Arthur Blank still hasn’t recovered from Falcons’ playoff exit
Falcons owner Arthur Blank, here with general manager Thomas Dimitroff after the playoff loss, will return from Dallas before the Super Bowl. (Curtis Compton/ccompton@AJC.com)
A few nights after the Falcons were drop-kicked out of the playoffs, Arthur Blank and his two football lieutenants went out to dinner. There in a Midtown restaurant sat the team’s owner, the general manager (Thomas Dimitroff) and the coach (Mike Smith), emotionally facedown in their soup.
“It was just the three of us together, reflecting back,” Blank said. “It’s sort of like going to see a therapist. You go there to work through any issues you have and then you try to get ready for the future. You’re just trying to get some of the hurting out of the way so you can move on.”
For the record, that hasn’t happened yet with Blank.
He is as emotionally invested as any owner in professional sports. He admits he’s still psychologically hung over from the Falcons’ 48-21 loss in the Georgia Dome two weeks ago. He is going to Dallas for Super Bowl week – only he’s not really going to the Super Bowl.
“I leave Thursday, we have meetings and then the hosting owner [Jerry Jones] always has a party Thursday night,” Blank said. “Then Friday morning the commissioner has a press conference, and I’ll go to that. Friday afternoon I’ll go to radio row for interviews. Friday night is the commissioner’s party. Saturday we were going to have a league meeting but that’s been canceled, so I guess I’ve got some free time.”
And Sunday?
“I’m coming home Sunday morning — mostly because I’m still pissed about our game,” he said.
He allowed himself to think the Falcons could get to Dallas. He knew the 13-3 record, the bye week and two potential home playoff games didn’t come with guarantees. But what happened in the Georgia Dome blindsided him, as it did most.
“You don’t look ahead,” Blank said, “but we certainly believed we would get deeper than we did.”
He said no major reassessment of the franchise is needed. He still believes the Falcons are trending upward and have become one of the “national” and “relevant” franchises in the NFL, based on three consecutive winning seasons and two playoff berths in the Dimitroff-Smith-Matt Ryan era. He said he doesn’t think the loss will hurt the team’s marketing efforts in the offseason, although that’s probably more the salesman in him talking than the realist.
Blank said he doesn't blame the fans who couldn't bear to watch the Falcons any more and left in the third quarter. (AP photo)
Finally, there’s this: Blank says he has changed from the newbie sports owner who bought the franchise from the Smith family in 2002. He says he’s more “controlled.”
Comment: “My emotional thermometer is different than when I first became an owner.”
Maybe so. But not by much. The man still wears his emotions on his sleeve.
Late in the third quarter against Green Bay, he watched from his private box as the Packers scored their scored fifth consecutive touchdown to take a 42-14 lead. Fans began to stream out of the Georgia Dome.
“People said to me, ‘You must be upset about that,’” Blank said. “I said no. I wasn’t upset that they were leaving, I was upset about the way we were playing. The fans were incredibly supportive all year. After that third quarter, it would’ve taken a miracle just to come back and make the game competitive. It was like the fans were getting hit on the head with a hammer, and it wouldn’t stop. The only way they could make it stop was by leaving. So they left.”
Blank’s head was still throbbing the following week when NFL meetings were held in Atlanta. During a lunch break, he sat with New England owner Robert Kraft, whose team was stunned in its first playoff game by the New York Jets (the day after the Falcons’ loss).
“There we were, the owners of the two No. 1 seeds, having lunch,” Blank said, managing a chuckle. “Nobody else sat at our table. We were two sorry sacks. You never get used to it.”
Final story: Blank was inducted into the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame on Friday. It was there he came in contact with Kathleen Bertrand, a gospel singer who sang the national anthem at the event. Bertrand told Blank that she performed the anthem at the Falcons’ last playoff win in 2004. She had hoped to sing it at another game during the season but had trouble getting in contact with the right person.
“I said if I knew that, I would’ve made sure she sang it again [at the playoff game],” Blank said. “But it probably wouldn’t have made a difference.”
Not unless she could play cornerback.
By Jeff Schultz
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369 comments Add your comment
Maybe?
