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
King Gator
January 30th, 2011
6:41 pm
As a Buc fan I’m torn, hard to feel bad for the rivals; but as a Buc fan I understand how it feels to be on the outside looking in at the teams that are almost in the playoffs/Super Bowl. So I grew a pencil thin mustache and quit shopping Lowe’s to help support AB. Go Bucs! Go Gators!
Ringless in ATL
January 30th, 2011
7:08 pm
Poor Artie….at least he had a great REGULAR season team…SB Rings are over-rated…ask the Viqueens fans….
Sincerely,
Those who have a ring in the NFC South
Art I feel your pain
January 30th, 2011
7:28 pm
He’s not a game changer wr but I hope the Falcons give a long look to Durham out of UGA to replace Finneran eventually. That kid can climb the ladder has great hands and is a real gamer.
Art I feel your pain
January 30th, 2011
7:37 pm
Lee Sunset.
DawgDad does have a point. The reigning Super Bowl Champ getting beat in the first round to the “champion” from the weakest division in the NFL is sadder than the Falcons doing what most everyone outside of Atlanta had predicted they would do.
If anything Atlanta got to this point sooner than most everyone predicited they would. It really sucks to have to do so but I can continue to be patient.
ijonathan (formerly a Ryan defender)
January 30th, 2011
8:20 pm
Anyone watching the Pro-Bowl tonigh saw on Ryan’s interception that he threw the ball about 54 or 55 yards in the air…from about the NFC 18 to the AFC 28. It was woefully short. Austin (receiver) had the DB beat by about 2-3 steps and if the ball had instead been thrown 60-65 yards in the air (which MANY NFL QBs can do) it is an easy TD. Instead, it turned into a jump ball and an INT.
Guys like Mark Bradley and others who say we need to get more “deep threats” at receiver are delusional. Our QB can’t deliver. Dink and Dunk.
He needs to do whatever he can in the offseason to add 5-10 yards to his deep balls if he can, and add more zip to his outs, slants, etc.
JSS
January 30th, 2011
8:34 pm
Art I feel your pain
January 30th, 2011
7:28 pm
“He’s not a game changer wr but I hope the Falcons give a long look to Durham out of UGA to replace Finneran eventually.”
I said it during the season, Kris Durham will end up with a team like St. Louis. Now with John Fox in Denver, that is good spot. That is a better fit for a kid…
JSS
January 30th, 2011
8:38 pm
I guess you guys will say Adrian Peterson is fat and slow? Ha ha ha ha, you got to block!!!
Saints Rule
January 30th, 2011
9:33 pm
ryan—not a big game QB—average arm, bad decisions under pressure, etc. Next year, the Saints will win the NFC pretty easily and play Pittsburgh for the title–bet the house. Atl—first round loss in wild card game.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 30th, 2011
9:45 pm
What a “classless” dirtbag that Smitty is.
His players sucks in the regular season, but he is keeping them in the entire game. At one point, Roddy, CHOKE, Gonzalez and Turner were all playing most of the game at the same time.
You can tell he is not used to being incharge of “real” talent.
What a classless dirtbag
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 30th, 2011
9:57 pm
@Lee Sunset
I know America had spoken a long time ago, but the losers in Atlanta needed a reminder
JSS
January 30th, 2011
10:00 pm
@ MCR…
I was wondering when you were going to point out that “whole half” that Falcons players got as opposed to other players?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 30th, 2011
10:03 pm
@JSS
That is pathetic that he could be so obvious trying to keep CHOKE out there so he can get the MVP of the game
Even Jason Whitten complained about the little time he played.
JSS
January 30th, 2011
10:07 pm
Ha ha ha, he headbutted him down!!!
JSS
January 30th, 2011
10:17 pm
The “Matts” love those “Pick 6s!”
JSS
January 30th, 2011
10:20 pm
One last time for the season: “Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-eeeeeems!”
