Mughelli, a reminder of Petrino era, cut by Falcons
Ovie Mughelli's contributions to the Falcons were outweighed by his salary. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
In the least surprising move of the Falcons’ offseason, they have released fullback Ovie Mughelli, effectively saving them $3 million on the salary cap.
In doing so, the team also eliminated one of the final remnants of the abbreviated Bobby Petrino era.
Few recall this but when Falcons owner Arthur Blank made the ill-fated decision to hand over the reins of his football team to Petrino in 2007, a major move that offseason was the signing of Mughelli. Petrino wanted a bulldozing fullback for his offense.
The former Baltimore Raven was a logical choice. What wasn’t logical was that Blank and then-general manager Rich McKay gave him a six-year, $18 million contract, a record for a fullback.
Mughelli wasn’t an awful player. But when you weigh his salary vs. his contribution to the team, it was a bad signing.
It didn’t figure that Mughelli would see the final year of his contract. The Falcons need the cap space and they drafted a fullback (Wisconsin’s Bradie Ewing) in the fifth round. Further, the team is holding a mini-camp this week and logically didn’t want to have to deal with questions about Mughelli’s status.
With the NFL recently granting the Falcons a $3 million salary cap credit for Michael Vick’s contract, the team is pretty decent shape with the cap. Conceivably, the might even have some space to sign a player who is cut from another team for cap reasons over the next few weeks.
Bottom line: Five years later, one mistake is now off the books.
By Jeff Schultz
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104 comments Add your comment
Mr C
May 8th, 2012
1:06 pm
Jeff, Mughelli was a solid player. He is the best fullback in the game. Go ahead and compare the Falcons running game with and without Ovie. Ur description that Mughelli wasn’t an awful player is wrong. Ur article comparing him to Petrino is also awful journalism. Ovie was overpaid as a fullback but don’t diminish his performance with the Falcons.
Compared with all the Free agents that Dimitroff has signed, Mughelli actually was a great signing based on performace.
Dr. Warren
May 8th, 2012
1:10 pm
Gotta go with the gallery on this one, Jeff. “Wasn’t awful” and “good” are not synonyms. Need to be clearer the first time and, if not, then come clean that you were not. And yes, Ovie has clearly been good.
Eisendawg
May 8th, 2012
1:11 pm
Based on this reasoning, whats your take on signing Joe Johnson to a 6 year, 119 million deal, nearly 27 million more than any other team? Something is bad wrong with a system that will pay Joe over 21 mil per yr. and pay Jeff Teague around 2 mil per year. Of course, pro sports has been screwed up for a long time. We pay our sports heros multi millions while your average Marine makes around 67 thousand. And next up, a replacement stadium for the Falcons, so prepare to ante up. It’s sad, we’re like sheep.
Big Earl
May 8th, 2012
1:13 pm
Ovie is a great guy and was a great FB … but the Falcons had to let him go. He just had too big of a salary and is coming off an injury. I’d love to see them take some of those $$$ and go after Marcus McNeil if he checks out physically. Has anyone heard anything about McNeil?
Bob
May 8th, 2012
1:18 pm
Great Guy, Good Solid Fullback, maybe a bit overpaid, but he was great contributer to the Falcons Turn around of late
tjhook
May 8th, 2012
1:22 pm
Ovie,Ovie, Ovie!!!! We’ll miss you, man!! Big blocker, pushed for team success, and you never heard him try to cut down a teammate in the paper needlessly. Any criticism he ever made about the team was constructive. I hope they bring you back . . . people talk about overpaid, the poster child for that is #2 in the Atlanta Falcons program. Renegotiate with Ryan please. He does not deserve his salary because Turner is the more important piece to this team.
jerry
May 8th, 2012
1:24 pm
A football was not even needed in the game for Ovie to play his role. I never did get this in this day and age of pro football where every skill player should be able to do something with the ball, catch, run, throw, whatever. Just a waste of an offensive player.
At least Ovie...
