Live from the Dome: A former prince returns to the city
The midfield reunion we've long awaited: Arthur M. Blank and Michael Vick. (Photo by M. Bradley)
Michael Vick has returned to the Georgia Dome. He jogged on the field at 11:24 a.m. He received a polite round of applause. (There weren’t many folks in the stands yet.) The first person he approached was Jimmy Cribb, the longtime Falcons photographer. The two embraced.
“He told me I always took good pictures of him,” Cribb said, “and if I got anything good today to send them to him.”
Then came the long-awaited meeting with Arthur Blank. (See above photo, shot by someone much less professional than Jimmy Cribb.) And then Reggie Roberts, the Falcons’ VP of communications, walked over to Vick. More hugging ensued.
Roberts: “He told me he missed being here. He misses the city, misses the Dome. He said he was crying on the bus ride over.”
Along those lines, here’s a snippet of an as-told-to article Vick did with David Fleming of ESPN The Magazine. Here’s Vick speaking his mind on, of all things, the Dome:
“I’m looking forward to going back to the Georgia Dome. I may not do much. I may not even play in the game. But just having the opportunity to be there and maybe have a chance to talk to the Falcons owner, Mr. Blank, before the game — that would be a great thing for me. I spent many a Sunday making that crowd go wild, and I appreciate all those fans. They were great. Man, I miss [those] days.”
In all the furor over Michael Vick, one truth kept getting lost: No matter what he did, the guy’s still a human being. And now he’s again a football player. We don’t know much he’ll play today, if at all. And we don’t yet know — it’s only 11:45 — how the crowd will be. My guess: Warm toward Vick, warmer toward the Falcons.
Speaking of whom: The home side is up against it. Here’s the inactive list: Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Michael Jenkins, Sam Baker and Harvey Dahl. That’s five offensive starters out for what is a game with massive playoff ramifications. (The Falcons and Eagles are tracking the same wild card.) The only consolation, and it’s slim: Philly is missing playmakers DeSean Jackson and Brian Westbrook.
And that’s why a 7-4 road team is a 5-1/2 point favorite over a 6-5 opponent. You never see that in the NFL, but today seems a day where form could take a hike. The Falcons are undermanned, but there’s almost a last-stand element to this one. Meaning: On this given Sunday, the desperate club could just lift itself by its bootstraps.
And I’ll be here to watch and report, as we say in the trade, with one difference: I have permission from AJC.com higher-ups not to make this a live chat, but because the day has started on a bright conciliatory note I’ve decided to open the floor for comments. Should we devolve into our usual volley of back-and-forthing, the live chat will go away and will not re-open. It’s your choice. Thanks in advance.
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1,246 comments Add your comment
Big Ray
December 6th, 2009
2:34 pm
Going to the playoffs twice, getting beat by Philly both times, never producing back-to-back winning seasons. Somehow I think Brees will do better than that, and it will start with this season….
Tommy
December 6th, 2009
2:34 pm
For those saying ‘Reeves should have taken Tomlinson and Brees and he’d have won a Super Bowl’, the chargers DID take tomlinson and brees, and never even got to the big game while they were there. . . .
Manny
December 6th, 2009
2:34 pm
Don’t throw trash on the field.
JSS
December 6th, 2009
2:34 pm
Stuffed, and Mr. Charlie, that is the reason why the Falcons did not take Brees… Offensive line play, Reeves never built one! Mora disguised the lack of one, and Mike Smith can’t hide the loss of Dahl and others… Put Brees behind that 2001-2004 line and he gets killed!
80sFalcon
December 6th, 2009
2:34 pm
4th times a charm
O'Brien
December 6th, 2009
2:34 pm
4 straight runs in the middle against the Eagles defense? Thats ridiculous.
Throw to Tony Gonzales once, do a play action, something…
Smitty
December 6th, 2009
2:34 pm
I am admittedly a Tech fan, so most of last night was a joy to watch, even Spiller who was awesome. But watchin the Falcons today, especially on D, is so frustrating. They cannot stop anybody who doesn’t stop themselves and on offense they are so frustrating to watch today, unlike Tech who was so unstoppable. I don’t see a way for the Falcons to win today with so many injuries and such inability to get anything done
LantaFalcons
December 6th, 2009
2:34 pm
just like i’d never waste money to watch the braves play, I would also never waste it to watch the falcons.
