Rich McKay, genius? Well, he drafted indispensable Roddy
And here we’d been thinking Thomas Dimitroff was the real brains in Flowery Branch. Silly us. According to Bill Barnwell of the Football Outsiders on ESPN.com, the Falcons own the NFL’s fourth-most indispensable player. (Link requires registration.) And now you’re thinking …
Dimitroff signee Michael Turner? No.
Dimitroff draftee Matt Ryan? Nope.
Roddy White.
Color me surprised. I think of Roddy White as a fine wide receiver, but when I think of wideouts I think first of Larry Fitzgerald or Steve Smith or Randy Moss or even — pardon me for mentioning the name, lest ESPN the network do an hour-long special — Terrell Owens. But here’s Barnwell’s list of indispensables, and it’s an eye-opener:
- 10. Kris Jenkins, DT, Jets.
- 9. Michael Roos, OT, Titans.
- 8. Ed Reed, S, Ravens.
- 7. Andre Johnson, WR, Texans.
- 6. Tommie Harris, DT, Bears.
- 5. Ryan Clady, OT, Broncos.
- 4. Roddy White, WR, Falcons.
- 3. Nnamdi Asomugha, CB, Raiders.
- 2. DeMarcus Ware, LB, Cowboys.
- 1. Peyton Manning, QB, Colts.
Barnwell makes a compelling case: “No wideout played a bigger part in his team’s success than White. Matt Ryan threw 32.5 percent of his passes in 2008 to White, the highest such percentage for any receiver in football. (Carolina’s Steve Smith was second, at 29.5 percent.) The Falcons added Tony Gonzalez to help ease White’s load in 2009, but it’s not as if Gonzalez made the Kansas City offense go last year. If the Falcons lost White, the effects on their offense would be catastrophic.”
Loading ...And who drafted White out of UAB in 2005 with the 27th pick in Round 1? Why, Rich McKay, who has since been kicked upstairs to the presidential suite. (The same Rich McKay drafted Jamaal Anderson with the eighth overall pick in 2007, and Anderson has amassed two sacks in two seasons. But I digress.)
So, all together now, let’s assign credit where it’s due: Roddy White is a really good ballplayer, and Rich McKay made a really shrewd pick.
And now you’re asking: Does this mean I’d rather have McKay doing my talent-spotting than Dimitroff? Uh, no.
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175 comments Add your comment
Jamaaliver
June 23rd, 2009
10:51 am
Roddy is a rising young superstar in the league. But I think the offense could survive with Mike Jenkins, Harry Douglas and Brian Finneran filling in at WR. Not to mention the aforementioned Gonzales picking up the offensive slack.
Turner is our most important player. The offense doesn’t go if he’s not in the middle keeping 8 men in the box on 1st and 2nd down.
westcobbstinger
June 23rd, 2009
10:56 am
First…Matt Ryan is our MVP. No contest.
westcobbstinger
June 23rd, 2009
10:56 am
Took too long typing
Maurice
June 23rd, 2009
10:58 am
Our most important player was our offensive line. Not Roddy, not Turner, not Matt Ryan. Without the OL there is no Pro Bowl for Turner or White.
Hollywould
June 23rd, 2009
11:18 am
Ok Mark, Mckay got one right and for that he makes millions. Must be nice.
Class of '98
June 23rd, 2009
11:31 am
Who gives a crap who has the first reply? Is that some sort of accomplishment?
Marcos
June 23rd, 2009
11:41 am
Good observation i like it, but 1 pick in too many years aint acceptabel, he had a lot o busts and players how didint fit in the system his ring whit tampa was a fluke,and dimitroff is the brains here
Mark Bradley
June 23rd, 2009
11:43 am
If you make the first comment, you win the right to make as many comments on this blog as you want — for free! No shipping! No handling! One hundred percent free of charge!
kendrick
June 23rd, 2009
11:56 am
All white needed was coaching now he is emerging as a great Wideout. The offense is set to be a power house this year if the defense improves just a little watch out NFC we are coming.
Matt
June 23rd, 2009
12:00 pm
Sorry to say Michael Turner and Matt Ryan made the o-line 100 times better than they are. The o-line is a decent group but not that great, good but not 2500 yards rushing and 17 sack good. Let’s face it all three players on o are important, but we could not make the playoffs with out the clutch performance of John Abraham. 16.5 sacks against double teams every time. This guy has been a warrior for us and if they kept qb pressures in the league no player in the league would be close to him. John Abraham was are d last year and will continue to be for at least one more year. That was Rich Mckays best move, but theres still hope for Nicholas, Babineaux, Jenkins, Davis, and maybe even the petrino 3 in Houston, Anderson, and Blaylock.
Reid Adair
June 23rd, 2009
12:01 pm
Many, many people bashed the Falcons for drafting Roddy White and again during his first two years with the Falcons. It wasn’t “coaching.” It was getting a quarterback who could read receivers, throwing timing patterns and routes rather than just saying, “Go deep, and I’ll throw it to you.”
The numbers support that. Even in 2007, with the circus of Joey Harrington, Byron Leftwich and Chris Redman at quarterback, White put up better numbers than either of his two years playing with the former quarterback.
In 2008, with the talented Matt Ryan at the helm, his numbers improved again.
Arthur Blank and Thomas Dimitroff need to make re-signing White a priority. Immediately, if not sooner.
Buc_Wild1
June 23rd, 2009
12:02 pm
As a collective effort, the TEAM (Together Everybody Accomplishes More) made the Falcons a SUCCESS last year. It’s nice that Roddy is finally getting some recognition, but no one player should be above the team. PRIME EXAMPLE: MIKE VICK (Enough Said). If everybody does their part in Coach Smith’s scheme then more accolades will be thrown around for the remaining players on the roster. GO TEAM………..HELL YEAH FALCONS!!!!!
Mark Bradley
June 23rd, 2009
12:16 pm
We wouldn’t have said that two years ago, but it’s the absolute truth now: Roddy White must be re-signed. And I think the Falcons feel the same way.
Hamad Meander
June 23rd, 2009
12:21 pm
Roddy White is one of those wide receivers that continues to get a little better every year. I would think the addition of Gonzalez, the second year of Matt Ryan, and the pounding running game from Turner, Norwood and Mughelli would help Roddy have a nice long and productive career with the Falcons.
Either way, Matt Ryan is the most indespensable player on the roster today.
Ted Striker
June 23rd, 2009
12:23 pm
Anyone else notice that none of “The NFL’s 10 Irreplaceable Players” played in last year’s Super Bowl?
“Irreplaceable?”
In the words of Inigo Montoya: “You (Barnwell) keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”
Mark Bradley
June 23rd, 2009
12:26 pm
I go back and forth between Turner and Ryan as the indispensable Falcon. Theirs is a symbiotic relationship, I’d say.
And I had to look Ingio up, Ted. I’ve never seen “The Princess Bride.”
tuckerfan
June 23rd, 2009
12:26 pm
Oh great. Thanks to Barnwell’s list, the cost of resigning White has probably gone up.
Dan
June 23rd, 2009
12:30 pm
Not a knock on Roddy but a wide receiver is NEVER the most indispensible person on a team, EVER.
Josh
June 23rd, 2009
12:33 pm
Ted Striker,
it’s indispensable, not irreplacable.
Sun Tzu 7
June 23rd, 2009
12:35 pm
Actually what I find funny about this is that McKay’s track record of drafting WR’s was pretty terrible when he was in Tampa.
I think he drafted several Florida WR’s that all turned out to be busts.
I don’t think anyone can call Roddy White a bust now.
BugKiller
June 23rd, 2009
12:43 pm
Bradley,
You, a father of at least one girl, has never seen The Princess Bride (possibly Rob Reiner’s best movie with apologies to This is Spinal Tap and When Harry Met Sally)???
INCONCEIVABLE!!!
Haha.
BugKiller
June 23rd, 2009
12:47 pm
Seriously… you need to go Netflix this film and put it at the top of your que.
It really is a great film, one of the best from the 1980s, and that’s no lie.
It has the debuts of Robin Wright (before she added -Penn) and Cary Elwes.
It has Mandy Patankin, Wallace Shawn, Christopher Guest, Chris Sarandon, Billy Crystal, Carol Kane, and an outstanding performance by Andre the Giant.
PLUS – Fred Savage and Peter Falk as the “frame” part of this frame story.
I’m serious… you REALLY need to see this film.
And when you have, let us know what you think.
Very funny, very well acted and directed film.
uga_b
June 23rd, 2009
12:50 pm
Mark, you really do owe it to yourself to see that movie.
Rich’s problem was never drafting players who could play in the league-an even play well. His problem was the coaches he hired and the schemes they ran. That crazy pulling o-line/west coast/read option hybrid. It didn’t fit the players. People he drafted here that left made it elsewhere. That said, he was best on the second day.