May 8th, 2012
1:25 pm
…was not a Jon Koncack(sp?) type overpayment since he could at least play and contribute when he was healthy, unlike Jon…now THAT was a bad overpayment signing…
I am glad to see that most the comment so far are favorable toward Ovie…
Ron Mexico
May 8th, 2012
1:28 pm
Hey Jeff,
Do you want to know what is illogical? Your repeated use of the word “logical” in this blog. Thank you Mr. Spock.
doggoneit
May 8th, 2012
1:29 pm
He made a Lot of money. He cracked a lot of heads for his fullbacks to get through! I bet we would of got that one foot if he was on the field during the Playoff!!
Lardawg
May 8th, 2012
1:34 pm
If you didn’t see or understand the worth of that bad news as it came crashing into the line ahead of MT you really don’t understand football. (Jeff) Olvie just got what the then GM was willing to pay. Good for him! One of my favorite players for sure. Hopefully he’ll stick around for a little less money. If not here, then I really wish him luck where he lands and a stomach bug on game day against the Falcons.
QB/DB
May 8th, 2012
1:37 pm
This is so wrong to speak of O. M. in such mistake terms. The guy was a player for us and a part of the success the Falcons have had. Please don’t hatchett him! That guy from Wisc. is not the answer at FB for a team that is going to the Super Bowl, he isn’t!! The Falcons could have had the Dawgs Figgins for a steal. Some of you may think I’m homing it but Figgins is a load who could also play TE and ST’s, I bet he will be a much better Pro then that guy from Wisc. plus he has played in the tough SEC. The one great thing is there will be a lot of very good players cut at the wire for different reasons. With the new cap room if the Falcons do a great job they can get some great pick-ups at several positions that can help us get to the SUPER BOWL. Please TD, it is now or never, please we go out in the first round of the Playoff’s and the wheel will come off!
gt4ever
May 8th, 2012
1:42 pm
A mistake…. Seriously, what type of experience gets you a job at the AJC… To say this was a mistake is like saying all those beefy guys up front are a mistake… The only reason we ran so well for a while was because of people like this guy… Good Grief… Is there any thought put on any of your articles.. My 6th grader has a better grasp of what makes a football team better….
John
May 8th, 2012
1:44 pm
Ovie was positive addition to the Falcons…. Its bad form to tie the news of his dismissal in with memories of that turkey Petrino. Thanks for your service to the Falcons and community, Ovie.
Vampire Bill
May 8th, 2012
1:45 pm
I liked him.. Good luck O
Boo Boo
May 8th, 2012
1:46 pm
I think “era” is a bad choice of words. More like “Patrino’s one night stand, when he snuck out at 4:00 AM to go home to his pig wife.” (metaphorically speaking of his wife – Arkansas pigs)
As for Mo-Haley, he was solid until his injury, and all NFL animals like as much food in their bowls as the owner will allow. They never say, “Oh, that’s way too much, and I’m watching my figure.” It all falls under the “release one over-paid football player so we can sign another over-paid football player” category.
realitycheck
May 8th, 2012
1:48 pm
QB/DB……….Get to the SB? This regime can’t win a playoff game and the last two of those haven’t been close. Additionally, the Falcons roster may be worse than last year’s. What are you smoking?
jay
May 8th, 2012
1:49 pm
The organization was hamstrung over 3 million dollars per year???? I doubt that.
Tokyo Tom
May 8th, 2012
1:53 pm
I’m also going to pile on- way off base here Jeff! It wasn’t Ovie’s contract taht spoiled the salary cap; there are plenty of other Falcons who can make that claim! If another team wants to pay Ovie 1.5mil+ next year, take the money & run (again); if not, Falcons should consider resigning at that amount, the team can utilize Ovie’s experience to develop Brodie for next year. Backfield line-up of Turner, Snelling, & Rodgers at RB & Ovie & Brodie at FB looks good to me with speed, strength, experience, talent, and DEPTH
Boom Boom
May 8th, 2012
1:53 pm
RESPECT!!
kingdaddy
May 8th, 2012
1:57 pm
Ovie
You will always be one of my favorites. I hate to see your dedication and hard-play gone and I wish you the best. Hope you catch on with a team we don’t see all the time. Good Luck…
ajc sports fan
May 8th, 2012
2:01 pm
enough said..lets move on. Go Falcon.