Fire Mark Richt
December 6th, 2009
2:34 pm
Fire Mark Richt as soon as you can after the last game so we can start our rebuilding. We are no longer in the league with the big boys and recruits dont want to play here. Fire Richt Now. The sooner the better.
Good luck MV7 we love you!
woodie
December 6th, 2009
2:34 pm
Fire Dimitroff !!!
Meanwhile...announcement
December 6th, 2009
2:35 pm
Group: Association of Eagles Linemen
Event: December Meeting
Place: Falcons’ backfield
Time: All day long
jamesr1991
December 6th, 2009
2:35 pm
We’re only down by 13, whewwwwwww
Mark Bradley
December 6th, 2009
2:35 pm
I would have thrown to Gonzalez off play-action. i wouldn’t have pitched it. Norwood doesn’t look fast to me all of a sudden.
Snelling really didn’t look fast down there.
mountain_jim
December 6th, 2009
2:35 pm
Remember early in the season when mularkey was thought to be the leading coordinator to get a head job?
JTH
December 6th, 2009
2:35 pm
“This whole game reminds me of the Petrino Falcons.”
Exactly what I was thinking.
“What the heck, the season is over.”
Go away you fair weather fan.
treaddawg
December 6th, 2009
2:36 pm
Snelling needs to get his knees up while running those short power plays. More momentum and he might have “stumbled” on into the end zone. Looked like he had glass ankles on that last run.
J.J.M.
December 6th, 2009
2:36 pm
common sense…2 starters are out on the O-line. you tried to run it 3 times up the middle…on 4th down you tried AGAIN. “C’mon man”
Sid
December 6th, 2009
2:36 pm
well you can add Smith to the long trash heap that is Atl Falcons coaches. Will be fired mid-next season and another stooge will come in. And Mularky lives up to his name. Again Arthur, please move them to another city.
dawgfan13
December 6th, 2009
2:36 pm
What a lackluster performance! I am not sure if I can watch this game anymore, it’s that pathetic. You know the Falcons wont win.
Mark Bradley
December 6th, 2009
2:36 pm
About Drew Brees: He’s a great quarterback now, but he wasn’t deemed essential in San Diego. They preferred Philip Rivers.
durty
December 6th, 2009
2:36 pm
Stupid play calling on the goaline
sam the sham
December 6th, 2009
2:36 pm
SHOULD HAVE TAKEN POINTS
MikeVickFanAways
December 6th, 2009
2:36 pm
Can Mike please get some more playing time?????????????
81Dawg
December 6th, 2009
2:37 pm
I can’t believe that I am wasting an afternoon nap on this.
Mableton Bob
December 6th, 2009
2:37 pm
That’s pathetic playcalling. How do guys get promoted to O coordinator with no more sense than that?
Thanks Mark for having the blog and working with little sleep. You are showing more hustle and grit than the team.
Rural Education
December 6th, 2009
2:38 pm
The Falcons officially suck, just like pretty much every other year. Mark now do you see why people don’t want to come to the dome.
J.J.M.
December 6th, 2009
2:38 pm
mike smith halftime speech “well guys ill try my best to see if we can use vick for the 2nd half…but i cant make any promises”
Who Cares Anymore
December 6th, 2009
2:38 pm
wait til next year is about the best you can say for impotence …
on the 1 yard line and couldn’t score …
P U !!
Steven
December 6th, 2009
2:38 pm
Enough with the Mike Vick pics on the lead page. He’s a CRIMINAL. This game isn’t about Vick. This game is about the Falcons – or at least that’s what you would think the “Atlanta” Journal Constitution should focus on.
MATTY SMALL NUTTS
December 6th, 2009
2:39 pm
Can Vick play for the falcons just for one half??? Pleaseeeeee
WE MISS YOU VICK
preston
December 6th, 2009
2:39 pm
Big ray c’mon dude…..how many times did Brees take his team to the playoffs when he and Vick were playing as contemporary’s? Who was first team to beat Green bay in the playoffs/ who was the QB…….how many pro ball did a healthy Vick Play in?……I am a bit surprised to hear your comments dude
rabiddawg
December 6th, 2009
2:39 pm
let’s see, the same tool that wants to fire richt loves and supports vick. Get a clue dude.
