Live from Falcons-Giants: We’re a lousy sports city, are we?
"If I give you two dimes and a nickel, will you give me a quarter back?" (AP photo)
East Rutherford, N.J. – Here’s a fun little nugget that was posted on the New York Post’s web site yesterday: As of Friday night, the Giants-Falcons playoff game was not sold out.
If said game were being staged at the Georgia Dome, we Atlantans would be hearing yet again how lousy a sports town we are. But this is New York, where millions live and where sports are, we’re constantly reminded, a point of strutting metropolitan pride.
Let the record reflect that an attempt to find available tickets this morning via Ticketmaster was unavailing, so we can assume that the game finally has sold out. Still, the thought of a Giants’ home postseason game with available seats not 30 hours before kickoff would surely come as a revelation to those New Yorkers who love to poke fun at us dumb ol’ Southerners for our indifference/inattention.
But I digress. The Falcons arrive with a point to prove, and the belief here is that they’ll prove it. The belief here is that they’ll win because they are, top to bottom, the better team. The tabloids have been full of Matt Ryan stuff this week, the thrust being that he still hasn’t proven anything in the postseason. (He hasn’t, but I’d suggest two games in his first three NFL seasons isn’t quite a true sample.)
I remember another day in Ryan’s pro career, a Sunday here in November 2009 when he overrode a second-half deficit to force overtime. The Giants won the toss and scored in the bonus canto, but that remains, at least to this dumb Southern observer, one of the shining performances of a very good career.
If you can do it here once, you should be able to do it again. And if you can make it here, the song has it, you can make it anywhere. I think Matty Ice will author his playoff breakthrough today, but maybe you disagree.
Which is why we have these little live chats — for you to interact with a dumb Southern writer like yours truly. I invite your comments. And I thank you, as ever, in advance.
By Mark Bradley
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4,613 comments Add your comment
Falcaints
January 8th, 2012
6:19 pm
Falcons are nowhere near as talented as the Saints, no running game Turner is slow, as are the rest. Ryan is average at best and they have no play-makers in site, too bad.
katherine
January 8th, 2012
6:19 pm
okfornow
January 8th, 2012
6:17 pm
Yes – I agree – Atlanta is a very poor sports town – professional sports wise.
dont blame that on the fans…why dont you blame the owners and coaches
bvgneedsahaircut
January 8th, 2012
6:19 pm
Tim Tebow is better than Matty will ever be….he has passion and is tough…..Matt is big and tall and that’s about ir
Ant
January 8th, 2012
6:19 pm
They should change the name of this franchise to the ATLANTA CHICKENS, no disrespect to chickens.
katherine
January 8th, 2012
6:20 pm
lol i love the saints fans on here still talking crap……its sad really
ColinBra11
January 8th, 2012
6:20 pm
Matt Ryan is good not great if he want to be compared with elite quarter backs like Tom Brady and Peyton manning he has to win a playoff game first or elso he will never be a elite QB ever
Athenzdawg
January 8th, 2012
6:20 pm
well im certainly glad we traded all those draft picks to improve our offense with Julio Jones. By the way for those who were keeping score today Defense 2 – Offense 0. Since we have no picks for the draft I hope Arthur saved up all of his money to buy some good free agents this year. Free agents along the lines of Dunta Robinson DO NOT COUNT!!!! So PISSED!!!
Caesar
January 8th, 2012
6:20 pm
We have the offensive talent of any other team in this league, including the Pats, Saints, and Packs.
———–
All those teams you named have elite QB’s. We have a guy who audibles like Peyton Manning but throws like Joey Harrington.
katherine
January 8th, 2012
6:22 pm
for how long were the saints awful? was drew brees good at san diego? the saints wont be good forever so they should enjoy it while they can…it would just be nice if they had some class about it
billya
January 8th, 2012
6:23 pm
Not all on Matty? Agreed. But you saw your leader in action, didn’t you? He was no “Captain John Miller” in Saving Private Ryan. He needs to go to the CFL.
