Fearsome forecast: SI rates Braves fourth-best in the NL East

SI's preview cover. Note: Albert Pujols does not play for the Braves.

Sports Illustrated's preview cover. Note: Albert Pujols does not play for the Braves. (Photo by Robert Beck)

Well, here’s a cheery note. Sports Illustrated picks the Atlanta Braves, who had a lot of things go wrong last season and still won 89 games, to win 82 in 2012. (I’d offer a link, but SI.com hasn’t posted one yet.) This total, in SI’s estimation, will enable the Braves to finish fourth in a five-team division.

SI’s projected National League East finish:

  1. Phillies, 94-68
  2. Marlins, 89-73 (wild card)
  3. Nationals, 84-78
  4. Braves, 82-80
  5. Mets, 75-87

More glad tidings: SI sees the Braves finishing with the 10th-best record in the 16-team National League and the 17th-best (tied with the Kansas City Royals, actually) in baseball. I believe I can speak for us all when I say: Yikes.

I’m on record as believing the Braves’ spring-training record — after a 1-10-1 start, they’re up to 6-13-3; if this were hockey, they’d have 15 points — means less than nothing, but Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports has written that (unnamed) “rival executives believe that [manager Fredi] Gonzalez … already is on probation.”

Given that the first real game is still 13 days off, we shouldn’t read too much into anything just yet. But it’s not unreasonable to suggest that general manager Frank Wren, who before this offseason wasn’t known for his patience, might be forced to do something soon — and I’m not talking so much about firing Fredi G. as making a personnel move or two — if his team looks tepid through April.

Wren likes his roster very much. He doesn’t think this is a fourth-place team. He thinks these Braves should win 90 (or so) games, not 82. But not everyone agrees.

By Mark Bradley

357 comments Add your comment

papadawg

March 23rd, 2012
3:31 pm

I’m surprised they are rated this high. Same team as last year. Better than average pitching, no speed to speak of, defense awful, a weak kneed 3rd baseman and NO clutch hitting. Dismal season ahead

Jfreak13713

March 23rd, 2012
3:35 pm

If the Braves pitching staff stays generally healthy they will be fine and should compete for playoff spot??? Their offense will probably be right around middle of the pack which means pitching and defense will be key as always! With Bourne at top and Mac & Uggla in middle they should score enough to win 85-90 games. If Heyward and Prado produce like they did a couple years ago and the pitching stays healthy then 90+ is possible.

The Braves do have so age issues with Chipper and Hudson and some injury issue with JJ and Hanson so it isn’t out of the relm of possibility that they finish below 85 wins but I anticipate and good season!

loel

March 23rd, 2012
3:37 pm

And what was the Braves prediction in ‘91 in their worst to first year????? uh..

SI jinx

March 23rd, 2012
3:42 pm

The Phillies are gonna win 94 games? Yea right. In there dreams. 3 out of 5 games they’ll have great pitching but 5 out of 5 games they’ll have NO hitting. Not only are Chase, Howard, and Rollins on the decline but Chase and Howard can’t even walk right now and won’t be for awhile. As far as the Marlins go, Hanley quit trying a few years ago after he got paid and it’s only a matter of time before Reyes gets hurt. Braves will win the east.

Dudley Dooright

March 23rd, 2012
3:45 pm

Anybody out there missing K.K.?

AG

March 23rd, 2012
3:45 pm

chc4 – Anyone in the lineup would’ve been better… NOBODY was doing better that’s the only reason Gonzalez was given a chance. And I would really like to see the number of times he batted 2nd last year. He had fewer than 600 AB so I would imagine it wasn’t much. Michael Bourn in contrast had almost 100 more AB (most of which was in an even worse lineup than the Braves).

DawgDad – Were you here for the 5 months leading up to September? One month, September, again, with 40% of our rotation comprised of AAA pitchers.

We were great for 85% of the season, so what you’re telling me is that that was the fluke. September is the team we are… we are going to go roughly 55 – 107 by that logic. Care to place an over/under wager on 55 wins for the Braves this year?

AG

March 23rd, 2012
3:50 pm

No power… Liberty Media cheap, cutting payroll… you all just just pull statements out of nowhere.

Liberty Media has kept our payroll steady with a slight increase year to year. We were 4th in the NL in HR last year… I’m just asking that you all be realistic. Fredi had the team that he had. He couldn’t make a trade for a hitter. Wren brought in Bourn who did all right (BA took a dip once he came to the Braves) but with no starting pitching the second half and only half the team playing up to their career averages, what can you do? What could Fredi have done BETTER (better being the key word) in everyone’s infinite knowledge of the inner workings of a baseball team?