JSS
January 30th, 2011
10:31 pm
Ha ha ha ha!!! “Snarky Central over on the Falcons Blog” are having a stroke right now!!! DeAngelo Hall!!!
metalarm
January 30th, 2011
10:49 pm
I can remember when you couldn’t give away tickets to the Pro Sports teams in Atlanta. At least now fans want to go to the games. The problem in Atlanta now is so many homes you can’t sell. I got the heck out and moved to where the crime isn’t where you have to carry a gun to protect yourself from the rapist, gang members, and the other hoodlums. It’s good to see that this past Mayor didn’t have to go to prison like the last one did. Clean up Atlanta Gov., schools, streets and then it might be a nice place to live.
JSS
January 30th, 2011
10:57 pm
“Clean up Atlanta Gov., schools, streets and then it might be a nice place to live.”
Must be confusing the City of Atlanta with Gwinnett County… How’s that suburban corruption, gang activity, and domestic violence working for you?
metalarm
January 30th, 2011
11:19 pm
JSS…..EX-Mayor Campbell still in prison ??? Wasn’t the Atl. Schools in the paper for some type of corruption ?? Todays paper has two articles where a H.S. senior shot to death in a tire cutting, 21yr old shot outside a Bar. Now tell me how safe Atl is . I lived there for 25 yrs. I know what type of things go on. Marshall Law would clean up Arl.
Atl teams= Playoff chokers
January 30th, 2011
11:28 pm
Its still hurts me. It will kill me next week during the Superbowl. Whenever i see the Packers, I see what could have been for the Falcons. I really went “all in” with the Falcons this season. I mean they were the best team in the NFC (record wise), so why not? I already had planned my Superbowl celebration. All that hope was shattered when Matt Ryan threw that pick 6 right before halftime. My dad was like “same old falcons”. Ive learned my lesson, Never go “all in” with an Atl team. They will ALWAYS find a way to crush our hopes.
JSS
January 30th, 2011
11:39 pm
“EX-Mayor Campbell still in prison ?”
No, he served his time… How’s Glenn Richardson doing these days? Charles Bannister still driving around drunk? James Harris still molesting young boys after Sunday School? So genius, there’s nowhere that is “quote, unquote: safe.”
“Marshall Law would clean up Arl.”
By the way, it’s M-A-R-T-I-A-L L-A-W… Try looking at the keys next time…
I’ll type the Suburban murder blog later…
metalarm
January 31st, 2011
12:21 am
JSS…….Some of the names you speak of I don’t know and don’t care about. I’ve been gone from there long enough that Atl. is only a bad memory. My opinion is just that that “my opinion”. If you are happy living there then I’m happy for you. Maybe your family want have to throw dirt in your face because some hoodlum shot you, I didn’t want to take that chance so my family and I moved. Like I said, 25yrs there, I KNOW what kind of dangerous place Atlanta is
JSS
January 31st, 2011
12:42 am
metalarm
January 31st, 2011
12:21 am
“JSS…….Some of the names you speak of I don’t know and don’t care about.”
When you said “I don’t know” you said it all… If you are scared of the City of Atlanta or any urban pace (as it seems), go crawl in a rabbit hole and hide… But here’s a bit of advice don’t come on a blog hiding behind a username slinging that bile… I’ve resided in Atlanta on and off since 1979. So you can’t tell me anything about “how bad Atlanta is.” Oh yeah, here’s a little lesson about hiding in rabbit holes (AKA The Suburbs), sooner or later the rattlesnake finds the hole and kills the rabbit!
Bud in ATL
January 31st, 2011
1:04 am
I agree with ‘Falcons in 2012.’ Mr Blank, please buy the Braves!!!
