Eight years later, the Packers must come to Mr. Blank’s house
That giddy night in Green Bay: Blank, Vick and Sonny Perdue. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Eight years ago, the rookie owner saw his sixth-seeded team upset Green Bay at Lambeau Field on a snowy Saturday night. This Saturday night, Green Bay will play here as the lower seed, as an underdog seeking to unseat a member of the NFL’s upper crust. Because that’s what Arthur Blank’s Falcons have become.
“We’re a relevant team in the NFL now,” Blank said this week. “This is an important team in the NFL.”
Note that Blank chose to use one word twice — “team.”
On the night of Jan. 4, 2003, the emphasis wasn’t so much on the collective as an individual. That famous upset was seen as a function of Michael Vick, described in the fifth paragraph of the Associated Press game report as “the 22-year-old improvisational genius.” But Vick would preside over only one more playoff victory as a Falcon, and he took his final snap for this franchise on Dec. 31, 2006.
Yet here the Falcons sit, the reversals of losing Vick and Bobby Petrino, head coach for all of 13 games, having been rendered a long-ago memory. They were a playoff team in 2008, a winning team in 2009, the class of the NFC this season. These Falcons, simply put, are constructed better than any Falcons have ever been.
Said Blank: “This team reflects Thomas [Dimitroff, the general manager] and Smitty [coach Mike Smith]. This team is very balanced — No. 5 in both offense [points scored] and defense [points yielded] and last in penalties. That’s not a formula for glamorous, but it is a formula for success.”
Back to January 2003: Vick controlled that game in Green Bay and the Falcons became the first visitor to beat the Packers in a playoff game; a week later, the Eagles controlled Vick on a blustery night in Philadelphia and won by two touchdowns. Those Falcons had but one way to win, and that way was tied to No. 7. These Falcons have many ways.
“We’re more balanced,” Blank said. “There’s not a single player who’s the focus. Michael was extremely talented, and win, lose or draw there were people who’d come to watch him play.”
Also this: “I’m thrilled about this year, but also beyond this year — and not just because of our quarterback Matt Ryan. We’re positioned for success for a very long time.”
Blank’s first season as owner was giddy beyond all expectation: He bought the team in February 2002, saw Vick rise from newly promoted starter to Pro Bowl quarterback, saw his team finish 9-6-1 but back into the playoffs when New Orleans lost at home to Carolina on the regular season’s final day. Then the Falcons went to Wisconsin and won, and in July 2003 the team arrived for training camp in Greenville, S.C., widely tipped as a Super Bowl team.
Then Vick broke his leg against Baltimore in the third preseason game, which undid the 2003 season, which led Blank to fire Dan Reeves and hire Jim Mora, who led the Falcons to the NFC title game — also in Philadelphia, also a comprehensive loss — before running out of ideas. So Blank fired Mora and hired Petrino, and by the shank of 2007 this team had become an object of pity: Quarterback in jail, coach in Arkansas.
The Falcons weren’t seeking excellence when they went out hunting a new GM and a new coach in January 2008 — they were hoping for a shred of credibility. They found Dimitroff via webcam and Smith via a series of interviews at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, and now Blank’s beloved franchise appears built to last. Which beats the heck out of being built to finish last.
First things first, however: The Packers in another playoff game. Who’s Blank picking? The Pack by a touchdown? “Yeah, right,” he said, unappreciative of the insolence.
Then: “We’re certainly in a better position [as opposed to eight years ago, when the Falcons, as the No. 6 seed, couldn't play a home game] … We’re set up to have a chance to do well. That said, we’re playing a team that travels very well.”
Eight years ago, the Falcons had to go play in the snow to announce themselves to the NFL. This time the road to the Super Bowl leads through Atlanta — where as we know it never ever snows.
By Mark Bradley
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238 comments Add your comment
Eric
January 14th, 2011
1:26 pm
There’s some gold in that Falcons Sorry post:
“Conkered”, “Monica Lou Whisky”, “Ill Legitimate”….
LMAO!!!
(Un-) Fair weather fan
January 14th, 2011
1:27 pm
Good post, extremus.