Fats OKelly

March 23rd, 2012
3:50 pm

Glad Chipper made it official. Now the Braves can concentrate on TEAM goals. Enough of Bones Jones whinning this and that. Go out with a championship Bones.

AG

March 23rd, 2012
3:51 pm

And YES I typed “just” twice back there…

Josh

March 23rd, 2012
4:01 pm

I’m leaning more towards the mlb networks projections of 92 wins and a close second place finish. The Braves have the pitching to compete with anyone, and the bats will be better. I don’t think the whole team will be slumping this year again, at least not all at the same time. They should do a better job at knocking in runs. While people like SI are looking at the Braves and counting them out because they didn’t make a big move, this is basically the same team last year that until everything went wrong competed with the Phillies. It is easy to make the argument that the Braves improved from the end of last year by just getting healthy, and getting rid of Lowe.
What I see happening is some young guys auditioning for left field next year. Probably a close look at what Prado will do as an everyday third baseman (might see him make a few consecutive starts at third, even if Chipper is healthy). There will be an attempt to keep Bourn. No real move at pitcher unless Tehran or Delgado develop and start giving seven or eight innings consistently, in that case JJ might be dealt for an outfielder. But right now I see no major moves until the end of the season, when the Braves start putting together a team without Chipper, especially if the Braves are in contention. This is unless Heyward, Prado or JJ aren’t producing, the Braves might add someone to add some production.

phil

March 23rd, 2012
4:01 pm

What a relief to finally hear rumblings of the end of FG as manager!!

I don’t want to lose to have that happen. But it’s likely to happen, period, and maybe we’ll be rid of this guy sooner rather than later.

Fire FG now!!

chc4

March 23rd, 2012
4:02 pm

AG — That’s a tremendously weak excuse. Gonzo had one of the lowest OBPs in the entire league last year for everday players. If there was one spot he could NOT be hitting, it was 2nd. You can make excuses all you want. And he had alot of at bats in that spot. More than you would think I’m guessing.

Plus Fredi’s “aww shucks, we’re trying hard” routine was unbearable. His postgame PC after the Philly loss in game 162 made me sick. Talking about how much this team accomplished and how proud he is of them. I get that managers use cliches but that was the wrong message to send. Fredi is a weak, weak leader.

kerryb

March 23rd, 2012
4:05 pm

What does SI know? They also picked the Falcons and the Chargers to be in the SB last season. I don’t get the love for the Marlins. What did they do? They got Reyes and a closer. We have the best closer in baseball now so that nullifies that move. Also, the NE media bias still picking the aging often injured Phillies. How are they going to win the East with no First Baseman to start the season and a Second Baseman on bad knees. Yes, they have a great starting staff but who is going to hit and play the field for them. The only real returning stars they have who is not injured is Rollins and Victorino. Name the rest of their everyday players. I think what it is is a writer sits down and thinks about the NL East and automatically puts down the Phillies to win it without thinking.

Son Of Bart

March 23rd, 2012
4:07 pm

Sad state of affairs. I would guess, and hope, after say, a 8 –15 April that “Goofy” Gonzales would be out of baseball forever. But you never know with this bunch of clowns. Old “Fruiti Freddy” might survive to lose another day!

NCBravesFan

March 23rd, 2012
4:07 pm

Hard to argue with the pick, really. The starting staff will have to have a lot go right to be truly “lockdown”. Perhaps if the offense outperforms and the starting pitching is solid they can get back to the playoffs.

Who Me?

March 23rd, 2012
4:09 pm

Picks are worthless, but I would agree that FW has FG on a short leash. Can’t argue with the 4th place slot, that’s about where I have them this season too.

Chipper's ACL

March 23rd, 2012
4:23 pm

Think I will agree with it. Time for a total rebuild instead of sliding in an Uggla here and there. It could easily be said this could be a fire sale year. If they are 10 under at the break, I could see Bourn, Huddy, JJ (if he gets things under control), Prado, and possibly Uggla being delt. Give the young arms a chance, find a couple stud OF’s. Shift Pastor to 2B, let Simmons and Terdo man the left side. Give the youngsters some experience before 13′.

