Mike Smith knows failure starts with him, not coordinators (updated)
Things didn't go Mike Smith's way for the third straight postseason. (AP photo)
(UPDATED: 2:20 p.m.)
Once you get past the problems on the offensive line and the secondary, the quarterback’s accuracy problems, the breakdown of the running back and players just generally looking at times like they would rather be somewhere else, this is what the current chapter of Falcons’ tumult comes down to: Mike Smith is on the clock.
When an NFL team blows out a coaching staff, it basically is eliminating scapegoats. Think of it as a restaurant owner changing chefs because the tables in his dining room are always empty.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank isn’t happy because he hasn’t a won a playoff game in seven years, and it’s not for lack of his willingness to spend money. General manager Thomas Dimitroff isn’t happy because the moves he has made to turn the Falcons into winners have nonetheless had limitations. Somebody had to take the hit. For now that’s Smith’s assistant coaches.
Regardless of the fact that Mike Mularkey left for a head coaching job (Jacksonville Jaguars) and Brian VanGorder left for a return to college (Auburn defensive coordinator) — and his career tendency to get restless after a few years — the backdrop of a third consecutive playoff loss screamed that one or both were going to get fired, anyway. Other staff changes also may follow.
The Falcons underachieved this season. They know that. Forget the regular-season drop from 13-3 to 10-6. The past two postseason belly-flops to Green Bay and New York were embarrassing. Dimitroff had already decided, to use his words Wednesday, that there was not “going to be a minor tweak, [like] changing the color of socks.”
When there’s failure in any business, it generally starts from the top down. Blank has done little wrong since making his ill-fated decision in 2007 to bring in Bobby Petrino. Dimitroff has made some high-profile personnel moves that have fizzled (Dunta Robinson, Ray Edwards and Sam Baker, being prime examples). But he largely has reshaped the organization and given order and respectability to the front office. (Critics of the Julio Jones trade remain. But Jones has proved to be a great player, a potential difference-maker. I thought it was the right move then and I still do.)
After owner and general manager, the next move down the ladder is head coach. Smith’s 43-21 (.672) regular-season record is impressive. But this organization is way past that now. The 0-3 playoff record is the massive mole on his resume’s forehead.
This is sports. The appropriate question isn’t: How many games did they win? The appropriate question is: Should they have done better?
The obvious answer is yes. That’s on Smith.
There were too many games this season where the Falcons didn’t seem focused. They were inconsistent. They were soft mentally and physically. They lacked an edge. Those maladies aren’t exposed against losing teams, against whom the Falcons won most of their games. They show up against premier opponents, and on the road, and in the postseason.
“I understand what my job is,” Smith said. “It’s to get people to perform. When guys don’t block, when guys miss tackles, ultimately one guy is responsible for that, and that’s me. I put more pressure on myself than anybody can possibly put on me.”
It’s commendable that Smith never has had a team go into a slide. Losses were followed by wins. But it shouldn’t take a loss to get everybody’s attention.
For now, everybody is blaming the coordinators. That’s fine. Mularkey never figured out a way to fully utilize the weapons on the team, and he became indignant any time somebody suggested his play-calling was flawed. The Falcons don’t need to be a bombs-away offense — just far less predictable.
Dimitroff on the offense: “In this league, as you know, matchups are very important, and there’s the Sun Tzu approach of the art of surprise, the art of deception. That’s very important. Looking forward with a new coordinator, how we utilize our talent is going to be very important.”
VanGorder was viewed by some as too rah-rah and college-like for the NFL. Sorry, I’m not buying it. The guy knows defense. Maybe some of his players just don’t take direction well.
Regardless, it often seemed Smith wasn’t on the same page as his coordinators. For as much heat as Mularkey took, Smith is the one more likely to order vanilla in an ice-cream shop. VanGorder’s defensive resume is all about attacking and blitzing. But the Falcons were conservative.
Coordinators call plays, but the head coach sets the agenda. If Mularkey and VanGorder failed, it’s at least in part because Smith failed. Going into next season, this much is certain: There will be nobody else to blame.
