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
Shoeless Joe Jackson
March 23rd, 2011
12:00 am
If the Falcons didn’t trade up to take another local guy named Calvin Johnson (who by the way was bigger, stronger, and faster than said Green is now) several years ago, do you think they’ll trade up to take him? Personally, I don’t think they need Green. Trading up that high will cost the team a ton too.
Kevin
March 23rd, 2011
12:00 am
Yea, maybe trade a third string DB for one of the top 2-3 picks to assure the falcons can get him……..or wait, that trade would not work. Come on Shultz, if you don’t give up white or so called (matty ice), you are not drafted in top 10. AJ will be gone stupid article and logic.
I would actually trade Ryan, think he stinks and has gotten
Iucky last couple yrs-, think he has peeked.
Seriously
March 23rd, 2011
12:01 am
Oh and Whopper… Moore and Peters both started 15 games this past year. So you’re right, we don’t have ONE starter from past two draft. We have TWO. Next time do your research before you slam TD.
Shoeless Joe Jackson
March 23rd, 2011
12:02 am
Whoa, just realized I threw the word said in there for no reason. Been a long day.
Kevin
March 23rd, 2011
12:03 am
Shoeless, yep he was bigger, faster, and maybe stronger.
But green blew him off map with actual production per game, td’s and highlight reel catches. Be careful,in that comparison, if you just take numbers, green wins all day long
Sebastian is King
March 23rd, 2011
12:11 am
Eh, I don’t know about that Kevin. I was at the game when him and Tech came to visit when my Canes were ranked 3rd in the country and they knocked us off. He made a spinning catch that I don’t know if many current NFL receivers could ever make. I also saw a highlight from his freshman year when they played NC State and he made an insane one handed catch on a ball that was thrown behind him. Sorry Green never makes that catch.
Johnson pretty much obliterated every Tech receiving recored with an awful QB. He probably would have won the Heisman if he had a good QB while he was there. Detroit fans didn’t give him the nickname Megatron for no reason. I’d take him over AJ Green every day of the week.
Sebastian is King
March 23rd, 2011
12:19 am
I’m sure the Falcons will go D-line with the 1st pick but I think there’s alot of room for improvement in the secondary. I wouldn’t be mad if they drafted a corner with their first pick either.
opie taylor
March 23rd, 2011
12:56 am
Seriously, I have covered the Falcons for over forty years, spare me the history lessons! The bottom line in any business is results. Of course Dimitroff started five players from the 2008 draft, he drafted them! Mike Smith does not have a choice but to play the players the GM drafts and forces him to play, any five year old knows that.
Moore did not start 15 games last season he missed five with a leg injury. What games were you watching? Dimitroff will certainly play the draft picks that he acquired any GM would. It does not justify his bad choices. Jim Mora has guided the Falcons to the NFC Championship game and he was an idiot! But he has won a playoff game. How many has this regime won?
Let’s hear the excuses. Baltimore has won several with Harbaugh and Flacco. Rex Ryan has won several with Mark Sanchez. How many has Smith and Dimitroff won? I’m still waiting. Both Coaches won with first year quarterbacks, I do not want to hear any excuses about Ryan being young, he played five years in a pro set at BC. Atlanta’s offense was better than the Ravens in 2008 and 2010, it was also better than the Jet’s offense and Mark Sanchez. Who forced Ryan to throw 6 picks, not one those throws were unforced. His New England draft style sucks! Corey Peters did not create any explosive plays last season, he was projected in the 5th round and once again Dimitroff reached and took a marginal player in the top of the 3rd round. If your defense constanly finished in the 20’s each year at what point do you change the damn scheme or DC? Three years of read and react mediocrity on defense!
Green Bay will be better this year with the return of all of their injured player, I can assure you their coaching staff will make adjustments and not rest on the past Super bowl. Atlanta has not made any adjustments on offense or defense in the last three years under this regime. As a lifetime Flacon fan it irritates me that some of you fans are satisfied just to have three winning seasons in a row!
geoholman
March 23rd, 2011
1:01 am
Not a chance…………………you’re just dreaming; move on!
3DawgKnight
March 23rd, 2011
1:26 am
Anyone on here who has ever taken the “wonderlic” test,
should understand.
Many people are meticulous, OCD even, but could have
an IQ out the roof.
Having taken the test myself, I could not finish either.
Some questions are almost elementaary while others impossible.
Another point, Some have an intrinsic aptitude for math while others
may be predisposed to learn language.
This would give an advantage to a math prodigy taking the “W T”.