They're not saying BOO!
December 6th, 2009
2:39 pm
They’re saying MOOOOVERS!!!
WW
December 6th, 2009
2:39 pm
Pop Warner coaches could do a better job than this. The Atlanta Falcons’ offensive coaching staff needs to be fired. They are running two plays on offense, and it looks like they are telling Philadelphia what play they are running prior to the snap of the ball…unacceptable.
Tommy
December 6th, 2009
2:40 pm
Norwood’s hip is probably still messed up, hence his lack of speed.
Injuries are always this team’s achilles heel, and why they’ve never gotten back to back winning seasons. At least this year it took 15 guys getting hurt to finally affect us, instead of just one or two.
MikeVickFanAways
December 6th, 2009
2:40 pm
Hey Mark can you march in the Eagles locker room and demand Mike get more playing time?????????????
43 and counting...
December 6th, 2009
2:40 pm
We look like a Division II football team.
All of a sudden, the overthinker Mularkey with all his gadgets, shifts and motion becomes a Pop Warner coach.
Now the coaching has stooped to the level of play. We are done.
Every other year, same thing. Most inconsistent franchise in this history of the NFL.
Unwatchable.
LantaFalcons
December 6th, 2009
2:41 pm
i think the fact that they didn’t pass a single time while on the goal really shows what confidence the coaches have in Redman.
J.J.M.
December 6th, 2009
2:41 pm
i would trade for michael johnson
preston
December 6th, 2009
2:42 pm
Thanks Mark…………these guys seem to forget about how San Diego preferred Rivers at the time. Brees is a hec of a QB, and no one can take anything awy from him for what he is doing in the league, but again its soo easy for these guys to crap on Vick now that he is down.
bojangles
December 6th, 2009
2:43 pm
Well..here we are at half-time..the sorry a** falcons had 4 try’s to put it in the end zone..
kept trying the same stupid a** Plays..snelling up the gut to no avail!!!! M.Smith..you need a GOOD offensive coach…..when your QB keeps getting the pass batted down..you move the pocket!…its evident to me that this team makes NO improvement from week to week..they have always sucked and they continue to suck!!
JSS
December 6th, 2009
2:43 pm
Schaub hurt again…
Sid
December 6th, 2009
2:43 pm
i am revising my prediction for the Losers to 6-10. They can’t even beat Bills at home and WILL lose to Bucs in Tampa. What a great sports city!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tommy
December 6th, 2009
2:43 pm
NFL coaches always make the safe call in that spot. They would rather catch crap for lack of execution that trying a riskier play that results in a 99-yard INT.
Nearly all coaches do it. It sucks, but these guys always play the odds to cover their behinds
dig dogger
December 6th, 2009
2:43 pm
Just how deep will the Eagles get in the Falcons’ butts today?
Steven
December 6th, 2009
2:43 pm
Wow… Atlanta’s got two losing Norwoods.
David
December 6th, 2009
2:45 pm
JJM,
We should’ve drafted Johnson instead of William Moore (where has William Moore been?). He was a once-projected top 10 pick, fell because of a “questionable work ethic,” and has done more for one of the top defenses in the league (Cincy) that either Moore or Sidbury have for the Falcons.
As a Tech fan, I wanted him, but had a hunch Dimitroff wouldn’t spend his first and second round picks on the D-line (though it’s obviously a need).
J.J.M.
December 6th, 2009
2:45 pm
friend text me and said lots of arguin between the fans
Mr Charlie
December 6th, 2009
2:45 pm
Reeves built an offensive line good enought to get to the Superbowl…Vick has 2 playoff wins, Brees has one. However, Brees is growing into a great QB, Vick, not so much. If we had it to do over, Brees was the better long term pick for sure….O line? I don’t know what we had, blocking for Vick was not like blocking for a pocket passer. Plus, then Mora brought in the cut blocking scheme with small lineman.
Far_East
December 6th, 2009
2:46 pm
One word, PATHETIC