By Jeff Schultz
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416 comments Add your comment
Olik
January 11th, 2012
4:41 pm
Jeff, kudos to you. This article is spot-on.
eturn
January 11th, 2012
4:43 pm
Thinking alike Rocky
heartofdarkness
January 11th, 2012
4:44 pm
I missed a discussion during the season regarding how the settlement between owner and players affected the long term development of the Falcons that ownership and management had been pursuing. Some teams, generally those with explosive offenses prior to the settlement, seemed to perform appreciably better than those with lower scoring, clock eating offenses. Defenses seemed to be weakened by free agent movement and a thinning of first and second level backups. Defenses that could weather injuries to key starters in the past, found themselves swamped, like Pittsburgh at Denver, when having to play the backups extensively. It wasn’t necessarily the drop in talent, as much as the loss of cohesion attributable to new and younger people in an activity dependent upon shared experience.
The Falcons persisted in playing the game this year in the manner of the team that they envisioned themselves in August to be. That team identity, both offensively and defensively, seemed to become an identity crisis as the season progressed. The Falcons were not a power running offense in September and they weren’t one in January. It would be interesting to learn why tactics didn’t change more to fit the talents of the team. For instance, Palmer seemed to be a capable pass catcher during his rookie season. Yet he was seldom used as a weapon out of a double tight end formation in short yardage.
Certainly, the coaching staff was thorough in thinking about these issues. I believe the lack of change in tactics was heavily influenced by the assessment of the team’s talents. Changes in the coming months will provide a clue as to how accurate those assessments are judged to be.
marshall
January 11th, 2012
4:44 pm
Gator…..Kurt Warner was not “Kurt Warner” until he was in Martz’s system. I do agree that Smith has to shoulder the blame, however all you idoits calling for him to be fired…need to think about who you would get in his place….Gurden and Cowher are NOT going to leave the TV set for ATL. and a successful coach isnt going to leave their program for another. So that leave you with coaches that have been fired in the last 2-3 years like jack del rio, jeff fisher, hugh jackson…or an untested OC or DC or a head coach from college ranks and they usually flop (we did that before with pritino…look how that turned out). Smith is a good coach not many coaches win a super bowl in the first 2 or 3 years unless they take over a loaded team like the guy at pittsburg did when cowher retired. Ryan still a young QB, still wouldn’t call him a savy vertran yet……look how long it took Payton to get there. Just think that we are in a good place to make some choices that will make our future better. And for the guy who said that people think Smith is our best coach in history…would have to say Dan Reaves was but he had been a head coach for quite awhile.
Jordan
January 11th, 2012
4:49 pm
http://pickens.fetchyournews.com/archives/1322-Atlanta-Falcons-News-Mularkey-Moves-On.html
Anyone, Anyone?
January 11th, 2012
4:55 pm
Haven’t heard much about underclassmen coming out. Isn’t deadline next week?
O. Charles is leaving, which is not a surprise. But is it made public what the NFL evaluations (as to projected draft round) say on all these underclassmen that request evaluations?
Felix
January 11th, 2012
4:58 pm
In my entire life in this whole wide world I have never been more discouaged and/or stressed about the future of the Braves and Falcons than now. They are both led by idiots.
Bird Dawg Country
January 11th, 2012
4:59 pm
Coach Smith and the Falcons will be allright. To think where this franchise was only a short while ago and where it is today. I’ll take today and odds we will keep moving forward.
Felix
January 11th, 2012
5:01 pm
FIRE WREN
FIRE FRODO
FIRE SMITH
Boise Dawg
January 11th, 2012
5:06 pm
When was VanGorder known for attacking and blitzing? I recall the success of his defensive schemes at Georgia was from getting great pressure on the edge from players like David Pollock, not from blitz packages. He was better known for playing bend but don’t break schemes where Georgia never gave up big plays and had great success with red zone defense.
Also, I think drafting Julio Jones was a huge mistake… not because he isn’t a great player or that he won’t be. They gave up way too much to get him and it just wasn’t a huge need… especially when you have a quaterback that can’t throw a deep ball.
Dimitroff is the one getting the huge pass.. both with Blank and this article.
Bird Dawg Country
January 11th, 2012
5:07 pm
Felix, Surely you jest. There have been many, many years to have been more discouraged and/or stressed with the Falcons (trust me, in their 45 year history)….They are finally starting to spoil us with a taste of some success. That’s why we want more and it hurts more when not yet achieved. They’ll get better. Don’t let the current emotional letdown of a recent loss discourage what has been and will be achieved.
Super Bowl will happen sooner than you think.
calm down
January 11th, 2012
5:14 pm
We live too much in an “instant gratification” society today. That is not a good thing.
Most things do take time.
You weren't either.
January 11th, 2012
5:15 pm
Silly computer generation….Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Ron Roberts
January 11th, 2012
5:18 pm
I’ll not sift through seven pages of comments to see who else (or if anyone) has said, but I most certainly will….
