I asked, ‘Why no buzz for the Falcons?’ Here’s what you said
The rookie Julio Jones makes a buzz-worthy entrance. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
I’ve been hearing rather less about the Falcons than I thought I might, and much of what I have heard has been negative. So I got to thinking: Where’s the buzz about these Birds? And then I thought, “Maybe it’s just you. Maybe there’s this huge buzz you haven’t heard because you’re off listening to your warped vinyl records.”
So I asked. In a blog post on AJC.com Wednesday morning, I invited readers to tell me if such a buzz existed, and if not why not. And the results were overwhelming — 400 online comments in 4 1/2 hours, dozens of emailed responses, plus Facebook postings and Twitter tweets — and instructive.
From Paul Lipsey via email: “Thought you’d made a wacky assumption this morning, but I see nothing in the first hour of comments to indicate that you’ve made a mistake. No screeching outrage from the Falcon flock? I’m flummoxed.”
So that made two of us. The obvious next question: Why aren’t you buzzed?
From Tom on AJC.com: “Because the thought of Michael Turner running for two yards a carry and the defense getting repeatedly smoked does not make one excited.”
From Matt from MN on AJC.com: “Because the thought of another year of Mike Mularkey in charge of Matt Ryan and the offense is just too much to bear.”
From Derrick on AJC.com: “The reason for the lack of buzz goes back to that embarrassing playoff loss. It sucked the air out of our fan base.”
From Fred-D on AJC.com: “It’s a combination of both the Green Bay game and not trusting them to win big when they should.”
From Micky Woolsey via email: “The fans just don’t trust the Falcons because of the past. I have to admit that, even though I think they are the best team in the NFC, I still have doubts.”
From HJones on AJC.com: “I am 65 years old and lived in the Atlanta area all of my life. I have seen all of the bad times and the supposedly good times. I don’t have faith in the current Falcons to play at the high level required to win the BIG games.”
From JSS on AJC.com: “They are the NFC’s version of the Chiefs. No one except for the diehards or those just like long-suffering Cubs fans put much trust in them. When they finally win a title, it will be more of a relief than a feeling of honest elation.”
We pause to note: The Falcons were 13-3 last season and were the NFC’s No. 1 seed. They got blitzed by Green Bay in the playoffs, but the Packers did win the Super Bowl. The Falcons have added Julio Jones via the draft and Ray Edwards via free agency. A good team would appear to have gotten better on both offense and defense. Does glory not await?
From nickpaste on Twitter: “The Packers, Eagles, Saints, Patriots, et cetera, temper our expectations. ”
From jamaaliver on AJC.com: “Philadelphia signed the bigger names in free agency. A lot of the pundits are picking New Orleans to win the division.”
From NorthGANole on AJC.com: “Buzz usually comes with added personnel … The only major acquisition that was made [outside of draft picks] is Ray Edwards and we haven’t seen him play yet.”
From Mark Teems on Facebook: “Falcons starters are great. The rest of the team keeps losing preseason games.”
From Big Ray on AJC.com: “True diehard Falcon fans are excited. But even we were burnt by the loss to Green Bay. We’ve got to win that first playoff game under the Dimitroff/Smith regime.
Many respondents pointed, with cause, to causation: The lockout diverted our attention, and the Braves captured it. And we tend to pay attention to college football around here. And it is still preseason.
From Ronald D. Willard via email: “The vast majority of reasonable fans understand that this team is in such good hands that there is little need for hand-wringing … It is simply too early to get excited or worried. You know that Dimitroff, Smith and the players will be well prepared and will give us the maximum effort at all times. Their efficiency has both spoiled us and given us a sense of security that long-time fans have never had the luxury of enjoying.”
From Jason Reittenbach via email: “My prediction: If we beat Chicago in Week 1 and then have Vick and prime-time TV coming in Week 2, the excitement will be through the roof once again.”
On those cheery notes, I’ll end. But not without saying thanks to everyone who responded. I’m in your debt.
By Mark Bradley
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194 comments Add your comment
Vick Supporter
August 25th, 2011
12:38 pm
@bigeasy830
I thought you knew football man. Vick exposed in the preseason? There was no gameplanning by the Eagles and the Steelers had just got their asses beat by the Skins, so they game planned for the Eagles.