January 30th, 2011
12:25 am
Arthur should get off his wallet we are the 27th lowest payroll in the league maybe he should not be so cheap and get some big time free agents in here and not the lousy dunta Robinson here is a novel idea maybe a beat writer at the Ajc can ask him why he is so cheap and not willing to get the difference makers at this pace Arthur ain’t gonna be around when and if the falcons ever win a SB cmon mr blank start writing some checks
5150 UOAD
January 30th, 2011
12:30 am
MAYBE?
Why pay? The NFL can’t afford for the other teams to fold. Basketball has to play a MILLION games to pay those ghetto bros and the NFL will be ther if they do a LOCKOUT.
The poor and small market teams need to stick together and they could make the 10 richest and large market teams beg to help prop the weak teams up. Pro sports is one of the few Industries that you can’t kill your competition without killing yourself.
D-Man
January 30th, 2011
12:30 am
I will say this…I was at that Saturday Night Massacre and stayed until two mins left in the 4th. Didn’t leave earlier and really wasn’t mad at anyone that did. I didn’t leave not only cause I’m a die hard Falcons fan, but because I really just didn’t have the energy TO MOVE. I was sick all day the next day and couldn’t watch or read anything sports related all week, but you know what got me over the loss to the ButtPackers?
The fact that I knew the owner of this team felt the same way. Not a corporation or that Atlanta “Killed My” Spirit set of disconnected losers, but a guy in Arthur Blank that hurt as much as we the fans did. Thanks Arthur Blank for caring enough to share and BEAR the pain.
I wouldn’t have made it without ya…(sigh)
maybe?
January 30th, 2011
12:40 am
dont get me wrong Arthur Blank is Awesome especially compared to the Clampets that owned this team for so long…however i believe with a couple of big time free agents that are going to be costly we have a legitimate shot for the next 5 years but in this league u have to make it happen during that window when you have a lot of talent just not enough….just ask Peyton Manning which appears his window is closing…..just be smart and spend the money on the big time free agents that are proven winners with tons of talent and tons of heart….JUST GO SPEND THE MONEY….AFTER THIS YEAR I DONT WANT TO WAIT 3 MORE YEARS TO BUILD THROUGH THE DRAFT….A SUPERBOWL VICTORY NEXT YEAR WOULD DEFINITELY EASE SOME OF THE PAIN FROM THAT HORRIFIC GAME AND GO PITTSBURGH BEAT THE HE__ OUT OF THAT ARROGANT AARON RODGERS…HE WAS STILL TALKING LAST WEEK HOW HE COULDNT BELIEVE HOW EASY IT WAS AGAINST THE FALCONS….WE NEED TO WIPE THIS NASTY SMEAR OFF OF US AS SOON AS POSSIBLE…
Mi chael V ick
January 30th, 2011
1:38 am
Nuff Said!
Mi chael V ick
January 30th, 2011
1:40 am
V ick baby. Thats whatz up
extremus
January 30th, 2011
3:49 am
I’ll take a human owner who says he’s “pissed” about a bad loss than an unfeeling, uncaring, faceless corporate ownership (like Liberty Media or Time Warner) any day. I believe that while Arthur Blank won’t go all Jerry Jones and dismantle the team without very sufficient reason, he’ll definitely work hard to address the Falcons’ needs so this doesn’t EVER happen again under his ownership. “Relevant” isn’t the ultimate goal; it was a step, and the Falcons have taken it. With Blank as an owner and with this core of personnel, the Birds are poised to go to the next step soon, I believe.
GO FALCONS!!!!
Jawbreaker
January 30th, 2011
4:26 am
The Falcons are blessed to have an owner like Blank, and despite his frustrations, the fact remains that you need elite players to win championships, and the Falcons have none. Ryan is on his way to being an elite QB, but it wouldn’t be safe to call him elite. (Yet) White, Gonzalez, Robinson, and Turner are solid, but not elite. The OL could use some fine tuning, and seems the secondary always needs help. The Falcons will be a solid team for years to come, but elite? Seems they are an elite player away from competing with the likes of the Steelers and Patriots.
Stinger2
January 30th, 2011
4:43 am
i like Blank`s fan attitude. I believe he will continue to do his part as an owner to get the Falcons to a Super Bowl championship. I also think that the Falcons have
some work to do to get there which is the responsibility
of the GM and coaching staff. Final comment: If we had to lose, I am glad it was a blowout instead of a close one like losing by a FG in overtime or on the last play of regulation.