…why no blame on the general manager, Thomas Dimitroff, here, Jeff?
Peria Jerry B U S T
We took Peria instead of the likes of James Laurinaitis. Eh, hindsight’s 20/20, but that’s what the pundits get paid to do; critique the GM.
Sam Baker B U S T
Instead of the Matt Forte’s (I’ll give a pass since Turner showed we didn’t need him) and DeSean Jacksons down in that draft after Sam, we got Sam. Could you imagine us with DeSean Jackson and Roddy White? Whew. Then we wouldn’t be trading three picks for Julio last year. Granted, I’m glad we got him and better days are ahead for him – but for the “now” – we missed out.
Than let’s talk about the scrap heap pickups for our secondary. Brent Grimes and Thomas DeCoud and William Moore have been good/fair/fair, rspectively, but snagging waiver wire pieces just before the season starts won’t cut it when you face Drew Brees 2x and knew you had Aaron Rodgers on the schedule, as well. With Jonathan Abraham’s age starting to creep up on him, where’s the addressing of his backup/replacement? Our defense, outside of Grimes, Witherspoon and Lofton, with the occasional Biermann, is a mess.
I fail to see how that’s all on the DC or HC.
Big Crimson 75
January 11th, 2012
5:25 pm
Once again, the solution : Coach Nick Saben.
he's on a roll
January 11th, 2012
5:26 pm
Wasn’t Sam Baker a McKay trade up?
Auburn is manure
January 11th, 2012
5:32 pm
That is something….Auburn must be digging deep into Lowder’s (or whatever their jacka– boosters name is) pockets. To match dollars with Arthur Blank for BVG is impressive. I thought they went broke with Scam Newton.
Larry
January 11th, 2012
5:39 pm
Jeff – no love lost for the “franchise” quarterback?
Fan
January 11th, 2012
5:41 pm
Atlanta, you just don’t get it. It started long ago with a Smith. It’s like the curse of the goat with Boston, it took several decades for Boston to overcome. It will take Atlanta several more also. At least Boston had faithful fans. Atlanta bails on it’s teams when the going gets tough. I know, I’ve seen it. I’ve been in Atlanta since the 80’s. My team, who by the way Atlanta remembers well, is the Dallas Cowboys. We suffered thru the years also but eventually went to the big game. The Falcons won’t until they get a decent GM, maybe the Coach they have now can do it, we’ll see. You can see what effect having a owner/GM who thinks he is a coach can do to a team, namely the Cowboys. They won’t be back until the owner/GM butts out. Atlanta needs a better GM. I think the owner butts out but you still have the curse on you. No faithful fans.
Nativebird
January 11th, 2012
5:49 pm
The team went 10-6, but it was really 11-5, first New Orleans loss was 100% solely on Smith. Period. It’s rare that HC’s actually can cause a loss in the NFL all by themselves….but he sure figured out how to do it.
CGD..
January 11th, 2012
5:54 pm
IMHO= I’m clueless
CGD..
January 11th, 2012
5:57 pm
Coach Killer
January 11th, 2012
3:13 pm
“Matt Ryan was one of the least sacked QB’s in the NFL. Matt Stafford’s played behind an o-line 10x’s worse than ATL and he still managed to avg almost 9 yards per pass. All of you Ryan apologists will realize the truth when Ryan gets Mike Smith fired next year because we can’t score.”
Preach on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LMAO!
CGD..
January 11th, 2012
5:58 pm
Hey Arthur spin anyway you want. Your QB is a bust!
Three embarrassing blowouts on the National stage prove he’s a strikeout!
Sunday was the worst of them all. Offense totally shut out by the 27th ranked defense is beyond horrific!
Unacceptable comes to mind. Both Coordinators were smart to jump this sinking ship….
Up next 0-4……
Glenu
January 11th, 2012
6:01 pm
Falcons need a good running back plus the necessary attention for a good running scheme. That’s it.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
January 11th, 2012
6:17 pm
Mr. Blank has Mike on the clock for 2012.
Ryan doesn’t have the arm to backup the defense.
The offensive line needs help
Free agents can and must be found due to last years Julio trade even thoug Julio is worth every slot given
Go back to the red helmets for every game.
Throw the damn ball to Julio instead of using him to clear the area you DA!
T'TownDawg
January 11th, 2012
6:21 pm
My initial thought after another playoff loss was, get rid of coordinators, both have issues….
