The Samuel trade: Another validation of Falcons management
I firmly believe these men know what they're doing. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
I understand that not winning is disappointing. What I couldn’t understand was the amount of vitriol directed toward the Falcons this offseason. They were Doing Nothing. (As if keeping eight key free agents was tantamount to nothing.) They were Content With Mediocrity. (As if four consecutive winning seasons could be deemed mediocre.) They needed — this is always a personal favorite — to Show More Urgency. (As if hyperventilation is a hallmark of clever management.)
I understand that we as a society demand instant gratification at all times. What I couldn’t understand was the utter misreading of the Falcons as an organization. Being a member of the media offers access that the general public doesn’t get, so I can excuse the masses for not knowing better. But anyone who has been around the Falcons since January 2008 surely must know that Thomas Dimitroff and Mike Smith are not men who spend their days reclining in Barcaloungers eating Tostitos and watching “Three’s Company” reruns instead of game tape.
These are smart, driven men, and here I want to underscore the second adjective. Not a day passes that Smitty and Dimitty don’t ask themselves the question that stewards of every professional team must ask: How can we get better? The giddy turnaround of 2008 didn’t satisfy them. (If it had, they wouldn’t have dumped half their defense.) The 13-3 season of 2010 didn’t satisfy them. (Otherwise they’d never have done the five-for-one Julio Jones trade.)
To suggest that the Falcons have grown fat and happy just to keep making the playoffs in Round 1 is, at least to these eyes, a grievous error. To suggest that this front office would leave an avenue unexplored is an affront to the brainpower housed at 4400 Falcon Parkway, Flowery Branch, Ga. Have there been draft picks who haven’t hit big? Absolutely. Has every imported free agent had the desired effect? No. But this isn’t an organization that’s apt to be outsmarted.
Having worked here since 1984, I can tell you that hasn’t always been the case. There were Falcons management teams I wouldn’t have trusted to pour Pepsi from a boot, and those who followed the team in those dark days will recall my disdain over nearly every move. But Dimitroff and Smith are different: They’re the best GM/coach in team history, and I don’t mean that as faint praise. I’m willing to cut a team almost any amount of slack if I believe it is well run.
Not every John Schuerholz move panned out, but I was never of the opinion that the Braves under that Hall of Fame general manager weren’t in wise and capable hands. I feel the same about these Falcons. Have they won a Super Bowl yet? No, but winning championships isn’t easy. It took Schuerholz’s Braves five seasons (one of them a strike year) to take the World Series. If my abacus is correct, Dimitroff and Smith are in Year 5. And their team looks better by the day.
They have new coordinators, at least one of whom was sorely needed, and a new line coach, also a necessity. (For all who wondered: Why did the Falcons stick with Mike Mularkey/Brian Van Gorder/Paul Boudreau so long … well, the 2011 season marked the first step backward under this administration, which had gone from 11-5 to a fairly gutty 9-7 to 13-3.) They kept those eight free agents, and now they’ve traded for cornerback Asante Samuel, once a Pro Bowler and still spry enough to bolster the secondary.
This has not been an offseason spent Doing Nothing. This has been a time of mid-course corrections. The Falcons got good in a hurry, but they haven’t quite gotten to great — which isn’t to say they’ve stopped trying. (And they’ll keep trying via the draft, which begins Thursday for most teams but is scheduled to commence Friday for the Falcons.) This has become an aggressive organization, and just because they didn’t make a run at Mario Williams shouldn’t have been construed as a lack of commitment.
I’m not here to serve as an apologist. This administration has made mistakes, and this team played to 60 percent of its capacity last season. But I see nothing in Dimitroff and Smith — or Arthur Blank or Matt Ryan or Julio Jones — that would preclude these men from winning a Super Bowl. They’re bright enough, and they’re hungry enough. With the Saints in chaos, the Falcons will reclaim the NFC South this fall. And then?
On March 8, 2010 — the day the Falcons signed Dunta Robinson — I wrote that this team would win a Super Bowl within three years. There’s one year left. I stand by that belief.
By Mark Bradley
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202 comments Add your comment
PMC
April 25th, 2012
4:57 pm
So you don’t think the public should react negatively to scoring zero points offensively in a playoff game and then making no move to address obvious problems when players are available?
You don’t find that frustrating from a fans perspective? I’ve given tons of credit to our ownership GM and Head Coach, but being patient after that wretched awful performance and expecting the guys they brought back (Thomas Decoud, Kroy Biermann) to fix no pass rush and a porous secondary is a little silly Mark.
