Live from the Branch, and already there’s bad news
Flowery Branch – I’m beginnning to think it’s me. I show up and things go to Hades in a handbasket. I make my first pilgrimage of 2009 to (deep voice here) the Russell Atlanta Falcons Training Camp and I’m greeted by the news that Harry Douglas, who like my dad went to University of Louisville, is out for the season with a torn ACL.
You don’t ever want a guy to get hurt the first week of camp, but you especially don’t want it to be a guy who plays a position at which a Pro Bowler has gone missing. Roddy White, as you know, is holding out, and Douglas was seen as viable alternative should White get really ticked and decide to hold out into September. Now Brian Finneran, who has been here since Dan Reeves was coaching, suddenly becomes a key man.
And that, as you know, is the way it goes for Joe Btfsplk Bradley, who has become the world’s worst jinx. And to think: The original Joe Btfsplk, drawn by the great Al Capp, was only a cartoon. As best I can discern, I’m real. (Though sometimes that’s open to debate.)
Bear with me as I mosey out to practice and see if the Falcons still have a team left. And if I happen to meet Mr. Russell, I’ll say hello for you.
Update: Having watched a bit — but only a bit of practice — I can reliably inform you that the Falcons expect to have some news regarding their wide receiver position within the next couple of hours. (And no, it doesn’t involve Roddy White. It involves some free agents.)
Update No. 2: Talked to Tony Gonzalez. My first question: “How many points did you have against Villanova?” (Gonzalez was pressed into service on the Cal Bears’ basketball team in 1997 and was a key man in the upset of Villanova in Round 2.)
“Twenty-three,” Gonzalez said. (Not that big-time athletes ever remember their stats or anything.) “Tim Thomas had eight. We were guarding each other.”
I then, for the first time in my life, repeated a cheer. What can I say? The Cal cheerleaders kept chanting it at the end that Saturday in Winston-Salem, and obviously it left an impression. So here goes:
“You know it! You tell the story! You tell the whole damn world … ”
And Gonzalez finished it for me: “This is Bear territory!”
So now you’re up to date on this key development from a dozen years ago.
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115 comments Add your comment
tupac elliot
August 6th, 2009
12:24 pm
RODDY WHO……..SIGN SOME RECIEVERS AND LETS MOVE ON….DONT PAY UNTIL THE CONTRACT IS FULFILLED! HEY THATS THE WAY IT IS DONE! US COMMON FOLK CANT RENEGOTIATE OUR CONTRACTS UNTIL THEY ARE UP…AND WE SURE DONT MAKE 2 MILLION PLUS A YR…..FULFILL YOUR SIGNATURE ON THE CONTRACT…MAN UP…..! MAN UP! BE A MAN……..KEEP YOUR WORD….OH HECK i FORGOT…RODDY IS A VICK POSSE DUDETTE…………TUPAC SAY; GET IN CAMP ASK FOR FORGIVENESS….OR LEAVE TOWN, THE SOONER THE BETTER, HEY !
tupac elliot
August 6th, 2009
12:26 pm
ANOTHER INTERESTING TID BIT….RODDY WHITE IS NOT IN THE TOP 5 FANTASY FOOTBALL PICKS….SO, THAT OUGHT TO TELL YA SOMETHING……
Glenn
August 6th, 2009
12:26 pm
@ gatorzone – Its not Roddy Whites fault . Its the current collective bargaining agreement . Don’t worry it expires this year though you might not like the outcome . He is in a contract year. There are no victims . If you are upset you can place equal blame on Falcons management . They know how the game is played . There are no surprises . If it was importaant for the Falcons brass to have him in camp a deal would already be in place . Everyone is talking about Larry Fitzgerald’s extension . It was done to save cap space as well as to lock up a great receiver . Its all about prioritization . There are no victims .
willie
August 6th, 2009
12:26 pm
Tough loss but he’s technically not even a starter, so it could have been worse. We can find a return guy. Roddy will end up playing, even if we don’t get a deal done. Just bring in a veteran to get us through the season and we should be fine.