Radster

March 23rd, 2012
4:24 pm

Difficult year based on last years results. Uggla went back to be a sub 230 guy after his hot streak, Bourn went back to being a light hitting good outfielder with a poor on base percentage. No shortstop, third baseman with issues and a catcher that tires down the stretch. Only real hope is if Hayward turns into a 35 homer, 320 average, 100+ RBI guy, Freeman is more consistant at bat and Prado gets on alot.
Pitching is likewise challenged. JJ mysteriously hot in the first half even with horrible stats, Alot of moving parts otherwise. Makes you wonder how often they will be able to use the back side of the bullpen.
Marlins with Reyes, Giancarlo and Hanley hitting and Josh as a starter are way way more potent. Nats have a nice team of rookies and vets. Phillies still have great pirching. Tough to imagine the Braves having enough break right to surmount those teams!

bronkelliott

March 23rd, 2012
4:31 pm

The Braves under Freddi G seem to play scared and don’t have much threat to them. We will see. I see the 1.Mets 2. Washington 3.Braves 4.Phillies then the5. Marlins.. Just kidding,
1.Phillies
2. Braves
3.Marlins
4. Washington
5. Mets

Have a great weekend!

Casey

March 23rd, 2012
4:31 pm

So they picked the Falcons to win the Super Bowl last year. How’d they do?

Fredo Lives

March 23rd, 2012
4:34 pm

I was at the Tigers game earlier this week in Lakeland, when ESPN showed up en masse, and what an embarrasment the Braves were and especially JJ on the mound. He is done as an effective pitcher and I always thought he was an injury prone doughboy. Heyward looked like he was swinging for the fences in 2 at bats and had his trademark roller to the right side on another..granted Verlander was on the mound ,,yeah, yeah. I predicted an 82-80 season and think that SI is right on the money ,, however I also predict that lands them in 3rd behind Miami or DC ,,, who wahhhh!!!

I predict that Uggla and Prado will be fine offensively and that their fluke seasons were just that last year. McCann will continue to do his thing until late August / Sept ,,when the season wears him down yet again. Freeman will not have a sophmore slump and Bourn will be Bourn. Chipper will limp thru the year until his wheels go flat in June/July and Prado moves to third full time. So, the left field platoon squad of Diaz and Constanza and Hinske will tax Fredo’s brain. Heyward will continue to struggle and Pastornicky will likely be the everyday SS vs. Simmons. I think they become a better team offensively than last year (not real hard) ,, but the pitching that everyone thinks will be as good as last year absolutely will not ,,and this is where 82-80 will be realistic. As I said before JJ is done ,,, we are talking lose-spot-in-the-rotation high ERA,,, but they will save face for him and he will go on DL (serious minus). Hanson is a serious ? from a season-long durability standpoint and I don’t think it ends well for Big Red (minus). I think Hudson will be fine and will pitch within himself and stay off the DL, but not his usual production ,,so good probability (neutral). Minor turns out to carry over his Spring and is ready for the bigs (Plus). Teheran and Delgado,, toss a coin b/c I have not been impressed with Teheran since he came up last year. For a future phenom, he has not looked good and I am sure he will eventually put it all together ,,but not in 2012 ,, so Delgado it is (Neutral to Plus). Bullpen will not perform to last years amazing level, but Fredi will continue to mismanage them b/c even though offense will improve ,,pitching will fall off and Braves will still be scrapping in 1-2 run games most of the year = burned out bullpen. Finally ,, I hope Fredi is on double secret probation and Wren loses his patience when nothing effectively changes and Braves end up playing on either side of 500 ball. The players, the fans, and the media know he is in over his head and will continue to make horrible in-game decisions, only this year they will all be under the microscope. Wouldn’t it be something if Frank asked Bobby to finish out the year, given Chippers and Bobbys lovefest?? I don’t think Cox would do it, just because of all the fanfare surrounding his retirement ,, but who know!?!

Reggie Ball

March 23rd, 2012
4:47 pm

RE-So the Marlins sign an oft-injured SS an average starting pitcher and a closer on the downside and now their the new media faves. Seems legit?