Turtsnap
June 23rd, 2009
12:53 pm
Important to remember too, that McKay drafted Michael Jenkins. He, too, looked like a bust until last year. He was as integral a piece to our offense as White, Ryan, Turner and HD.
While maturity can be a key to both White and Jenkins, one must also wonder if they have blossomed because they finally have a QB that can throw the ball to them.
Bob in SF
June 23rd, 2009
12:55 pm
Roddy is a stud but he still shows the occasional lapse of concentration (vs. Denver last year). He cleans that up and everyone is talking about him in the same sentence as Fitzgerald, T.O. and Moss. Douglas, Fin and MJ are nice WR’s but Roddy has the one of the top speed and physical presence combinations in the league. None of those guys could replace him if he went down.
Ted Striker
June 23rd, 2009
12:56 pm
Good catch, Josh. I must have watched the Beyonce video one too many times.
Mark, you should check out the “Battle of Wits” scene sometime. Vizzini reminds me of Larry the superior who recently showed up to post in the blogs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EkBuKQEkio
BugKiller
June 23rd, 2009
12:57 pm
It’s amazing, Mark, that you never mention the fact that both Roddy White and Michael Turner, once thought imperturbable busts…
… only got “good” when a certain dog-killing athlete was kicked off the team for his lies and dirty deeds.
In the immortal words of C + C Music Factory: “Things that make you go Hmmm.”
gdg73
June 23rd, 2009
1:00 pm
Joe Horn is a big part of the reason Roddy has turned into a big-time receiver. Along with Hue Jackson, they taught Roddy how to practice and be focused. Hue also developed Housh and Chad in Cincy. In regards to being indispensable, John Abraham is, hands down. Seen our pass rush without him? Thought so.
IDC
June 23rd, 2009
1:05 pm
Roddy White is definitely coming into his own. As to Rich McKay’s genius, even a blind pig finds a truffle every once in a while.
gdg73
June 23rd, 2009
1:07 pm
Jenkins was always a red zone threat, even when Vick was here. Just check his stats. Also, it didn’t help much that dumb Mora had him on the bench much of his rookie season (2004).
Ted Striker
June 23rd, 2009
1:15 pm
Joe Horn taught Roddy White how to practice and have focus? The dude had already forgotten those things by the time he made it to Atlanta.
By STEVE WYCHE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 07/28/08
Flowery Branch — Veteran wide receiver Joe Horn, back from a months-long, self-imposed exile, spent time after practice Sunday running routes and catching balls — something he didn’t do during the actual morning session of training camp.
Horn mostly watched practice because he’s not fully ready to participate.
“When I left, I didn’t study the playbook,” Horn said. “My emotions let my study habits with the playbook leave. I stayed in shape, but I didn’t study my playbook.”
Horn’s distanced himself from all things Falcons the past two months because he wants to be traded. The 13-year veteran asked out early this summer after a mandatory mini-camp at which he said he felt he was being put to pasture in favor of younger players.
Horn skipped all voluntary team functions, including six weeks of offseason team activities, which are basically non-contact practices.
Coach Mike Smith said Horn, who signed a four-year, $14.5-million, free-agent contract in 2007 after spending most of his career with New Orleans, is expected to compete for playing time.
“There is a negotiating season, a pay season and a play season,” Smith said. “It is play season and Joe is a football player. He is out there to compete and win a position on this football team.”
Horn has put himself in a tough position to do that. He not only neglected his playbook, but he did not catch any balls from the team’s quarterbacks or get overly familiarized with the new front office and coaching regime.
“After 12 years in this league, I know getting acclimated with your quarterback and getting your timing is necessary,” said Horn, who caught 27 passes for 243 yards and one touchdown last season. “I didn’t come to the offseason program. I didn’t come to OTAs and I understand there’s a thing called order. You have to come in as the eighth receiver. I understand that. I’ve got to work my way back up — if I’m here.”
Dr. Warren
June 23rd, 2009
1:20 pm
Thank God football season is fast-approaching. (Or at least training camp). And who wouldn’t take Larry Fitzgerald in a trade for any Falcon aside from Ryan and possibly Turner?
Greg
June 23rd, 2009
1:23 pm
Mark, this is such nonsense. White may still develop into a first-rate receiver, but I haven’t seen it happen yet. He had a lot of balls throw (well-thrown) to him last year, racked up the yardage, and made a few good catches and RAC’s. He also dropped too many balls and did some stupid things, like that crazy slo-mo high-stepping thing on his way to the end-zone, which could easily have resulted in him being tackled short of the goal. I’ll just mention that Chad Johnson, who isn’t even on Barnwell’s list (tells you something about Barnwell right there), is currently, and in a fully proven way, about three-times the receiver Roddy is.
MyView
June 23rd, 2009
1:24 pm
If we are speaking from what happened last year, its John Abraham all the way. Just think how poor our entire D would have been last season w/o his production. I remember calling my brother early last season just to say, “Abraham’s our best player”.
Tyger
June 23rd, 2009
1:25 pm
DROPS TOO MANY PASSES…
to be considered great, great receivers have hands of glue, they dont catch the ball 90% of the time, they catch everything catchable.
White is a good receiver, not a great receiver.
MyView
June 23rd, 2009
1:28 pm
BugKiller… Turner was never on the team with Vick. Do you watch the Falcons, or just hate Vick?
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
June 23rd, 2009
1:29 pm
BugKiller, I don’t think of a 5th round pick as a bust, so Turner does not nor has he ever fallen under that lablel. As for White, could be a differen’t story but on average it takes a WR 2 seasons before they really catch on. The Randy Moss’ are few and far between.
MB, another vote for Princess Bride. Andrea the Giant deserved an Oscar nomination.
NRBQ
June 23rd, 2009
1:29 pm
Where all the Vick lovers at?
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
June 23rd, 2009
1:30 pm
label
BugKiller
June 23rd, 2009
1:34 pm
MyView,
Of course, most people would see I wrote Michael Turner and understand, since I was talking about RECEIVERS, that I simply misspoke and meant Michael Jenkins.
But of course, I wouldn’t expect a Vick Apologist such as yourself to be able to make an intuitive leap such as that.
SC
June 23rd, 2009
1:35 pm
Greg, please give me some of what you’re smoking
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
June 23rd, 2009
1:41 pm
Bug, oh Jenkins, yeah your right, they did get better. Two reasons: first they learned not to give up on a route because the QB was still in the pocket. Second, it was made easier because the ball had some touch on it.
Mark Bradley
June 23rd, 2009
1:50 pm
I’m the proud father of two daughters, and someone I believe both of them missed “The Princess Bride.” But I’ll ask. (One is sleeping at the moment. The other is out with her mom shopping for her sleeping sister’s birthday.)
NoleRick
June 23rd, 2009
1:52 pm
Can we please refrain from mentioning Vick?
Roddy showed up last year and I expect more this upcoming year. If we can keep this core group, with the defense maturing in the next couple of season, I see the Lombardi Trophy being carried down Peachtree!!
MyView
June 23rd, 2009
1:55 pm
BugKiller…I am no Vick apologist. I just don’t like the fact that our Falcon fans can’t move on. We have potential for one our best teams ever, any some people only care to talk about Vick. Let it go and enjoy the team we have. For the record, I think what Vick did was very “silly”, he blew millions on something so “?”. But you people who keep killing his time as a player here, as if the good did not outweigh the bad. Yeah, there was bad, some was Vick some was circumstance.
But I would not expect some “PETA Nut” to let it go and move on.
lynn candy cain
June 23rd, 2009
2:04 pm
roddy drops more balls than my 5 yr old twins….kinda looks like he could’ve went to uga and played wideout….
Jferg
June 23rd, 2009
2:16 pm
How can we give mat ryan all this credit after one year. For example vince young played good his first yr and then fell off the next two. So lets wait til we start praising mat ryan. And for the vick haters remember he go to the nfc champ w/ a worst team than they have now.
Ex wideout
June 23rd, 2009
2:16 pm
So what if Roddy and Ryan been a superstar for one season, just make it two in a row, I’m wondering if someone so good like Roddy, then he would have caught anyone’s passes including Vick’s, cause Jenkins did. Must be Ryan, softer thrower. Be consistent. It’s just damn time he work hard to keep his job like we all do anyway everyday.
Ryan Clady not Clay
June 23rd, 2009
2:17 pm
That is all.
Mark Bradley
June 23rd, 2009
2:20 pm
Thanks, Ryan. You win the proofreading award, for which I obviously finished last.
AH
June 23rd, 2009
2:23 pm
the punter is the most important player, he punted 100% of the punts last year. If we use the 32% logic then the above statement would be true. Sorry White really stepped up his game last year but without a good arm throwing accurately to him or Turner running the ball to create the time for Ryan to throw, White wouldn’t have gotten all those passes. If we can’t pick the whole team then can we pick the coach as the most indispensable Falcon?
