Falcons should do everything possible to get A.J. Green
A.J. Green did a lot of this Tuesday at Georgia's Pro Day, showing scouts all they needed to see, via the internet. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
ATHENS – The greatest highlight reel wide receiver in Georgia history sent three dozen NFL scouts, a dozen assistant coaches and certainly a player agent to the cardiac ward Tuesday when he tripped over a rope on the sideline after running a pass route.
“I’m OK,” A.J. Green said. “I landed on my hands.”
Right. What could possibly go wrong when a receiver trips over a rope and lands on his hands?
Green should have those mitts encased in bubble wrap. If the NFL actually plays next season, those hands will cause hysteria for opposing defensive backs (who won’t have the advantage of a rope). There is every indication that Green will be a top five draft pick, a game-changer, the rare kind of player who years from now will make every other general manager think, “Why didn’t we take him?” or “Why didn’t we trade up to take him?”
The Falcons shouldn’t be one of those teams looking back with regrets. They need to find a way to get A.J. Green.
Yes, the Falcons need help on defense. The Georgia Dome custodial staff is still sweeping up the ashes after what Aaron Rodgers did to the secondary in the playoffs. But this team also needs a significant dose of wow, and Green can provide that.
Adding an explosive weapon on offense jibes with what should be the mandate next season: Go on the attack. Make opponents fear them more. Let quarterback Matt Ryan dictate things. The season didn’t end well for Ryan against Green Bay. But we saw what happened when coach Mike Smith allowed offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey to take the handcuffs off Ryan.
He won the Cincinnati game. He won the Baltimore game. He engineered six late-game comeback victories.
The Falcons’ have struggled the past two seasons when they’ve gone bland and predictable. Green is anything but bland and predictable. Line him up opposite Roddy White, what’s a defense going to do?
It would take a lot for the Falcons to move up from 27th in the draft to get Green: at least this year’s and next year’s first-rounder pick. He’s worth it. There were 48 NFL scouts at Georgia’s Pro Day Tuesday. The only time they looked disappointed was when a bizarre league rule forced them to leave the field when Green ran pass routes.
Green and Kris Durham needed a quarterback to throw to them. But NFL rules stipulate that it had to be a draft-eligible player or someone who lives in the greater Athens area (the rule keeps players from poaching on several Pro Days). The only quarterback available was Justin Roper, who played last season at Montana but still lives in Buford. Given the circumstances, the league agreed to allow Roper to throw only if the scouts left the field. They were given the option to watch Green via an internet feed from Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall. But most were upset and left, only a few staying to watch.
Green kind of laughed about it and said, “It doesn’t bother me.” He passed on the other drills, letting his scouting combine numbers stand. He looked confident and said later of his NFL aspirations: “I don’t want to be a regular receiver. I want to be mentioned with the greats.”
It says here he will be.
There was a potential red flag last week when word leaked that he scored only 10 out of a possible 50 on the Wonderlic test. The test results are weighed differently by teams. Some don’t consider it important at all.
Asked about the test score, Green said: “That didn’t bother me. I went through [only] 20 questions — I didn’t finish. I was thinking too much, and time was up at 12 minutes.”
Then came this: “If you come back here and look at my grades, I’m no dummy.”
One NFL scout in attendance agreed. “There are other ways to test IQ while taking the reading element out of it,” said the scout, requesting anonymity. “You can put him on the [white] board and find out how smart he is. But obviously, the kid can play really well. He’ll be fine.”
The numbers: Thirty-two games, 166 catches, 2,619 yards, 23 touchdowns. He’ll be better than fine. The Falcons shouldn’t let him leave the state.