FalconJim
May 8th, 2012
2:05 pm
Ovie was a helluva player, who gave it his all…..we gonna miss him. Turner was better with him in the game, too. I wish we could’ve re-structered his contract, and kept him. Or maybe he wasn’t willing to do that.
Oh well…..Good luck, Ovie!!! We wish you the best…
Great Falconi
May 8th, 2012
2:07 pm
The value of Ovie’s contract was a mistake. Other than that, his addition was one of the few good things done during Petrino’s interregnum of terror.
Kramer
May 8th, 2012
2:10 pm
Jeff is correct with the fact he was overpaid for his position. In my mind, he made up for it with what he did off the field with charities and the community. A solid football player and a great man. Good luck to him on his next team.
Section242
May 8th, 2012
2:16 pm
Thanks for all your hard work, Ovie! The Falcon fan base will miss you.
Say what?
May 8th, 2012
2:17 pm
Eisendawg: The average Marine makes $67k? I’m in the wrong business.
Op Ed
May 8th, 2012
2:19 pm
Best wishes Ovie!
CJ
May 8th, 2012
2:39 pm
I’m pretty certain that no Falcons fan thinks of Petrino or the Petrino “era” when they think of Ovie. I’m also pretty certain that without him, Michael Turner would not have been a top 3 back in the league each year. I do not understand where you were going with this article and it definitely came off in poor taste to the reader.
ATL_Native
May 8th, 2012
2:48 pm
Eisendawg: I think you made a typo. The average is less than half of that. But I get the point. Semper Fi.
Jeff: BAD JOURNALISM. Ovie was paid appropriately for the years he was here. WIth the shift in focus on our team now, it no longer makes sense so we have no choice but to part terms. Business decision. But to link him to PETRINO and call him “not awful” were stretches & cheapshots.
ONE WAY OUT OF THIS JEFF: Simply admit you overshot it, apologize to OM and us knowledgeable fan, and move on.
ATLtodolavida
May 8th, 2012
2:58 pm
Ovie is a true role model. An excellent person and a pro bowl fullback. Values education, planning for post-football life, and concern for the environment combined with service in the community. Best of luck to him.
Bravesfan79
May 8th, 2012
3:06 pm
Nothing but respect for Ovile, he never embarassed the Falcons, he was solid on and off the field. Gluck man.
jawga69
May 8th, 2012
3:21 pm
Ovie was a class act at Porter-Gaud, Wake Forest, the Ravens and the Falcons. Best of luck, Ovie. You will be invaluable to whichever team lands you.
The Real Falcon
May 8th, 2012
3:22 pm
What a bush league blog!
SirReal
May 8th, 2012
3:33 pm
I wish him the best. Figured he wouldnt last the whole life of the contract but thats alright. I’m sure he made a nice piece of change in the 5 years he was here. Very good player but even back then I thought it was insane for a fullback to get that kind of money. He is still a good player and I hope he catches on somewhere…other than the NFC South. I hate to see our former players in division unis.
Jonas
May 8th, 2012
3:38 pm
Schultz such an ugly tone in your article man. Ovie was the heart of the O and a great guy. He wrote a post game article for the Post and Courier in Charleston that I read every week. Why take a pot shot at him as he goes out the door? Nobody’s arguing with the business aspect but dude you need to learn some class from Ovie.
William
May 8th, 2012
3:52 pm
Ovie was a damn good Falcon! He didn’t get the publicity, but the man was a ferocious blocker for this team. Mughelli looks like the kind of team-mate you’d want… tough, smart, and playing with a smile on his face.
He was a salary cap casualty.
