1. Georgia is 97th among 120 Bowl Subdivision teams in total defense, 108th in scoring defense. The Bulldogs rank last among 12 SEC schools in both categories. Simple question: Do you believe Georgia — with Rennie Curran, Geno Atkins, Jeff Owens, Justin Houston, Kade Weston, Demarcus Dobbs, Darryl Gamble, Bryan Evans, Reshad Jones, Brandon Boykin and Branden Smith — has the worst defensive talent in the SEC?
2. Georgia has one interception, one fumble recovery and four sacks in three games. It ranks 76th (tied) in sacks, 116th in turnover margin. Simple question: Does anyone think the Bulldogs’ personnel ranks in the nation’s lower tier in terms of speed, strength and level of aggression?
3. Over the past nine games, Georgia opponents have averaged — averaged — 33 points. In 42 games under Brian VanGorder, whom Martinez succeeded as defensive coordinator, one opponent scored more than 30 points, and that was the 2003 BCS champion.
4. Georgia opponents have scored 102 points in three games this season. In 1980, the national championship team yielded 137 points in 12 games.
5. Georgia football is first-class in every way — the head coach, the personnel, the offense, the recruiting, the facilities, the fan interest — except one. Athletics director Damon Evans says he wants his coaches to win championships. Simple questions: Do you believe Georgia can win another SEC title playing this sort of defense? Is there any reason a program of such pedigree should have the worst defensive coordinator in its division?
729 comments Add your comment
bigstack19
September 22nd, 2009
11:36 am
I can’t wait to play Florida. The score of that game should be 80-65.
Big Orange (aka our QB couldn't score in a Mex cathouse with a $100 bill taped to our forehead)
September 22nd, 2009
11:38 am
Don’t ditch WM or even hurt his feelings until after the UT game PLEASE!!!
Lowcountry Bulldawg
September 22nd, 2009
11:38 am
Remember, USC had 83 plays to UGA’s 53 plays. Don’t tell me that D was not tired. And to make it worse, played a 4 hour game.
Can’t have it both ways. Maybe if the defense would have made a stop they wouldn’t have been on the field for 83 plays!
Lowcountry Bulldawg
September 22nd, 2009
11:39 am
And no way should CWM be fired midseason. I am not in favor of this at all.
bigstack19
September 22nd, 2009
11:40 am
Someone had a great point about Kirby Smart. Another former Dawg coaching a great defense elsewhere is Will Muschamp at Texas.
Blackberry Cobbler
September 22nd, 2009
11:40 am
Thanks Mark. You are right on with your comments.
The heat is going to continue to get turned up on CMR, MA, and DA to make a change.
Either the coaching isn’t there or the talent (recruiting) isn’t there on the defensive side. Either way, the fault lies with the coaching staff. Period. End of discussion.
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
September 22nd, 2009
11:41 am
St. Simons Beach Lover—-What points specifically can you name where our defense doesn’t look prepared. What would you do to prepare them better? Where did you get your football pedigree? We have made mistakes in recruiting….We talk about what a player can do on a vvertical jump, but will he put his hat on somebody…Some of these 4 and 5 star recruits have all the good stats like 40 times and whatever but won’t put the hat on somebody….Come off that beach and start coaching…You may be the answer to our problems at Georgia….
Big Orange (aka our QB couldn't score in a Mex cathouse with a $100 bill taped to his forehead)
September 22nd, 2009
11:41 am
Enter your comments here
Todd A
September 22nd, 2009
11:42 am
It’s the “chicken or the egg theory”. It’s either the players or the the coaching. Personally, I think it is a little of both, and I’m tired of the argument. CWM has been DC for five years. Jancek has been here 5 years, and we still don’t have adequate play out of our Lbers. Fabris has been here coaching DE’s and ST’s for 9 years. Garner has been here since ‘98. There is no excuse for a program like UGA to have a bottom tier defense, and still have fans 5 years hence, defending this ineptitude.
Maybe Houston, Washington, and Robinson will become playmakers off the edge in the near future. We have 5 DE’s committed in this upcoming class. One has two damaged knees and is a three star recruit. Another is 215 lbs, while another one is a highly rated recruit who is very rangy and raw, but seems to lack football instincts.