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
June 23rd, 2009
2:23 pm
Ryan, now proof Ex wideout
Nativebird
June 23rd, 2009
2:29 pm
I’d say it’d have to be Matt Ryan, the QB who was the “enabler” of the Roddy White resurgence. Our former quarterback (name wittheld) simply must be regretting the upcoming 2009 season, as the more and more Matt Ryan slay’s it in the NFL and solidifies this team (finally) at “the next level”, the more and more his (former qb’s) stock (read: chances to sign in the Nfl) continues to drop like the dead-weight that it is.
Ex wideout
June 23rd, 2009
2:30 pm
Texas Ranger you clearly haven’t either played in sports before or lived here in Atl long cause we all know that it takes more than one season to convince fans here that you are on the rise.
Guys, please don't tell my mom I'm blogging and not studying for my Tech exam; she won't cut the crust off my sandwich
June 23rd, 2009
2:32 pm
NO one is indispensable, that is were “I” messes up “team”; let’s just hope he doesn’t get all ghetto in the middle of the season and want to talk extension then. Re-sign him quietly and move on; Have the Falcons even looked at Derrick Brooks? I know we have 257 linebackers on staff now with 147 being past 32, but for even league minumum to add some swagger?
gdg73
June 23rd, 2009
2:34 pm
To Mr. Ted Striker,
How about grabbing an article from 2007 (not 2008), the year Horn was signed. Soon after he was signed, the receivers on the roster took note of how the guy practiced. You can’t tell me White didn’t benefit from Horn and a coaching staff that took the emphasis off downfield blocking and put it on route running and catching the ball. Remember ex-offensive lineman George Stewart coaching our WR under Mora. What a joke!!! Don’t let your hatred of Joe Horn blind you.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
June 23rd, 2009
2:36 pm
Oh is that what you were saying
uga_b
June 23rd, 2009
2:38 pm
“We make mistakes sometimes, but that is one mistake Joe Horn did not make. I did not sleep with Willie Roaf’s wife.”
Michael
June 23rd, 2009
2:42 pm
Turner had too many carries last year and will likely get injured. More reason to pay to keep WR’s like Roddy White, who is Matt Ryan’s most important player.
Phil
June 23rd, 2009
2:45 pm
Rich McKay is the equivalent of Frank Wren, which means he’s a total bafoon. We got someone with real brains in Dimitroff.
MiltonDawg
June 23rd, 2009
2:46 pm
Princess Bride is a must MB. I think Roddy has become a better WR bc/ we have Ryan throwing to him instead of Vick now. Not to mention the offense scheme that we were running when we drafted Roddy is a lot different now. This year..not so sure if he’ll still be the #1 target. We have Gonzalez now!!
BRAD
June 23rd, 2009
2:48 pm
Roddy has been great the last 2 years, but everytime I think of the dropped TD pass against Denver it makes me sick. Imagine this, Roddy catches the pass, Falcons win, Falcons would have won the division with 1 more win, they would have hosted the winner of Arizona-Carolina, most likely win that home playoff game, then would have hosted NFC championship game against Philly. That one drop might have cost the Falcons the Super Bowl!!
David
June 23rd, 2009
2:50 pm
Maybe will be saying the same thing about DE Anderson in a few years.
Shamus Thacker
June 23rd, 2009
3:12 pm
Hope McKay’s most crucial decision at this point is whether to gamble on regular postage stamps, or go with the “forever” kind.
Rick
June 23rd, 2009
3:25 pm
MB…Princess Bride is a must see…”.ROUS’S” is a big joke in this house.
Roddy White is good on the way to great. If the Falcons play like they did last year….skys the limit
Rick
June 23rd, 2009
3:28 pm
Brad…if…if…if my aunt had balls she’d be my uncle. One catch away from the SB?
Pass that bong!
Rick
June 23rd, 2009
3:30 pm
almost forgot….ROUS= rodents of unusable size
BRAD
June 23rd, 2009
3:33 pm
Rick–It was entirely possible. Think about it.
Tom Davis
June 23rd, 2009
3:50 pm
That list is complete rubbish. I mean throw it in the waste bin.
Terrell
June 23rd, 2009
3:51 pm
Reid Adair,
I don’t agree with you. Roddy became better when Joe Horn came here and was a mentor to him. He showed him how to prepare for the game. With that being said, don’t blame it on the QB if you’re not going to blame it on the OC as well because in White’s rookie season and second season all they did was run and run. This offense we have now is similar to what Dan Reeves ran when he was here with that other QB and that other QB did well then.
Vick Supporter
June 23rd, 2009
4:01 pm
Well, its happened. The Falcons “fans” have jumped on the Roddy bandwagon. Roddy is now a good WR….he was bad, and lacked maturity/experience when Vick was here. He didn’t get better because Noodle Arm I mean Ryan is passing him the ball. If you’re a great WR, u should be able to catch passes from ANY QB, especially when it hits them in the hands. Roddy simply didn’t do that during the Vick Era, yet Finneran was our best WR at the time. Can someone explain that (make an excuse)? Also, this wouldn’t be happening without the OL changing their blocking scheme and now they’re running a more traditional offense. The whole Mora staff was terrible. Vick overcame coaching many times….leading us to an NFC Championship Game on top of that. Also, Turner is your indespenseable player, not Ryan. Ryan hasn’t proved that he can carry a team like Vick has proven. Ryan actually has it better than Vick because he DOESN’T have to carry the load. That’s a good thing. Vick is going to prove you people wrong. No doubt about it.
Vick 09
Dan
June 23rd, 2009
4:05 pm
Rich McKay and Tom Dimitroff are a great team. Name another organization in the league that has two top flight GM-types at the same time. Dimitroff has mentioned several times utilizing McKay’s help and why would’nt he. McKay did build the Tampa Bay organization and he also has had many successful draft picks with Atlanta as mentioned previously (Jenkins, Roddy White, Deangelo Hall, Babineaux, Chauncey Davis to name a few). He was hurt by two many coaching changes which were partly his fault. Dimitroff has brought a common direction to the entire organization including coaching staff that is good. I like the fact that TD is not afraid to listen to McKay. We are set for years with McKay, TD, Blank, Matt Ryan and co. for the future. We will be the envy of all franchises before long.
Kevrock/Smarty Jones
June 23rd, 2009
4:23 pm
We finally have a QB that can throw the ball for WR’s that can catch
them in stride. We never had that with Vick. BTW, Billy Martin (ATTY) has to be the WORST ATTY ever. Vick ends up in the Pen for 2 years and Stallworth will do 21 days for killing a man. Great work!
Matt Ryan is our MVP. If he is hurt we will stink.
K-Town Dawg
June 23rd, 2009
4:24 pm
Thanks for the laugh Vick Supporter.
I can see the teams lining up to sign him now, oh wait that’s Tom Glavine.
HAHAHAHA!
Thomas Dimitroff
June 23rd, 2009
4:28 pm
I couldn’t even get two wet food stamps and a half eaten Twinkie for Vick. Nobody wants that contract, believe me I tried!
Be-little, BeBOLD
June 23rd, 2009
4:36 pm
Yeah, Vick “09! He’s in the construction business now . . . building “dog” houses I guess!
Unca' Bob
June 23rd, 2009
4:38 pm
Brad, Carolina would have still won the division because we lost the tie breaker. It changed nothing.
Tiwas
June 23rd, 2009
4:39 pm
I’m sorry but I can’t cristen Roddy White as that great wide receiver. His game preparation seems better but there are still to many dropped passes at critical times. Maybe getting Gonzalez will help ease the pressure on all the receivers. Michael Jenkins with his new contract really needs to step his game up. Two catches a game in the first quarter(he’s reached his quota) and then he disappears the remainder of the game. I’d like to see another brusier of a running back to give Mike Turner a breather. Is Duckett available?
Also, I hope the new DL that was drafted brings some intensity to the defense and can help Abraham. Jamal Anderson needs to be pushed…
mike
June 23rd, 2009
4:41 pm
Rodents of unusual size? I don’t believe they exist.
But I do believe Roddy will continue to get even better.
And Mark, you must see the movie.
Ted Striker
June 23rd, 2009
4:47 pm
gdg73 — No hatred of Joe Horn. He could be the football version of Mother Teresa but it wouldn’t justify his lackluster motivation after signing a 4 year $14.5 million contract with the Falcons.
Reverse chronological order, 2008: He didn’t study the playbook or bother attending OTAs and catching passes from Matt Ryan. That’s instrumental in developing Roddy White?
Continuing on, 2007: Horn’s production was 27 receptions, 243 yards, 1 TD. White? 83 receptions, 1202 yards, 6 TDs. If White was getting the ball on Sundays and producing, he was obviously grinding during the week in practices. Horn may have occasionally said “great catch, Roddy — keep it up” but that’s probably the extent of his ‘inspiration.’