It was fun to take but very subjective. AJ should not be ashamed.
bob
March 23rd, 2011
1:29 am
Maybe Joe Montana should unretire and pass to Alfred Jenkins. Why talk about a guy that is at the top of his value until he has to actually perform? The Dawgs had their worst performances under Richt when this guy was the star.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 23rd, 2011
1:38 am
Not going to matter if the quarterback can’t complete passes down the field to him.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 23rd, 2011
1:48 am
I liked Julio Jones better anyway. No disrespect to AJ Green, who is also very good, but I prefer receivers who have shown they can play physically and block. Jones does both of those things better than Green.
Columbus
March 23rd, 2011
3:07 am
This is an interesting concept. Instead of getting stronger on defense against the pass, get just as strong or stronger than the other teams in the passing game. If you cant beat them join them huh? I think I like it especially if we can somehow get Green and Houston or another pass rusher. Hmmmm. I was actually absolutely certain that improving the pass defense was a must but I like this Schultz. Go on the attack offensively instead of trying to stop the others attack. I dont know how a team could handle Green, White and Gonzalez and that would certainly open up more room for Jenkins. Heck he might could make the Pro Bowl since there wouldn’t be anyone left to cover him! The passing game would likely be the most dangerous offensive weapon possessed by any team. The running game would benefit also…I like it very much at the moment…
Columbus
March 23rd, 2011
3:13 am
BTW Julio Jones is going to be a good NFL receiver and he may be more physical in some areas however I do not think he has that something special that will ever make him great. Green does seem to have it. He gets the ball no matter the situation almost all of the time. He can do things with his body that are amazing and at the last second to make the catch and he is only going to get bigger, stronger and better. I would wager that he will have more catches and TD catches after 5 years than Jones but Jones is very, very good too just lacking the intangible I think…IMO
Columbus
March 23rd, 2011
3:24 am
Everybody talks about Richt but not all the other factors involved the last 2 years. I am sure that you and every other coach in America would have done so much better given the personnel, the turnovers, the QB, the depleted OL, the significant injuries, the coaching changes, the early NFL departures. You guys are plain stupid, ignorant, cant reason or are WAY too emotional to see the forest instead of the trees….WHo you want for coach LOL Donnan? Goff? Dooley? Meyer? Unless it was Nick Saban or possibly Les Miles, it’s pointless to want Richt to be replaced. You got that you so called fans? You make yourselves and other UGA fans look like emotional girls or that there are just VERY, VERY, EXTREMELY STUPID PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA. So please STOP embarrassing your state, your school and yourselves by trashing a very good coach that you are very lucky to even have. Do you know how soon he would be getting million dollar offers to be a head coach at the top universities in the nation if you idiots had your way? Universities who recognize talent, integrity, morals and ALL of the important qualities a man and coach can have? About 5 minutes!
college.football.stats.com
March 23rd, 2011
4:02 am
A player who can take a game over is Nick Fairley.
Athens, Georgia
March 23rd, 2011
4:06 am
A 6-7 record with no touchdowns in your bowl game,
is not Very Good.
Stinger2
March 23rd, 2011
4:44 am
“I want to be mentioned with the greats”. A.J. apparently is full of himself. Same thing with Crowell who wants to be an All- American as a freshman and gain 1000 yards when he has not won (but may have been given) the starting running back position. Players like this may have great talents but why can`t they let the fans and media gush over them..they don`t have to do themselves
59bulldawg
March 23rd, 2011
4:45 am
I know it won’t happen but had rather him go to a winning organization like my Steelers. The Falcons will never be anything but jinxed pretenders. It’s the curse of the Clampett … err Rankin Smith family!
1,000 yards from scrimmage
March 23rd, 2011
5:03 am
No 1,000 yard season ?
Pat in Japan
March 23rd, 2011
5:20 am
The draft is an exercise in futility. The NFL is out of business. No players = NO BUSINESS
Move along nothing to see here; the building is empty, everybody’s LOCKED OUT
JB
March 23rd, 2011
7:25 am
AJ, Moreno,Stafford, Many others and no hardware in Athens. TEAM. Can’t spell it without M E.
geno
March 23rd, 2011
7:37 am
Dez Bryant was sitting right there for us to take last year….But Dumbatroff was scared (trouble making diva WRs, possibly giving him a bad rap for drafting him). ..TD blinked, ..thanks TD…..AAAARRRRGGG !!
John
March 23rd, 2011
7:56 am
How ignorant is this column? LOL AJ Green is a special talent…but come on. If you’re giving up this year’s first AND next year’s first, you better be doing it for Fitzgerald or Calvin Johnson. I know Schultz is all over his ****, but you don’t give up that much for an unknown. I think he’ll be very good, but not worth all that!!! Johnson and Fitzgerald are proven. Imagine those 2 receivers with a true QB and an elite WR on the other side of them….WOW.