After watching Pollack dominate for 4 years, and watching Marcus Howard wreak havoc the second half of ‘07, it’s pretty obvious how important de is (and applying pressure on the qb)to make this scheme work. But this staff just can’t seem to get it right. There is no sense of urgency and it comes directly from the head coach. Allen Bailey and Cameron Heyward were two NFL bodies that were in our backyard, and we let them get away. Bailey didn’t hear from his UGA recruiting coach for months. We didn’t show much interest in Carlos Dunlap out of SC and he’s starting at DE for UF now. We didn’t want Omar Hunter out of Buford a couple years ago, now we have 3 SR DT’s and only one committed.
Look at it this way, this staff has signed two NFL proto type DE’s since they’ve been here: Charles Johnson and Toby Jackson. One is in the NFL, the other didn’t get in school. The problem may not be all Willie’s coaching and his scheme, but he’s too catious and laid back to be a DC. But, as far as I’m concerned, I’m not laying ALL the blame at Willie’s feet. It is a joint effort, and everyone bears responsibility, even Garner, who, everyone seems to be worried might leave if he’s not offered the DC position if there is a change. Who cares? Rodney is widely known around SEC circles as being a recruiter and not a coach. He was the running game coordinator at UT for crying out loud. Handing him the keys to the defense would be a disaster of Kevin Ramsey proportions. Hopefully, Richt is smarter than that. HOPEFULLY. Fact is, this defense staff is in need of an overhaul, from every aspect: talent evaluation development, and coaching. Damon has already said we need to be competitive with UF. If that message has sunk in with Richt, and he’s as competitive as all his supporters claim, then he’ll do the right thing in Jan. If not, he’s not going to be here in two years.
Hey Saint Simons Lover
September 22nd, 2009
11:43 am
If Saint Simons can boast (( ((( 45-42 ))))) for a friggin year, then why not us. (( ((( 52-41 ))))) hahahahahahaha
Saint Simons
September 22nd, 2009
11:45 am
(((((( 33 – 17 )))))) boo hoo boo hoo boo hoo
Tech sucks
September 22nd, 2009
11:46 am
There is no other argument except it’s time for Willie to go.
Sandy Shepherd
September 22nd, 2009
11:46 am
The jury should still be out on Willie. While the stats are accurate and depressing at best, we should take a hard look at what is going on. Without DE’s that can get to the QB our pass rush is awful. While our recruiting classes have been highly ranked, we have not got DE’s that can get to the QB. Cornelius Washington and Houston are our best chance right now, but they are still developing. The secondary has some ability but Boykin, Cuff, and Smith are all basically inexperienced and have to learn on the fly. Their techniques will improve and the amount of busted coverages will decrease with experience. When comparing VanGorder and Martinez we must remember that Coach V had 11 NFL guys some of which are All Pro (mostly Donnan recruits) at the time and this defense appears to have about 5. I am disappointed in the D just like everyone but a knee jerk reaction when we don’t have the skill at DE or the experience at DB would be a mistake.
no d in "Dawg"
September 22nd, 2009
11:48 am
First of all, the people that support Martinez are just plain dillusional. This guy can’t game plan, can’t adjust, and can’t motivate. He is 0 for 3 where it matters. Get rid of him now and let ANYBODY on the staff complete the year as DC. (It can’t get worse). The guy Gerogia should be knocking on the door to get, is ex-uga grad Kirby Smart. He has worked under Sabin for several years and knows his aggressive defensive style. He only makes about $350,000 at “Bama”. We could surely give him more than that. Plus he is a Georgia boy “Bainbridge” that would love to come back to his alma mater. Plus he probably needs to get out from under the shadow of Sabin to getthe credit he deserves as a DC. Sabin will always be given the final credit for “bama’s” defense, because he is a defensive guru.