By Jeff Schultz
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254 comments Add your comment
John
March 22nd, 2011
8:01 pm
I normally am not in favor of mortgaging the future for one player with that being said Mr. Blank/TD/Coach Smith. WE should put a package together that would allow US to move up in the draft to take AJ Green. Since this draft is deep in DT/DE WE could go after THE premier Wideout in the draft and get DT/DE help later on in the draft. Possiblities for DT/DE help are Bailey/Miami/FL or Greg Romeus/PITT
Dumbo
March 22nd, 2011
8:01 pm
5150 UOAD….come on Techie…you want the Falcons to draft that joke of a QB from Wreck U….reckon since he can’t throw or tackle…maybe he can be a reciever…..yeah, draft the Heisman Joke from North Ave Trade School
mike
March 22nd, 2011
8:01 pm
Plus the Alabama kid has a couple of SEC titles and NCAA Championship under his belt. He knows the sacrifices it takes to get to the top. Green played on three really nice teams with no championships. Does he have or even know what is needed to get himself and team-mates to the next level.
mwh6767
March 22nd, 2011
8:02 pm
He is a great player and it would be a popular move but it isn’t the RIGHT move for the Falcons at this time. This isn’t the Falcons pre-vick. The Falcons needed to move up and get Vick, the franchise need some buzz, some excitement as much as at need to win games then. That isn’t the case now. This franchise is looked at now as doing it the right way, building a perennial championship contender. You don’t do that by throwing away two, possibly three future drafts by moving up to get a guy who wouldn’t even be the number one reciever. Stay where you are draft the best available and work on the defense with the other picks. When this lockout mess is over be a player in free agency.
Chris S
March 22nd, 2011
8:03 pm
Bizarre that the Dawgs couldn’t find someone who lives in the “Greater Athens area” to throw to them. Was Bobo out of town? I think he played QB at one point.
JDawg1785
March 22nd, 2011
8:04 pm
If the Falcons go after any Dawg in the first round it should be Justin Houston. They can then add Kris Durham in the second round if they need a great receiver from UGA to line up opposite Roddy White.
Dallas Falcon
March 22nd, 2011
8:05 pm
A J Green will be a great NFL receiver and it would be great if the Falcons could draft him , but it won’t happen. Hopefully, the powers that be at Flowery Branch have learned that you don’t trade a future first round pick for anything-they’re too valuable. I’ve seen the Cowboys trade two first rounders for Joey Galloway and again trade a first rounder for Roy Williams. Neither did anything for the team, Galloway was unceremoniously released and they’ve been trying to get rid of Williams big contract. Don’t get enamored with big name receivers-Who were the big name receivers in the Super Bowl?
willie
March 22nd, 2011
8:15 pm
This year and next year’s 1st from Falcons would not be enough, according to the chart they all go by.
JSS
March 22nd, 2011
8:16 pm
If Kris Durham ran a 4.43, the hand timer must have been Momma Jefferson! Unless you can show me an electronic timer with a photo and electronic starter sensor; then you are just babbling out non-sense…
Exactly who are the Falcons going to dangle out there to move that high in the draft? Come on, clue us all in on how to get that pick? The future picks? Why?
BigDawg
March 22nd, 2011
8:16 pm
Sorry Schultz but we have more pressing needs on the Falcons. Getting a decent receiver in the later rounds is perfectly OK. How many 1st round receivers pan out anyway??? Ask Detroit how that plan works? They drafted three first rounders and one apparently worked out. Green was a great college player but he’ll not do so well in the NFL. His wonderlic score likely hints that he’ll go through his millions in a nano second and is simply not the type of player the Falcons need that early in the draft. If he drops to second or third round…Fine. Otherwise stick to the plan!!!
Sorry Dogs
March 22nd, 2011
8:17 pm
Did you see that test score? Dude will get lost on I-285 and never make it to the games.
BigDawg
March 22nd, 2011
8:18 pm
As for other comments…Durham is not a 2nd rounder!! 5th round on he just may get picked. And he likely would be a value pick if you can get him late enough.
Delbert D.
March 22nd, 2011
8:20 pm
Nonsense. The Falcons should trade down for 2 picks in the 2nd round.
Postman
March 22nd, 2011
8:31 pm
As awesome as it would be there is absolutely no chance that AJ ends up on the Falcons. While I do agree we do need a play-maker he’ll be gone way before the time we pick, or would be able to trade up to pick.
WOTR
March 22nd, 2011
8:31 pm
Just what the Falcons need – another illiterate thug.
Lorenz
March 22nd, 2011
8:34 pm
Did you see that test score? Dude will get lost on I-285 and never make it to the games.