Upon more reflection, Smitty may should have gone too, very good points by Jeff…
However, if Blank were to fire Smitty, he risks sending a poor message to future coaches….
Smitty has brought us 4 winning seasons and 3 playoffs, what he instilled in the beginning is what we needed. Then again anybody following Petrino would have looked like a hero…
But the question is has Smitty reached his limit? will his legacy be a good coach that can go in and fix things, but not win championships?
And now that we have 2 new coordinators coming in, will that give Smitty a pass next season if the Falcons are mediocre?
My hope is we get 2 coordinators that are going to be different enough in style it gets out players energized, the fans excited, and takes the league a while to figure us out….
It became obvious that with 4 years of film on these falcons, we surprised no one….especially on 4th down and no running back in the formation…..
Stinger2
January 11th, 2012
6:23 pm
Falcons are now better than mediocre but not quite a top tier NFL team. I don`t believe most of the fans who are crying for Smith or Dimitroff to be fired have a clue.
They are becoming like a lot of UGA fans. Too delusional.
They think the Falcons should win every game.
Will
January 11th, 2012
6:24 pm
I think that Mike Smith may turn to his brother-in-law…now that he has an opening.
Brian Billick
coloradofalconsfan
January 11th, 2012
6:25 pm
Let’s use this opportunity to find a D coordinator who knows and understands the 3-4. Maybe someone like LB coach at PGH – Keith Butler. Dude’s home is in Alabama. Top two Defenses in NFL (PGH & HOU) run 3-4. Could allow ‘Spoon to be a larger force than he already is. DE in 3-4 might be a better fit for Edwards too.
Say what
January 11th, 2012
6:30 pm
Jimmy Crack
January 11th, 2012
2:53 pm
Ryans problem with the deep ball wasn’t accuracy as much as trying too hard to throw a precision throw between his receiver and the sideline, worrying too much (IMO) about the interception. When he threw the ball in that sideline area, 9 out of 10 times it was too far out of bounds for the receiver to make a play on the ball. Ryan rarely tried a long pass in the middle of the field and regardless of the company spin, it has a lot to do with his arm strength on long passes. Ryan doesn’t have the power so he has to spin the ball, but that puts too much air underneath the ball as it goes downfield. Remember the triple team on Julio when he made that circus catch? It was actually only a double team but the ball took so long to get there a third defender was able to catch up. Since steroids are illegal, Ryan needs to trust his receivers that they can go up and out muscle the defender and catch that long pass and stop worrying about throwing an occasional interception.
But all this goes back to protection and the new OC must concentrate on revamping the O line to protect his non-moving QB and give him confidence to keep looking downfield.”
One of the most clear-eyed posts I’ve seen in a while. Kudos. Especially the point about worring too much about an interception. I think that was coached into him, and has caused a erosion in his game. Hopefully, the new OC will correct this, and then we’ll see….
coloradofalconsfan
January 11th, 2012
6:30 pm
As far as our Offense is concerned, we need to become a dominating Defense. I believed in Ryan but he looks shell-shocked in the playoffs. And yet, heck if Trent freaking Dilfer can win a Super Bowl, there’s still hope for Matt Ryan. But we have to become a defense like Ravens were/are. Give us a D that scares the crap out of the opponents and the O can be ok.
Zap
January 11th, 2012
6:33 pm
You guys don’t get it! Yer boy Smitty ain’t the problem. SI pegged it.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/kerry_byrne/01/10/julio.jones.trade/index.html?sct=nfl_wr_a3
No Spin Zone
January 11th, 2012
6:37 pm
Falcons are now better than mediocre but not quite a top tier NFL team. I don`t believe most of the fans who are crying for Smith or Dimitroff to be fired have a clue.
They are becoming like a lot of UGA fans. Too delusional.
They think the Falcons should win every game.