Jason
January 8th, 2012
6:23 pm
Tebow looks way better deal than is Ryan. The throws he is making down the field with acuracy is better than any thrown by Ryan today or in the last 4 games. No Falcon fan should make fun of Tebow anymore.
Mark Bradley
January 8th, 2012
6:23 pm
Here’s the game column. Can’t vouch for the writing, but the quotes are somewhat interesting.
katherine
January 8th, 2012
6:23 pm
no they are going to take away from tebow by saying its only because ben is “hurt”….ben doesnt play defense
Kelsey
January 8th, 2012
6:23 pm
Haven’t found any news or clips from post-game interviews…..has anyone heard anything the coaches/players had to say about the game? Would love to hear how they are trying to spin the loss
Buster Up
January 8th, 2012
6:23 pm
Dan Marino at 50 years-old is a better qb than Matt Ryan.
ryan
January 8th, 2012
6:23 pm
Tim Tebow is going to win a playoff game before Matt Ryan time to clean house .
Howdy Doody in a helmet
January 8th, 2012
6:23 pm
I will digress and wait for Bradley’s take on Ryan’s leadership and athleticism issues.
Pulpwud Smiff
January 8th, 2012
6:23 pm
Missouri 42, UGA 10
You heard it here first!
lamac66
January 8th, 2012
6:25 pm
Browsing through posts I notice many of the Ryan apologist absent. Also there is a lot of J. Jones blame also in regard to his impact. The guy is a rookie. Now all the Falcon’s problems existed prior to this year. The offensive line is getting lots of blame also. The coordinators get blame here I see also. EVERYBODY but Ryan!
Why is that? Please be honest about Ryan. He is not the playmaker some in the local media as well as some nationally has tried to make him. If you can not get the ball down the field accurately sometimes, that is a problem.
Can we say future Chad Pennington?
Caesar
January 8th, 2012
6:26 pm
Matt Ryan: 4.9 yards per pass. Dude is awesome!
Can’t wait until next year when that clown (Steak) on 790 tries to convince us Mattt Ryan is elite.
phil
January 8th, 2012
6:26 pm
Tebow does have issues but the intangibles with him are something else. The guy is a winner.
Ant
January 8th, 2012
6:27 pm
The Braves coulda scored more than the Atlanta ChickenSh#ts we had the misfortune of watching embarrass everybody in this city today…Arthur Blank should apologize for this piece-of-crap team he put together that’s not worth 2 cents. Pathetic.
0-2 w/smitty demitty &melt
January 8th, 2012
6:29 pm
told y’all i would have to chang my name
billya
January 8th, 2012
6:29 pm
I am Atlanta. I want a winner. I want a Tebow that no matter what anyone say’s…won’t slide..and won’t back into the line on a QB sneak..
Blank in 3
January 8th, 2012
6:29 pm
Thought he was hiring the ex-Tampa Bay Buc McKay following their short-lived success ,,relegates him to “president” after his failures ,,hires Dimitroff out of another successful org ,,,he now fails ,,, so what now Mr. Blank? Who do you trust going forward?,,,, you let Dimitroff trade up for Jones and bankrupt our draft ,, allows Dahl to leave ,,, etc. ,,etc…and has done nothing to shore up a lousy defense and O-line ,,, absolutely nothing….Mularkey is the obvious (deserved) fall guy ,, but what else do you do?
0-3 w/smitty demitty &melt
January 8th, 2012
6:29 pm
now i’m updated ’till next years loss
Angie O'Plasty
January 8th, 2012
6:29 pm
Ok- maybe I’m being negative, but couldn’t any right-minded ATL fan see this coming ? This team is built with smoke and mirrors.
Samuel
January 8th, 2012
6:30 pm
Yes, Atlanta is a bad sports town, they never win championships. Save the Braves we don’t have much to brag about.
lamac66
January 8th, 2012
6:31 pm
Oh yeah, then you humiliate your 1300 yrd RB by putting him on the sideline on 4th and short and put the ball in the hands of maybe the least athletic QB in the league. Again Turner’s face said it all. THe Falcons don’t know what they want to be.