Schultz you wrote a classless article. Maybe Vilma is on to something.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
May 8th, 2012
3:55 pm
“SIGNS THAT YOUR FRANCHISE QB SUCKS”
Never on the headline of AJC Blogs
YourPoliticalAnimal
May 8th, 2012
3:56 pm
I wonder how he might work blocking for the Bills’ Fred “Action” Jackson???…but not at 3 mil…nope, too steep…
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
May 8th, 2012
3:59 pm
What’s worst……..A fullback getting 3.7 million or a ZERO playoff points 0-3 playoff record 72 million dollar CHOKE?
LT
May 8th, 2012
4:00 pm
Jeff, how do you write about Mughelli’s time with the Falcons and not mention that he made the Pro Bowl in 2010? Granted, Pro Bowl picks can be sketchy, but Mughelli deserved to be there that year.
You say you liked him as a player, but called him a “bad signing” and a “mistake.” Those are harsh words for a player who performed about as well he could in his role.
Sid
May 8th, 2012
4:02 pm
Jeff Schultz May 8th, 2012 11:42 am
To reiterate my feelings about Mughelli, since some are under the impression I don’t like the guy: 1) He’s a solid guy; 2) He was a good player; 3) He was overpaid. Is No. 3 his fault? No. But his salary hamstrung the organization. You can’t have a $3 million guy playing 30 percent (or thereabouts) of offensive snaps.
**************************************************
Jeff, it’s just the way you word it ………..”Bottom line: Five years later, one mistake is now off the books.” Even though he was overpaid he played up to the money with heart and determination. He made the team better “when he was in”. I think he was a great player, you say a good player. Fullbacks aren’t Maserati’s, they’re more like bulldozers and nobody could bulldoze better than him.
So if the organization is no longer hamstrung I expect some pretty nifty signings…..!!
PreyDawg
May 8th, 2012
4:04 pm
Even as a full back I thought Ovie was a solid player but I never saw where he was particularly dominant. I think there were at least 6 or 8 similar players in the league who were equally effective at the same position for less money. Best of luch Ovie. And stay away from the “Green” movement people. They are nuts.
PreyDawg
May 8th, 2012
4:06 pm
Get off Schultz’s back on this one. He didn’t do a think wrong. Everything in the article was right. He didn’t slam Ovie. Ovie was overpaid according to his contribution. Some of you same people have griped about lack of action in the off season and lack of cap space. This was a good business decision.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
May 8th, 2012
4:08 pm
I still don’t know how a person making 72 million can’t get the team at least a field goal in the biggest game of the season. You have the nerve to say 3.7 is overpaid. I think we need to compare success versus hype.
Success…..Joe Flacco 5 playoff wins in 4 seasons @ 30 million.
Hype…….CHOKE 0 playoff wins in 4 seasons @ 72 million.
How is that not overpaid compared to Flacco?
Boo Brees
May 8th, 2012
4:09 pm
Say what you want about his contract, but it didn’t seem to stop us from signing some big contracts after 2007. Plenty of signings and re-signings have taken place witn his contract on the books.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
May 8th, 2012
4:13 pm
If he goes to Carolina…………..watch out!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
May 8th, 2012
4:32 pm
But, it needs to be said, Flacco’s QB rating was 50.8 in the 08′ playoffs, and 39.4 in the 2009 playoffs. Submarginal to say the least.
Nativebird
May 8th, 2012
4:42 pm
Our fifth round fullback from Wisconsin led the nation in scoring springing blocks on a Badger offense that every body that was paying attention clearly knows was one of the toughest and relentless rushing attacks In the nation. That devastating knee in Detroit combined with a clearly out of balance salary cap hit led to this obvious no brainer move. Please….don’t shed a tear for Ovie Fifteen million dollars Mughellli. He should be quite proud of his career. Good guy….good player. This offense will be better.
William
May 8th, 2012
4:46 pm
No tears, just a lot of respect for a job well done by Ovie. You know there are other guys on this team, past and present, who haven’t EARNED their money the way Ovie did.
And so, yeah, Schultz wrote a classless article.