Live from the Dome, where consolation is available
The Dome positively pulses with energy at 11:43 a.m. Or perhaps not. (Photo by M. Bradley)
The Falcons can’t make the playoffs. You know that already. They can, however, get to 9-7. Which would be huge. But you knew that, too.
Beyond that, I don’t have much for you. Inactives haven’t been announced. The opponent, Buffalo, has 18 men on injured reserve. Brian Brohm is expected to start quarterback, which could make this an all-Petrino day if Matt Ryan can’t go the distance. (Both Brohm and Falcons backup Chris Redman played for Bobby P. at U of L, as you also know.)
Speaking of which: I’ve seen Petrino’s name listed as a possibility for the Florida post. At such times I ask myself, “Who makes these lists?” He’s a good coach who’s bad with people. That wouldn’t fly at UF. He’s never in anything long-term, as the Falcons know too well. The only chance Petrino would have to coach the Gators is if the first 10 choices turned Jeremy Foley down. Which they won’t. It’s the best job in the nation.
Back to the Falcons. Today’s tilt has a consolation-game feel to it. Like many of you, I fully expected this season to extend into the second week of January. (Sporting News had the Falcons playing in for the NFC championship.) I have to say I’m disappointed, but I’m not massively surprised. By October it was clear this offense wasn’t quite what it needed to be, and it was apparent in August this defense wouldn’t stop many people.
So here they sit, 7-7 two days after Christmas. The schedule didn’t help. Injuries didn’t, either. But the cold truth is that they never were as good as we/they hoped. And if they still manage to get to 9-7, I’ll call that good value for an underwhelming season. Not to mention the needed end to a streak that should have never gotten started but has, astonishingly enough, lasted into the 44th season.
With that, I’ll open the floor for discussion. And I’ll be here to entertain comments until the final whistle, which I predict will arrive at 4:02 p.m. EST. And I am, as we know, never ever wrong.
OK, here’s your inactives. For the Falcons: Troy Bergeron, Chris Houston, Michael Turner, Charlie Peprah, Harvey Dahl, Jason Rader and Jamaal Anderson. For the Bills: Who cares?
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733 comments Add your comment
Barkin'Dog
December 27th, 2009
2:18 pm
Now Ryan needs to get the ball to Gonzo 5 times and steal some of TO’s thunder. Not that he doesn’t deserve credit. He has been an awesome WR… but that’s the pun. TO’s close to being a has-been.
BuckCommander
December 27th, 2009
2:19 pm
Has anyone had any toe issues yet?
Reid Adair
December 27th, 2009
2:19 pm
Congratulations to T.O. on his 1,000 career catches.
Barkin'Dog
December 27th, 2009
2:19 pm
Nice stop. I think they held.
willie martinez
December 27th, 2009
2:19 pm
JSS, paul henning was a great tv producer in the 1960’s. petticoat junction, hillbillies and green acres. his daughter was betty joe bradley. Mark Bradley’s sister.
Barkin'Dog
December 27th, 2009
2:20 pm
wrong again
BravesFan79
December 27th, 2009
2:20 pm
I was one of the ones wanting the Falcons to finish 7-9 instead of 9-7. Yes, it will be nice to break the streak, but we will now have around the 22nd pick in the draft instead of being around the 12th. If it was just one round it wouldnt matter, but we will have the worst draft picks of ANY team that missed the playoffs, in Every round! So much for our GM’s approach of “building thru the draft”. If we dont open up our pocketbooks on some free agent defensive players, we will be a 2nd round playoff team next year at best because of our average (at best) defense. I dunno about yall, but i want to see the Falcons be good enough to win it ALL!
Meanwhile...speaking of Omar
December 27th, 2009
2:20 pm
I thought the most popular Milton Bradley game was called Meltdown on the Diamond.
Rick McKay
December 27th, 2009
2:21 pm
Thanks for the extension!
Suckers.
willie martinez
December 27th, 2009
2:21 pm
Mark, is uncle joe bradley still living? as i recall he wouldnt hit a lick at a snake.
willie martinez
December 27th, 2009
2:22 pm
come to think of it , uncle joe might have been a carson.
Tom
December 27th, 2009
2:22 pm
Ahhh, Billie Jo, Betty Jo and Bobbie Jo.
How many times I wanted to be in that water tower.
"Chef" Tim Dix
December 27th, 2009
2:22 pm
Stockton: “Right after game don’t forget Brent, Phyllis and Jimmy “The Greek” wrap up the season. Can’t wait, next year the NFL goes to sixteen game season right here on NBC.”
Barkin'Dog
December 27th, 2009
2:22 pm
BravesFan79 – I want the streak over. That’s priority #1. I’ll wait another 3 years for the D to come around. This team/organization cannot afford to overlook this streak another year or four, just to gain a better draft position.
Falcon Hero Zero
December 27th, 2009
2:23 pm
“Pre”- Pre-Season
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
2:23 pm
I believe Uncle Joe has gone to that great junction in the sky.
willie martinez
December 27th, 2009
2:24 pm
Tom, that water tower is where i lost something very precious to me.
JSS
December 27th, 2009
2:24 pm
Willie…
Bug Tussle was Paris compared Flowery Branch and Crabapple!!!