tupac elliot
August 6th, 2009
12:28 pm
TONY G. YOU ARE WITH A GOOD TEAM AND FRANCHISE….JUST YOU WAIT AND SEE. INJURIES ARE A PART OF THE GAME…..HOLD OUTS ARE TOO (BUT ONLY REALLY GOOD ONES) AB HAS THE TEAM IN PLACE FROM FRONT OFFICE TO WATHER BOY TO HAVE AN EXCELLENT TEAM AND SEASONS! THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT FOR THE FALCONS……! WELCOME TO GEORGIA!Enter your comments here
Reality
August 6th, 2009
12:29 pm
Yeah, our last ‘real quarterback’ inspired our team to really incredibly 8 – 8 and 7 – 9 seasons. He also inspired both teams to completely choking done the stretch of each season and missing the playoffs. Man, do we really miss that tremendous difference making play and memorable seasons. Here’s an indisputable fact that the moronic Vickophants can’t spin, during his last 24 games (season and a half) as the falcons QB, he led them to a 9 – 15 record. The league had caught up to him and figured him out, and it was all down hill from there for a QB with no touch or work ethic that only got buy on his athletic ability in the first place.
tupac elliot
August 6th, 2009
12:30 pm
LETS PICK UP THE AB FROM THE CARDINALS…..
Bad News
August 6th, 2009
12:31 pm
Art Vandelay:
I don’t think you want to go down this road. Arthur Blank sexually harrassed a former employee and ended up settling out of court.
Spare me the “he lied to me” – sexual harrassment is a dirt bag!
darrell starks
August 6th, 2009
12:31 pm
Roddy white get your A$$ in camp TD is building championship organization and trust me he will let your butt go and play hard ball just look at patriots and steelers both team have won 5superbowl between the 2 team this decade and have cut big name player and still won.
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!
tupac elliot
August 6th, 2009
12:31 pm
Enter your comments here
Innocent Bystander
August 6th, 2009
12:35 pm
Awful news… Are the Falcons now more willing to give Roddy White what he wants? I’d imagine so.
DownGoesFrazier
August 6th, 2009
12:40 pm
FALCONS SORRUY! WHAT THAT IS SHOULD THERE BE MORE OF!?! YOU CAN GESS BUTT U DON’T FIND IT!! THE 1 TRU MEENING IS THAT U WANT A SUPPER BOWL BUT U CANT HALF ONE WHILE BROWNOSING MICKVICK!! IF THATS WHAT YOU GET THEN U WANT MORE BECAUSE YOU ARE A WAY FROM UR CUMPRUTER!!! WAKE UP FALCONS SORRY, THE BACON IS FRYING AND THE PIGS ARE FLYING BCAUS THE FREE BIRD IS CRYING FOR THE SUPPER STAR!!!!!
Mike Jay
August 6th, 2009
12:41 pm
I saw Vick yesterday, he had a pay Rodey White t-shirt on.
I’m gonna guess the falcons sighn Ike Hillard.
Joey
August 6th, 2009
12:42 pm
MB, want a ticket to Gainsville, FL? I’ll buy!!
tj
August 6th, 2009
12:43 pm
Shockley will get playing time this year, and all of you Nay Sayers, will turn into FANS, REDMAN is cut this year… Thomas Brown, Shockley in the backfield will turn this years team back into the BirdDawgs!!!
me
August 6th, 2009
12:44 pm
Anybody else wish for a trade with package deal with White and a few others going to Detroit for CJ?????
Tony Gonzales Conference Call
August 6th, 2009
12:44 pm
**whispering**
Hey is this the coach’s office?
YES COACH SPEAKING
Hey coach this is Tony
TONY WHO?
Tony G…. remember the future hall of famer?
OH TONY THE FALCON
Coach I’m sorry I asked to be traded……can I please come back
I DON’T KNOW WE PAID CASSELL A LOT OF CASH
But coach I just want to retire a Chief
BUT I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO THE SUPERBOWL THERE
Coach I was lied to…..I’m out of here
OKAY I WILL SEE WHAT I CAN DO
Chris
August 6th, 2009
12:45 pm
Aren’t you kids supposed to be in school? Or is that next week.
That button to the left of the letter A. Push it.