Chek

March 23rd, 2012
4:55 pm

Its AMAZING how many of you guys crap all over Fredi when you same bunch were foaming @ the mouth to sign him before ole #6 was off the bench.
Fredi got the ATL vote cause he sat Hanleys azz down. Everybody here saw that and immediately thought ‘hes a bad azz’,”he’ll fire up this team”…..never mind the fact that the fish were awful and played better when the marlins FIRED Fredi.
Fredi didn’t distinguish himself in Fla. He did the contrary.
But the brilliant people on this blog WANTED him so desperately.
Hes a nice guy just like his players. I bet none of the Braves have ever even killed a bug,or swatted a fly much less a baseball.(’cept Hoss..he’d just shoot it)

You got THE GUY you wanted ATLANTA …Fredi G.
Now you suk on it.

Baby Ruth

March 23rd, 2012
5:05 pm

This team will suck!

Disco Pup

March 23rd, 2012
5:08 pm

If Josh Johnson is fully recovered and Carlos Zambrano is comeback player of the year, the Marlins take it. Next year, it will be the year of the Nats.

RobbieinVA

March 23rd, 2012
5:09 pm

I cannot believe the negativity. This is team that lost two starting pitchers, their lfer, and catcher who happens the best offensive catcher in the game for extended periods and still had a 9.5 gm lead with 30 to play. So stop with all this fire Fredi crap. Fredi could help the injuries to Mac, Hanson, and JJ though, right? No doubt the Heyward situation was his fault? The only thing that I see right now is a concern is JJ. Julio and Randall are young they are expected to get rocked about every other start or so. What I have seen so far Prado has looked good, Dan has looked good, and Hanson seems healthy. This team is gonna be fine.

Robbie

it is what it is

March 23rd, 2012
5:15 pm

Enter your comments here

it is what it is

March 23rd, 2012
5:17 pm

who wants to get robbed while going to a game?stadium is in a ghetto,and chipper is thinking of hooters,and moylan wants to be a woma.too many issues with this team.change the name to atlantacrackers

i am the expert

March 23rd, 2012
5:25 pm

since i predicted st.louis in the world series along with texas ….i know
also mr.bradley i have 1 loss in ncaa tourney……as for the braves…….
chipper will hardly play lucky to see 100 games
also dob said fredi start regulars last 12 games,where was heyward today???hmmmm
anyways back to results not predictions
phillies
braves
marlins
nats
mets

i really hate this wildcard play 1 game and u lose
anyways,i also reported that teheran,is worse than delgado,and if i was bmac cant wait to leave atlanta…..chipper wants him t stay,but unlike chipper,or moylan ,bmac is loyal to his wife,does not dress up as a woman,and to also prado,bmac does not miss his mommy all the time,and just like hanson,bmac rarely drinks.

Can't heet the ball

March 23rd, 2012
5:32 pm

Braves struggle to score runs, make good outs, and refuse to play small ball, as it is not cool or something. I guess hitting .243 and stranding baserunners by the half thousand is now en vogue.

Arm problems are starting to seep into the rotation, bullpen and you know O’Ventrel has to be taxed from the last 2 years.

I just hate to see the great pitching starting to breakdown b/c the Braves, who lack professional hitters (Chipper, Hinske, healthy Prado, maybe Freeman and Diaz are it) can not, and will not be able to push runs accross the plate.

I am afraid we will see more good/great pitching and an even more frustrating offense to waste the great effort of our staff….We added NOTHING to the offense, and lost Gonzo, which I think would normally be a blessing, but when you lose a .245 hitter, that can actually hurt this team. Pastornicky or Andy Simmons will do good to hit .220, and Gonzo’s defense was stellar. Weak up the middle with Boras client in CF does not bode well…

4th looks more likely than first, especially for a team that lacks a sense of urgency and would rather strike out looking than steal or lay down a bunt.

i am the expert

March 23rd, 2012
5:34 pm

other predictions……
unc over ohio
nc state over kansas
kentucky over indiana
baylor over xavier

just so u know

bmac will sign extension,ross continue to backup,bethancourt will likely be traded

can someone please tell me why jc bostran is still on the roster?is he nortons twin brother?

oh and just so u know,another exbrave doing great…..schafer batting .384 this spring,coincidence?dont think so ask franceur,harris,others,etc…

infante batting .384 with marlins
johnson signed a 6.45 million 1 year contract with toronto
hope lowe wins 20 games,but im talking hitters not pitchers
mark these wins down tonite…….at least 3/4 wins kansas ,ncstate tossup,dont matter,they lose on sunday.

it is what it is

March 23rd, 2012
5:40 pm

police have confirmed that hanson had empty beer cans in the back seat but he was not drinking at time of crash.hanson has been known to drink it up at the clubs as was noted by a columinist last year.dont worry fans i will have my camera out this year

hawesg

March 23rd, 2012
5:42 pm

2012 Marlins =2011 Eagles

Play some games first. Plus, as much as we depend on an aging Chipper, does anyone think Reyes plays 150 games? Or that Josh Johnson starts 30?

