doesn’t suck…but it is getting close to being labeled as poor to mediocre, at best. If you go back to 2005 and 2006, when Jenkins was actually playing with Vick, that 12.6 YPC would have placed him an even poorer 55th/56th among qualified receivers.
So, while not a total refutation of your assertion Poop, pretty darn close. Try again on the Jenkins angle.
PackerFaninLA
January 11th, 2011
1:47 am
I respect Atlanta and its coaches a LOT. GB played a nearly perfect game against you guys, out gained you by nearly 200yds and still could not close the deal. Our Special Teams and by far, league leading 16 players on IR – 8 starters.. are our achilles heal… those injuries crippled our special teams depth, our running game and more… but thats football.
I was amazed \ impressed with Atlantas discipline and ball security. 0 turnovers won that game for you, and I can, in my opinion easily say that Atlanta is the most consistent and solid team in the NFC. I think we can beat you for a couple reasons. #1 OUR defense has also gotten better, injured lineman have returned. Dom Capers now has tape on Atlanta that he can truly game plan against… (vs atl co ordinator – adv Capers) Gb has more impact players on D… Woodson, Collins, Matthews, Raji, Hawk, Williams, Jenkins – than Atlanta does. (Matthews injured shin is now better, as is Jenkins injury) #2 We drafted Starks for what he has done… he is no longer injured, and is showing a burst no running back on our active roster has… he at least makes you pay attention to a runner, unlike last game. #3 the law of averages… our special teams just cant give up those same huge returns that won the game for you… see last drive… a second game in a row.. and to go a second game against us without a single turnover will be tough.
This will be fun though. Your QB is a stud. You cant rattle him. Turner is tough as nails and your defense as a unit appears well coached and disciplined. I give Atlanta the #1 seed with much earned respect. Id rather play the Bears…
I pick Green Bay to win 24 – 16 but you all know id do that. I also predict a good 6 – 8 yrs of Atlanta and Green Bay fighting it out in the playoffs for years to come… Im happy for my friends in Atlanta… a great city that never deserved that Vick crap.
No matter what happens, we both have solid teams for years to come, and whoever wins this game WILL represent the NFC in the Super Bowl
S.N
parrothead
January 11th, 2011
2:42 am
I guess we Pack fans really misunderstood the FRICKIN’ HATRED u dudes have for Vick/N.O.
KINDA LIKE WE FELT ABOUT FARVE/vikings EH?? At least we had satisfaction of seeing ol’ Brett
implode this year.I was never fond of Vick’s dog abuse-but he really seems to have cleaned up his act,see if he can make it thru off season,he seems to surround himself w/losers so I doubt it…
I anticipate a good close game-don’t count on AR fumbling in endzone again.Y’all mite notice our defense is SECOND in points allowed.Anyway I’m old enough to remember Tommy Nobis,I was pissed he didn’t make it in NFL top 100-he was better than Singletary,& never had as good a team around him.Two years ago I vacationed in Atl.Had a great time with only two “beefs”.Missed seeing ROBIN (what a hottie,I’d camp at Cnn if I lived there) and your alcohol prices are ridiculious.We Wi.
boys love our drinkin’.MY favorite part was the Civil War museum.I could’ve stayed there forever,but my kids (girls) wanted to see Coca cola.Hope U boys remember that war is over,and no matter who wins Sat.we are still proud to have ya in union.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 11th, 2011
3:01 am
“Using this year as a benchmark, Jenkins’ 13.6 YPC under Ryan would place him with Devery Henderson and James Jones, at 34/35th ranked among qualified receivers…or a fairly highly ranked #2 receiver (assuming each of the 32 teams has 3-4 wideouts). I would say that definitely does not suck. Jenkins’ 12.6 YPC with Vick would place him 50th among qualified wideouts this year, or near the bottom of “second receiver status”. I would still say that doesn’t suck…but it is getting close to being labeled as poor to mediocre, at best. If you go back to 2005 and 2006, when Jenkins was actually playing with Vick, that 12.6 YPC would have placed him an even poorer 55th/56th among qualified receivers.”