On the other hand, if you want to talk about a veteran WR who probably DID inspire, how about #86 Brian Finneran who grinds, perseveres, prepares, and does everything in his power to help win a game, whether the occasion ever arrives or not.
Finn is more Falcon than Horn could ever be.
Roddy
June 23rd, 2009
5:00 pm
Matt Ryan is coat tail rider. If Ryan had a bad oline and running back he would be awful.
sidslid
June 23rd, 2009
5:06 pm
Turner. Remember 1999 when the Chandelier didn’t have a chance without Anderson. Without Turner, it is Matty Ice Pack.
GritzBlitz
June 23rd, 2009
5:06 pm
Mike Mularky calling plays that protected the offensive line and Matt Ryan is the biggest reason for success last year. Not to mention that Ryan was capable of throwing a quick slant (hot route)….something that hadn’t been accomplished by a Falcon in several preceeding years.
White is a really good receiver but I’d rather lose him than Ryan or Turner
Sun Tzu 7
June 23rd, 2009
5:07 pm
Hey Striker,
How’s George Zip doing these days? Is he still over Macho Grande?
But seriously Roddy has emerged into a very good WR. He still has quite a bit to do before we can call him great…. but at least now he’s on the right track.
Johnny DangerDawg
June 23rd, 2009
5:08 pm
Roddy White was the right pick by McKay, but Bill Barnwell’s list makes no sense. If he wants to go by percentages, then isn’t Matt Ryan (and many other starting QBs) more important since he threw, like, 90% of the team’s passes?
bushwacker
June 23rd, 2009
5:25 pm
Want to see a 50 yr old man giggling like a little girl, just remind me, WE HAVE A REAL QUARTERBACK!!!
robert bishop
June 23rd, 2009
5:30 pm
Oh, and Rich McKay was behind the Season Ticket renewal disaster this year, saved ONLY by the Falcons making the playoffs. Rich McKay is the WORST front office person in all of pro-sports and came up with the WORST renewal scheme in all of pro-sports…..all swept under the rug by management. Why does he still have a job ? Because he’s on the competetion committee, plain and simple.
Mark Bradley
June 23rd, 2009
5:32 pm
I’ll admit Barnwell’s list gave me pause, too. But I guess that’s what made it intriguing. I mean, how hard is it to go, “Brady, Peyton, Big Ben …”
Mark Bradley
June 23rd, 2009
5:33 pm
Rich McKay is the worst front office man in sports? Worse than Don Waddell? Worse than Frank Wren?
I’m kidding! It’s a joke!
SPS
June 23rd, 2009
5:38 pm
BRAD: The Denver game meant nothing in terms of playoff seeding. Winning that game would have put both Carolina and ATL at 12-4. But Carolina still owned the tie breaker over ATL due to their better division record. Forget about that one. The loss actually gave us a better draft position.
Vick Supporter
June 23rd, 2009
6:02 pm
The Falcon “fans” love Roddy now,LMFAO!!! Man this is hilarious!!! You people wanted him out of town just 2 years ago, and now you say he’s the best? No wonder this team doesn’t have a consistent following and can’t fill their staduim anymore. I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE SEASON TO START!! This sh… id going to be so funny when the fans turn on Roddy again,lol. We all know you people won’t turn on Ryan and we all know the reason why. Roddy and the defense will be the scapegoat WHEN things go sour again, well, you also have a history of blaming the coach too…lol…i forgot. What a joke of a fan base. Bunch of bandwagon losers.
MyView
June 23rd, 2009
6:08 pm
I too have become a big Roddy White fan, but for some reason, I feel like Harry Douglas will eventually be his equal. I see 60+ catches for him, and eventually a pro bowl. Why? I don’t know, but HD will have a great NFL career IMHO.
NCFalconFan
June 23rd, 2009
6:13 pm
Norwood might not be indispensible, but I am sure glad he is on our team. Credit to McKay on that as well.
Scott Anderson
June 23rd, 2009
6:24 pm
Drafting Roddy White does not make McKay a genius.
Look at how he was involved in so many poor selctions. That does not offset one good pick.
McKay should have been gone a long time before he finally left.
At least I hope he is gone.
Finally Coach Smith and TD know what they are doing. Why did we have to wait 30 years of Dan Reeves, Rankin Smith, et all to finally have a team with some good work habits and attitudes.
GO FALCONS !
Najeh Davenpoop
June 23rd, 2009
7:07 pm
““No wideout played a bigger part in his team’s success than White. Matt Ryan threw 32.5 percent of his passes in 2008 to White, the highest such percentage for any receiver in football.”
A very similar argument could have been used between the years 2002 and 2006 to call Alge Crumpler one of the most indispensable players in the league (which he was not). A quarterback considering a certain receiver his security blanket and locking on to him — as Matt Ryan did last year with White, and as Jake Delhomme does with Steve Smith — may make that receiver indispensable to that particular offensive scheme, but it’s a mistake to interpret that to mean it makes him a better player than someone like Fitzgerald who is only one of two elite receivers on his team.
No question White has come a long way since the day he was drafted, and I get what Barnwell is trying to say, but White is not the league’s best receiver. And I don’t think Barnwell intended for that to be the conclusion drawn from his list either.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 23rd, 2009
7:09 pm
Oh yeah, and even if White does become the league’s best receiver, Rich McKay is still a terrible evaluator of personnel who was made to look even worse by the joke of a coaching staff in place during his tenure as GM.
Drew
June 23rd, 2009
7:11 pm
Hey Mark,
Bottom line, please comment to if you think the Falcons will finally have back to back winning seasons remembering last year the Falcons were on the 4-12 schedule with Lions and Chiefs etc. Not this year and I say not yet……….
Tony from Stone Mountain
June 23rd, 2009
7:22 pm
“I’ve never seen “The Princess Bride”
A great family time movie. Make the time Mark!
gdg73
June 23rd, 2009
7:23 pm
Ted Striker, answer this question. Where in my post was I justifying Joe Horn’s contract? Also, compare Roddy’s numbers in 2006 (pre-Horn) with 2007 (post-Horn). See a difference. Like I said before, Horn played a big part in White turning into a legit NFL receiver. Also, I give gredit to Hue Jackson and the coaching staff. Nobody gives this guy much credit, but I believe he is one of the best coaches in the NFL. Look at what the guy is doing in Baltimore with Flacco and company. And tell me this, why didn’t Finneran “professionalism” rub off on Roddy in 2005 and 2006 when he was struggling? I’m waiting for your response.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 23rd, 2009
7:27 pm
I don’t buy that Joe Horn is the reason Roddy White grew into a good player. Horn didn’t do a whole lot for Donte Stallworth when he was in New Orleans. I think the departure of Jim Mora and his coaching staff made the entire team better, after they came out from the shadow of his appalling stupidity.
What an idiot, NO WAIT
June 23rd, 2009
7:44 pm
Just a story that White’s agent paid to have written. Don’t you people know anything?
Unca' Bob
June 23rd, 2009
7:45 pm
Shameless Thacker,
You, sir, are sick, twisted, and perverted. I like that in a person. You have, without a doubt, come up with some of the most laugh- out- loud lines I have ever read. Please, carry on.
Birds Suck!
June 23rd, 2009
7:46 pm
you white people are so funny! We have Matt Ryan!! PLEASEEEE!!!! One good year and now he is Brady…oh wait he did have a back that rushed for 1800 yards! Roddy White did start to act like a football player instead of a track guy! Lets see what happens if Turner goes down! Matt Ryan without the play action pass? Same old sorry Falcons!!!!! LOL
Vick Supporter
June 23rd, 2009
8:12 pm
No Matt Ryan Playaction = Losing season
Michael Turner Injury = Losing season
Falcons vs Mike Vick’s new team = LOSS
YEP!!
Mark Bradley
June 23rd, 2009
8:34 pm
As I usually do, I agree with Najeh. Lots of guys got better when Young Jimbo hit the bricks. The 2006 Falcons were a tremendous waste of personnel.
And I know I’m the only one in the world who wonders this still, but … I wonder how good Michael Vick would have been under Bobby Petrino. I know Petrino told somebody in Flowery Branch after some early Vick workouts that he thought they’d average — average — 30 points a game.
mcdawg
June 23rd, 2009
8:45 pm
i was a big time doubter regarding that pick but proved me wrong
wxwax
June 23rd, 2009
8:58 pm
Turner or Ryan?
Easy choice. Lots of running backs can be successful behind a strong offensive line (see Denver, Gibbs’ Redskins, Steelers.) But only a very few men can be successful quarterbacks in the NFL, regardless of the line.
Ryan, in a landslide.
wxwax
June 23rd, 2009
9:00 pm
Yabbut Bobby Petrino is a college coach who knows as much about the pro game as Steve Spurrier.