Kirby is the ultimate choice. MAKE IT HAPPPEN.
southgadawg88
September 22nd, 2009
11:48 am
Random musings…..BVG had better players than Martinez…look at the rosters the BVG teams had most of the very best players on the team…DE and CB recruiting have been subpar for the last 4 years…with a quick strike big play offense teams generally gave up more points on D…if ARK puts up 35 on Bama will people say Saban is slipping?Is Tenn really good on D or is it the fact they run a lot more than they pass and control the clock?How many passing teams have a great Defense?If UGA is 6-1 going into JAX are people going to still be calling for WM’s head?So far what games have we lost that you can HONESTLY blame directly on the defense?Go back a couple of years and point out those losses..FLA and ALA last year were NOT because of WM..GT I would say is one…most of these games people point out we ACTUALLY WON!! ie..ARK and SC..OK State was not on the D..point is most folks scream and holler over the scores of the games overlooking the fact that the Defense has NOT been directly to blame for losing many games under WM.TO’s and poor Offensive play is a much bigger factor!! I challenge ANYBODY to go over all our losses under WM and show me the Defense was the biggest factor..it all sounds good…WM sucks,poor coaching,outdated scheme,no adjustments,blah,blah,blah,but when you ignore the stats and look at the games it’s not so cut and dried as it seems.Personally I don’t give a damn about style points I just want to win the ballgame.
Big Orange (aka our QB couldn't score in a Mex cathouse with a $100 bill taped to his forehead)
September 22nd, 2009
11:51 am
In all seriousness, as a competitor I can say that the WMD does not intimidate other schools. You Dawgs have had the talent to take it all the way several times in the last few years and you keep falling short. I think WM is a big part of that. You can only go so far giving up 30 t0 40 points a game to other SEC teams. It is in your interest to send him to a conference that is not concerned about defense.
GSU Eagle 91
September 22nd, 2009
11:53 am
UGA defensive personnel are out of position on a regular basis. If R.Curran were to miss a game or two, the D would give up even more points…BTW, Rennie would make a fine safety in the NFL…He certainly has a knack for being first to the ballcarrier…
Gravy Train
September 22nd, 2009
11:55 am
Bug, your arguments are full of holes and lacking in true football knowledge. I suspect you are a kid, so let me make this simple:
Recruiting rankings mean next to nothing. For your reference see Jasper Sanks and Sterling Boyd and Marquis Elmore. Because you are so young you probably don’t know who these guys are. They were all projected to be world beaters coming out of high school and yet none of them did much if anything on the college level. Recruiting rankings don’t measure heart and determination. Pollack is a great example of that.
To further illustrate, let’s examine the case of USC. Pete Carroll has almost a decades worth of top five recruiting classes and yet has found a way to lose one to two games a year to teams with inferior talent. Based on your argument of recruiting and sound coaching, one could argue that USC should never lose one game. They are currently on track to lose several games this season. Is Pete not “coaching them up?” No, the problem is that he has no seasoned playmakers at WR and is forced to rely on the bevy of RBs he has. A one demensional offense is the result.
Now on to your assessment that BVG is some kind of miraculous developer: Why did he not develop any NFL talent at Georgia Southern? Why is he having such a hard time developing a secondary with the Falcons? Let’s see how great he looks against the Patriots on Sunday.
Rex Ryan beat them with a two deep coverage like Coach Rodriguez would like to have here. Watch the game film from the Jets-Patriots game and see for yourself. Yes he also mixed in some blitz packages that the Patriots didn’t pick up.
I’m still waiting for you to divulge any kind of defensive knowledge you have. Grow up Bug.
DirtyDawg
September 22nd, 2009
11:56 am
Some random reactions/thoughts…I don’t know if Mark Bradley actually believes the stuff he says, but I do know that his job is to ‘get the fight started’ and he tries everyday to think of just what will do it – today it was this, and obviously, plenty of us are patsy’s for it…so you think Van Gorder was a hot shot? Ask the folks down in Statesboro just how ‘hot’ he was…comparing what offenses are doing now to what we did thirty years ago is laughable – hell, Buck only threw the ball six or eight times a game, and it seems to me that there was a kid at Auburn and another from Mississippi, that had some success throwing the ball against Erk’s defense…I too have questions about how our DBs and LBs react to receivers and thrown balls while playing in the zone, but I also know that the game we lost we played more man-to-man and got beat…pressure on the QB is the key and it’s obvious we either don’t have that combination of speed and strength called for or we haven’t yet found the right combination/rotation that can be successful. Although something good happened in last Saturday’s game in the fourth quarter that won the day and we also held SC to field-goals for the better part of that game…finally, stats are for losers – winning is for winning. I don’t care how many yards we give up, so long as we win…hey Atticus, with a handle like that one would think you’d be more thoughtful and wise, and I don’t see Martinez making any excuses, he’s too busy trying to correct the mistakes of his cover guys.