YPC is a pretty strange unit to use to measure how good a receiver is. An inconsistent deep threat, like Devery Henderson and James Jones both of whom you mentioned, is going to get more YPC than a possession receiver — for example, Wes Welker went 3 straight years with 100 catches and never had the YPC that Henderson has this year, but I don’t think anyone would dispute that Welker is the better receiver. In fact, Roddy White’s YPC has decreased since Vick left, since he was used on deep routes more with Vick and is used on shorter routes more now, but I don’t think anyone would argue that he has gotten worse.
The Falcons throw the ball more now and Jenkins split time with Lelie and Finneran a lot more back then than he does now, so obviously his reception total is going to be higher now. A receiver in an offense that throws it 35 times a game is going to get higher total stats than a receiver in an offense that throws it 25 times a game; doesn’t necessarily make him or his quarterback a better player. I distinctly remember seeing fans complaining about Jenkins on these blogs throughout this season and calling for the Falcons to bring in a better complement to Roddy.
Anyway, the broader point is that y’all act like Vick was the reason Roddy White and Michael Jenkins sucked, when Roddy contradicts this himself in that NYT article and Jenkins is the same inconsistent player he was when Vick was here.
tndawg
January 11th, 2011
7:05 am
I never would have thought that the Aints and the dog killer would have both left the playoffs on the same weekend. Wow!
We still don`t know who is going to be in the Super Bowl. BUT, we know who will not!!
Go Falcons!!
ijonathan
January 11th, 2011
7:45 am
So Poop, give me some objective stats on how Jenkins is just as “inconsistent” now as he was when Vick was here? Maybe catch % (of total thrown at)? If you throw enough caveats in the mix, as you know, then no stat is meaningful.
old timer
January 11th, 2011
7:47 am
It’s there for the Packers, too, and believe me, they want it just as much. Oh, and the Pack is a better team than what the Falcons played during the regular season, so that is even too, I guess, if indeed the Falcons are better now. It looks to me like two really good teams, best two in the NFC right now, high character guys on both sides who play for 60 minutrs. Sometimes it’s better to be the rested team and sometimes it’s better to be the team that is a groove and on a roll. This game is a toss up.
truth
January 11th, 2011
7:56 am
Poop4Brains love to twist his words to fit his perception of reality. Look Poop4Brains IDK if your Vicks old cell buddy he called “tightend” or just a stupid fan who will defend him to the end but whichever it is (cell buddy seams to be right on target) you look as a fool.
SHIRLEY SOROHAN
January 11th, 2011
8:05 am
Go Falcons!!! I too am a die-hard Falcons Fan for 30+ years and this is the year. I am so tired of hearing about MV7 and the “world champions” Saints. Neither played that well and choked and we will be last man standng. Saints allowed 41 points by Seattle – for shame and Eagles – bad choice on the throw. Game Over.
JSS
January 11th, 2011
8:25 am
@ Davenpoop…
You’re a brave man… Nothing like trying to communicate with a 4 year old to realize how futile the experience can be… Kinda like trying to rationalize with Charlie Manson or Sirhan Sirhan!
rollo lawson
January 11th, 2011
8:38 am
Najeh, I can tell that you are a knowledgeable football fan. In your arguments, you always bring the facts. You are wasting your time trying to educate some of these dumb fans. Vick was a good qb here that suffered from a less than stellar work ethic, clueless coaches, and inferior talent. Roddy White also suffered from the first two as well. Vick played well yesterday. But I swear the Eagles oline and defense reminded me of the 2005-2006 Falcons. Warren Sapp said it best on NFLNetwork last night. Instead, focusing on Mike Vick, the Eagles need to address the offensive line and defensive line in the off-season if they want different results next year.
Instead of slinging insults at our former qb, our fans should be getting pumped for the Packers. I swear our fan base is so easily distracted at the mere mention of this guys name.
rollo lawson
January 11th, 2011
8:42 am
As far as Jenkin’s production is concerned, he caught 10tds in 2005 and 2006. Seven in 2006 alone. I’ll say that’s pretty good.
truth
January 11th, 2011
9:01 am
rollo typed…. Vick was a good qb here that suffered from a less than stellar work ethic, clueless coaches, and inferior talent.