We’ll see what happens in Week 2
shmoe
August 25th, 2011
12:43 pm
spoiled is spoiled. all these reasons are just excuses. either you support your team with zeal, or you are an arms-length what-have-you-done-for-me-lately/we-might-not-win-in-the-postseason/this-team-doesn’t-have-”pizzazz”/braves-are-playing-well/college-football-town excuse maker.
jimho
shmoe
August 25th, 2011
12:46 pm
after so many losing, pitiful seasons, the fact that the fanbase is spoiled after a couple of decent seasons is nauseating. falcons are on the RISE, they are not there yet. we should yet be hungry and ravenous for a championship!
wtf?
Gulch Tailgater
August 25th, 2011
12:56 pm
TELL’em shmoe!!!!!
ClaudeHumphrey
August 25th, 2011
1:28 pm
The reason WHY there is no buzz for the Falcons is because the Falcons (as well as the other professional sports teams in Atlanta) have disappointed for so many years. Last year the Falcons were the #1 seed in the NFC, a distinction they had never had before. The Falcons regular season record was even better than the eventual world champion Packers. The Falcons played a ROTTEN game against the Packers and forfeited their season away, AFTER HAVING BEATEN THOSE SAME WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PACKERS EARLIER IN THE SEASON WHEN THE GAME DIDNT COUNT 20-17. It makes no sense getting all worked up and excited about a team that will EVENTUALLY FAIL AND LOSE ANYWAY. To heck with the Falcons–THEY ARE GOING NOWHERE.
Rnew
August 25th, 2011
1:31 pm
Although it has been said time and time again, I will say it again. Mike Mularkey is awful! I’ve heard him be referred to as an offensive genius. HA! If he was anything close, wouldn’t someone have given him another shot at the head job. I’m just wondering when will T.D. or Mr. Blanks cut ties with this dinosaur. The Falcons have too much talent to be bogged down by his predictable play calling.
rfgh
August 25th, 2011
1:40 pm
I hate to say it, even though his record as starter is fantastic, I just dont think Ryan has an NFL arm. He reminds me of Chad Pennington. Having a receiver run a 4.3 forty means nothing if the quarterback cant throw it 40. With some zip and accurately.
freelemur
August 25th, 2011
1:46 pm
because atlanta sports fans are idiots? that would be my first and only guess.
Mr Charlie
August 25th, 2011
1:46 pm
Rbew….Falcons went 13-3, lost due to a defensive collapse, and you want a new OC? Why? You just don’t like they way they win? How much better than 13-3 do you think they would have been by calling different plays? Or, do you think a new OC would suit up and play CB too? I just don’t get you guys.
What's Important
August 25th, 2011
1:48 pm
@rfg – Jeff George had an “NFL Arm” and where did that get him or any of the many teams he played on? Philip Rivers throws for gagillion yards every year, where does that get him other than an early pick in a fantasy footaball league. Matt Shaub, who everyone hated when he was here in Atlanta throws for a lot of yards every year, Matt Hasselbeck has what you would classify as an NFL Arm, all that has gottem them is a lot of yards. These quarterbacks have been in the league much longer than Matt Ryan and not a Super Bowl among them. An NFL Arm is one that can win you games consistently, and Matt Ryan has done that for the three years he has been playing. He will win a playoff game and he may eventually win the Super Bowl, and I for one don’t care if it is on a 20 yard pass or an 80 yard pass, just win.
What's Important
August 25th, 2011
1:53 pm
Posted a response to rfgh, why was it removed?
LawDawg
August 25th, 2011
2:09 pm
Wow, way to pick and choose the comments to republish to establish a predetermined narrative. The tenor of the comments was much more along the lines of “Braves, Dawgs, preseason is boring and pointless, wait until the first week of the regular season and the buzz will start.”
Why even ask if you are going to reproduce the ones with which you agree and that fit into a narrative that limits it to people not trusting the Falcons to be any good?