First you say you want to be a power running smashmouth team but you try to make your QB Peyton Manning? WHat’s the deal?
Baby Bird
January 8th, 2012
6:31 pm
I wish Matt would get in the huddle and fire up the team like Brees does. Bree’s is a leader and an elite quarterback.He should win the MVP instead of Rodgers.Although, Matt had a career season passing, he is the second best quarterback in the division for now.He has improved each year at the quarterback position.However, it seems to me his rookie season was his best ever year. He shows the same emotion after wins and losses. I wish he would be more emotional, and get pissed for once.
Paul
January 8th, 2012
6:32 pm
Inept, bumbling, and stuck on stupid.
Yep, I think that just about covers it.
lamac66
January 8th, 2012
6:33 pm
Can’t wait until next year when that clown (Steak) on 790 tries to convince us Mattt Ryan is elite.
HA HA, WAHAH…OOOH HA…too funny but you’re right!
Rob
January 8th, 2012
6:33 pm
Cmon Matty ICE is not that bad sure he can’t strong arm throw more than 20 yards. He’s not that accurate. And last but not least his best effective throwing range may be 30 yards anything beyond that the ball is up for grabs. He might be better had they not drafted Julio and kept Clabo and also drafted on defense I wonder will they say that stupid crap this summer about the Falcons playing in the Superbowl again go figure the dummies at SI sheesh.
Antn
January 8th, 2012
6:34 pm
The Braves coulda scored more than the Atlanta Chickens today. Arthur Blank should apologize for this atrocity of a team he put together that’s not worth 2 cents. A coach without a brain, and a QB without a heart, yeah folks this is the wizards of oz of football.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 8th, 2012
6:35 pm
Mrs. Charlie – you there?
billya
January 8th, 2012
6:36 pm
Wait a second. You’re an NFL QB and you can’t show any heart. Sorry: You’re fired.
ship jumper
January 8th, 2012
6:36 pm
0-3 you won’t have to change your name because this team as constucted won’t make the playoffs next year.
XBIRD
January 8th, 2012
6:37 pm
That was the most humiliating team LOSS . . . seems Matt has no ICE in him! Scared rabbit! Put heat on him and he falls to pieces . . . trade the rest of the draft picks for a QB next. Throw in a few coaches too! I said in the first half, NY will make adjustments and Atlanta will not. That’s what happened and they piled it on 24-2! — 442 yards total offense and 314 came in the 2nd half–how’s that for an adjustment in game plans? Smitty take your crew back to Jacksonville!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 8th, 2012
6:37 pm
I have been telling you CLOWNS since draft day in 2008 that CHOKE is a BUST.
For years I have heard every excuse in the books why other rookie qbs have won in the playoffs since he was drafted, and I guess you guys have finally seen the light
billya
January 8th, 2012
6:38 pm
The Team walks into the board room. Donald Trump stares the coach’s, Matty and the team in the eye. The verdict?
…oh, but wait a minute..this is Arthur Blank.
Jason
January 8th, 2012
6:40 pm
Can we start a petition to Arthur to get Tebow if Denver wants to get rid of him. i always like his passion and his Heart. I wish Ryan had some of that.
0-3 w/smitty demitty &melt
January 8th, 2012
6:40 pm
no – he’s really a good qb. you’re just being mean lol lol lol
stendek
January 8th, 2012
6:40 pm
As an avid Falcon follower since 1966 – actually when good news of the awarding of franchise by NFL – I feel compelled to comment on these Falcons. It is lengthy but perhaps sound therapy as I am angrier now than I ever have been following a Falcon giveup debacle. I have seen some truly heartless and gutless Falcon performances in my lifetime but this is the absolute worst. These players lack fire. No desire to excel. Far less talented Falcon teams over the years overcame adversity to prevail or just barely fail. These Falcons simply gave up. Though technically the offense never gave up since it never showed up. I do give the defense some props since a safety prevented a shutout defeat. Losing is no disgrace as long as every single player gives all from start to finish. These Falcons simply did not do that. The only offensive player who seems bothered by defeat is Tony Gonzalez. I share in his helplessness. Just wish guy would be traded to Super Bowl contender in twilight of his career. Just a few comments:
QB Matthew Ryan was phenomenal in his rookie season. Provided reason for optimism. Whatever special qualities MR possessed vanished in his second season. Play of QB has regressed since initial campaign. Lying stats have improved but that winning intangible is no longer there. Case in point today was slide when no defender was within 10 yards of him. In a playoff game. Giany QB made big plays when protection broke down. All MR did was throw ball away or fold like a piece of Nifty notebook paper in pocket. MR experiment is failure. No better than Joey Harrington or Chris Miller when it comes to heart and leadership. Cut bait now.