Frank Wren

March 23rd, 2012
5:47 pm

Do not worry fans!!!We have jack wilson back off the disabled list and he is playing.What a major pickup this was for the Atlanta Braves organization!!I should get a raise out of this.Games are real in 17 days,come out in droves to the ball park,so we can all get a bonus,,this year!!

EZ

March 23rd, 2012
5:51 pm

This blog is just too funny.Thanks,i come here for the laughs,and of course for the ignorant,and stupid insanity.I never knew so many people were this stupid in america!!Most of you have to be from the south where you live in trailer parks,and drink moonshine.,or west virginia.

whinners and complainers

March 23rd, 2012
5:55 pm

If you all think its so easy to play baseball,hit,pitch,field,etc.,then quit hitting your spouse,get off your lazy azz and show us.Otherwise keep your redneck trailer park one tooth girlfriend to yourself.They should also mention atlanta as worse city ever for its people also.

Steve

March 23rd, 2012
5:55 pm

This is exactly what is wrong with Frank Wren.

I’m sorry, but pitching prospects are OVER-RATED by this organization. When you pass up opportunities to get cheap, proven, MLB players and resist because you don’t want to give up a prospect when you have 4-5 at a position you are deep at then you are doomed to fail.

The Braves offense is so horrible that even as beat up as the Phillies are they will still score more runs. Last year was not as big of an anomaly as people believe. While many Braves had down seasons we got better than expected seasons from a few as well. It will likely end up about the same this season. Our bench is full of .220 hitters than no one really fears.

When you know you offense is that woeful and you continually pass up opportunities (rumored) for guys like Elsbury, Cain, Rasmus and others .. then you are doomed to remain pathetic offensively. I am glad we didn’t trade for overrated Nunez, but other than that our team needed help and we did nothing.

I am calling it now ..

– Heyward is a bust. Major league pitchers know he cannot catch up to a high fastball, and now he knows it so he is cheating on his swing and getting off-balance. He is done.
– McCann has a couple more All-Star years in him for certain, but will he stay around when the money isn’t there?
– Chipper is still better than average at 3rd. Don’t believe he isn’t, depsite the injuries .. the position is filled with horrible players. Now he is retiring, but maybe, just maybe, JoeyT will be a good fill in next year.
– Bourn won’t hang around because the Braves won’t pay.
– Diaz is finished and should not be on the opening day roster, yet the Braves won’t cut him. I like MattyD, but let’s face it, most of us on the boards could post averages similar to his with absolutely no baseball skill.
– Pastornicky would not be a top 20 ‘positional’ prospect in any other organization. AKA – he makes Diory Hernandez look like a combination of Omar Vizquel with the glove and a mid-20’s Derek Jeter with the bat.
– Prado might bounce back, but even with that his upside is an average LF with a decent batting average and below average pop/speed for the position.

What the Braves have to do ‘RIGHT NOW’
– jettison the aging vets that can’t hack it … like Diaz
– give guys like Parraz/Constanza a longer look .. they will both hit better and play better defense than Diaz … they are both cheaper .. and they are faster and have at least ’some’ upside
– be ready next offseason to actually trade away some of the pitching depth you are absolutely WASTING!

I know we had a down year a few years back when we were stck with no pitching because we relied on too many sentimental vets and prospects (Glavine, Smoltz, Jo-Jo Reyes, Hampton, and James). Let’s face it, it was a horrible year but even then we called up Jurrgens and moved Campillo into the rotation and it didn’t get too bad putching wise. The fact is, the Braves got burned that year and now are afraid to make moves that would obviously be beneficial to the team .. while NOT increasing payroll.

Now I hear that Medlen, a guy who is a #3 starter on all but a handful of MLB teams is going to be put in the pen because we have too much depth at starter … all while our offense is the worst of all MLB teams in spring training? Also considering half the games the Braves have played in had viscious winds blowing out and everyone else was scoring runs faster than Obama can spend my money. This is ridiculous.

Frank Wren’s answer .. sign Dan Uggla, hire a manager who is from the same school as a manager who only brought us one World Series desptie having the best team in the NL for 10 out of 14 years or so, and hope our pitching staff can limit other teams to three runs or less in 145+ games. FAIL!