Dan
January 30th, 2011
6:35 am
Falcons are losers. Always whave been, always will be.
Larry
January 30th, 2011
8:43 am
This is a business. I find it amusing how so many goobers on here keep burping out “spend all of the money you can and get everything we want/need?” I’d bet the goobers who keep saying his have little or no money and just love telling those who have it what to do with it!. Hilarious!
As for Blank, he may be wealthy and successful, but he is still learning how to be a CEO…the number one in a company.
His fortune was earned at home depot where he was the CFO, the number two person, behind the leadership, direction, vision and charisma of the number one and CEO, Bernie Marcus. This is common in initial start-ups where other officers and directors get loaded with tons of stock options and every now and then you hit gold and the top executives, like CFO’s, COO’s, etc become incredibly wealthy.
Blank has made the classic mistakes of a number two (something that a number one wouldn’t do):
1. Pushes Michael Vick around in a wheel chair for all to see!
2. Awards Michael Vick the most absurd contract in NFL history despite his known poor work ethic.
3. Hires an immature and unproven Jim Mora as head coach.
4. Hires a well known discontent and “rabbit” in Bobby Petrino to replace Jim Mora…hello?
5. After #2 and #3 above, he actually hires Thomas Dimitroff after a phone interview–not in person!
6. A constant presence on the sidelines–for all to see–of hugging and loving on players and coaches.
Now there is a lot of good about Arthur Blank and no doubt he loves this team, genuinely wants the best, and is driven to win a Super Bowl. However, I think I is about time he follows through with his “I’m pissed” comment by keeping his rear off the sidelines so much, telling TD to act like a professional GM and shave that goofy looking peach fuzz off of his chin and upper lip (he looks like a 15 year old), learn how to wear a suit and tie (he looks ridiculous in the above photo) and basically with all of his words and actions moving forward he lets his coaches and players know “I care about you, but if I ever see a performance like what we all suffered through against Green Bay again everyone in this organization will have to earn their starting roles again…everyone! I’ll give you a hug after we win the Super Bowl!”
Lee Sunset
January 30th, 2011
8:48 am
Blank is pissed because he knows what the season ticket sales will look like already. He knows that there is no way the league will schedule the Falcons for any national spots except the obligatory game against the Saints, but you can bet it won’t be a home game for the Falcons. Blank knows that trying to peddle the Falcons off as an elite team to the rest of the nation is NOT GONNA HAPPEN after that meltdown against the Packers. The Eagles and Bears didn’t get whupped so bad the game was over by halftime – and neither of those teams was playing after a week off when they played the Packers too. Only the Falcons got shellacked, by 27 points no less. This team is not only incredibly boring, but then went and proved to the entire nation that 13 wins for the Falcons is really the same as about 6 wins for a NFC North or NFC East team.
Larry
January 30th, 2011
8:52 am
Dan.
With this attitude it is you that is the loser…you probably always have been and always will be.
This team, with a 13-3 record, 3 consecutive winning seasons and earning the playoffs in 2 of these 3 season has shed the definition of loser. They now have to take the next step and learn how to win it all, something you never have nor ever will do I’d guess…with that defeatest attitude of yours!
Big Dawg Cobb
January 30th, 2011
8:58 am
Honestly I haven’t recovered either and I cant seem to bring myself to watch any football since this loss. Not really sure I’ll even watch the super bowl which will be a first since I was a little boy.
That loss REALLY hurt
JSS
January 30th, 2011
9:14 am
Dan
January 30th, 2011
6:35 am
“Falcons are losers. Always whave been, always will be.”
Don’t agree with the last two parts of your statement. Still, having that blogger call you out means that there is more truth than fiction in what you said… Keep on stating your opinion, better to be honest than to be a smarmy two-faced person…
Dawg
January 30th, 2011
9:14 am
Mike Smith, Thomas Dimitroff, Mattilda Ryan. I think we know which one is the main weak link. Mike Smith and TD are the enablers. Get a QB with a live arm like Rodgers and you could be in the superbowl.
Escaped from Email Purgatory
January 30th, 2011
9:26 am
How about trading Matty Nice to the Bengals for Carson Palmer and their #1 pick in the upcoming draft (fourth overall)? I’d like to keep our #1 pick (which is more like an early second round pick) but if we have to use it to close the deal, so be it.