We did not employ a starting caliber Right Guard last season and we were darn lucky that Svitek could play.
Frustration with little to no progress after two strait gutter bombs in the post season should have been expected. It’s called passion.
PMC
April 25th, 2012
4:58 pm
Every writer in the country whines about Atlanta fans having no passion, then when they display some…. it’s discouraged?
Submariner683
April 25th, 2012
4:59 pm
I’ll give Matt “Choke” Ryan this, he has a lot of audacity to post on here with all the messed up crap the Saints have been involved in. I’m beginning to think that he is actually a part of the organization in some fashion.
With that being said, is this money better spent on Samuels than keeping Curtis Lofton? Is this enough of a significant upgrade for the defense overall to make up for the loss of Lofton?
Kobie
April 25th, 2012
5:02 pm
These blogs never cease to amaze me. when the Smith’s were running the team everyone could not be happier getting rid of them. When the team let go of Michael Vick, I assumed it would be years to get over that fiasco, but the Falcons actually started to win. Now so many want the Falcons to cut bait and get rid of Smith and Dimitroff. I am so glad the masses do not run the team, because based on these blogs if you do not do anything in 3 or 4 years just cut bait and start fresh and wait again for different players to come in. It was obvious the scheme the Falcons ran were not effective look at the results. Give these new coaches a chance to do something. Everyone saying Edwards and Robinson are busts but when those two were acquired these blogs were overwhelming in favor of the moves. Cannot make everyone happy all the time. Lets see what the year will bring.
Deja vu
April 25th, 2012
5:06 pm
Mark, they got you high, didn’t they?
mark
April 25th, 2012
5:10 pm
Brilliant Joe Fish takes 1 2 no 1, must be tough to spell out one or to oh I see no was the real problem. What a dumb ass, were is your side kick Choke? Do you guys dress up as your favorite super hero and watch cartoons together? Are better yet, you dress up in Saints gear and go to Choke’s mom’s basement to watch the game on his 20in black & white. Choke your chicken and smelly fish, to guys made for each other, hey which one gives the reach around?
PMC
April 25th, 2012
5:10 pm
Why does everyone keep referencing Mario Freaking Williams…. no one thought we were making a run at Mario Williams….
How does Thomas Decoud make this team better?
DJ Sniper
April 25th, 2012
5:10 pm
Choke, you keep talking about how the Eagles know how to evaluate talent and when to let players go, but how many Super Bowls have they won?
Joe Tess, for the love of God, will you please learn how to spell??????
PMC
April 25th, 2012
5:13 pm
People thought we had cap space so they thought we would address offensive and defensive lines.
It’s not that inspiring to sign a right guard that didn’t play that year when that was the weakest link on the team, but I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt.
I just don’t understand how a fan base displays passion after one of if not the worst offensive performances in NFL playoff HISTORY a writer in this town would not expect a slow offseason to be frustrating to fans of said team.
rm
April 25th, 2012
5:14 pm
It was a 7th rd pick for samuel. 3 yr 18m new contract. If you complain about that you dont know ANYTHING about football. Ignorance is bliss i suppose
Najeh Davenpoop
April 25th, 2012
5:21 pm
The Samuel trade is a good trade, and will be a much better trade if they can hang on to Grimes and bolster the pass rush to enhance Samuel’s ball-hawking skills. But the only “validation of Falcons management” is a playoff win. Until this team starts winning in the playoffs, they deserve to be criticized. If the Hawks can win a playoff round year in and year out and be rightfully criticized for not doing more, so can the Falcons.
X
April 25th, 2012
5:37 pm
It’s amazing listening to the bloggers, as someone said before damned if they do damned if they don’t. I’ll admit at being a little impatient at times but jeez louise let the off season and regular season play out first. @ Najeh why do you keep bucking for the hawks they freaking SUCK, but I forgot fans like you are satisfied with getting to the 2nd round year in and year out. SMH! By the way i’m a Lakers fan and only O’brien trophy’s matter! Until the hawks get one they are just a playoff opponent for teams.
rojer
April 25th, 2012
5:48 pm
3yr $18 million is pretty steep. About the 3rd highest paid on the team for your second best player at the position.
Mike
April 25th, 2012
5:51 pm
but it is better than 10 mil, rojer
But I think Falcons is in Win-it-all mode and also I think they need to get into Yep and also go after Osi Umenyiora with everything we got. (2) 3rd round picks for Osi and Giants (4) works if we cant get the person we want with the 3rd round pick.