Sonny Clusters

March 23rd, 2012
5:56 pm

Stinger2 are you following us? You blog with Jeff so we move to blog with Mark and you come over there and we move back to Jeff. We really don’t like you very much and since you don’t like us why don’t you ignore us? Or are you the blog policeman? Are you going to write us a ticket because we have deeper thoughts than you? If so, you may have to write a lot of tickets to a lot of people. Having a little sissy like you preaching to us every time we post something is sort of like having your momma follow you around and tell you what to do – except you’re not our momma. You are just an annoying little pest that thinks everybody should think like you. If they did, our society would be in big trouble and dumbed down more than we care to think. It’s Friday night, see if you can find a date and leave us alone so we can enjoy the blog again. You’re going to run us off and you’re pretty close to doing it, Stalker Boy.

Tim

March 23rd, 2012
6:04 pm

The Braves had everything that could go wrong go wrong but still won 89 games. The Braves win 95 games and take the division. Sorry if you so called fans then the Braves will be horrible because X, Y, Z and everything other reason you can make up for why they will suck. It’s just not true!

Son Of Bart

March 23rd, 2012
6:05 pm

Fire Fruiti Gonzales. Now. Yesterday. The cancer starts at the top and seeps through the entire team. If the players like him — that explains your problem right there! This lazy team of under achievers needs a KICK A** manager that can wake these guys up. We need a huge dose of fire in the belly! It starts at the top. Kick this over weight idiot out of here and get a guy that might actually care. Younger the better says I. Cox pretty much slept through his last season. Fire in the belly! Win now attitude! How hard can it be, people??

gotigers72

March 23rd, 2012
6:06 pm

Unless Fredi is replaced as manager before June 1st, I’ll have to go along with SI. The pitching is very close to being in shambles due to injuries [acknowledged or not], the hitting was terrible last year and no improvements have been made, and Fredi is just not capable of being a ML manager. Anyone that would continue to run Derek Lowe out there the way he did at the end of the season, just doesn’t have it upstairs. That’s just one example. I think the GM and others in the upper levels of the Braves organiization are insisting on finding this out the hard way. Tip your cap to them.

Kevin Chop

March 23rd, 2012
6:06 pm

I wouldn’t be surprised if we finished 5th. I really hope we do because we need a new mentality in Atlanta and the only way we can shake things up is by sucking a year or two. Im tired of being mediocre. The only way fans will demand change in this city is by sucking and that is still acceptable by some. If we finish 4th or 5th in the east we deserve every bit of it.

Son Of Bart

March 23rd, 2012
6:07 pm

EZ. When was your last Mensa Picnic?? Some of us fans actually care about our team’s direction.

Rick S

March 23rd, 2012
6:08 pm

I do not want to be negative and I am a long time Braves fan but based on no moves in the off season to strengthen the offense and the poor play and record during Spring Baseball, I have to agree that the Braves will finish fourth in the East just ahead of the lowly New York Mets.

Quite frankly I am disappointed in the organization’s lack of being aggressive to strengthen the team under GM Frank Wren and believe the Braves will continue to be mediocre at best if the ownership continues to have a “bargain basement” mentality.

I sincerely hope I am totally wrong about my analysis about the Braves especially with this being Chipper Jones’s final year with the Braves and playing Proferssional Baseball! Chipper deserves to be on a championship team!

Kevin Chop

March 23rd, 2012
6:09 pm

Tim ill bet the house we don’t win the division.

Hillbilly D

March 23rd, 2012
6:10 pm

If I were doing the rating, I’d put the Braves 2nd or 3rd, depending on injuries, etc. Those things you really can’t predict.

Stinger2

March 23rd, 2012
6:24 pm

To everyone who posts using disrespectful names such as “Frutti” and and making other disparaging remarks about FG, I ask this question:
How woukd you feel if your wife and kids read these ugly words used against you when doing your job? Or what if you heard same about your wife and children about their job performance?

Looking forward for some honest answers.

Atlanta fan

March 23rd, 2012
6:45 pm

SI also picked the Falcons to win the Super Bowl…..not worried

Spud

March 23rd, 2012
7:09 pm

Sports Illustrated is still in business? Who cares what they predict?

Disgusted

March 23rd, 2012
7:14 pm

I agree that they will finish 4th with a record between 79 and 82 wins.

Thank You Liberty Cheapedia.