How, by what you typed “less than stellar work ethic” make Vick a good QB? You are just another person making excuses for Ron Mexico. This organization did all they knew to do to help Vick be a better QB, Vick just didn’t appreciate it.
truth
January 11th, 2011
9:03 am
Rollo, you’re wasting your time.
DMac
January 11th, 2011
9:10 am
Gator Man, hyporcrites? They really don’t teach you much in Gainesville; do they?
ijonathan
January 11th, 2011
9:20 am
@truth, EXACTLY. I love all the excuses for MV7 that get “rolled” out, along with an acknowledgement that…”yeah, he didn’t work very hard.”. You know what? That one fact alone cancels out all the other excuses you try to make.
What’s the difference between Mike vick circa mid 2000’s and JaMarcus Russell circa late 2000s? About 80 pounds and a half second in the 40-yard dash.
rollo lawson
January 11th, 2011
10:45 am
Vick was a very good qb, that could have been great. What held him back was a poor work ethic. Everyone knows that. And please tell me what the organization did to make him a better QB. Hiring Greg Knapp? Bringing in Peerless Price? Bringing in 250lb offensive lineman? Being his enabler? Yeah, that sounds like a lot of help.
FF284
January 11th, 2011
11:53 am
Davenport, rollo, Choke and the rest of the Vick excusers——Is Mike Vick going to be in the Hall of Fame? Remember, it’s not the Hall of Pretty Good or Hall of Gadget Quarterbacks. The answer is no he isn’t going into the Hall of Fame.
If you want to talk about facts then let’s do so by comparing Vick and Ryan head up. Which quarterback has more wins in his first three seasons? Which quarterback has thrown for more touchdowns in his first three seasons? Which quarterback has the higher passer rating? Which quarterback has the higher completition percentage? Which quarterback has lead more fourth quarter come backs? Which quarterback has fewer turnovers, if you want you can just put “in his first three seasons or career” here? Which quarterback is still playing this season? The obvious answer to all of those questions is, Matt Ryan!!!!!
Now let’s try it from a different angle, one more geared towards off the field issues. Which quarterback has divided a city? Which quarterback became the highest paid player, in the NFL, and was then released? Which qb went to prison? Which qb uses excuses for losses and soaks up all the credit for wins? You guessed it, Mike Vick!!!!!! Or, as I like to call him, Mike who gives a sh*t!!!!!!
rollo lawson
January 11th, 2011
3:14 pm
Who said anything about Vick going to the Hall of Fame? Who said that Matt Ryan wasn’t better at this stage of his career? Didn’t Vick say he was “greedy” when he threw the int. Sunday? Doesn’t sound like an excuse to me. Its so funny!! Some people think that just because you share a certain opinion on one QB (Vick) you are automatically dissing the accomplishments of the present QB (Ryan). FF284, your post personifies the word “ignorant”! I don’t know about you, but I’ll be rootin’ for the Falcons on Sat. like I’ve been doing for the last 30 years. Will you be able to watch the game where you live (on Fantasy Island with Mr. Rourke and Tatoo)?
FF284
January 11th, 2011
4:05 pm
rollo—-I know a moron like you needs everything spelled out for them due to an extremely limited vocabulary. So, I will do my best to not get you lost. I know, I know, I’m probably too late.
First of all, when Mike Vick threw the interception he was being greedy. In fact, you could back over his career and see several other instances of the exact same thing. How many fumbles has he lost because he would hold onto the ball too long? How many interceptions has he thrown because he couldn’t throw it at the time his receiver came open? Do you not remember the NFC Championship game where who gives a sh*t was a turnover machine?
Secondly, Mike Vick is a polarizing force for his team. Sure you’ll win some games but sooner or later he starts costing you games. Maybe you can say that about any quarterback but it especially hold true for Vick.