———————————————————————–
I see… so you’re satisfied with getting blown out in the first round of the playoffs every year? All you care about is just making the playoffs? I guess fans should just settle for not being terrible? What a loser mentality. I could see if this was year 1 or year 2 but this is year 4. At what point are blow out first round losses not acceptable anymore… 5, 6, 7, 8 years?
tyger
January 11th, 2012
6:43 pm
Falcon QB Playoff Record
Chris Chandler 2-1 .666
Michael Vick 2-2 .500
Chris Miller 1-1 .500
Bartkowski 1-3 .333
Jeff George 0-1 .000
Matt Ryan 0-3 .000
J-Man
January 11th, 2012
6:48 pm
Sidbury has more Sacks (4) in limited time than Ray Edwards (3.5). Sidbury deservs a chance to start
rlpolo69
January 11th, 2012
6:53 pm
Let’s keep everything in perspective….Mike and Matt have only been here for a few years and while I want them to win now, we are in a better position. Especially with BVG an MM gone. This year we were picked by Peter Jackson to go to the SB. The Falcons lost themselves in that hype and forgot you have to play the game to WIN. 2012 Season MS. AB, TD, RM…entire Falcons team, media and fans concentrate on 1 game at a time and the rest will take care of itself.
lombardi
January 11th, 2012
7:24 pm
Jeff, the good news is that TD, who I believe capable, finally realizes he can no longer make draft picks after downing too many Patron shooters, and Smitty now clearly understands he can no longer be Bubble Boy from a Seinfeld episode. Jones, as much as I like having him was an enormously bad decision given the other needs proven by the GB playoff loss last year, and subsequent thrashings by ranked opponents in 2011. And Smitty’s allowance of inane play calling, as well as a lack of preparedness / adjustment capability for most significant games in the past 2 years is completely irresponsible.
Thanks for the space here. Go Falcons.
T'TownDawg
January 11th, 2012
7:33 pm
Who will be evaluating TD, McKay? The Dimitroff/organizational decision to get JJ was to win this season…However they misstepped big time on the decision to get Ray Edwards and let Dahl go, after 3 great seasons the OL was messed up all year, forget the stats, what about short yardage, and qb pressures…Like other teams we decided to save money on the OL, and the teams like Dallas and Atl that did that are not in the playoffs…and we over spent to keep Baker…
Here is what the top leadership needs to decide, trying to build a top offense and defense is not the current championship model in the NFL….that is old school…Now you have a top offense in most cases and a below average defense, in one case Baltimore did a team have a top defense and a below average offense.
When we hired TD, he and others, spoke of his new age approach to team building, evaluating, scouting, etc….Mr. Blank, the NFL has changed since you became owner, the model for your team must change if you want championships, trying to have a top 5 defense and a top 5 offense will not work in todays NFL.
marko
January 11th, 2012
7:34 pm
A thing that Haunts with me is our inability to convert on forth and inches. it kills me. It seemed that any decent line should be able to move the pile that far. Since then I’ve given it some thought, and it’s occurred to me that we get what we pay for. A line line built of high draft choices should control the line of scrimmage, but that’s not what we paid for. Our skill players are high picks, Our line’s composed of low draft picks and free agents. The truth is they’ve given us a lot of bang for the bucks, but is it fair to ask that much of them. On forth down the other guy’s should be scared shirtless (family newspaper) of what were going to do. When the other guy’s know what we’re going to do they will stop us. We can’t telegraph our intentions and expect anything other than than what we got. Either invest some picks in the line, or zig when they’re looking for zag.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 11th, 2012
7:49 pm
Mike Vick Curse
HA HA HA
T'TownDawg
January 11th, 2012
7:49 pm
Dimitroff, Smitty, coordinators(now gone), and PLAYERS, all share the blame….
The smart posters in this blog have hit the nail on the head, i hope someone in Flowery branch reads this..
I have made my points on Dimitroff and Smitty previously…and now to the Players….
I agree with many posters….who is our on field leaders, who do the players fear? Who commands respect? Who plays with the passion of a Ray Lewis or a Drew Brees…
We have built a team of nice guys, good guys….Brees and Lewis are nice guys, good guys, but when they put on the helmet and get on the field they are in charge, and not afraid to get in somebody’s face or hurt some feelings….
Every year we hear how Matt Ryan spent the offseason studying Brady, Rogers, Brees….well let me suggest he study their leadership, fire, passion….Matt Ryan is a good enough QB to win us a Championship, i.e. see Eli Manning…
Can Spoon be that on the defense? nobody is stepping up….a lot of guys who work hard, stay in shape, learn the playbook, and play, but who leads and inspires?….
In the NFL the players do not respond to coaches like in HS and NCAA, they respond to their peers….
sargent carter
January 11th, 2012
7:49 pm
I am so glad to see the offensive coordinator go. I hope we lose our 3 yards and a cloud of dust(well, we play in a dome) so maybe 3 yards and plastic grass burns mentality. Maybe BVG was held back by Smitty. It doesn’t make sense to me to go from pro to college unless there was something you didn’t like about the boss. We need good linemen and more talent at defensive back. I thought it didn’t matter if we beat the Giants coz we can’t beat Green Bay or New Orleans anyway. I am sure we make the playoffs next year, but I think Mike Smith needs to reevaluate his offensive philos0phy…or maybe Rankin(sic) Blank needs to reevaluate Smitty.