LawDawg
August 25th, 2011
2:10 pm
To be fair, you did mention that fact, but you could have done a much better job constructing the article based on the actual feedback received.
SeenThisB4
August 25th, 2011
2:34 pm
The truth is they know, they have SeenThisB4. It won’t be the falcan’ts winning the NFC South this year, it will be New Orleans. There has never been a repeat NFC South Division Champion and there is absolutely no indication, not even a distant reverberation that such will be the case this year. In fact, with the rise of the Tampa team, the falcan’ts may just be sitting in position 3 of the division at the end of the season.
Die Hard Falcon
August 25th, 2011
2:43 pm
The Falcons are going to be a contender this year, barring the usual caveats, injuries to key players, etc. There is no reason that Falcon fans have to become philly fans b/c of Vick. I started being a Falcon fan when Prime Time was in ATL and I remained a Deion fan after he left, but I always cheered for my Falcons. I hope Vick has turned his life around and does well, just not against my Falcons. Matt Ryan is a top 10 QB and the stats don’t lie, he is tied w/ Marino for most wins in first 3 years, his stats were the best they’ve been last year, which means he’s improving, I don’t care that he can’t run for 1000yds., he’s our QB and he’s a gym rat/film rat, love that. Vick admitted in an interview w/ Jim Mora that he never watched film, I hope for his sake he does now, but I am much happier to have a guy who will work his butt off for the Falcons. Stop hating on Matty Ice, unless he comes out and compares himself to Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, he’s not overrated.
Falcons all the way!!!!!!!!!!!
KingCobra
August 25th, 2011
3:54 pm
I dont know if anybody is aware of it, but Atlanta has TWO professional teams that are capable of winning the WHOLE ENCHALADA THIS SEASON. The Falcons, with the addition of Julio Jones, have the potential to win the superbowl, while the Braves have the potential to win the world series. With an impending lockout in the NBA with the Hawks looming on the horizon as a non-factor and with the recent relocation of the Thrashers, leaving a vacancy of having NHL HOCKEY, the only thing that will make me happy as an atlanta sports fan is to see our Braaves and Falcons pull a double-championship with both clubs ending up as WORLD CHAMPIONS. This city is literally STARVING for a championship. In the last several hundred years, there has been only ONE championship team in Atlanta, with the Braves winning that title in 1995. I believe that Atlanta will experience a rennaissance in sports should the citys best two sports clubs take home respective championship flags for their teams.
KingCobra
August 25th, 2011
4:03 pm
Die Hard Falcon: the vick hatred will never cease. Everyone will continue to dump on vick until the guy commits suicide. I know its true that Vick did a horrible thing by killing dogs, but most of you feel that Vick should be punished by being put to death to make the score even, even though the guy has paid his debt to society and now has a following of admiring great friends. Although when Vick was taking fighting dogs to the slaughterhouse, at least he was gracious enough and had enough championship pedigree to be THE GREATEST DOGFIGHTER at the time. Now that Vick has fallen off the top of the mountain and has ascended and climbed back to the tippy top, Vick is once again a force to be reckened against in the national football league. Just toast the guy, drink champaign and salute the great Mike Vick for beating the odds. VICK IS A GREAT TALENT, ALWAYS HAS BEEN, ALWAYS WILL BE, AND WILL PROVIDE YEARS OF JOY AND HAPPINESS ON SUNDAY AFTERNOONS.
FEATHEREDFRIEND
August 25th, 2011
4:32 pm
youtube-falcons truth play 60- one of the best falcons videos to get you hyped for the season
birdwatcha
August 25th, 2011
5:36 pm
Falcons need some help at nickle back. Everybody knows our weakness now.
falcon4ever
August 25th, 2011
5:42 pm
Checked out the video featheredfriend…awesome!!!! Thats exactly what we need to set us on fire for the season! I’m buzzed now!
Barry
August 25th, 2011
5:43 pm
Hey Y’all:
Here you go , SORRY BRADLEY!! It appears you listed only the negative , non-Falcon naysayers in this article. You did not list the individuals who were telling you otherwise. WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM,MAN.??? You need to report local sports in another city with your ANTI-ATLANTA sport writing mentality. I would like to report you to your boss and the Atlanta Journal Constitution. YOU STINK!!!! GET OUT OF TOWN.