LakeDawg
March 22nd, 2011
8:35 pm
Probably won’t be able to get Green, but they could get Durham in a later round for nothing. That would be a steal.
True Falcon Fan
March 22nd, 2011
8:37 pm
I agree w/WOTR – didn’t everyone get enough of Vick……….Green, doesn’t get it never will!!!
Green / Vick / V Young wonderlic scores single digits – isn’t that enough!!!!!
Send them to the “Redskins”
WJ
March 22nd, 2011
8:49 pm
I trust the Falcons GM and Coach Smith’s decision on Green.
heyberto
March 22nd, 2011
8:55 pm
Shultz endorsing a Georgia Player? I’m shocked… oh wait… he’s a FORMER Georgia Player. I get it now.
DHD
March 22nd, 2011
8:57 pm
What do we do….run up to the podium on draft day before anybody else and claim him?
dz
March 22nd, 2011
9:06 pm
If we move up in the Draft it better be for a DE.
Nuff said, dumb article. We don’t need a #1 WR, and trade this years first, a 3rd, a 4th and next years first.
waynester
March 22nd, 2011
9:08 pm
Something else no one has mentioned–like the Geico guy says “it takes 2 to tango”. Just which one of the top teams would be willing to forgo their immediate needs for a couple of low 1st round picks, one of them not ’til 2012? As others have mentioned CINN is the likely landing spot for Green at #4. That means getting up to 2 or 3. Our #27 is worth 680. #3 is worth 2200 and #2 2600. This does not compute….
Amen to Kris Durham in the latter rounds/UDFA…..
Larry
March 22nd, 2011
9:13 pm
Jeff,
You really disappoint me. I was just starting to think you had a clue and then this utterly ridiculous suggestion.
Here’s why the Falcons will not:
31/36 Passing, 366 aggressive (not make up) passing yards, 3 TD passes, 48 relatively easy points and nary a forced punt–all against the number one seed at HOME!
You could spot today the Falcons, in their prime, Barry Sanders, Jerry Rice and Randy Moss and they still lose to Green Bay. You do not win playoffs games with a defense that can’t force a single punt, gives up 48 points and, worst of all, quits on their team and its fans in the 3rd quarter of a home playoff game.
The Falcons need a DE–maybe two–more than anything. You beat a Tom Brady like the New York Giants DL did in the Super Bowl. You beat a Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Peyton Manning the same way. To get to him and put his butt on the ground and disrupt his rhythm and plant a big seed of doubt in his mine that he just may not walk off the field the next down!
tom
March 22nd, 2011
9:20 pm
No and Hell No!
BiggdawgK
March 22nd, 2011
9:20 pm
I have been saying on AJC blogs since last fall the Falcons should give Kris Durham a long look. He has size, deceptive speed, soft hands, runs sweet routes and can climb the ladder. He would be perfect to replace Finneran except I think he will be better.
Wherever Durham winds up he will be a late round bargain. I have to laugh at bitter UGA haters who are so jealous of the Dawgs they become delusional. How else can you explain anyone thinking AJ Green will not be a star in the NFL? The same goes for the idiot who suggested Durham’s 4.43 time was not real. It’s sad that they let their hatred and unfulfilled dreams rule their pitiful little lifes.
waynester
March 22nd, 2011
9:30 pm
It’s like BigdawgK said–Durham is the genuine article– possession receiver 6′5″ and can flat go UP and get the ball at it’s apex. He doesn’t drop many, either….
The Ghost of UGA VII
March 22nd, 2011
9:35 pm
Well, fans, it’s nice and quiet up here, but boring. We win all the time, unlike some football teams that go 6-7, if you know what I mean. No wonder my ticker went bad so fast.
Anyhow, nice to see my fill-in Russ, he of the spotted a$$, is living it up. Enjoy it while you can, partner. Boise State is coming to town in a few months, and you’ll need to wear pads to guard against all that kicking. Anyway, I got a C-note against the Big Guy up here that the arrests will be minimal in Athens before the season starts. My over-under is 7, and I’m taking the under. He snickers at me whn He passes by. I wonder if he knows something I don’t.
And don’t worry about A.J. Green. There will be plenty of him to go around once one of those big NFL linebackers breaks him into about seven pieces.