We get in Palmer a QB of with five more years wear and tear than Ryan – plus a gimp knee, but he’s got a stronger arm. And think what Dimitroff could do with that fourth pick – but don’t think about Peria Jerry, think positive.
Ryan is what he is: a franchise QB when it comes to smarts and leadership; and a back up when it comes to accuracy and arm strength. Move him now while somebody is willing to take him and overpay for the privilege. The gild is quickly falling off Matt’s lily, so time’s a-wasting.
I’ve seen enough of Ryan missing wide-open receivers in the end zone to last me a lifetime. This is who he was his last year at BC. This is who he still is. Move him before it’s nobody’s secret.
King Arthur Blank
January 30th, 2011
9:29 am
After the loss, I was very distraught. However, when I awoke the next morning I realized I was still worth over $1 Billion dollars and have a wife who is 30 years younger than me. Plus everyone is the Falcon’s front office and coaching staff kisses my butt daily. Its good to be me….The King!
Ted
January 30th, 2011
9:31 am
Who Cares?
Ted
January 30th, 2011
9:32 am
I’m not sure what there is to recover from anyway and what he’s so shocked about…all of the national media knew that the Falcons were going to lose to the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs, and boy did they lose big. The only people who thought the Falcons might have a chance were the local homer sportswriters.
Matty Melted Ice
January 30th, 2011
9:36 am
Yes, I have a noodle arm and cannot throw deep down the field. But I am smart enough to get $70 million from Arthur Blank. The old Jew does not know what hit him. He is too busy strolling the sidelines during games to get his face on TV.
Falcon Brian
January 30th, 2011
9:42 am
Mr.Blank
keep your head up and your eyes on the prise.
I have been a falcon fan over 40 years nd this is the best team we ever had.
they will only get better with time.
Rise up Atlanta this is our time
angry man
January 30th, 2011
9:52 am
Blank is so angry and distressed about that blowout loss—I heard he’s thinking of dumping his 30 something wife and getting a 20 something chick to “relieve his pain.”
TO's the Answer
January 30th, 2011
9:56 am
Atlanta needs a real deep threat at WR—Blank needs to throw a ton of money at get TO ASAP! He will not come cheap but with TO and White, Atl can go deep and get to the next level.
take it from me.
January 30th, 2011
10:02 am
I don’t care what you say! The falcons are a bargain basement team,with a few overpriceed items.this team has allways been under achevers ,excelp this year in the regular season,and that was just a ploy for the team to raise ticket prices.Mr blank can’t raise tickets without league approval.Now you know why mr blank and the league have all those meetings.The Falcons are the whooping boys of the NFL and allways will be.Keep buying those season tickets, cause nothing going to change,excelp maybe the weather or Mr Schultz gets to keep his job!
Big Game Causes Stripper Shortage and Other Points of View | Bear(ing) the News
January 30th, 2011
10:07 am
[...] Schultz at the Atlanta Journal Constitution says Falcons owner Authur Blank is still “pissed” over their playoff loss to the Packers: “Late in [...]
5150 UOAD
January 30th, 2011
10:17 am
About 6 hours until the Mike Vick Love Fest at the Pro Bowl. I just can’t watch the game. It is nothing special anyway. Rich guys getting a paid vacation for their families is not something I want to hear about when I am struggleing to pay my bills.
Ringless in ATL
January 30th, 2011
10:23 am
LMAO – NFL Network is showing the Broncos rout of the FALCLOWNS in SB33…Ringless then,, Ringless now, Ringless forever….34-19 whipping…Falcants have NOT changed a bit…still a worthless, ringless franchise….
All the Best,
From your NFC South Friends who HAVE A RING
JSS
January 30th, 2011
10:26 am
Terrell Owens was the answer 6 years ago but not now… That is not a disparagement of Owens but simply a matter that he can not get deep as readily as he did 3 years ago… T.O. will be fine, but what you need is to find another Jacoby Ford in the draft. Sorry, it is not Leonard Hankerson. He’s another Steve Breaston. A deep threat clears zones as long they get behind DBs frequently enough and you target them enough to scare the free safety and the corner not to jump a route… Even a blind squirrel can find a nut some time…
Escaped from Email Purgatory
January 30th, 2011
10:36 am
The Fates aren’t beholding to the city of Atlanta – and bear us no ill will.