Salt his opinions accordingly.
Ted Striker
June 23rd, 2009
9:23 pm
GDG73 — 1) I never said anything about Hue Jackson. (Not a word) You keep bringing up Jackson — a fine coach — to deflect attention from your claim that Joe Horn is largely responsible for Roddy White’s success.
2) Also Never Said: that you’re trying to justify Horn’s contract. The only two guys brazen enough to do that in public were Horn and his agent.
3a) Did the Math, Didn’t Even Get a doggone T-Shirt: You insisted I to compare White’s numbers from the year before Horn arrived to the year after Horn arrived. Okay. I did it. No revelation. What am I missing?
3b) Did the Math Part Two It’s true Joe Horn arrived in Atlanta in ‘07. So did Laurent Robinson. And Eric Weems. And Bobby Petrino. Plus the Falcons had new cheerleaders. (And Justin Timberlake was on tour.) I’m missing the obvious correlation. If you’re insisting that Horn is the reason White caught 88 passes for 1382 yards in ’08 — I have to cry foul. More likely it was Timberlake crooning Sexyback at Philps Arena.
4) Why didn’t Finneran’s professionalism rub off on White? Maybe it did. They’re still teammates, Finn and White. And Finneran isn’t out of a job like Horn, who hasn’t discovered a single takers in the entire 32 team league.
GDG73, I hope you understand I’m not knocking you. It’s just that I’m not buying the idea that Joe Horn is the reason Roddy White set all-time Falcons season receiving records last year.
Vick Supporter
June 23rd, 2009
9:39 pm
Mark Bradley
I’ve said alot of the same things that Najeh has said about the Vick Era and you hardly ever give me any props. Do I come across bad sometimes? Yes, in retaliation to some of the ignorant, racial nonsense that’s spewed on here all the time. I also wonder what would have happened if Vick played for Petrino, although I never really respected the guy. I also think that Vick would have done well with Mike Smith, being that he runs a more traditional offense and let’s his QB make changes at the line. I point out all the time the many mistakes of the Mora regime and the MANY mistakes made by the front office. i believe that this whole dogfighting fiasco has helped the front office realize that you have to build a TEAM and not just place the load on one player’s shoulders. As we all saw in 2003, and other times when Vick got hurt, it was obvious that the Falcons were a one man team. I think if Ryan were to miss some games, Redman could step in a win for them (a game or two). When Vick went down, we looked like a college team. I know that I get on Ryan at times, and I still would rather have Vick as my QB, but I really think that Ryan is a good QB. He can’t carry a team like Vick did many times, but at long as he has Turner, or some type of running game, he’ll be fine. I just wish the fans would look past the negative and respect what Vick did for the Falcons on the field. All of these people that bash him on these blogs were there cheering for him at the games, which I think is hypocritical, which is why I can’t support the Falcons. Just 2 years ago, they wanted Roddy and MJ ran out of town, and now they’re praising him (for now). Just my 2 cents.
Mark Bradley
June 23rd, 2009
9:46 pm
Props on that post, Vick Supporter. I agree: Vick would have done well under Smitty, too.
On the second day of camp in 2004, I remember writing about Knapp’s offense and asking: Why would you want the most dangerous guy in the league with the ball in his hands to get it out of his hands more quickly? Five years later, I still don’t know.
anotherfalcon
June 23rd, 2009
9:49 pm
White is no doubt a great receiver, but I don’t think I could ever value any receiver more than I would the quarterback. I’m sure, whoever White’s agent is, just loves this article. Don’t know that the Falcons are quite as keen on it though. You’re not getting a commission on this, are you Mark?
Tom Davis
June 23rd, 2009
9:51 pm
Vick Supporter – Time to buy a #2 jersey. I hope you choke on it. LOL.
Tom Davis
June 23rd, 2009
9:56 pm
Mark Bradley stop kissing Vick Supporter’s arse. The reason Vick could not change the plays was because he did not know the play book. It is a known fact that Vick was not a student of the game but a student of the WEED amongst other illegal activities.
Mark Bradley
June 23rd, 2009
9:57 pm
I’m getting my usual fee — 100 percent of nothing.
Tom Davis
June 23rd, 2009
10:00 pm
That’s better than 50% of nothing
Ted Striker
June 23rd, 2009
10:03 pm
I’ve never had an issue with Vick Supporter’s posts. He’s true to his beliefs — whether I agree or not — and folks have the option of skipping what he has to say if they don’t like reading it.
In the words of Lenny Kravitz, “Let Love Rule.”
steven thomas
June 23rd, 2009
10:22 pm
coach smith is the most important falcon.
dagnabit
Scott Anderson
June 23rd, 2009
10:47 pm
I also think that Vick would have done well with Mike Smith, being that he runs a more traditional offense and let’s his QB make changes at the line.
### One of Vicks big problems was he never did learn the playbook. Any coach would suffer with Vick calling audibles. Vick only knew one audible , Vick run left, Vick run right. Vick run all around and out of bounds. Then jump up holding his hammy again.
Man get over it Vick Support ###
I point out all the time the many mistakes of the Mora regime and the MANY mistakes made by the front office. i believe that this whole dogfighting fiasco has helped the front office realize that you have to build a TEAM and not just place the load on one player’s shoulders.
## LOL – if that made sense I would give you a cookie.
The Falcons are finally building a team. It took getting rid of Vick, Crumpler, MeAngelo, Brooking, to do it. At least we are on the road to victory after so many years.###
As we all saw in 2003, and other times when Vick got hurt, it was obvious that the Falcons were a one man team.
## One man team. LOL thats because Vick couldnt hit the broad side of a bulls rear with a banjo. Roddy White got hit in the head more than the hands from Vicks errant passes. Get a clue ###
I think if Ryan were to miss some games, Redman could step in a win for them (a game or two).
## this shows you really dont know a QB. Redman is washed up. Shockly or Parker would both play better in the long run. Or short run if needed. ###
When Vick went down, we looked like a college team. I know that I get on Ryan at times, and I still would rather have Vick as my QB,
## Man, just like when I was drunk at 16 and puking my guts out, my mom came in and said. : Let it go son, let it go ###
I really think that Ryan is a good QB.
## First intelligent thing you ever said on here. ##
He can’t carry a team like Vick did many times,
## Pathetic. He carried the Falcons into the gutter with him. Can you say Federal pen
The dude lied to A Blank so many times to his face. Blank had the guy at his house playing Nintendo with his children. He pushed him in a wheelchair. He let him ride on his corporate jet. Oh yeh thats the past.
Let it go ####
but at long as he has Turner, or some type of running game, he’ll be fine.
## Running backs are a dime a dozen. We need Turner, but he can be replaced. ####
I just wish the fans would look past the negative and respect what Vick did for the Falcons on the field.
## How can you look past the negative. Remember when Dan Reeves gave Vick a book on leadership. It was right before he got canned. Vick looked at it and threw it in the trash. I dont need no leadership he said. Mike Vick can win games. Yeh ok team player. ###
All of these people that bash him on these blogs were there cheering for him at the games,
## you should have listened closer when he threw the finger at the Atlanta fans. What a guy ##
which I think is hypocritical, which is why I can’t support the Falcons.
## OK fool ##
Maybe Mark will come back in and give me some props like he gave Neigh
oh goody. grow up will ya
GO FALCONS !
Vick Supporter
June 23rd, 2009
10:55 pm
Now you see why I say what I say Mark Bradley? This dude Tom Davis is a straight up idiot. Now, neither of us has ever played in the NFL, also, I know for a fact that Tom Davis has never been on the field for practice, nor in the film room, etc etc etc, yet he makes some stupid comment like that. Now, someone explain this to me. How in the hell can you be a STARTING, 3 time PRO BOWL, RECORDING SETTING, 6 YEAR STARTER, I say again, 6 YEAR STARTING QB IN THE NFL, and the most important stat, A WINNING QB, not know the plays?!!? LMFAO. Some of the fools that be on these blogs man…WOW. Playing QB in the NFL is the hardest job in sports, and for someone to be an NFL starter for 6 years and not know the plays is absolutely impossible. You take a poll on all of the QBs in the NFL and they will tell you it can’t be done. He wouldn’t even be able to get on the field. You can’t be an NFL QB by just “winging it”. Yet, this fool has the nerve to say some idiotic crap like that. Mark, posts like that is the reason I say what I say at times regarding race. i would rather talk just football, but it’s impossible to do on here. I give Ryan his props as a QB, and its my right to believe that Vick is a better QB in the right system and not have to carry the entire franchise (which Ryan now has the luxury of not having to do). Anyone who’s watched Falcon football during the Vick Era, whether they will admit it or not, knows that the front office or the coaching staff had no clue what to do with Vick. If Vick could have stayed in a traditional offense instead of the west coast/hybrid crap they ran, we would have seen better results in the passing game. The games where Vick was able to get in a groove he was very good as a passer in my opinion. What about the times when Vick and Alge complained about not being able to call audibles? Thats absolutely insane. You were exactly right in your post, Mr. Bradley. I’m not saying that Vick was the perfect QB, as no one is, (Brady is very close), but people like Tom Davis just do not know football at all.