gatorhater
September 22nd, 2009
11:58 am
John Chavous could have been the savior for UGA defense. We should have hired him after last season. With all the problems UT had, their D was never in question. Richt’s loyalty to subpar coaches will eventually put him shoulder to shoulder with them on an oversized hot seat. Two years in a row we hang 50 on an opponent and still the game is not a total blowout. Bottom line: If we dont go out and get a PROVEN DC, all these top recruits will look worse than they really are and we will never hit elite status. We were on our way to becoming one of the top programs in the country when BVG was DC. If you think the D looks bad now, wait until the big boys come at us later in the year. CMR, put aside friendship and let WM go now!!! Go Dawgs!!!
Blue Fox
September 22nd, 2009
11:58 am
Simple question: why not fire or demote Martinez and bring Van Gorder back?? Smith is obviously not enamored with his performance as the Falcon’s DC, he could probably be had (at least after the season ends).
Metal Jacket
September 22nd, 2009
11:58 am
Don’t fire Willie, He’s doing a great job. See you in Nov. GO JACKETS!!!!! THWG&WM
birddawg92
September 22nd, 2009
11:59 am
Let’s get the campaign started here today—you heard it hear first from “no d in Dawg”—
HIRE KIRBY SMART!
(Another thing about Kirby—he was our RB coach a year or two for Richt before going back to Saban’s staff when he took the ‘Bama job…)
Larry
September 22nd, 2009
12:06 pm
Once I was on a flight and sitting beside me I met a lady who was a well known and successful entrepreneur who conducted training meetings and seminars on successful personnel management, coaching and leadership. Having been in a personnel leadership role myself for many years, I ask her a very simple and straightforward question: “In one sentence, how would you define an effective and successful manager and leader of people?” She answered very concisely: “The most successful manager, coach or leader can get the greatest possible effort, production and results from those they manage, coach or lead!”
So, regardless of all of the talent, injury or circumstantial opinions, the question could be this simple: Does Willie Martinez and Mark Richt get the maximum production and results from those they coach or lead? If they do, cased closed. If they don’t, can they or will they?
I think a reasonable argument that Mark Richt is not getting the best from his coaches he leads can be made. I think a sound argument can be made that Willie Martinez is clearly not getting the production (sacks & interceptions), effort (missed tackles), concentration (penalties and blatant missed assignments) and results (yards and points yielded).
Chris
September 22nd, 2009
12:06 pm
Mark you know CMR is not going to do anything so drastic after three games. And by ‘drastic’, I mean demote Martinez after three games not fire him. What’s going on behind the serene public facade is another matter.
BTW, that running post during the GA game last week…I know you’ve done it before during Braves game and such but did the blog set some kind of record with 2-3K responses?
bulldawg4life
September 22nd, 2009
12:10 pm
real bulldawg fans, are not worryn about mark richt decisions of whut he should do. when we see the georgia bulldawgs sideline, we see young,smart student-athletes who tryn 2do their best following their leaders & becoming one themselves: love, heart & loyalty ((ppl. talk crazy but i guess we forget a true winner come in all sizes. but dont we look like teenagers compare 2other school teams)) arizona state next, 4days 2get ready
southgadawg88
September 22nd, 2009
12:17 pm
How many people on this board will still be complaining if we beat LSU 51-35?41-37 over FLA?40-30 over TENN?36-30 over GT and AUB?How do you know our Offense will not continue to put up big numbers?Be honest is anybody out there really shaking in their boots over LSU?Tenn?EVEN the mighty GATORS?I’m not…from what I’ve seen so far we can beat EVERY team on the schedule…there are no invincible teams in college football period.
Nick
September 22nd, 2009
12:21 pm
Beat that dead horse till it rots away.
jwc
September 22nd, 2009
12:22 pm
I saw Willie giving Mark Richt a reacharound in Fayetteville.
Fed up
September 22nd, 2009
12:23 pm
He’s had long enough, 102 points against average at best offenses. Lord how many points will the Gators score on us. Good Bye Coach Martinez, there’s got to be someone better out there.
Harry Dog
September 22nd, 2009
12:25 pm
Atticus is 100% correct. We supposedly sign the GREAT D kids and then? Well, um, ah, um, they um, simply do not perform. A David Pollack comes along about like Haley’s comet. Pollack was a revved up kid ( still is on tv show ) and he had the ethic of a hard working man. Pride too. Talent was not evident until he was a frosh A American at UGA> probably a three star kid in HS.