Halsey
March 22nd, 2011
9:44 pm
It’s nearly impossible for the Falcons to get Green. The only thing NFL teams can trade in the 2011 Draft, as of right now, are 2011 Draft picks. Because of the lockout, current players and future Draft picks are not eligible to be traded. Not happening.
ATLBadger
March 22nd, 2011
9:45 pm
Good thing Dimitroff doesn’t take draft advice from Schultz. Geez, what a terrible idea.
Quack Quack Wobble Wobble
March 22nd, 2011
9:58 pm
How is Aj going to catch a 20 yrd out pass if Matt Ryan’s weak arm can’t make the throw? I would say we would be better served drafting a tight end. We need to keep it simple and boring as we have been doing ever since we drafted Matt to make up for his physical limitation. As the experts have said during the season on tv last year, we have a boring offense that is hard to watch.
gt4ever
March 22nd, 2011
10:01 pm
IF the Falcons are stupid enough to draft a WR 1st, then they need to get Julio Jones from Alabama…. Julio is a MAN compared to AJ
JSS
March 22nd, 2011
10:06 pm
Sigh, I said it last Fall, Durham will end up in St. Louis, Arizona, or San Diego. He fits a real need for those teams as long his injuries don’t scare them off… I love it when Falcons fans get hardcore fixation on a target. Good luck to both of the young men; but this is the NFL and not the recruit who you like or can buy (AKA the SEC). Dimitroff is supposedly a “genius.” Time to prove your worth Dobie Gillis!
Dan
March 22nd, 2011
10:17 pm
I dont think we can give up 2 picks for him but I would mind seeing instead of picking a wr in the draft maybe see if Michael Floyd from ND will be available for the supplemental draft. I would keep this years #1 and give next years #1 for Floyd.
Angie O'Plasty
March 22nd, 2011
10:17 pm
Can he spell A.J. ?
JSS
March 22nd, 2011
10:23 pm
BigDawgK…
That 4.43 is not real. I saw Chris Johnson run in shorts before he was picked. He was a hand time 4.16, the electronic time was 4.27. I saw Usain Bolt run in Berlin (in person) the night he went sub 3.8 over the last 40 in his WR. Kris Durham is nice kid and a good receiver. But he has never and will never run below a 4.55 in the 40. He does not have a top gear like that… Oh yeah, Chris Collingsworth ran a 4.4 back in 1980. See, there is a difference between “Fast” and then there is “FAST!”
dobearsbare
March 22nd, 2011
10:27 pm
I watched every game Green played at Georgia, and he was good, no doubt. I’m racking my brain to come up with one game he changed, though, and I can’t come up with one. He’ll face better corners in the NFL, and if he’s a top 5 pick, he won’t be paired with any of the league’s better quarterbacks. He’ll be solid. Brian Finneran with better speed. I’d love to see him be one of the greats, but I’ll believe it when I see it.
Memphis Mike
March 22nd, 2011
10:32 pm
If the Falcons get A. J. Green, any inside line on who his remedial reading coach will be?
Chaz McDonald
March 22nd, 2011
10:36 pm
Let me get this straight. The NFL is basically kaput until the labor agreement gets put back together. Why did the scouts CARE if it was against the rules?
The Real Falcon
March 22nd, 2011
10:39 pm
Why this is the wrong thing to do:
1.We did not cause a punt in the Green Bay playoff game.
2.WR’s take years to make an impact and we need someone ready to contribute.
3. There will be veteran WR’s available later.
4. Defense wins playoff games, Not rookie WR’s.
5. Green does not understand the NFL route tree.
5. Did I mention the Green Bay game?
joe
March 22nd, 2011
10:44 pm
Jeff, you never cease to amaze with your stupidity.
Washon Ealey UGA tutor and driving professional
March 22nd, 2011
10:54 pm
Was Julio Jones dumb enough to sell his jersey on Ebay???? Forget and the stick figure AJ Green and draft a MAN at the WR position in Julio Jones. We already know he is in good shape coming from Bama’s strength and conditioning program, while AJ still looks like the same size when he was in high school
The Grinch
March 22nd, 2011
11:05 pm
Any discussion of getting Green is silly; it isn’t going to happen. I agree with folks on here that Durham will be a good receiver and worth a look, but we all seem to be forgetting that TD just drafted a similar guy in Kerry Meier. Durham would probably be a bit better, but I don’t see them using both. Not with Jenkins too who might as well run that slow the way he plays. We can’t have Roddy as our only speed guy, especially considering how slow our RB’s and TE’s are.