metalarm
January 31st, 2011
1:07 am
JSS….I moved to Atl. in ‘85 and it wasn’t as bad as it was when I moved away in ‘09. We can argue all night but it will not change either one of us. I’m a VietNam Vet and I’m not scared of the city and I have a permit to carry, I just don’t want to live in a place like Atl. has turned into. And I repeat myself, if YOU are happy there so be it. I know what I read in the AJC every day, watched on TV every day and I left because “i” didn’t like what was going on in Atlanta. MY DECISION
JSS
January 31st, 2011
1:36 am
It is no argument, you’re ranting… You make assumptions and think that carrying a loaded weapon is going to protect you… I know what was taught to me, no amount of training or firepower is going to stop the one that has your name on it… Your “DECISION” is to come on a blog running your mouth about Atlanta corruption when every inch of this State from the Speaker of the GA House to the Governor has dirty hands… No one is saying Bill Campbell wasn’t a corrupt politician. But he’s no more of shyster than the Gwinnett commissioner who took kickbacks… You’ve got an axe to grind; and you’re hiding behind a username on a sports and taking your shots… If you’re a big brave man, go down to City Hall and stand in front of a committee meeting, council meeting, or a town hall and say it… You don’t have to be an Atlanta resident to do it… But stop hiding on a blog on pg. 7 of a thread trying to play slash and burn snarky behavior!
Killer Moves
January 31st, 2011
2:10 am
F*ck Arthur Stank he will never get a ring!
Conservative HC
January 31st, 2011
7:05 am
If Blank is still hot about the way the team exited the playoffs, why is he in such a rush to extend Smith and Dimitroff’s contracts? I’d at least want to see what changes they make in the draft, free agency and play calling on offense/defense next year before committing to them. Everyone should be held accountable in the organization Arthur!
Lee Sunset
January 31st, 2011
7:07 am
DeAngelo Hall, Pro Bowl MVP….no matter how hard Mike Smith tried to get it to his player, he still came up short. LOL
Giants in 2011!
January 31st, 2011
8:01 am
The NY Giants will be back big in 2011 and win the NFC, beating the Saints in the conference title game—book it. Atl doesn’t have the defense to win anything big and matt ryan can’t get it done in big games. Their team is soft. Gaints v. Steelers in the 2012 Super Bowl!!!!
take it from me.
January 31st, 2011
9:02 am
The Falcants will be back, with a 7-9 record this year, book it!
Guyman 33
January 31st, 2011
9:56 am
Mr. Blank,
Please buy the Thrashers.
Russ555
January 31st, 2011
10:24 am
Recover?? I have not recovered from the 1980 playoff lost to the Cowboys. Same deal. Falcons were number one seed, had home field advantage in the stadium, had dominated every team in the league. And lost the first playoff game to the Cowboys.
Tough league with no guanantees. That’s why they play the games. And there is always next year.
Brookly finally won a world series in 1955. Falcons will win a Super Bowl..
Russ555
January 31st, 2011
10:27 am
Conservative HC – Packers watched the films and made adjustments to the Falcons offense and defense. Falcons came out with the same plan and were covered. Coaches should have come out with something different. Should have know the Packers would adjust to cover what they saw in the game they lost.
cricket
January 31st, 2011
10:48 am
Owner fans can identify with. I couldn’t watch any other games after that terrible loss either.
Rodgers breaks from pack of Chico’s ‘ignored’ | Ultimate Team Sports News
January 31st, 2011
12:18 pm
[...] defeat to the Packers, telling the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he’s “still pissed about our game.” I’ve always appreciated Blank’s passion, and I’m impressed by the way he has grown as an [...]
scott
January 31st, 2011
12:33 pm
…still hurts here too, but I am glad that we are at a place where we exepect to win playoff games; now we have to do it. I may have left early that night, but I also have already renewed my season ticket package for nex season. Go falcons and I’ll be there pulling for yoy all the way!
Joe Tess Fish House
January 31st, 2011
12:47 pm
N E 1 see Vick yeasterday? He looked grate. Mr Blanks if U R reeding this PLEEZ try 2 sigh Vick back as a Falcon.
Joe Tess Fish House
January 31st, 2011
1:09 pm
Mr Blanks here is mine picher
http://www.grimmemennesker.dk/ugly-people-16.htm
Dark skinned white guy
January 31st, 2011
1:22 pm
You know, the site administrator can tell by the IP address who posted those images you linked. Then can also ban you…….