Lastly, you apologize for Vick and it probably has very little to do with his football abilities! Look at your own argument against what I said. Why could you not answer the questions? Lack of education? Lack of ability? No, you did what all halfwits do and that was to turn to insults. I’m betting you don’t like it done back to you by someone much more intelligent then yourself. You say I live on Fantasy Island because I gave a true and factual accounting of these two quarterbacks but you have provided no real argument as to why I may be incorrect. Worse yet you couldn’t even spell tattoo correctly in the same post where you dared call someone else ignorant. That’s not even the end of it. No, your previous post indicated Vick was a good quarterback but had poor personel around him and had a suspect work ethic. The last time I checked, a good qb makes the players around him better. You have heard of this haven’t you or have you just not watched enough football or had someone like Choke tell you what you think you know?
Now, let’s talk about Mike Vick making excuses. Were you not aware of the fact that he referenced his quad in the week leading up to his loss in the playoffs? What about him referencing his leg following his loss on Sunday? Or that he used his bruise to “explain” his loss two weeks prior? This is just a microcosm of Vick’s entire NFL career. Remember when he was being investigated and said he purchased the Virginia home for his cousin and rarely went there? He was setting up an excuse. See, I told you, I was going to spell it all out for a simpleton like you!
Now, if you want to cheer for the Falcons then great!!!! But, when you say something blatantly stupid like, “Vick was a good quarterback for the Falcons” then you should expect to get slapped around a bit more. Also, if you want to call someone ignorant then you should have a more intelligent argument yourself!!!! Actually, the better choice, for you, would be to just keep your mouth shut and not prove yourself to be an ignoramus!!!! It’s too late on this blog but it’s just a general rule for you going forward.
rollo lawson
January 11th, 2011
4:18 pm
FF284, you ought to take your show on the road. After all that garbage you just spewed, Vick will get a multi-million dollar contract within months, and you will still be unemployed and living in your mom’s basement. Go shovel snow, lol!!
Najeh Davenpoop
January 11th, 2011
6:06 pm
“So Poop, give me some objective stats on how Jenkins is just as “inconsistent” now as he was when Vick was here? Maybe catch % (of total thrown at)? If you throw enough caveats in the mix, as you know, then no stat is meaningful.”
Pretty much every mainstream WR stat is so situation dependent that it serves very little purpose in describing how good a WR really is. Receptions fluctuate based on how pass heavy an offense is and what role a receiver plays in an offense. Receiving yards and yards per catch fluctuate based on what kind of routes the WR runs within the offense. TDs depend a lot on a player’s teammates — a team with a go-to TE at the goal line, for example, will probably see fewer TDs among its receiving corps.
Catch percentage and drops are valid measures of a receiver’s performance, but I can’t find this information anywhere. There is no stat that I know of which describes how well a player runs routes, which is probably the single most important quality of a WR. So I can’t back this up with stats. My eyes tell me he’s running the same mediocre routes that he did when Vick was here.
And in any case, the whole reason this came up in the first place is because of the contention that Vick’s absence caused the WRs to improve. There is no factual basis for this statement, and if you insist on believing this, then Vick deserves credit for Alge Crumpler’s performance being much better with him than it has been without him.
Fal Cannot Do It
January 11th, 2011
7:40 pm
No way, no how you guys beat the Pack. Rodgers doesn’t fumble and you stumble. Enjoy the offseason
FF284
January 12th, 2011
12:03 am
rollo—-Thanks for doing exactly what I said you would do. You have no opinion or intelligence of your own so you have to resort to calling names. Rollo, the real problem is that you know I’m right and that’s one of the reasons why you can’t make argument for yourself.
As far as Vick getting a multi million dollar salary for next season, I say so what. Look at all the money thrown away on Jake Delhome!!!! That backup signed a multi million dollar deal, as have such luminaries as Mark Brunnel and Matt Hasselbeck. So, going with your argument that he must be good because some team is willing to give him millions of dollars ranks right up their with such intelligent remarks like, “Today is the day that we turn back the tides and cleaned the oceans and saved this planet for our children.” Berry was no more correct then you because nothing has changed. The waters are still raising, the oceans are still dirty and there is someone dumb enough to give Vick a lot of money! Just like you’re dumb enough to say that he is a good quarterback.
Now, kid, I did tell you that the smart play was to shut up and not prove yourself to be a fool. That was good advice. You should have listened!!! I give it again and doubt it will be any more successful this time as you don’t have the intelligence or self-respect to know you cannot win! Actually, Vick has a better chance of winning a playoff game, in Philly, while the temperature is under 30 then you do at not looking like a loser!!!!