It’s always struck me how easily the league would strike the Falcons from prime-time/night game slots, even sometimes after winning seasons. It’s as though over the years they finally decided to wash their hands of the franchise for blockbuster game times and broadcasts. Will be interesting, regardless of how far the Falcons go, to see whether that changes next year, especially given the tremendous ratings of the New Orleans Monday night game.
GSU Eagle 91
January 14th, 2011
1:28 pm
I look forward to this game as I believe in the Falcons…
It will be close, but our team sends the Packers home as losers. 24-20…
Falcons Sorry….Your pitiful rants and 1st grade education make the rest of us laugh….
Go back to the ghetto…and stay there…
VOLinATL
January 14th, 2011
1:34 pm
Back when the Falcons still had classy uniforms…unlike the Arena League stuff they converted to.
Falcons Roll
January 14th, 2011
1:45 pm
Atlanta beats Green Bay easy on the way to the NFC title. Falcons 33 GB 20—mark it down!
Joycee Banicheck
January 14th, 2011
1:47 pm
“Monica Lou Whisky” might be his best ever…
oh really
January 14th, 2011
1:49 pm
FALCONS SORRY that’s the most ignorant rant I have heard
The Flacons org didn’t put Vick in jail, Vick did it to himself
The Falcons didn’t held up the process and make it harder for the only team that wanted to sign him back then, They released him without issue (with out trying to get paid from the Eagles, meaning one less hurdle for any team who wanted to sign him to clear.
Get your facts straight
papadawg
January 14th, 2011
1:50 pm
If we beat the Packers does that mean we play Super Vicks team, Oh wait a minute they got beat. HA!
JSS
January 14th, 2011
2:29 pm
@ Mark Bradley…
I’ll give it to you and Jeff Schultz in this respect… it must be be like being in the room in 1947 when the India Partition was tearing the sub-continent apart having to monitor these blogs… We always know there’s a ruthless anarchist and a group of bloody blog power hungry fools just waiting to try to send a subject into chaos just around the next comment! Enjoy!
Walker, Texas Ranger
January 14th, 2011
2:31 pm
FALCONS SORRY has been quiet when MV was being touted for MVP and then shows up after the Falcons have the best record in the NFC and Vick is back into QB tailspin. But I got to give it to the guy, his post are FUNNY. Now which is funnier, FALCONS SORRY posts or the posts of people who think he is serious.
Iceman
January 14th, 2011
2:31 pm
I’m really worried that the Falcons will lose. GB matches up well. This is Ryan’s game. He has to make some plays and not throw into double coverage. This is pretty much the NFC chamionship game, because the other teams arent that good.
C
January 14th, 2011
2:32 pm
Should be a fun one tomorrow night! Run Turner run!
Go Falcons!
FugitivePoet
January 14th, 2011
2:32 pm
packers fans (lowercase absolutely intentional) could y’all please stay off our Falcons boards?
I know y’all a little jealous at how national the Falcons have become when y’all been around so long and I know y’all realize that your history beyond the days of Lombardi when there were like two teams in the league is mostly myth and I know y’all still reeling from the Falcons blowing-up the Lambeau mystique back in ‘03 and now every team kicks your butts at Lambeau, but searching out our boards to vent your latent frustrations is just pathetic. Additionally, y’all will feel better by staying on your own boards because everybody there will happily enable your delusion.
Y’all take care now ya hear?
To Da ATL: Rise Up!
Walker, Texas Ranger
January 14th, 2011
2:33 pm
“Monica Lou Whiskey” was his best ever. Followed closely by Ho Depot
Chop Buster
January 14th, 2011
2:36 pm
I said it earlier on another blog, if this team is play to this level in three years, imagine what we will be like with more offensive and defensive pieces to the team, and Ryan with another year of experience and comfort under his belt. Like Arthur said, he wants us to be relevant every year and I believe we’re finally on our way. Rise Up Falcons & Show These Packers Why We’re 13-3 and the #1 Seed!!!
Red Harrison
January 14th, 2011
2:40 pm
that is the best ghet-to satire I have ever read.
it was satire, wasn’t it?