GO FALCONS. THE “PROCESS” CONTINUES TO THE SUPER BOWL.
“WE RISE’ IN “ONE HEARTBEAT!!!”
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a SECRET from a FALCON FAN. TELL EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
…………………………….”ONE HEARTBEAT, BABY!!!!!……………………….
mcat
August 25th, 2011
5:52 pm
Pretty cool video if only it could be true. Does kinda hype you up though!
Bluto
August 25th, 2011
5:58 pm
I am guessing all the negative people are either “Mike Vick” fans and not Falcons fans, or they were not around for the Smith era.
Highly Unlikely
August 25th, 2011
6:32 pm
Because atlanta has the worst fan base …. hows the weather? I’d say fair.
Hardy
August 25th, 2011
6:42 pm
After UGA starts the season 0-2 the Falcons love will come on strong.
Saints R.E.A.M.
August 26th, 2011
12:36 am
Unfortunately, this will be the season when the wheels fall off of the wagon for the Falcons. Expectations of the fans are too high! The media loves the Falcons. Last year the Falcons got the breaks, stayed healthy, had home field advantage through the playoffs…..and laid an EGG just what birds do. Well, this year the breaks won’t be there to stop the fall…..fans will call for heads to roll in a tumultuous season to forget. 7-9 regular season prediction. Matty Ice will catch he1l this year for throwing short dump passes! Watch it happen…you heard it hear first.
PlanB
August 26th, 2011
7:57 am
I remember for decades when the aints would give anything to have a 7 – 9 season record. A decade is 10 years REAM.
RobbE33
August 26th, 2011
10:18 am
The Falcons are showing a lot of potential but we’ve had our hopes torn out and stomped on before.
Until I see Ryan’s team dominate playoff caliber opponents on a consistent basis, I’ll remain quietly optimistic.
Pro football’s preseason is no indication of anything, especially with Smitty at the helm.
Talent and determination are fine as long as it’s maximized with an innovative coordinator.
I’d rather the Falcons fly under the radar than evoke the Cajun voodoo priestess’ Big Ben curse from the ’70s!
THE ICE HAS MELTED
August 26th, 2011
12:10 pm
Question: Why haven’t the Falcons gotten alot of buzz????
Answer: What have they done to merit such respect besides getting blasted by the Fudge Packers AT HOME and Wait for it lose to the JAGS???????????? LMFAO
The only Buzz the Falcants are getting is the FAIL BUZZ RING CHECK and WHO DAT!!!!!!!!!!
Who is Gault? A Fictional Character - GROW UP EINSTEIN!
August 26th, 2011
1:49 pm
I have no idea why you say there’s no buzz on the Falcons – I see it. And backing up your theory by selecting a handful of knuckleheads? YOU MUST HAVE HAD NOTHING TO WRITE ABOUT ON THIS DAY!!!!
Jon
August 26th, 2011
3:57 pm
You’re nuts. The town has been talking about the great job Arthur has done with this team year in and year out – improving all the time. I can find a dozen idiots to trash anything – that hardly makes it the voice of the town. This was the weakest piece of cr*p Mark has put out to date! And there have been a few of them!
Kane337
August 26th, 2011
4:30 pm
“kevin
August 24th, 2011
7:21 pm
The buzz and excitement is in athens!”
Over a team that went 6-7 last year and hasn’t sniffed a NC title game since 1983? Give me that stuff you are smoking.
John
August 26th, 2011
7:34 pm
The buzz left town with Vick, I”m on the Philly bandwagon and there is a buzz. Not a “dreamteam” buzz, but very upbeat about the potential. Atlanta couldn’t cover the Packs 4 wide receivers last year, they didn’t address the CB in the offseason, therefore I expect the same thing this year. Philly is loaded with 3 Pro Bowl CB’s this season and pass rush in preparations for Green Bay. The Pack beat down the Falcons at home, but only beat the Eagles by 7, therefore the Eagles are in a greater position of competing for the SB. The Saints will win the divison, Atlanta will battle the Bucs for the wild card in the playoffs and either will be disposed in the first round….again.
mcat
August 26th, 2011
9:19 pm
5 1/2 hour moderation! I should feel special
Chandler going Deep...