Falcon PHi
January 12th, 2011
10:59 pm
With vick and the saints gone, ATL should easily win the NFC. Chicago and Green Bay don’t have a chance against atlanta. Atl beats GB by 13 and then blows out chicago for the title. ATL v. New England in the super bowl—the Falcons win by 7. These dirty birds are for real.
TexasDawg
January 14th, 2011
3:36 pm
@Gator Man “Go Falcons, by the way the Gators are the only team in the East to win a bowl game, Go Falcons, please dont be like those losers at UGA, Tech.”
LOL! Ouch! And Go Falcons!
LIVE BLOG: If Falcons win, it could be Super Bowl dance | Jeff Schultz
January 15th, 2011
3:15 pm
[...] – Saints gone, Vick gone and Falcons ready to defend turf [...]
SaintsStill#1
January 15th, 2011
4:31 pm
Oh, if only the Saints had not had to find a few running backs on the street prior to Seattle game, but, alas we didn’t get it done, hurt or not, no excuses! Anyway, don’t worry Falcon fans when u guys don’t get yours we will still allow you guys to view and be in awe of our Lombardi trophy (even if hell opens up and the Falcons win a Super Bowl title, NOTHING will ever change the fact that we won ours FIRST!) WHO dat? Not you Falcons or your fans!!!
jason
January 16th, 2011
7:23 am
Though the Saints did lose to a Seattle team with a losing record on the road by five points in one of the most hostile environments in the NFL – the Saints entered that game completely decimated in their offensive backfield. They had their top five running backs on injured reserve including their two starters – Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory. This same Seattle team that will play Chicago for the right to face the Green Bay team that wiped the floor with you in your dome, also defeated the Bears earlier this season. Their record is very deceiving.
Though it’s true that winning on the road and injuries are a part of the game, sometimes a team can’t overcome a plethora of injuries at one position. Sometimes, teams in the midst of a dynasty can’t overcome a single injury which was exemplified three years ago when Tom Brady went down early in the year and was lost for the season and the Patriots didn’t make the playoffs.
But what’s your excuse? You’re completely healthy, playing at home and Las Vegas has your game against Green Bay as a pick-em. Then you come out and score two touchdowns – one of which was a kickoff return. Then you stand by helplessly as the Packers scored 35 unanswered points. And you should have lost by more had the Packers not doinked a field goal off an upright.
FOX television focuses on both sidelines with 10 minutes left. On one side we see Arthur Blank and some of your players moping and shell-shocked; others simply have their heads in their hands with expressions on their faces as if they’re a bunch of drunks that can barely stumble out of a tavern.
What a pitiful exhibition that was. And you Falcon fans have the gall to sit here insulting the Saints? These same Saints that lost the last three games of their regular season last year and came out in this same round of the playoffs last year and trounced future Hall-of-Famer Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals? These same Saints who the following week defeated another future Hall-of-Famer Brett Farve and the Vikings? These same Saints that then defeated another future Hall-of-Famer Peyton Manning and the Colts by 14 points in the Super Bowl?
If you Falcon fans can digest all of this and can still consider yourself on the same playing field as Drew Brees and the Saints, then you’re not only idiots on the playing field as you demonstrated last night, but also mental retards.
Have a nice summer.
CoolBrees
January 16th, 2011
10:30 am
ROTFLMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!! Hey Atlanta fan, New Orleans just called, said you can feel free to start calling yourselves the Aints!!!!! Aint never won a SuperBowl, Aint gonna win a SuperBowl. Aaron Rodgers just bent you over like the little whiny b!tches you are. You’re welcome. WHO DAT
Deedy McBride
January 16th, 2011
12:23 pm
My dear Rivalry friends (The Dirty Birds). It gives me great pleasure to read all your hopes and dreams for a Superbowl this year! The way you have talked about our team: (Who BEAT you this year!) with harsh words! All I can do is laugh and jump for joy! And on behalf of our city and our Wonderful Team: Let me just say: IT “AINT” GONE HAPPEN!!!! LMAO
# 1 SAINTS FAN