Samuel
January 14th, 2011
2:43 pm
That Falconsorry guy is real stupid. He walks around in a world of no accountability. I don’t know blame everybody but myself…
Ted Striker
January 14th, 2011
2:47 pm
Nice column. Especially liked the “built to last” versus “built to finish last” word turn. Wasn’t that long ago that S.I. ranked the Falcons the worst team in pro football.
I recall sitting in Dave & Busters and watching the ‘03 Falcons/Packers game. That place was worse than bonkers the entire game. Was almost like being in a dive bar in Detroit during watching a Red Wings playoff game.
I will say this. I’ve never envisioned Blank as a guy willing to settle for credibility, even in the worst of times. Guy is always looking ahead. Demands excellence.
Walker, Texas Ranger
January 14th, 2011
2:48 pm
Now on the game, when I throw out the sick feeling I have that the City of Atlanta sports teams is still snake bit and are doomed, I actually like the Falcons chances. Our QB is in the top 5 comp. % when the opponnet rushes 5 or more, which GB lives by the Blitz. Add in a raucous crowd and the Falcons should win.
The crowd is going to have to be a 12th man, so Rise Up Falcon Fans.
Joe Tess Fish House
January 14th, 2011
2:57 pm
Yeah, and Vick was QB on that team. Hes not N E more so how R the Flacons supose 2 win?
Red Harrison
January 14th, 2011
2:59 pm
I believe the crowd is going to have to cause at least two penalties, and the golden boy is going to have to have to turn into Joe Montana before our eyes. It could happen, but it might not. I’ve been shell-shocked since Jerry Glanville & Fred Bruney called that stupid blitz in Atl-Fulco stadium in ‘79 against the Cowboys, and that week’s Sports Illustrated (still have it) cover – “The Next NFL Dynaasty”
OK, 30 years of being miserable is enough – Go Falcons
Pete
January 14th, 2011
3:02 pm
Falcons by 10! We are rested and the players are out to prove “You don’t come into our house and win”. Next up Falcons over the Bears and then we head to Dallas.
julie brooks
January 14th, 2011
3:13 pm
Wow, “FALCON SORRY” is really illiterate!
Michael Vick
January 14th, 2011
3:20 pm
Yall leave FALCONS SORRY alone. He my homeboy dawg. Him and Brees are comin to my crib this weekend to watch the playoffs from my couch. Go Iggles
ace
January 14th, 2011
3:30 pm
must win this game. the whole sports world is hating us, doubting us and disrespesting us, this is a must win, and should be a beat down.
please, please, please, Falcons, don’t embarass us and let us down again just because you’re on national tv!
yeahsure
January 14th, 2011
3:31 pm
I dont think Mark can do a Falcons piece without mentioning Vick. Oh… and this one has a nice picture of him too. Well done.
FugitivePoet
January 14th, 2011
3:36 pm
***Postscript to the Falcons Faithful at Da Dome on Saturday night***:
Time has come to put aside Southern hospitality for just one night and knock that stupid clump of fake cheese off the head of that packers fan sitting in front of you. We should send them home with stories that will eliminate them “traveling well” when Da ATL is the destination which will accompany the bloody horror-story they will tell of watching their team get castrated.
Lastly, perhaps ESPN will finally grow a pair and broadcast the tears of Trent Dilbert, Fatboy Golic and the host of CT-based northeast-biased co-conspirators when the Falcons defeat the packers and all of those yankee dreams.
Rise Up ATL Rise Up!
JSS
January 14th, 2011
3:37 pm
@ Ted Striker…
Worse than being in a “Dive Bar” in Hamtramck after a Wings game?
Chop Buster
January 14th, 2011
3:37 pm
Red Harrison…it has to be satire–or the person is disabled (mentally). LOL
Chop Buster
January 14th, 2011
3:40 pm
Joe Tess FH and Falcon Sorry are one in the same–or at least twins.
JSS
January 14th, 2011
3:41 pm
One thing about that picture, one person in the photo isn’t plotting a way to get a multi-million dollar hand out from the tax payers! Bless y’all little souls!