Reality
August 6th, 2009
12:47 pm
Yes, our last ‘real QB’ as was so eloquently stated above, ‘inspired’ the team to an amazing 8 – 8 and 7 – 9 records his last two seasons as starter. In both occasions the team completely choked down the stretch under his great leadership. Here’s another indisputable fact that the Vickophants can’t refute or spin: His record during his last 24 starts was 9 – 15. The league had completely caught up to him and figured him out and how to shut down his one dimensional play by the time his felonious activities got the best of him. It was all down hill from there for a QB with absolutely no touch or work ethic, and who completely relied on his athletic ability to get him by early in his career instead of actually studying and understanding the game and position.
DownGoesFrazier
August 6th, 2009
12:48 pm
… Maybe Matt can make an otherwise ordinary receiver look really good, especially with talented people around him (Tony G, Turner, O-Line). My guess is the Falcons can bring in receivers and still be productive.
Mark Bradley
August 6th, 2009
12:53 pm
I did not see them, Mountain Jim. But I’m told there were three free agents who worked out this morning. Esteemed colleague D. Orlando Ledbetter should have some news for you forthwith.
darrell starks
August 6th, 2009
12:53 pm
ME i like that can we get C J FROM THE LIONS WOW!!!!!!
GO FALCONS!!!!!!
darrell starks
August 6th, 2009
12:55 pm
Is white and 1 round and 2nd round to much C J?
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!
Dennis Green
August 6th, 2009
12:56 pm
The Falcons are who we thought they were!
Mister T
August 6th, 2009
12:56 pm
Mark,
could you run on over to Athens to give us an update on the Dawgs Offensive Line? I hear they are the best part of the offense and no one ever shows love to the O-line. Hope to hear that first hand report soon. Then could we get a follow up report on their progress around Late October?
thanks,
A loyal fan
ThaMan
August 6th, 2009
12:58 pm
Hey Mark – I’ve rented you a luxury apartment in Athens. I’ll get the key to you before the Okie State game.
Gatorzone
August 6th, 2009
1:00 pm
For years, the Pats won with so-so receivers. We can do it here if we have to ths year.
RedTornado
August 6th, 2009
1:04 pm
Do people want to see the falcons fail b/c we let #7 go? To all the haters, We know we have a tough schedule, what will be your excuse when we have our first back to back winning seasons. If you’ve turned back on the falcons, good! keep on walking, we don’t need you.
Steve
August 6th, 2009
1:06 pm
Falcons Sorry,
You seem to be the one crying like a little girl. Are you expectig MV to read this and offer you a job? Maybe you can get him for your flag football team. Also, I believe Michael Strahan has retired.
Arthur Blank stood behind MV many times. I don’t reall that support waivering until it was abundantly clear that MV had been lying to everyone (including Mr Blank) about his involvement in financing the dog fighting business and killing underpreforming dogs.
The REAL Bad News
August 6th, 2009
1:11 pm
Hey “Bad News” – Michael Vick STILL HAS NO TEAM + NO CONTRACT = LOSER
So put that in your crack pipe and smoke it….HA HA HA HA HA HA
me
August 6th, 2009
1:11 pm
I believe in free speech, but this is a blog about the current state of the Falcons receiver corps; that’s it. Please stay on topic here.
tupac elliot
August 6th, 2009
1:12 pm
TRADE HIM TO CLEVLAND….MAKE DJ A RECEIVER, GET MM FORM CLEVLAND!JSUT REMEBER MJ HAS MATURED AND COME ALONG STRONG LAST YR…DID HE NOT MAKE THE CLUTCH CATCH AGAINST THE BEARS?! WHILE RODDY BOY DROPPED WINNING PASS IN END ZONE………….DONT BRING HIM BACK….MOVE ON! HE IS A CANCER! CUT IT OUT!
Mark Bradley
August 6th, 2009
1:13 pm
I was in Athens on Tuesday, Mister T. And Richt was making it sound as if the Bulldogs have six starters to fill five spots on the O-line. Which is good, given that last season they had a hard time rounding up five warm bodies.
The REAL Bad News
August 6th, 2009
1:14 pm
I agree with tupac
Pepe Frias
August 6th, 2009
1:33 pm
The funniest, and I mean absolute funniest, thing about these blogs is that people continue to think that FALCONS SORRY is serious with his postings.
He just ropes ya’ll in every time. Got some real duh masses posting round these parts.
FALCONS SORRY is hilarious!!! Bravo sir! Keep up the good work.