CWM cannot get it done. IF he could, then we would be blogging about Logan or Rontavious and Marlon not getting playing time. Martinez will be either forced out by Adams and evans OR allowed to remain as a “athletic department at large coach” Happens all the time with the good ole boy network which is NOT unique to UGA.
The record, by year’s end will reveal whether we have the perfect blend of TOP QUALITY coaches. 6-6 or 7-5 here we come. Music City bowl played in a driving cold rain in front of 14,000 screaming fans.
UGA,class of 73
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
September 22nd, 2009
12:25 pm
AIN’T THAT KIRBY GUY’S DEFENSE THE ONE THAT THE GREAT UNIVERSITY OF UTAH HUNG HALF A HUNDRED ON LAST YEAR IN THE BOWL GAME IN A BAMA BOWL LOSS….OR DID HE TURN IT BACK OVER TO SABAN FOR THAT GAME….WITH OFFENSES THE WAY THEY ARE NOW, EVEN THE GOOD DEFENSIVE TEAMS WILL GIVE UP POINTS TO THE SPREAD TEAMS AND PASSING OFFENSES. THE NCAA MADE IT THIS WAY. THEY HAVE LEGALIZED HOLDING TO KEEP THE GAME “ENTERTAINING” AND SO THAT MORE POINTS WILL BE SCORED TO ENTERTAIN THE FANS. GONE ARE THE 7-3 DEFENSIVE GAMES….IF YOU CAN’T RUSH THE QB WITH THE FRONT 4, YOU WILL HAVE SOME BIG TIME DEFENSIVE PROBLEMS. SOME OF THOSE POSTING HERE KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT THAT. BUT THEY HAVE ALL THE OTHER ANSWERS….SOME WOULD HELP OUR PLIGHT AT UGA IF THEY WOULD BECOME COACHES….PROBLEM IS, THEY DON’T KNOW THEIR ARSE FROM SECOND BASE ABOUT FOOTBALL, AND ARE HOLLERING JUST BECAUSE IT HAS BECOME THE THING TO DO TO GET ON WILLIE. AND KIRBY MAKES MORE THAN THE QUOTED FIGURE ABOVE….
Coop
September 22nd, 2009
12:30 pm
CWM must be demoted or fired now. and if CMR won’t do it, then Evans should show him the door too. Those Dawgs fans who are accepting of this D need to sack up. This is pathetic and you should be man enough to realize it, NOT stand for it, and say something!
obomaisaclown
September 22nd, 2009
12:35 pm
I THINK HE IS DOING A GREAT JOB ,SIGNED THE REST OF THE SEC !!!!!!!!!!
G NORMAN
September 22nd, 2009
12:40 pm
I THINK COACH GARNER SHOULD RUN THE DEFENSE AND BRING FORMER PLAYER KIRBY SMART IN . FABRIS DOESN’T HAVE THE RIGHT COMBINATION WITH GARNERS DEFENSIVE FRONT. WILLIE MART DOESN’T KNOW WHAT ADJUSTMENTS ARE. IF I’M A OFFENSIVE COACH I WILL JUST DUMP IN THE FLATS OR JUST GIVE IT TO THE TIGHT END. USC DID IT. DUMP FAB&MARTINEZ AND IF THAT DOES’T HAPPEN DAMON EVANS WILL PUT THE HEAT ON THE HEAD MAN.
John Tenuta
September 22nd, 2009
12:43 pm
I’ll soon be available. Call me. 1-800-BLITZ!
JMc12203
September 22nd, 2009
12:45 pm
CMR, please, oh PLEASE, do not replace CWM. As soon as they play someone that knows how to play D, then it is lights out for the talent laden but SEVERELY undercoached Dawgs until next year. Their talent pool on both sides of the ball is superb, but it is obvious they lack something. I do believe I know what that something is – IT IS COACHING. UGA has a bunch of 4 and 5 star athletes being coached by a group of one and NONE star coaches, starting with the boss himself. So, I say again, PLEASE do not replace Martinez or any other coach. It tickles me each year to see them go up in flames and all you idiots and jerks say “We’ll get ‘em next year” When are you going to realize that as long as CMR and his cronies are there, next year will NEVER GET HERE.