Doc Dawg
January 14th, 2011
3:42 pm
The Clampetts finally figured it out when they hired Reeves, of course 40 years too late. Mr. Blank got a little too caught up in the “market a hot product” mentality with Vick and Mora and Petrino, but he’s figured it out too. The Falcons will be a relevant franchise from now to the foreseeable future. I’m not sure we can say that about the Saints and Bucs, and certainly not about the Panthers. If we come to dominate the division over the next decade much like the Pats, Steelers and Colts dominate their divisions, there is no reason we can’t compete for championships year after year like those franchises do.
FugitivePoet
January 14th, 2011
3:45 pm
Open letter to the Birds fans going to the game:
Let us, for one night, put aside our admirable Southern hospitality and render packers fans less “well traveled” in the future where ATL is concerned by smacking off a cheese hat or two of that green-clad insult sitting right in front of you.
Let us as well hope that national television is able to capture the tears of Trent Dilbert and the assembled northeast-biased bunch from that CT network after their yankee dreams are shattered and they slither to their limos never to be seen or welcomed again by the good people of ATL.
Rise Up ATL! Rise Up Falcons!
JSS
January 14th, 2011
3:47 pm
Nobody is going to dominate the NFC South… Not the Saints, not the Bucs, the Cats with the new age Rankin Smith, and not Arthur Blanks’ South Hall County Boys! That’s the beauty of the NFL…
JSS
January 14th, 2011
3:48 pm
That is till the lockout! Ha ha, all of the dynasty dreams will go poof then!
Bishop Eddie Longs Red Panties
January 14th, 2011
3:51 pm
Im glad to see Falcons Sorry back he got to be the best enterainment for free on the web LMAO!
JASon
January 14th, 2011
3:54 pm
Mark, any way you can work Vick into the story is good. What? Who cares whether he’s relevant, work him in! Don’t gimme the integrity speech again, we don’t have time for that! I’ve got advertisers on me because we’re not getting enough hits…just do what you have to do!
-the management
NOT!
January 14th, 2011
3:55 pm
Green bay 31 Coons 3 !!! It will be ugly!
TheAntiMe
January 14th, 2011
4:08 pm
WHEN CRYIN RYAN COST US THE GAME AGAINST THE PACKER YOU WILL BE DOWN ON YOUR KNEEZ LIKE MONICA LOU WHISKY TRYING TO GET MV THE MAN TO COME BACK AND SAVE YOUR FRANCHISE AND FROM GOING BROKE!
Actually, I seriously doubt that Arthur Blank drinks Monica Lou whiskey or any other brand of whiskey for that matter. No, I would imagine that Mr. Blank is probably more likely to be sipping on Dom Perignon.
Ferris Buehler
January 14th, 2011
4:09 pm
Where is Vick now? Michael Vick? Michael Vick?
Anyone? Anyone?
JSS
January 14th, 2011
4:11 pm
“No, I would imagine that Mr. Blank is probably more likely to be sipping on Dom Perignon.”
He drinks ‘Cutty Shark’ like most of his generation, and cuts it with anything but water like you’re suppose too…
houstondawgfan
January 14th, 2011
4:18 pm
This is nuts how the national media and people across the US do not give the Falcons a chance to win this game?? Everything is about the packers, I really hope the Falcons blow them out of the building saturday. The way the sportswriters are talking on Espn and other outlets, the falcons dont need to show up and give this one to the packers. Come onm FAlcons show them that we belong asd the top seed in the NFC.. END
papadawg
January 14th, 2011
4:23 pm
I wonder if Mr. Blank will ever push one of his stars around in a wheelchair like he did M. Vick. Still makes me sick
Ted Striker
January 14th, 2011
4:34 pm
JSS – Had a great meal at a Polish restaurant in Hamtramck some years back. Can’t remember the name of the place. I do remember seeing an autographed picture of Rudy Tomjanovich there.
First trip to Detroit was in Sept ‘88 for a biz trip…”training.” One night we went to a Tiger game at Tiger Stadium. I nearly froze. Was wearing a sport coat because I was too young/dumb to know to pack an overcoat for the trip. Jack Morris got the W (over the Indians & former Brave B. Jacoby) with former Brave Darrell Evans hitting a dinger for the home team. I just wanted the game to end so I could get back to the hotel and take a hot shower. I wonder how many people at that training session with me — there were about 25 of us — are actually still employed? My guess…zero point zero.