43 Years Of Failure
August 6th, 2009
1:34 pm
Arthur thanks for not breaking an annual tradition!
Jim Mora Sr
August 6th, 2009
1:38 pm
Playoffs?
Playoffs?
Playoffs?
You want to talk playoffs?
Playoffs?
Playoffs?
Bro. Raymond
August 6th, 2009
1:41 pm
I find it funny when people try to convince you or themselves that race is not an issue in this country.But when the right topic rolls around,we huddle in our segregated corners.We refuse to let truth speak to every issue and then agree with it.People say they can’t get over what Mike V. has done but will tell me to get over what slavery has done.
Bubba Gone Wild
August 6th, 2009
1:46 pm
You people suck. One guy goes down and it’s the end of the season. Roddy will be signed and maybe the Falcons will have to bend a bit to get him to stay. This situation opens up compromise. If not then we’ll be looking at a mediocre season for Ryan with the talent level we have on field right now.
Ross
August 6th, 2009
1:52 pm
Roddy White will not be signed, but I’m not convinced it will much matter, and if I’ve suspected all along, that White is the last of the Vick-era punks, then I hope he doesn’t sign. I know Dmitroff and company are not going to be strong-armed by him. Man I am bummed about Douglas, a good kid with a lot of heart and talent.
-drl
Matt Ryans Therapist
August 6th, 2009
1:52 pm
“What’s wrong Matt”?
OH DOC IT’S REALLY BAD….REALLY FREAKIN BAD!!!!!
“Come now Matt it can’t be that serious”
DOC ARE YOU STUPID OR SOMETHING?
“Now Matt there is no need for name calling”
WELL YOU ARE NOT THE ONE WHO HAS TO BE BOOED
“Matt your fans love you, no matter what you do”
YEAH I WAS A ROOKIE AND HAD PRO BOWLERS MAKING ME LOOK GOOD
“Well didn’t you win the fancy award for rookies”?
YEAH BUT FLACCO SET THE RECORD FOR ROOKIES IN THE PLAYOFFS
“Now Matt you are acting very irrational”.
WELL I JUST LOST MY SECURITY BLANKET
“But I thought you were the reason for last season”.
NO YOU QUACK, I JUST WENT ALONG FOR THE RIDE
“So you are now afraid you will be exposed”?
DUH – NOW WHAT DO I DO NOW?
“You have no choice Matt – Fake an injury”.
YOU MEAN COVER UP FOR MY UPCOMING FAILURE?
“Hey you do want to look good right”?
YEAH BUT I SUCK DOC
“But they don’t need to know that – fake an injury”.
OKAY THANKS DOC
Brian Finneran
August 6th, 2009
1:59 pm
Matt this sucks, looks like it’s just you and me……oh dang there goes my ACL again……….Matt where you going?
M-A-T-T
M-A-T-T
Come back Matt this is just a flesh wound……come back!!!!!!!!!
shanet34
August 6th, 2009
2:02 pm
u guys are stupid sobs grow up grow up i wish i could c yall face to face to tell yall to ur faces like a man yall are whinny sissy ass kids im from atlanta texas what
Boro Dawg
August 6th, 2009
2:09 pm
why can’t we get Marvin Harrison?
served cold
August 6th, 2009
2:11 pm
Somewhere, Mike Vick cries.
While I laugh my azz off.
CORRECT!!
August 6th, 2009
2:26 pm
CALM DOWN! The Falcons lost a 3rd string receiver and some think the season is now a total loss.
AllTheWay
August 6th, 2009
2:45 pm
Not a quick solve but the veteran Ike Hilliard or even Koren Robinson can both fit our scheme………Roddy will be back… LETS GO D………….
AllTheWay
August 6th, 2009
2:46 pm
Because Marvin is to busy being a gangster
Prime Time
August 6th, 2009
2:47 pm
I can still play corner, wide receiver and return kicks. Show me the money !!!!
AllTheWay
August 6th, 2009
2:49 pm
And its not that he’s a third string receiver He was playing the slots…plus that is our kick return man…people take special teams for granted but think…. whenever we needed a boost…. that catch up the seams….DOUGY was the man…. that is why I say Ike Hilliard will fit in well because of the poise and speed……… now that is a third string receiver…….