PMC
March 22nd, 2011
11:16 pm
I’m not sure they have the luxury of going after Green frankly.
They have to improve greatly at DE and OLB.
If they go after Green they have to go All IN in FA too and grab guys who can play immediately at end and linebacker.
If they don’t get Green they could try and add a player like Sidney Rice in free agency.
I wouldn’t mind having a go at Kris Durham though late if the Kansas kid doesn’t work out.
PMC
March 22nd, 2011
11:19 pm
Would love to have AJ Green, but this team still has too many holes on defense to spend that many picks.
Freeman is going to be really good and TB has huge WR’s compared to our corners.
Same with New Orleans.
The defense and the pressure are the most critical need. I think they can find a #2 even if that receiver is never close to AJ Green.
opie taylor
March 22nd, 2011
11:31 pm
Jeff, why waste a first round pick on a receiver when the quarterback can’t throw the ball 20 yards down field. We need defense but Dimitroff’s draft record in three years is mediocre at best.
Peria Jerry-Bust, Curtis Lofton-Mediocre can not cover receivers or tight ends a wasted 2nd round pick for a two down linebacker. Chevis Jackson-Bust. Sam Baker, injury prone, can not pass protect wasted two 2nd rounders to move up for this bust. Wilrey Fontenot-Bust, William Middleton-Wasted draft pick plays for Jacksonville. Christopher Owens-drafted in 3rd round rated 5th rounder-Bust.
Character is a good thing if the player can produce, this NFL is designed for playoff wins not boyscouts, who cares about drafting mediocre players for the sake of character! How has that strategy played out? 0-2 playoff record. This is Atlanta not New England!
observor
March 22nd, 2011
11:39 pm
Wow, this column is the definition of mailing it in as it demonstrates no analysis or serious thought of any kind. Just an example of pumping out more widgets as fast as you can.
Whopper Dawg
March 22nd, 2011
11:44 pm
TD has drafted 6 defensive backs in three years. None, and I mean none, can play. We do not have one, and I mean one, starter from the last two drafts (Perry, Spoon and Moore are not consistent starters or performers).
Due to TD’s inability (and I mean that seriously) to draft PLAYERS, I would trade the entire draft to move up to AJ or the CB from LSU. Really, let’s don’t spend any more picks on practice squad players,bench warmers and cuts.
Really. TD SUCKS at the draft.
SEC Fact Finder
March 22nd, 2011
11:44 pm
Jeff,
I have to thoroughly disagree with you. The Falcons that we last saw against Green Bay in the Playoffs showed a pure lack of Defensive Backs who could cover and make plays.
If the Falcons do not move forward with help on defense we will see this team return to a 9-7, 10-6 record only to be bounced in the playoffs if they make it. I would take 3 players up the middle first( NT, LB, DB) and not in that order. If they are able to add a wideout with range in the later rounds then go for it.
I personally think AJ will make a good NFL wideout, but with his current frame he will need to bulk up some to take the physical pounding that wideout take.
Defense, Defense, Defense, DB’s DB’s DB’s.
Seriously
March 22nd, 2011
11:57 pm
Opie and Whopper… seriously? You know absolutely less about football than a 12 year old. We got 5 starters from the 08 draft! Ryan, Baker, Lofton, DeCloud and Biermann. (To write that Fontenot, a 7th round pick, is a bust is laughable. You can’t be a bust in the 7th round.) Peters in the 3rd round last year was a find. William Moore is a stud and I bet Weatherspoon will be too. We miss on one pick by taking Jerry over Clay Matthews. But rumor was that Clay was ‘roided up based on how much he grew at USC. Still can’t imagine how he has not been caught – look at the dude’s forehead. TD is so far above past Falcons GM’s its incredible. Take a gander at this history and compare how bad it was in prior years… http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?teamId=0200&type=team