LMFAO at Tom Davis
BugKiller
June 23rd, 2009
10:56 pm
Okay, here’s where the line of B.S. from VickSupporter need to END.
How do you know, or even believe, or even think enough to wonder if Vick would have been any good under Petrino or Smith?
Vick’s lack of attention to detail, his lack of willingness to study film (even under Reeves), his lack of willingness to be a LEADER of his teammates…
… it was there from the moment he showed up to the moment he lied to Arthur Blank and The Commish before he admitted to his dirty deeds.
Mike Vick is another of the athletes who come out of college who’ve been told since they were in 7th grade that they were the greatest and that the normal rules don’t apply to them
They’re so good, so they don’t have to study film.
They’re so good, so they don’t have to work hard in the weight room.
They’re so good, so they can be the last guy in and the first guy out.
Mike Vick. MeAngelo Hall. Vince Young. Matt Leinart. Reggie Bush. JaMarcus Russell.
Go over to Mike Florio’s site, profootballtalk.com and read what Warren Sapp has to say about this new breed of young players in the NFL.
They all come into the league with a sense of entitlement about them. They don’t want to work hard. And when they find themselves languishing on the bench, or struggling in games, it’s NEVER their fault.
You notice with enablers like YOU, it’s never Vick’s fault. And for Vick, it was NEVER his fault.
Amazingly, the same receivers who sucked with Vick, are much better with Ryan, but you don’t want to credit Ryan for that.
You want to pass credit on to anyone and everyone else.
Vince Young’s posse and Vince Young himself, they don’t give credit to Kerry Collins for winning the starting job. No. Vince “lost” it and it should be given back to Vince without him having to work for it.
Matt Ryan came into the league the anti-Vick, the anti–Leinart, the anti-Young.
He came in humble and with the Brady-Manning drive to work hard.
You know who else is a last guy in first guy out kind of guy who doesn’t do enough work in the film room?
Tony Romo. He’s fat and happy where he’s at. He has no drive to be better. That’s why he goes to Cabo before the most important game of his life, which he promptly loses to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Giants quarterbacked by “noodlearm” Eli Manning.
Yeah. Vick has a rocket arm. Who cares if he couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn, right?
You’re such a massive hypocrite, Vick Supporter. Keep being an enabler. Keep being a Vick Good ‘Ole Boy.
The Falcons don’t need you. Go cheer on the Redskins or UFL Orlando, or whatever team is stupid enough to sign Vick.
And Bradley, stop giving credence to the kind of guys who refuse to recognize the hard work and DEDICATION TO TEAM that Matt Ryan has and wants to glorify the ME ME ME attitude of Mike Vick and the players like him.
Vick Supporter
June 23rd, 2009
11:02 pm
@Scott Anderson
Is that all you got? Out of my entire post, you mean to tell me that the only truthful thing that I said was that Matt Ryan is a good QB? I complimented your QB. I stated what I believe. What more do you want?
Mark Bradley
June 23rd, 2009
11:04 pm
I echo, as I often do, Ted Striker: I have no problem with someone rooting for Michael Vick. I still like the guy myself and wish him well.
What I’ve never understood is how it became a Vick-against-Ryan thing. Matt Ryan had nothing to do with what happened to Vick. Ryan wasn’t even here. I don’t see why it’s not possible to appreciate the talents and accomplishments of both men. Because I absolutely do.
DrJ
June 23rd, 2009
11:14 pm
McKay’s picks just take a few Years to get it together.
Vick Supporter
June 23rd, 2009
11:24 pm
@BugKiller
“Vick’s lack of attention to detail, his lack of willingness to study film (even under Reeves), his lack of willingness to be a LEADER of his teammates…”
Its funny that NOT ONE PERSON on the team has EVER said those things about Vick, even 2 years after he’s been gone. Not Mr.Blank, McKay, Jim Mora, NOBODY. If anyone has the right to say those things about Vick, it’s Arthur Blank..and I find it funny that Blank is going to SUPPORT HIM coming back in the league. So much for that! LMAO
“… it was there from the moment he showed up to the moment he lied to Arthur Blank and The Commish before he admitted to his dirty deeds.”
You’re right about that, BugKiller. Vick lied to everyone. The funny thing is, that what people do, including yourself, when they get in trouble. You’ve lied in your lifetime, BugKiller. We both know it’s not right, and I’ve never said Vick was the perfect person. We all have flaws, even Matt Ryan, if you could believe that. I guess you’re so high and mighty that you can judge people. What would you have done in that situation, BugKiller? I know you’re gonna say that you would never fight dogs, but would if you did, and you had 100 million on the line? You would lie too, BugKiller. You’re not God.
“Amazingly, the same receivers who sucked with Vick, are much better with Ryan, but you don’t want to credit Ryan for that.”
Have you ever heard of the words experience, maturity, or coaching? Where was that during the Vick Era? Explain to me why Jenkins was riding that bench during the Vick Era? Explain to me why Brian F’in Finneran and our freakin TE was our best recievers? As far as the Matt Ryan question, Roddy had improved BEFORE Ryan even got here, numnuts. He had a good year with Redman and Joey “Field Goal” Harrington at QB. Have you ever heard of a breakout season? Thats what Roddy had, and it would have happened with Vick at QB. You say Vick couldn’t “hit the broadside of a barn”, LMFAO. Well, Roddy couldn”t catch a pass if you handed him the ball at that time. Remember the pass against Dallas I believe where the DB fell down, and Roddy STOPPED, TURNED AROUND TO CATCH THE BALL, ALL BY HIMSELF, AND HE STILL DROPPED IT!!! I wish I could find the link. I’ve said that Ryan is a good QB. Read my posts, woman.
“And Bradley, stop giving credence to the kind of guys who refuse to recognize the hard work and DEDICATION TO TEAM that Matt Ryan has and wants to glorify the ME ME ME attitude of Mike Vick and the players like him.”
Just look at the 2003 season, BugKiller. There was no team. It was Vick. He went down, and the season was lost. Where was the team building then? Oh Yeah!!!! THERE WAS NONE.
Sarah B
June 23rd, 2009
11:29 pm
Amen Mark, I’ve never had a problem with Vick Supporters comments either just VS2’s which I simply ignore. I to refuse to be a hypocrit as I to sat in the stands and cheered the guy and team on. We shouldn’t be so quick to judge. The problem was Mora & Co.
Although I am soooo grateful for the arrival for Ryan and Smitty & Co, Turner too and now Gonzo. This is the year.
And I really hate the people who bring in race from either side – let it go for God’s sake! It’s 2009. Who cares what color anyone’s skin is???? People are people – let it goooooo.
Dawg'94
June 23rd, 2009
11:31 pm
All any Atlanta receiver needed was a REAL QB. The Falcons have one now in Ryan.
Vick Supporter
June 23rd, 2009
11:33 pm
Amen!!! Sarah B.
Tell that to your friends BugKiller and Tom Davis
meansonny
June 23rd, 2009
11:35 pm
Turner is the indispensible player.
Look at Matt Ryan’s stats his Senior season at BC. He needs a running game to take the pressure off (maybe after a few seasons in the league he won’t, but as of 2008 and probably 2009 he does).
We had the 2nd best running back in the NFL.
And consequently we had a smart QB go from 17 INTs in 12 games in college to 11 INTs in 17 games in the pro’s.
Ryan also improved his yards per attempt in the NFL.
Give credit to Ryan for his accomplishments. But also recognize where the workload originated. And recognize who the workhorses were. The OL and Turner deserve the team MVP.
Ryan didn’t have the talent at BC. The talent in the ATL is what will allow him to blossom into a Brady type QB (improving every year to a point where he can be the focal point of the offense if needed).
BugKiller
June 23rd, 2009
11:39 pm
Mark,
It’s the guys who support Vick that have made it Vick vs. Ryan.
Like your hypocrite buddy Vick Supporter here.
To them, Ryan doesn’t deserve ANY credit for anything. It’s all everyone else. There’s a TEAM around him.
Even though, you know, how it’s ALL the same players, minus MeAngelo Hall. Same o-line (considering Baker was hurt). Same D-line as when Vick was here. Same slow linebackers. Same “crappy” receivers.
So what changed? Vick Supporter would have you believe that EVERYTHING changed, when really, the only thing that did is that Atlanta drafted a QB who was willing to WORK.
He is willing to study film.
He is willing to work with his receivers when he doesn’t have to.
He’s the first one in the building and the last one to leave.