Our city’s championship resume is lacking because we haven’t fielded good enough teams (Falcons and Hawks) or, because when we did, the Braves squandered four of their five opportunities.
We’re very fortunate to have major league sports in this town – and not so lucky when it comes to the quality of the various owners (or the people they hire to hire the coaches, managers and players).
We’ve had one outstanding (not great) owner – Ted Turner. Ted coulda been great, but he never stepped in and forced Bobby Cox outta the dugout. The Braves’ legacy paid dearly for that. And it kept Ted from being ranked with the greats.
We’ve got one good owner – who could move into Ted’s category, and that’s Arthur Blank.
I think Blank’s one of the good guys. He seems to me to possess the traits of an ideal owner: local residency, smarts, passion and deep pockets – just like Turner.
The Falcons are on the right track – we finally broke the consecutive-winning-season draught and we’ve made the playoffs two years out of three. But the Grand Canyon stands between that success and earning the opportunity to play for AND WIN championships. That’s world championships, good buddies – not division championships.
I’m gonna set my expectations for the Falcons independent of the burden of making up for the Braves, Hawks, Flames and Thrashers records of futility. That’s not the Falcons’ fault.
Seems only fair.
tripledart
January 30th, 2011
10:39 am
Great season Falcon. Mr Blank just a couple of suggestions.
Do better back ground searches on your super stars.Then the egg is not on your face.But that”s right you were filling the stands and looked the other way.
Then take all the land you purchased off 85 and build a new place for your team and operations.Tell the city to kiss your ass.You should know about bondage.Hello
And please stay in your owners box until playoffs.I still remember you wheeling vick around the field in a wheel chair.
Your new facility would be a fantastic thing.Picnic grounds for tailgating.Multi commercial uses retail /eating joints you name it.
A 40 000 seat indoor dome.No pan handlers no thugs just people who love their team.
Half your tickets corporate sponsors would devour.Contact me Mr Blank.
trixie
January 30th, 2011
10:40 am
Couldn’t have happened to a nicer owner. Don’t like the cry baby never will GO PACKERS
CaptainKirk
January 30th, 2011
10:49 am
The same cluless personnel decisions over n over will doom TD &Co.. Consider the free agents during last yrs offseason: Julius Peppers comes to mind..
You go after him and Pay Him!!! get it..take the rubber band off the jewish bankroll!! Had a chance @ Clay Matthews or BJ Raji..couldnt have gotten both becuse of availability but Raji is the latest folk hero and Matthews is a All pro in his second yr..
I ceratinly hope all these Falcon Fans pay SERIOUS ATTENTION to this yrs free agency AND this yrs draft and hold TD &co. accountable for the players they pick..
They may have coaches and this “he doesnt fir our scheme crap is BS”!
Get playmakers and pay them their market value..
King Arthur remarked that that the Falcons had the lowest payroll of any team left in the playoffs prior to the Packers Game…
It really showed , with ” Daunting Dunta gettin” torched by the 3rd best Receiver..zero pass rush and Rogers runnin up scores n stats
You Get what you pay For
Go Falcons!
January 30th, 2011
10:54 am
I will always be a Falcon fan, win or lose. This loss is almost as tough as the 1978 loss to Dallas. Almost.
The Falcons played ok and Matt Ryan played less than ok. Most of all Green Bay was lights out.
Mr. Blank is a great owner and class man. I wish the Braves had an owner that cared that much. Liberty Mutual probably did not even watch the final loss of the Braves.
The Falcons are missing some key players on offense and defense. Not many though. DB’s and firepower on offense would do the trick. One more pass rusher too. The end from UGA would be a good fit.
Escaped from Email Purgatory
January 30th, 2011
10:55 am
“You dress for the job you want, not the job you have.”
Can’t help but think about that old saying when I look at the pic of Dimitroff atop this blog. I’m confused as hell. Is he a Watkins Man or an NFL GM?
D Man
January 30th, 2011
10:57 am
Honestly, the loss in 1980 to the Cowboys in the playoffs hurt more and still hurts more. That team was better than this team. But, this team is young and can get a lot better. The future looks bright…
JSS
January 30th, 2011
10:58 am
tripledart
January 30th, 2011
10:39 am
DING!!! (And that is not a good thing!)