I actually like Detroit, even with all it’s problems. But I like cities. [Except for Cleveland. The mayor was rude to Mark Bradley one time and me and LeBron up & took our business elsewhere after that faux paus]
FugitivePoet
January 14th, 2011
4:42 pm
Come on down packers and pasteurized-food heads: We got sumpin’ for your ####.
Take note pasteurized-food heads: these are not your father’s Southerners. We have learned to temper our hospitality. Only those that are deserving receive our concern. Y’all in the stadium that are clad in envy-green and baby-puke yellow can expect a piece of the beatdown that will be received by your team on the field. You are likely to be less “well traveled” in the future where Atlanta is concerned.
Postscript:
We, the good people of Atlanta, are ever hopeful that, after the Falcons have handed the packers their #### on a platter, the national media are able to capture the doe-eyed tears of Trent Dilbert and his coconspirators—the assembled northeast-biased wasps from that CT network—after their petty dreams and animus have been shattered and as they attempt to slither unnoticed to their limos.
Moreover, we, the good people of Atlanta, demand after said defeat that Dilbert, et al., consider themselves persona nongrata in our beloved South, never to darken our doorways again.
Lastly, after we are awarded the trophy, don’t y’all try to come around for our reknowned hospitality, iced tea, penetrating conversation and world class photo-ops with an “aw shucks, didn’t mean nuthin’” grin on your faces. We will not ever forget your disrespectfulness and insults. Especially you Dilbert.
Rise Up ATL! Rise Up Falcons!
Matt S GB
January 14th, 2011
5:04 pm
Aaron will be on tomorrow and our running game will pound your week defense.
Aaron will throw for 300+ yards and 3 tds
Pack will get revenge
GB 37
Atl 24
Shadowfax419
January 14th, 2011
5:10 pm
@ Extremus Very intelligent post! Excellent explaination of our “dissing” by the national media. I have learned over the years to take the national sports media with just slightly less than a grain of salt. We true Atlanta Falcon fans (myself since the 66 LA Rams game) know that this team and organization is unlike any other in the past. We can take solace in the fact that they are here for the long haul, not just a flash in the pan. I am expecting a powerful performance this weekend from our guys, and recognize that, win or lose, they are the best Falcons team I have ever seen. I will continue to support them all the way to Dallas, because that is where I expect them to be in Feb. We have a lot to be proud of this year!
Go Falcons! RISE UP!!!!
Singletary
January 14th, 2011
5:12 pm
Funny. (Actually not.) We think 13-3 is upper crust, but Trent Dilfer, Matt Millen etc. think that we should lick the feet of GB and forfeit. Even my beloved looks up and questions why I misrepresented that the Falcons were in the playoffs for the lack of coverage, jokingly. OTOH, my former co-workers who are Packers fans, question why we should have more coverage– which to date has been ‘nil — because, their words, “the NFL, networks, Packer Nation and I believe we should be the featured team.”
Correct me if I am wrong, bu t the two by-words of most recent NFL marketing missives have been “parity” and “opening new markets” I can see why that is considered to be Wembley, Mexico City & Toronto. However, with the biggest demographic growth being 34-50 women (both fan-dom AND garb) as well as the thrilled NOLA populace, can you guess why I think at least NFL Network talking heads should talk the correct line???
They don’t have to support ATL,but they should not be so disproportionate.
bjdealer21
January 14th, 2011
5:13 pm
If MV ever learns how to be a man (which I doubt) then perhaps he can become the “man”.. MR has evolved into a terrific QB for the Falcons.. he doesn’t need to learn to be a man.. but just show us to the SB and you have my vote for being the “Man”.. first the Packers and then the NFC Championship game.. win it and we are in the SB.. in the meantime MV is still out looking for a new dog.. hope he never finds one.. and also hope that nobody else picks him up after the Eagles say “bye bye jailbird”.. GO FALCONS!!!
JTA
January 14th, 2011
5:22 pm
Hey FALCONS SORRY, If Michael Vick was such the great football player that you claim he is, then why aren’t the Eagles in the playoffs? I guess your boy just doesn’t have what Matty Ice has; character!!!