Andy in Blairsville
March 23rd, 2011
8:11 am
Kinda ironic how a guy can be so stupid but supposedly passed the SAT and completed 3 years of college on his own.
Of course Auburn is the college that cheats and pays its players.
Yeah right. And I was born last night too.
MARK,MARK---TheHairLipDog
March 23rd, 2011
8:24 am
What a stupid idea. But the Falcons could draft him and trade for Calvin Johnson. Green cannot finish the drill and is unproven.
U?
March 23rd, 2011
8:26 am
You probably were, Andy.
dobearsbare
March 23rd, 2011
8:27 am
OK, the LSU game in 2009. That catch that preceeded the celebration penalty should’ve been a game-winner. Think he blocked a fg or xpt against Arizona State in 2009. So there’s a couple. Still, it’s nice to think Georgia would’ve beaten South Carolina with him, but the reality is they didn’t beat another good team with him after he came back. He might be a good pro, and there’s no shame in that. Next coming of Jerry Rice? Again, I’ll believe it when I see it. He’s not worth that kind of trade-up for the Falcons, not when they have so many problems on defense.
Preacherskid
March 23rd, 2011
8:39 am
Sounds great and the Falcons would certainly be a deadly offensive team with him but it’s not going to happen. The Falcons would have to give up way too much to get up to 4.
Tommy
March 23rd, 2011
8:44 am
Two things:
1) The Falcons will not draft Green after he scored about a -8 on the Wonderlic test. They have been biasing towards player intelligence in recent drafts.
2) Anyone who slams Dimitroff and Smith, after they have compiled a 33-30 record in three years knows absolutely, postively nothing about pro football. We didn’t beat the Packers in the playoffs? Neither did anyone else. Stick to following the amateur leagues.
Tommy
March 23rd, 2011
8:45 am
Whoops–meant to write 33-15, not 33-30.
JT
March 23rd, 2011
8:47 am
AJ Green? Dream on. Suggest you teach Matty Ice how to consistently run 3 yards for a first/touch down. That would be more of a game changer.
Joey
March 23rd, 2011
8:49 am
Jeff, Mike White would just use AJ as a decoy for his “power running” (ha) offense.
I would like to see him go to a team that will put the ball in his hands 12-15 times a game.
@mike – March 22nd – 7:59 pm
If AJ “disappeared” in games, don’t blame him. Blame his OC, who, even when AJ was owning whatever unfortunate DB covering him, would throw to him in the flat, instead of sending him down the field.
Bobo/Richt seemingly cannot fathom creating an offense around a major talent (unlike Auburn, UF, UA, etc). They just plug the star into their predictable offense, and waste that talent.
Example: How many times would Brandon Smith touch the ball on offense if he played for one of the above teams?
gt4ever
March 23rd, 2011
8:52 am
The Falcons need defensive talent, enough of this Green fixation…. AJ, like a lot of other UGA players are full of themselves….. How else do you explain the dismail record coming out of Athens with all the talent Richt gets every year….
Buckeye
March 23rd, 2011
8:54 am
Ya, it be nice.
It would also be nice to win the lottery, be married to Kathern Haigle, drive a 600 SEL AMG and shoot scratch golf.
Dream on. Oh, I get it, we’re still playing on the Deam Team theme……
Jeff
March 23rd, 2011
8:55 am
How about we not waste a first round pick and get Kris Durham at some point during the draft?
yeahsure
March 23rd, 2011
8:56 am
If we’re talking about unlikely scenarios, then we might as well throw Fitz and CJ into the mix. We have a lot better chance of trading for them than AJ. I seriously doubt we are getting a big-time receiver though. I think the explosiveness will come from a speedy back plus more diverse playcalling. HD looked like garbage last year but will be in his 2nd season since injury so we can decide this year if he’s legit or not. Meier supposedly is making a strong recover as well.
Whopper Dawg
March 23rd, 2011
9:00 am
Seriously:
You can’t be serious. Peters is a rotational defensive tackle, Moore did start some games, but was regularly torched in pass coverage. Bierman is not a factor at DE, that he starts shows how weak that position is, Baker is marginal at best and a liability at left tackle, Lofton is overrated (when is the last time he made a big play, but he is good at tackling after 5 to 10 yard gains), I won’t even talk about Jerry as I would throw up, DeCoud is more interested in hot dogging than coverage,
The guy who has done the most with the least is Coach Smith, that guy is the real hero behind this thing, not TD.
I guarantee you the next draft will be full of head scratchers and reaches. D drafts guys two rounds ahead of where anyone else would and none of them play. 6 DBs in three years and not one of them can cover a table. Where is the pass rush after three years? OLine is about to become a problem. What about the big contract he signed Jenkins to? For what?