And to Hypocrite Vick Supporter… the stories about Mike Vick’s unwillingness to work hard have been there since the Reeves years.
You refuse to see them because you refuse to blame Vick for ANYTHING. You shrug off his bad behavior by pointing to other bad behavior.
It’s okay that Vick lied, because EVERYONE lies.
Nope.
Donte Stallworth didn’t lie. He called the police. Turned himself in at the scene of the crime. He didn’t hit and run.
Some people, when they do wrong, have the MORAL COURAGE, to own up to their mistakes.
You and your guy, you wouldn’t know what moral courage or moral fiber was if it bit you in the @$$.
Again… Vick vs. Ryan on exists with guys like Vick Supporter.
Because the REALITY of the situation is, there is no competition.
Vick loses every time.
Because he was never willing to study up for the test.
Vick Supporter
June 23rd, 2009
11:48 pm
BugKiller
Why dont you come up with some proof to back up your statements instead of pure hate. AT LEAST I GIVE RYAN HIS PROPS (THERE, I’VE SAID IT AGAIN AND PUT IT IN CAPS FOR YOU), yet you say Vick couldn’t do anything right during his time here. And you talk about a hypocrit…….
i do know one thing, you keep mentioning Dan Reeves……Another person that has a right to say anything about Vick, its him. Reeves to my knowledge isn’t they person to hold back what he thinks, and he’s NEVER said any of the things that you say about Vick. You’re lame man. You’re just full of hate…you know the kind I’m talking about…..
BugKiller
June 23rd, 2009
11:51 pm
Ooooh, yeah, I’m a big old racist because I don’t like Mike Vick.
I’m a big old racist because I say Vick didn’t work hard enough at being the QB of the team, that he had a sense of entitlement like many of the young players coming into the league right now.
Wow, Vick Supporter… didn’t take you long to get there, did you?
BugKiller
June 23rd, 2009
11:54 pm
Wow, Vick Supporter, it really didn’t take you long to go there, did it?
Notice, people, when a Vick Supporter is getting owned in an argument about their guy, they always have their trusty race card to fall back on.
Amazing.
Vick Supporter
June 23rd, 2009
11:54 pm
I didn’t see the word racist one time in my post. Quit trying to start shi…. You hate Vick and refuse to say he did anything good here, yet, I’m being the bigger man by saying that Ryan is a good QB. You tell me…..
Vick Supporter
June 23rd, 2009
11:58 pm
Also, BugKiller, Mark complimented my post because its the truth. No one liked what Vick did, but you can’t deny the skill. I gurantee you Vick will be better than Ryan. I gurantee it. Even if Vick won a Super Bowl, you would still not spew your hate. God be with you. You must live a miserable life.
BugKiller
June 23rd, 2009
11:58 pm
“You’re lame man. You’re just full of hate…you know the kind I’m talking about…..”
You’re an idiot. You’re a race bater. And we’re done.
Continue on your lonesome highway preaching the Gospel of entitlement and enabling. It’s your every right to be stupid in this country.
I shall no longer infringe upon it.
Vick Supporter
June 23rd, 2009
11:59 pm
“Notice, people, when a Vick Supporter is getting owned in an argument about their guy, they always have their trusty race card to fall back on.”
When did this happen? You lost me there,lol.
Vick Supporter
June 24th, 2009
12:03 am
“You’re an idiot. You’re a race bater. And we’re done.
Continue on your lonesome highway preaching the Gospel of entitlement and enabling. It’s your every right to be stupid in this country.
I shall no longer infringe upon it.”
Good. Spew your BS to someone else.
BugKiller
June 24th, 2009
12:05 am
As for articles about Vick (that I and EVERYONE in Atlanta can remember reading) about the fact that he never studied his position like Manning or Brady, that he was frequently if not always the last guy in and the first guy out, that he never did any of the little things to make himself a better player and leader…
… well, YOU Google “Mike Vick work.”
I’ve spent the last 30 minutes searching through crap.
I remember reading those whispers. Mark Bradley can remember it, and he probably wrote some of them.
Why can’t you just admit that your boy came in to the NFL with the kind of sense of entitlement that he so obviously did?
Just like Leinart. Just like Young. Just like Russell.
Nothing was ever his fault.
He refused to come back early from injury to play for Dan Reeves. Who drafted him. Who took a chance on him.
Dan Reeves got fired. Notice Vick didn’t come to Reeves’s aid. At all.
Now, I loathe Little Jimmy Mora, and blame him for just about everything that went wrong with the Falcons, INCLUDING feeding Vick’s massive ego and never holding him accountable for not studying, for not leading, for not working hard.
But in Mora, Vick found yet another scapegoat.
Vick’s other scapegoats over the years included his receiving corps, especially Peerless Price, who comes out of this now that Roddy White and Mike Jenkins look so much better with Matt Ryan, looking much better to me.
NOTHING was ever Vick’s fault.
And now, really, I’m done. Time to get to sleep. Early day.
Vick Supporter
June 24th, 2009
12:05 am
BugKiller has been defeated.
That’s all folks!!!!!!
Sarah B
June 24th, 2009
12:07 am
Bugkiller – spell baiter right when attacking….
Vick Supporter
June 24th, 2009
12:09 am
Googled “Mike Vick work.”
Nothing there.
What else you got? And again, I never said nothing was Vick’s fault. Get it right for once in your sorry life
BugKiller
June 24th, 2009
12:09 am
Never defeated.
Not by a race BAITER such as yourself.
Go peddle the race card on another blog.
BugKiller
June 24th, 2009
12:11 am
And your reading comprehension needs work as well.
Of course there’s nothing there. If there is, it’s on page 30.
If I had an 8th grade education, maybe I would have been confused, too.
Vick Supporter
June 24th, 2009
12:12 am
Sorry, BugKiller. I forgot. Vick hired and fired the coaches to,lol. I guess you’ll blame Vick for field goal kicking next
Sarah B
June 24th, 2009
12:13 am
Blue, green,red, yellow black, brown… what does it matter… They are football players!! And Falcons!
BugKiller
June 24th, 2009
12:14 am
Yep, because I blame him for everything. That’s exactly what I do. Again, with someone with your reading comprehension issues and 8th grade education, your inability to actually understand what I’ve said is understandable.
Vick Supporter
June 24th, 2009
12:14 am
“If I had an 8th grade education, maybe I would have been confused, too. ”
That’s pretty funny. Last time I checked, there was a Bachelor’s Degree on my home office desk. that’s prety far from an 8th grade education.
Vick Supporter
June 24th, 2009
12:16 am
Sarah B, please read my posts. I didn’t race bait this clown BugKiller at all.
Vick Supporter
June 24th, 2009
12:18 am
BugKiller
Go put a dip in your mouth and take your as… to sleep. You come up with these “facts” and they aren’t there. You’re lame man. I’m done with you
BugKiller
June 24th, 2009
12:18 am
Maybe, like entitled athletes like your boy or Matt Leinart or Vince Young, you had someone do all the work for you.
Who knows. Being a big Vick Supporter must mean you don’t believe people should actually have to work hard for what they get out of life, just skate by on any kind of talent they have, blaming others when things don’t go your way.
Now I can’t decide if you’re a Vick Supporter, a socialist, or if all Vick Supporters are socialists. Hmmm. Would make an interesting sociological study.
Vick Supporter
June 24th, 2009
12:19 am
“Yep, because I blame him for everything. That’s exactly what I do. Again, with someone with your reading comprehension issues and 8th grade education, your inability to actually understand what I’ve said is understandable.”
I would call that race baiting…
Vick Supporter
June 24th, 2009
12:21 am
BugKiller
You lost man. Let it go. You can’t back up your statments. You’re nothing
BugKiller
June 24th, 2009
12:25 am
LOL… yeah, that’s race baiting. Because I’m gonna assume that you’re a certain ethnicity?
Nope. You could be a white guy, latin guy, black guy, I couldn’t care. In the end, you come off as someone with reading comprehension issues.
Stupid is as stupid does. Black. White. Cuban. Asian. Who cares. If you lack intelligence, it has nothing to do with the pigment in your skin or where your ancestors come from.
I have issues with you because of the way in which you support and enable and excuse Mike Vick, his lies, and dirty deeds, and tear down others who work hard (something Vick was never willing to do) for the sake of the team.
But again, play your race card. You undercut even your logically thin arguments every time you do.
BugKiller
June 24th, 2009
12:29 am
You have yet to back up ANYTHING you have to say.
When Bradley wakes up in the morning, let him speak to all of the stories written about Vick and all of the whispers whispered to reporters about the fact that Vick was the last guy in and the last guy out.
The fact that he didn’t film study like he should of.
That instead of doing extra work with his receivers to find a rhythm, he went up to Virginia… Hmm, I wonder, WHY did he not stay extra to work with his teammates?