Roddy White has become liability with all his drops. Many catches do not overshadow fatal drops. Time to part ways.
Julio Jones is overrated plus cost Falcons their future. May be excellent but with no QB to get the ball to him what does it really matter? Would let him go but too much tied up in receiver.
Offensive line no better than average college line.
Michael Turner has become a liability. Slower and heavier. Time to send him packing.
Falcon kicker returners are complete busts.
FG kicker is highlight.
Punter caught his stride in later games.
Defense has far too many liabilities to ever be top tier. Donthing Robinson the worst but untalented bum has plenty of company.
What all this means is that $$$$ cannot buy heart or want to. These Falcons may be physically talented – although that can be successfully debated – but they have no heart or toughness.
Statistics lie. Giants worst defense to reach playoffs but MR held to zero points in 60 minutes. I know far less talented Falcon teams from years past that would have chewed these Giants them spit them out in front of their arrogant fans.
These Falcons dropped their drawers then bent over. Just hope some kind of lubricant was utilized.
This bunch is far worse than 1966 group which at least gave fans effort!
The more things change…
No reason for optimism. None. More dark days ahead. Lots more…
katherine
January 8th, 2012
6:42 pm
stendek…well then you have no reason to be on these blogs anymore if there is no reason for optimism or hope right?
RB
January 8th, 2012
6:42 pm
It’s easy to say ” Arthur Blank deserves better” but does he really? Mr Blank (who seems to be a good person) is getting what he accepts. If he accepts mediocracy from his GM and coaches he is getting what he deserves.
Baby Bird
January 8th, 2012
6:43 pm
Tebow is the white version of Vick.
Former Falcon Fan since 66
January 8th, 2012
6:43 pm
Glad to see I’m not the only one that has had it. Open letter to Mr Blank:
Sir,
If you do not get rid of that poor excuse for an offensive coordinator, I’ll never watch another Falcon game again. Really?????? 4th and 1…and we empty the backfield and send Ryan on a sneak?????????????? The only person who was surprised about that call was Matt Ryan. I bet he’s regretting signing with the Birds! Come on Man!!!!!!!!!
I was at the first Falcon home game as a youngster, and have followed them all my life. I have never, ever been so dissappointed in them as I was today. If there are not massive changes in the philosophy of this team by next year, I will never again support them. I am sure I’m not alone in my outrage, so I hope someone is listening!
Tim
January 8th, 2012
6:45 pm
This is one of those articles that a columnist must wish he could delete…..Not dissing on any Falcon fans at all. But this guy must feel like a pretty big fool. Almost nothing this guy wrote in his article actually happened…lol.
For all the talk about NY fans not wanting to buy tickets to the game, that Sellout crowd sure made Matty “Ice” look pretty cold and wet behind the ears…..LMAO
billya
January 8th, 2012
6:47 pm
Arthur is a good guy and he should not accept this. The team that showed up on this very important day and that collected their big fat paychecks should take their medicine. Some of them will make it and do well in their next life. However, that next life is not here. Many of the key players–watching the game film–you’ll see the inept decisions, coaches sleeping or passive on the sideline; showing no emotion..you’ll see the heartless effort..you’ll see the sub-game-day performances and you’ll start the lopping there… This isn’t little league.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 8th, 2012
6:49 pm
CHOKE is 0-3 & Flacco gets to pad his 4 playoff wins…………….
Go figure