August 26th, 2011
10:40 pm
Y*A*W*N……
Steelers will crush……
ugaclassof2004
August 27th, 2011
11:34 pm
Man what a bunch of crybaby’s!!! I really wish our fan-base would grow a pair.
Yes the playoff loss sucked but we did A.) Lose to the eventual Super Bowl Champs and B.) Learned from it. It’s the NFL man, blowouts happen!!!
Joe Montana: lost to the Giants 49-3 in the playoffs back in 1986- the guy won 4 Super Bowls.
John Elway: got his butt handed to him in 3 Super Bowls before he won his first in 1997
Troy Aikman: got destroyed 38-6 vs. the Lions in 1991 before winning 3 out of the next 4 Super Bowls.
Peyton Manning: didn’t win a playoff game his first 5 years in the league( including a stinker to the Jets 41-0) , and now is regarded as one of the best QB’s of all time.
Steve Young lost a game to the Eagles 40-8, and went on to win a Super Bowl later that year.
Its the NFL, its a man leagues. How you survive the tough losses is what defines you. The Falcons might not meet everyone’s expectations, but they are at least trying to be a contender and that should earn our respect. That’s a heck of a lot better than where the organization was when guys like Vick , Bobby Petrino, and MeAngelo Hall were acting like morons on a regular basis. Oh yeah, and Vick is 2-3 in playoff games, really domination let me tell you!! Give me a break. This is a team that will be a presence in the playoffs for MANY years to come.
ugaclassof2004
August 27th, 2011
11:39 pm
Oh yeah and @THE ICE HAS MELTED
That Fail Buzz Ring was going off big time when Marshawn Lynch stiff armed you pathetic defense right in the face!
WHO DAT SAY THEY GONNA BEAT DEM SAINTS? Well apparently a 7-9 loser team from the NFC West, DAT’s WHO!
Quincy Q
August 28th, 2011
6:52 pm
Falcons don’t have enough talent compared to other teams if u look a superbowl winners they have talent across the board and more than one elite player Falcons might have one elite player they the Falcons don’t have enough superb players to make big time plays consistently
Quincy Q
August 28th, 2011
6:56 pm
The Falcons do not draft well should get new scouts Falcon scout don’t have an eye for selecting undrafted free agents and need better draft picks in rounds 4-7
uwant12
August 28th, 2011
11:26 pm
Without a pass rush the secondary has no chance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Carl
August 29th, 2011
12:16 pm
PLAYOFFS?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME, PLAYOFFS?!
Reggie
August 29th, 2011
2:05 pm
Dunta Robinson has to be the worst pick ATL Falcons has ever made. He is garbage. Dimetroff and McKay act as if they are blind to fact our secondary sux. Arthur Blank, here is a fact, your a billionaire. Spend the dang money and get your team right if you want a Super Bowl ring!!!
Mike
August 29th, 2011
5:30 pm
The Lions have greater potential than the Birds.
Last year’s 13-3 record should’ve had an asterisk next to it. It was padded with mediocre teams. Once they faced a true opponent, well… we all know how that ended.
Michael “The Burner” Turner hasn’t ‘burned’ anything in two years. He’s a reincarnation of Jamal Anderson, only slower. With Julio and Roddy on the field, we have a greater chance for more explosive down field plays. Not only that, but Harry Douglas is showing major improvement this preseason.
Not that this is a secret, but the secondary continues to be the achilles heel. Grimes is okay (at best), but if he’s gonna bite on double moves and jump routs like he did in the first half of the Pittsburgh game, it’s gonna be a long season. Unfortunately for the birds, their schedule is loaded with pass happy teams this year.
I say 10-6… Nah, scratch that, 9-7.
Buzzworthy: SI's Peter King picks Falcons to win Super Bowl | Mark Bradley
August 30th, 2011
10:55 am
[...] we wondered about the absence of a buzz regarding the 2011 Falcons. Perhaps this will get one [...]