YourPoliticalAnimal
January 30th, 2011
11:13 am
Go out and get Dez Bryant from Dallas because Michael Jenkins, while playing very well during the season, doesn’t appear to be a big-game player . . . on defense, John Abraham is an injury (usually groin) waiting to happen . . . and we need a kick-ass, Ed Reed-type corner/safety . . . until then, it’s the playoffs, but nothing more . . .
Falcons Chic
January 30th, 2011
11:20 am
It’s all a crap shoot, folks. You play your best. You earn the top seed. Then, CHANGE YOUR GAME PLAN in two weeks, and perhaps every 5 plays — if it is not working — and use a lot of blur/no huddle to keep the D on their heels. With great sorrow, I mention the 9/11 Commissions report headline on this smaller game-based issue. We had a *failure of imagination* in the playoffs, not a failure of commitment by the players. Coaches have to be able to “install” new game plans or ideas because the playoffs are a different breed. My child is known as a divergent thinker in educational terms who asked “why not give MR2 the call,” coaches not on the sidelines could be on call for time management capabilities that seemed to be a problem, and there are drawings on Wikipedia for the sleights PHI used against us. Coaching? That, was the error in this game. I applaud this group of coaches who are better than the Mora years because they wanted to force their Vick into WC offense. However, the playoffs require a higher level of intricacy and intensity particularly on the D. Moral of the story, don’t feed Aaron Rodgers a 20- hole to avoid the explosive play and forget to change up. THAT was what rubbed our noses in the astroturf.
take it from me.
January 30th, 2011
11:22 am
The falcoms may not look like a discount team! but thier personel gives them away!
Ron Choke Mexico
January 30th, 2011
11:22 am
@Larry,
When Arthur left Home Depot, he was the CEO, any way he and Bernie were pretty much equals there even before Bernie left and Arthur became CEO
Owner still hasn’t recovered from Falcons’ playoff exit | Ben Maller
January 30th, 2011
11:24 am
[...] a league meeting but that’s been canceled, so I guess I’ve got some free time.” And Sunday? “I’m coming home Sunday morning — mostly because I’m still pissed about our game,” he said. — Atlanta [...]
Ron Choke Mexico
January 30th, 2011
11:25 am
Hey Dawg, you’re right man, never win with Ryan as QB, he didn’t deserve to be rookie of the year, or go to the probowl, heck those 33 wins over 3 seasons were just a fluke. Dawg, your’re an idiot
Vick Time
January 30th, 2011
11:27 am
Vick’s in the pro bowl–he’s been partying hard all week in Hawaii with a huge entourage—the falcons missed the boat when they didn’t get him back. With vick, atl would be in the super bowl next year. With ryan, more of the same—first round playoff loss.
Ron Choke Mexico
January 30th, 2011
11:27 am
Yourpoliticalanimal, yeah let’s go get Dez, I bet Dallas will gladly hand us their first round draft pick from last year. Can someone please make some useful, logical, rational suggestions
Ron Choke Mexico
January 30th, 2011
11:28 am
Yourpoliticalanimal, Moore is going to be a safety, what we need is a DE and another corner
Ron Choke Mexico
January 30th, 2011
11:30 am
Vick Time, hey man thanks for the vote of confidence, but did you notice, I lost in the first round! That’s cool, keep living in that make believe world of yours.
drmondo
January 30th, 2011
11:31 am
I’m glad Mr. Blank feels as upset as we do about the loss. Has anybody thought to perform an exorcism on our franchise? Performed a ceremony using a curse-breaking item form the Red Sox? At this point I say try anything to banish “the curse”.
clay
January 30th, 2011
11:49 am
I think its safe to say that Mr Blank will be opening the check book to bring who ever here to get them to that next step. I think we are going to make a couple of big splash moves in free agency this year. He wants it so bad he can taste it. GO FALCONS
take it from me.
January 30th, 2011
11:52 am
Nothing wrong with this franchise money won’t cure! I’ve been a long suffering fan since 1966,and i seen these teams through the years,try to win with inferior personal.you dont’ go to the SB with one of the lowest payrolls in the leauge.and thats allways been the falcons problem!