"Chef" Tim Dix
December 27th, 2009
2:24 pm
Tom, the cannonball was the best watered train EVER.
willie martinez
December 27th, 2009
2:24 pm
alas, the blonde who played bobby joe has passed as well.
willie martinez
December 27th, 2009
2:25 pm
it was at petticoat junction that i found out what the girls meant by taking the train.
Tom
December 27th, 2009
2:26 pm
Methinks the Shady Rest never had WiFi.
Reid Adair
December 27th, 2009
2:26 pm
I guess the Bills didn’t see your comment about going for it on fourth down, Mark.
Once "Recent" Reader
December 27th, 2009
2:27 pm
For the poster who asked if Ryan could throw deep . . . .. .I may be wrong . . .but was that first TD not a deep pass?? I’m a Pats fan too . . .and until Moss came along I don’t remember Brady being a consistently “deep pass” thrower. Oh well . . .. .
ToccoaBird
December 27th, 2009
2:27 pm
willie, then does that mean marky joe belongs to Mr. Haney?
Oliver Wendell Douglas
December 27th, 2009
2:27 pm
I’m afraid you bloggers are bordering on libel here.
Tom
December 27th, 2009
2:27 pm
willie, it’s Meredith McRae (Billie Jo) who has passed away.
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
2:27 pm
I liked it better when you couldn’t spike the ball. I’m old-fashioned. Also old.
JTH
December 27th, 2009
2:28 pm
Atlanta could use those timeouts they blew earlier.
willie martinez
December 27th, 2009
2:28 pm
toccoa, no, marky was actually hank kimball’s significant other. ralph monroe really hated him.
"Chef" Tim Dix
December 27th, 2009
2:28 pm
The character of “Sam Drucker” is the only one to appear in three TV series.
Once "Recent" Reader
December 27th, 2009
2:28 pm
Do the Falcs have any time-outs left?
ToccoaBird
December 27th, 2009
2:29 pm
tell me again why roddy gets all that money
45ACP
December 27th, 2009
2:29 pm
billy joe, betty joe and bobby joe.
willie martinez
December 27th, 2009
2:29 pm
thanks tom. all i remember is she was the best looking. willie
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
2:29 pm
In case you missed it, the Twitterverse is abuzz with reports that Urban Meyer will not retire but will enjoy a leave of absence.
Kasim Reed
December 27th, 2009
2:29 pm
Wow, this blog is a DISASTER!!!
"Chef" Tim Dix
December 27th, 2009
2:30 pm
Oliver: we’re trying to talk you down from the pole…
Oliver Wendell Douglas
December 27th, 2009
2:30 pm
Mr. Bradley, you will be hearing from my law firm about the libelous contents of your blog.
Once "Recent" Reader
December 27th, 2009
2:30 pm
Was that an Anti-Noodle pass just there?
Falcon Hero Zero
December 27th, 2009
2:30 pm
“I was one of the ones wanting the Falcons to finish 7-9 instead of 9-7. Yes, it will be nice to break the streak, but we will now have around the 22nd pick in the draft instead of being around the 12th. If it was just one round it wouldnt matter, but we will have the worst draft picks of ANY team that missed the playoffs, in Every round! So much for our GM’s approach of “building thru the draft”. If we dont open up our pocketbooks on some free agent defensive players, we will be a 2nd round playoff team next year at best because of our average (at best) defense. I dunno about yall, but i want to see the Falcons be good enough to win it ALL!”
__________________________________________________________________________
They are out-of-range for any real help in The 2010 NFL Draft:
DE Morgan = gone
RB Spiller = gone
WR Bryant = gone
CB Haden = gone
A RT (who is good enough to start at LT as well) = gone
Any exciting players = gone.
If CB Patrick Robinson runs a low 4.4 = gone..
The Falcons will have to make changes in Free Agency by spending..
Plus The Streak will seem to continue whether their record is 9-7. or 8-8.
willie martinez
December 27th, 2009
2:30 pm
is that what i should call my situation?
Once "Recent" Reader
December 27th, 2009
2:31 pm
15 more yards or so . . . .no timeouts though.
Reid Adair
December 27th, 2009
2:31 pm
Last timeout called with 15 seconds left, facing 2nd & 1 at the Bills’ 42. Hmmmmmmm…
willie martinez
December 27th, 2009
2:31 pm
leave of absence does sound better than canned.
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
2:32 pm
No reason not to get a field goal here. But the Falcons are out of timeouts.
"Chef" Tim Dix
December 27th, 2009
2:32 pm
Fla A.D.: We can rebuild him, make him better then he was before. Better, faster, stronger.
JSS
December 27th, 2009
2:32 pm
“O.R.R.” Ask the 2005 Falcons if Tom Brady couldn’t throw deep before Moss? He lit that secondary up for three passes of over 50 yards that day…
Once "Recent" Reader
December 27th, 2009
2:32 pm
Out of bounds pass if possible. . .then heck why not go for the FG.
Meanwhile...according to Twitter
December 27th, 2009
2:32 pm
According to Twitter sources in Gainesville, there was a mass panic at the Meyer announcement, with thousands attempting to flee on the freeways, until the governor came on the Emergency Broadcast System and said Willie Martinez in NOT being considered as a replacement.