What was in Virginia that used up so much of his team that COULD have been, SHOULD have been used to make himself a better QB, a better leader, a better teammate?
Wow, Vick Supporter.
Suck it. Hahaha.
I guarantee you, Bradley would probably be even to find us some links. I don’t have the patience to wade through all the crap about Mike Vick on Google, as said already.
Vick Supporter
June 24th, 2009
12:29 am
Vick Supporter > BugKiller
BugKiller
June 24th, 2009
12:40 am
(Pi x r^2 of BugKiller) x 0 = V
V = Vick Supporter’s ability to enter into an argument about Mike Vick without using the race card and accusing someone of being a racist.
V = 0, zero, zilch, null
Atlanta Falcons Talk » Blog Archive » Mark Bradley Rich McKay, genius? Well, he drafted indispensable Roddy
June 24th, 2009
1:01 am
[...] AJC Link [...]
Najeh Davenpoop
June 24th, 2009
1:14 am
I think it’s funny how the same people who point to White and Jenkins improving when #7 left forget to mention that Dunn and Crumpler were better by far when #7 was here.
But I have spent a lot of time in previous years arguing with people on these blogs who had no chance of changing my opinions and whose opinions I had no chance of changing. I’m not about to get drawn into that sh*t.
Thanks for the props, Mark Bradley.
Tom Davis
June 24th, 2009
6:40 am
Vick Supporter: Put on your #2 jersesy. We’re going to the Super Bowl. Shut up and enjoy the ride.
UGASlobberknocker
June 24th, 2009
7:29 am
.
Roddy White isnt that indispensable if he hasnt got a quarterback who can get him the ball. That is why Ryan is the real indispensable one.
dgroy
June 24th, 2009
7:35 am
There are twenty-two players on a football team and all 22 contribute to the success/failure of the team. Certain games make better players for some of the team and some do it over and over; however,it takes all 22 players to contribute to success……..point being, it’s ridiculous to try to pick one player to be most valuable…..they’re all valuable GO TECH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Durty Burd
June 24th, 2009
8:39 am
I agree with Najeh Davenpoop. To bad Mike Vick couldn’t make it pass the Jim Mora regime. Cause now he would have a line and wouldn’t have to run for his life every play. And the Falcons would be in contention for a SuperBowl. And I can see Roddy White being the most indispensable player because he is lightning quick and he is a play maker. Matt Ryan is not stupid that’s why every play he stares down Roddy White and extends the play until he can get open. He know’s who will make him look good. Michael Turner was a big key too and for who ever wanted to say the whole line was indispensable because they blocked to make Turner a pro bowler. You must did not see how many tackles Turner had to break at the line of scrimmage. So with that said the Falcons will not have the year they did last year so I can’t wait to read these articles when the season get started. White and Turner could be the most indispensable but since White has been her longest I give it to him. Imagine what this team could be with pre-jailed Vick….
Vick Supporter
June 24th, 2009
8:44 am
@Tom Davis
I’ll never put on a “#2″ jersey. Super Bowl? That opportunity left back 2007. Sorry. Will only wear jersey #7.
Mike from London
June 24th, 2009
8:50 am
I like Matty Ice however he has only had one season in the NFL, Mike Vick one man team or not did it over a long period and made the pro bowl a few times. Many bloggers on this site forget about the good times the Falcons had whilst Vick was the QB. I agree with Vick Supporter on a couple of points, Roddy White had a breakout year in 2007 Mike Jenkins had a good year in 2008 but its not all do with which QB is throwing them the ball, these guys have developed as players, pure and simple.
Vick Supporter
June 24th, 2009
9:00 am
@Mike from London
Thanks for the props. You have to understand that a lot of these people will find anything to discredit Vick as a QB. These “fans” here don’t know anything about player development. They think all players come in the NFL and supposed to dominate. The WRs sucked in the beginnig because they were young. They know two play now. Simple as that.
Tom Davis
June 24th, 2009
9:01 am
I bet our current QB will throw a couple of touchdowns in the 4th Quarter of a football game.
Vick Supporter, you are good with stats. How many games did Vick go without throwing a touchdown in the 4th Quarter?
Vick Supporter
June 24th, 2009
9:07 am
@Tom Davis
How many potential 4th quarter TD passes were dropped? I bet you can’t remember one. You just have it set in your head that Vick couldn’t do it. You’re so narrow minded
Gator Hater
June 24th, 2009
9:09 am
Roddy dropped numerous gam winning touchdowns. Remember last year’s Denver game? What about that game where Vick threw him a rainmaker he turned around and just dropped it. Real Falcon fans that watch all the games feel that last season was a fluke and we are not sold yet on Roddy.
Vick Supporter
June 24th, 2009
9:10 am
@Tom Davis
How many potential 4th quarter TD passes were dropped? I bet our current WRs have a better chance of not dropping the passes like they did in their first couple of years. I bet you can’t remember one. You just have it set in your head that Vick couldn’t do it. You’re so narrow minded
Tom Davis. Be a man and answer one question for me. During Roddy and MJ’s early seasons, were u criticizing all of the drops? Just answer that if you can be honest for once in your life
Durty Burd
June 24th, 2009
9:10 am
I do think that when it comes down to comparing Mike Vick to Matt Ryan in which this article has become I agree alot with Vick Supporter. And when making the comparison there has and will be a racial line somewhere in the mix. When the dog fiasco occured whites couldn’t believe a human would do such thing and wanted his head. Blacks were like they are only dogs and thought maybe a fine and keep it moving. So let’s agree to disagree. Now in making this comparison, white people can relate more to Ryan because he is like them and Vick relates more to Blacks. Now Ryan is good young quarterback I am not going to say great because he is not. You dont need great QB’s to win Super Bowls. Ryan will never be great will not be a Hall of Famer he is just good. He has a lot of help around him and he IS replaceable…Don’t know if you haven’t noticed but he doesnt see the field very well and the play book seems simple. Vick on the other hand, there has never been a QB or football player ever play the game like he did. Vick brought an excitement to the game that sales out stadiums in Detroit, just to see him. People might look at Vicks completion percentage and want to say he was not accurate but if you see how many passes hit WR’s in the hand and went right thru them, then you will know you can’t look at completion percentages with Mike Vick. Mike Vick was a winner and he did it with nothing around him. Anybody that can win with DeAngelo Hall giving up two touchdowns with everyone you score is a great player. So when making a comparison with Vick and Ryan there is no comparison because there will never be another Vick, his star Power was like Kobe and Ryan’s is like David Lee. David Lee is a good player.
FalconsfanShane
June 24th, 2009
9:27 am
If Roddy went down we could make do with Finnernan for a game or two. But, without him longer than that and we would be in serious trouble. He is the one receiver that is really indispensable. Overall though Dimitrioff has done an excellent job in only two drafts building this team and it’s depth.
Vick Supporter
June 24th, 2009
9:31 am
@durty bird
That’s a good point u made. When I described the racial line like that I was attacked on here. Also, yes, I only see it as just dogs, although I could never fight them. I also see the white POV also. I understand that they see their dogs as family members, as do I, but not as white people do. I don’t let dogs lick me in the mouth as I’ve seen a lot of whites do, or many of the other things they do. Whites do identify better with Ryan, which is why they’ve already annointed him as the next Brady after 1 season. I totally expected that. When Vick was here, a lot of them still picked apart his game even when he had great games. Hell, they think I’m the worse person in the world and call me a thug because I support someone who is trying to rebuild his life. Hell, I support A-Rod and Birdman from the Nuggets too…does that still make me a racist? A lot of this stuff from whites is just pure hatred. They never liked Vick from the beginning, even while they went to every game and cheered him on the field. I would call that being a hypocrite…..just my opinion. I’m anxious to see what will happen when Ryan falters…..what excuses will be made and who they will place the blame on. I’ve always said that the 130 million was a curse for Vick in a sense…just like A-Rod, it made him a huge target for criticism, no matter how well they played. What a shame
Ted Striker
June 24th, 2009
7:44 pm
Najeh touched upon a salient point. Many folks who show up to blog have their viewpoint firmly established and those views won’t be budging. You could expose them to hell, high water, and 1001 excellent reasons to change their opinion.
But if they ain’t buying — you ain’t selling. At any price, including free.
All fine.
I live by several rules.
1) I’m okay with being wrong. And being told I’m wrong. (Been wrong plenty of times and survived them 100% of the time , thus far).
2) Second rule — being right pays fewer dividends than being nice.
3) Many times I thought I was right I was actually wrong. But folks forgave me. And I’m grateful.
4) Never support a land war in Asia if you don’t own property there yourself.
More gushing for the Falcons? Now I'm worried | Mark Bradley
August 24th, 2009
7:33 pm
[...] Barnwell of Football Outsiders on ESPN.com called Roddy White the fourth-most indispensable player in the NFL. (Link requires [...]