The last two drafts are full, FULL of non-contributors. When that happens, teams start to slide back to the middle of the pack. Just think if the last two drafts had produced – 1) a starting WR to compliment Roddy, 2) a starting DE who can rush the passer to compliment Abraham, and 3) a corner who can cover a LITTLE and is taller than 5′7″. That is only three players out of two drafts. I would trade everyone we got in the last two drafts for those three players in a heartbeat.
You have to have players and TD has not given Smith any of note over the past two years.
I think Smith will wrangle another winning season out of this group, but we miss the playoffs as the slide to the middle begins.
You heard it here first.
isproab
March 23rd, 2011
9:06 am
I’m looking at a copy of the value chart, it is going to cost a lot to move up to say #3 to take A.J. Green. Maybe if at #5 the Bengals don’t take him, and he is still on the board then you can strike.
The value chart has #3 at 2200 points, #27 is worth 680. Making up 1520 points is a lot. Swapping 1’s this year would mean giving up a#2 this year, a #1 and #2 next year and then you still need 230 points or the equivalent of the #8 pick in round 3 to make it even. Maybe Stephen Nicholas or someone of that caliber is traded to complete the deal.
I like Green a lot, I’m a UGA graduate and football follower, he is the real deal and we need help at WR bad.
Joe Tess Fish House
March 23rd, 2011
9:07 am
Whatever Tomhas Dimtroff wants then I want the oposite B Cuz he has a histroy of fist round busts.
Perrier Jerry
Shawn Witherspoon
Mike Jenkins
And even Matt Ryan cuz he throughs 2 many INTS.
Bob
March 23rd, 2011
9:08 am
You need to remember the last great receiver from Georgia that the Falcons passed on in the draft to take Jamie German out of Florida instead. His name is Hines Ward, a certain Hall of Famer and all time leading receiver the the Steelers.
Ryan
March 23rd, 2011
9:13 am
We would have to give up a future first, and maybe more to even have
a chance of drafting him. Besides drafting a WR in the top 5 picks of the draft is rarely a wise choice. Green is a great talent, but we have other areas of concern that must be addressed.
jalex49
March 23rd, 2011
9:18 am
Would love to have A.G. but there’s no way he’ worth what it would cost. I am more in the midset DE in 1st round. WR in 2nd and maybe another one or two in the late rounds. I had rather trade draft picks for Larry Fitzgerald a proven receiver. I think he would compliment Roddy White and fit right in with the Atlanta Offense. I hope someone in the later rounds give Kris Durham an opportunity to play at the next level.
I do think Atlanta needs a running back from either free agency or in the later rounds. I hope the coaches will take the reins off the quarterback this year as Green Bay/ Indy/New England/N.O
have and let’s see what materlizes.
I hope we don’t solely rely on the draft as there as gems in free agency that can/would help Atlanta immediately.
isproab
March 23rd, 2011
9:27 am
I usually don’t get into this, but Joe Tess Fish House, you are joking. Jerry is the only guy in question. TD, didn’t draft Jenkins he only resigned him after the best season of his career in which he really looked as if he was coming into his own.
The Ryan comment is a joke. Rookie of the year and a pro-bowler. We don’t sniff the playoffs without him. There are 18 plus teams that would love to have him.
GT is a 4th rate high school team
March 23rd, 2011
9:31 am
After reading their comments on these AJC Blogs GT jockitch fans have really no clue in football even in the professional level. LOL
True Falcon Fan
March 23rd, 2011
9:32 am
Ask yourselves “WHY” would the Falcons take Green this chump/thug/outlaw???? Really no different than Vick – also i don’t think any smarter either based on his scores of the wonderlis oops i meant wonderlic, Green & Vick are right at single digit scores. But i am sure somehow all that is the society systems fault, they had nothing do with their growth process as it relates to neighborhoods they and who they decide to hang-out with. Are you kidding me NO way – “don’t take this guy even if he falls to the third round, he won’t.
Go Falcons
5150 UOAD
March 23rd, 2011
9:32 am
I think we could go after Calvin Johnson easier than trading up in the draft for A J Green.
Bobby Dodd lies a'molderin in the Grave
March 23rd, 2011
9:34 am
Tech fans laughing about Green’s Wonderlich obviously have forgotten about Stephon “Georgia Tech University” Marbury, and Kenny “0.0 GPA” Anderson…… keep classy, Tech….. and keep turning out those terrorists.
gt4ever
March 23rd, 2011
9:35 am
I guess to acknowledge the fact that the Falcons got beat last year because of DEFENSE is a stretch….. Another typical UGA MORON!
Great job GT is a 4th rate…..