MC
September 22nd, 2009
12:48 pm
Monte Kiffin is not on the hot seat, especially after Tennessee’s defensive performance against Florida last Saturday. Very impressive.
Dawg Lover
September 22nd, 2009
12:49 pm
As a UGA fan….I hope Richt gets rid of Martinez AND Bobo soon. If not, I hope UGA gets rid of Richt.
Sincerely,
A Dawg for Life
bulldawg4life
September 22nd, 2009
12:53 pm
why would you want to run off, the 5th winningest active football coach. yeah, lets go back to the ray goff & jim donnan days so we can win a national championship like in????? they won so many games & winning seasons i forgot
84 dawg
September 22nd, 2009
12:54 pm
Having gone through denial, bargaining anger and depression regarding our defensive shortcomings, I have finally arrived at stage 5-Acceptance.
Most would agree we are better of with CMR than without him. Richt sees no problem with CWM’s ability and/or performance (see last year’s bonusand the regular post game alibis). As such, CMR will NEVER fire CWM.
Acceptance isn’t really such a bitter pill-just sit back and enjoy the spectacle of our offense trying to keep pace with our pathetic defense. And really-admit it, aren’t the Kentucky and Vandy games so much more exciting now than in the previous 100 years of Georgia football?
Dawg Fud
September 22nd, 2009
12:55 pm
I would love to see Kirby Smart come “home” to Athens and coach.
bulldawg4life
September 22nd, 2009
1:01 pm
all of you, who say you’re a dawg fan are the same ones who ran off vince dooley. saying the same thing, you all said then((he’s being out coach’d and he bring in bust recruits)) dont know who or whut you cheering for as a bulldog fan
Preston
September 22nd, 2009
1:04 pm
I’ll bet that there are several GREAT DC’s out there that would absoloutely salivate over the tremendous talent that they could work with here at UGA. I also think that CWM is a good guy and deserves to stay on the staff as an assistant like he was for BVG. He’s just got too much responsibility as DC.
**Hey Mark, how about a list of potential replacements for Martinez**
#1 Dawg FAN
September 22nd, 2009
1:05 pm
Mark,
Your comments are right on target. Willie Martinez is embarassing the SEC Brand of Football!! When a weak offensively challenged team like South Carolina puts up that many points and then an almost as weak team like Arkansas puts that many points up on you.. It is a disgrace to the SEC brand of footall. I don’t know what else to say. Willie Martinez needs to go to the PAC 10 where numbers like that are not only accepted..where they are encouraged. This is the worst Georgia Defense I have witnessed since I have been alive since 1968. Actually, Willie Martinez should walk into Coach Richt’s office and say he is sorry for embarassing him and turn in his resignation. I can’t believe this has not happened yet.
THE WORST GEORGIA DEFENSE EVER!!! I am embarassed!!
Top Dawg
September 22nd, 2009
1:06 pm
MARK: There are not 5 reasons UGA should not demote CWM. So, please don’t even write that column.
simon saints
September 22nd, 2009
1:07 pm
meandsonny,
you are wrong Sir! Tell that to alabama…How many all americans do they have on defense, or va tech? they have decent talent, but great coordinators..willie is not good at getting the best out of his players, and frankly there is no excuse for players not knowing which way to run on the cover routes. That starts with coaching! UGA does have all american talent on D…ever heard of Geno Atkins, Jeff Owens, Rennie Curran, and even Branden Smith? the first three on the watch lists for position awards..
TJ
September 22nd, 2009
1:08 pm
Enter your comments here Thanks A LOT, Mark…you just guaranteed Martinez staying in the Def Coord Position. An attack like this, will rally the coaches , especially Coach Richt. He is not going to throw Martinez ‘under the bus’ after an article like this…next time …keep your thoughts …TO YOURSELF !
JB
September 22nd, 2009
1:08 pm
Hiring Kirby would cost 750-1 mil…….then you’ve got to upgrade the rest of staff, say another mil or so for those guys. Ain’t gonna happen. Adams wants to win, but doing whatever it takes to become champions ain’t in his DNA.
FSU4Ever
September 22nd, 2009
1:09 pm
Richt people are already talking to us, but they’ll deny it…he is available to us at the right price