DawgDad
January 31st, 2011
1:23 pm
For Lee Sunset and others, I will say this again. The goal in the playoffs is to survive each round, week-to-week. The Falcons earned a bye in round 1/week 1, which is equivalent to a “win” (team advances to the next round). They played in the second round and lost to the team representing the NFC in the playoffs, for the second time in the past three years. What does this prove? The Falcons had a better year than all but two other teams in the NFC.
When a team loses in the NFL it very rarely makes any difference how bad they lose, by 1 point or 27 or whatever. A loss is a loss in the standings or in the playoffs (once in a while regular season points differential actually matters, but it’s rare), and in the playoffs the score differential matters not one whit.
What do we know? The offense needs to become explosive without sacrificing its consistency. The defense needs overall improvement in all areas, pass rush, run stop, coverage. The foundation of a young team is there to build on; the Falcons are in far better shape than most other teams.
ml
January 31st, 2011
2:12 pm
there was not such a difference in talent level between the two teams that could explain the difference in the score. bad coaching was the biggest factor in the loss, especially the lopsided part of the loss. so out manuevered, out schemed and out flanked the names Austerlitz and Gaugamela come to mind. of course our coaching staff has never heard of either. strategy and tactics are very important in a football game, sounds obvious, but that was a completely shameful butt kicking.
and no person who is a true Falcon fan, someone that has been a fan of the team for a long while, not just when they’re winning, but all the time, would ever dare to blame the fans for not wanting to be willing masochists, AGAIN. especially when it’s watching something that happened over and over again in the past. that game was the 49ers all over again. and never has the phrase ‘those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it’ been so true.
the NFL’s who-ya-know, good ol’ boy coaching mill is one stagnant as hell gene pool!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 31st, 2011
5:22 pm
Lee Sunset
January 31st, 2011
7:07 am
DeAngelo Hall, Pro Bowl MVP….no matter how hard Mike Smith tried to get it to his player, he still came up short. LOL
_________________________________________________
You saw that too huh?
CHOKE played 2 quarters with “ALL PRO” receivers and still only managed 100 yards passing.
I bet it really hurt Old Man Smitty that the player he tried to punch on the sidelines in 2009 won the MVP
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 31st, 2011
5:26 pm
DawgDad
January 31st, 2011
1:23 pm
For Lee Sunset and others, I will say this again. The goal in the playoffs is to survive each round, week-to-week. The Falcons earned a bye in round 1/week 1, which is equivalent to a “win” (
_________________________________________________
Mr. Charlie you still singing that tune of a bye is a win?
Look in the NFL Archives Official Records and see if a bye is a win
Art I feel your pain
January 31st, 2011
5:57 pm
@Matt “Choke” Ryan
Do you ever leave your basement to do anything besides cash your disability check? You seem to be post hundreds of times a day on the AJC alone. I know you are familiar with being alone because someone so filled with hate and so obviously a bitter sad truly pitiable person can’t have a friend much less a loved one.
I hope your endless posts that are filled with anger about what is probably a life littered with unfulfilled expectations will keep yiu from putting a gun in your mouth. It is truly sad when even someone as unhappy as you ends it all.
Please seek out someone, anyone to talk with and ease your suffering.
God bless you.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 31st, 2011
6:23 pm
@Art I feel your pain
Pot desperately seeking kettle
JSS
January 31st, 2011
6:29 pm
@ MCR…
Well you’ve done it again, somehow you’ve got them psychoanalyzing you again… Why?
Lee Sunset
January 31st, 2011
8:20 pm
DawgDad….ROFLMAO…are you serious?? So now you’ve created a win??? LMAO! So, the Falcons were not 13-4 this season..they were 14-4??
LOLOL….now that is some revisionist history for ya right there! LOL Create a win just to pretend the Falcons actually won a playoff game! DAYUM! LMAO
Lee Sunset
January 31st, 2011
8:21 pm
So wait….do we now add a win to the 2004 Falcons playoff run? LMAO According to Dawgdad, I believe we do!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 31st, 2011
8:31 pm
@JSS
I don’t understand why they get so upset