T'TownDawg
January 11th, 2012
7:59 pm
Blanks is very angry because he was sold by Dimistroff and Smitty that this was the year for a championship. It had to be because of all the free agents we have after this season, and the new CBA….That is the only reason he signed off on the JJ draft decision…Blank needed a NFC championship to secure the new stadium easily, and TD told him he would deliver….
Blank is pissed and I am glad, see his body language today, and even interrupting TD about stats are squat….It’s about WINS, baby, PLAYOFF WINS!!!!
Blank knows what we fans will come to figure out…we are now in rebuilding mode two new Coordinators and probably at least 25 new roster players, almost half of the 53 man roster…
Dimitroff and his decisions this offseason will make or break the next 3 to 5 years…
We think Smitty is under pressure….Dimitroff is too….
dan
January 11th, 2012
8:11 pm
I’ve been waiting for you to rip into this team Jeff. I always look forward to it.
I think Mike Smith’s a good guy, but he’s hit a plateau. I think they’ll need another coach if he does win a playoff game next year.
Noneya
January 11th, 2012
8:29 pm
Falcons Season Wrap Up tonight at 9:00 PM EST on Blogtalkradio. Call in!
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/cpstylin/2012/01/12/falcons-season-wrap-up
KG
January 11th, 2012
8:31 pm
Mike Smith and Mark Richt are cut from the same cloth. Nice guys, but lack the ability to get the job done. Always says the right things but consistently will lose to arch rivals(Gators and Saints). When it comes down to intangibles and the game is close, they both “wet the bed”(Saints versus Falcons in November and UGA versus Michigan State in the Outback Bowl). They both appear to shy away from greatness…
Donaldo
January 11th, 2012
8:31 pm
Let me try to simplify the problem here. We pay young athletes high salaries + bonuses without proving themselves. I suggest we tie salaries to performance, kind of an incentive to stay healthy, play to a higher level, one would think the competitive juices would keep performance at its peak, but obviously we have some slackers. The answer is simple, get hurt..lose $$, underperform, lose $$,
win a Division…get a bonus…win a SB get a huge bonus..
san diego steve
January 11th, 2012
8:50 pm
The Falcons are owned by a someone relatively new to the NFL and he hired someone without any previous GM experience to be GM. Together they hired a head coach who did not have any previous experience as a head coach. It would not shock me if the collective trio hires unknown assistants who have no experience as coordinators to be OC & DC. This is what scares me about this trio. They could pass on a proven top rate OC just because an unknown assistant interviews better. I hope I’m wrong.
KG
January 11th, 2012
9:06 pm
San Diego Steve – I had never thought about that but you are absolutely right. Everybody is new to there role within the organization and are cutting their “collective teeth”. Regardless, Sundays performance was abysmal…
tyler
January 11th, 2012
9:12 pm
Yo Jeff, don’t see how you give Arthur Blank a pass on this one. As far as I’m concerned he got exactly what was coming to him for abandoning Mike Vick. Vick packed the Georgia Dome for Blank and made the Falcons worth twice what he paid for them. Blank’s first response to trouble from a kid who came from a tough background was to cut him and then sue his ass, like Blank still is”nt raking in the interest on the money Vick earned him.
But hey, I guess the Eagles organization does’nt have the same more standards as our angelic Mr. Blank. Well, Arthur,your gonna pay 72 MILLION DOLLARS to a QB who has no shot at winning a super bowl unless he is surrounded with incredible talent on both sides of the field. No athleticism, no ability to extend the play, cant throw on the run, lacks the typical power arm, has happy feet 1 second after the balls snapped, and damn sure is 0 and 3 in the playoffs.
As much as I hate it as a true Falcon fan, we are screwed with Matt Ryan as quarterback. It’s never gonna happen. I gave the kid the benefit of the doubt as long as I could, but its time to face reality.
Blank could of figured a way to stand by Vick, and I gaurantee the Falcon’s would not of been shut out Sunday. Instead, he thinks of money first, make no mistake, and he’s starting to remind me of the worst owners in the NFL. The ones that act like Jerry Jones or Al Davis, but don’t have the Championships to back it up.