Paddy
April 25th, 2012
5:56 pm
Nate…….it is obvious that you don’t know much about pro football. Stop making yourself look foolish.
JSS
April 25th, 2012
6:06 pm
Everyone with clear vision is seeing this trade for what it is worth. Without any improvement in the D-Line play (the means a pass rush that finishes sack opportunities) and a substantial upgrade in the coverage & reaction ability of Thomas DeCoud, nothing will really improve… That is a fact…
Really?
April 25th, 2012
6:11 pm
What you have to understand Jeff is that, due to the freedom of speech, idiots get to come on to blogs and make statements that they have no idea what they are talking about. People like this are usually not successful in life or have a home life that is a train wreck. Coming on here and complaining that the Falcons front office is clueless is really code for speaking about their own failures and not looking into the mirror. Or to put in in simple terms the morons will understand. TD knows football, they don’t.
Drew "The Convict" Brees
April 25th, 2012
6:13 pm
Nothing to see here folks! No bounty, no spying. Just ignore what the truth, I mean what you hear. It is all lies! Besides, I won’t be here next year.
Hugh Jass
April 25th, 2012
6:14 pm
I love the move. I hope that the team keeps Dominique Franks though. He is a solid player and an even better person. I met him at a childhood cancer benefit which he STOOD throughout so that families of childhood cancer survivors and victims could have a seat.
Just saying..
April 25th, 2012
6:17 pm
We’re lucky in the ATL to have TD and Frank Wren as GMs.
JTH
April 25th, 2012
6:18 pm
I like it! He’s not pro-bowl caliber anymore but still better than what we had. Feeling better about the team moves now.
dc74
April 25th, 2012
6:32 pm
When are you going to learn to quit saying Falcons and Super Bowl in the same sentence ??
john
April 25th, 2012
6:57 pm
im so sick of all the haters on here. Also, the eagles arent releasing samuels because hes done, theyre doing it because they are stacked at cb and all him being there is doing is causing issues. with us hell fit perfectly in with our needs. Everyone who hates on the falcons so much better man up when we win and admit they were total jackoffs
Mako
April 25th, 2012
6:57 pm
MB….this is one of your better ones…good job
SLOW DOWN
April 25th, 2012
6:59 pm
This was definitely an anticlimatical off-season for our Falcons that I’ve witnessed in the past couple of years! I do believe in the management of this organization, however, ROME WAS NOT BUILT IN A DAY! This was a great move, but there are still too many holes to fill before we start talking about Championships! Such as consistency, my man Roddy keeping his mouth shut & “finishing the drill!” Julio is still developing, both sides of the line need tremendous improvement, more pressure on the quarterback and desire! I observed the look of desperate men as Drew Breezy set his place in history. Also, as Aaron Rogers achieved the status of greatness we showed that we weren’t ready! Bad news is we’re not there yet. Good news is we’re on our way.
john
April 25th, 2012
7:03 pm
and another thing, of course hed rather play for us then denver. were a great city and im sure were closer to where he lives. also who cares about peyton, the falcons are a better team and will continue to be for many years to come so long as smitty and demitty are in charge
TD has no clue!
April 25th, 2012
7:05 pm
My name says it all.
Columbus
April 25th, 2012
7:18 pm
O line and D line are where its at. This will help and Falcons management is without a doubt the best EVER. SOme moves dont pan out and free agents go other places or you cant afford them. Edwards did not help nearly as much as we hoped, Robinson either. Got to have STRONG lines….Come on coaches….
Charlotte Falcon
April 25th, 2012
7:33 pm
Excellemt piece with words of wisdom for those who are quick to forget the days when David Archer was the starting QB or the sad sack years of Jume Jones
DawgDad
April 25th, 2012
7:39 pm
Essentially the Falcons traded Lofton and a behind full of splinters for Samuel. Any upgrade on D figures to come from scheme-change and players healing.
It would seem plausible to get one capable starting offensive lineman out of the draft, and some pieces like a kick returner and a new clipboard holder. Overall, about as good as could have been expected.
Disgusted
April 25th, 2012
7:41 pm
We have had so much worse and the Falcons have come a long way from the incompetence of Jerry Glanville and Ken Herock.
To this day I say Jerry Glanville was the worst coach in Falcon history and that includes Marion Campbell.
Now they need to get a young pass rusher. And get rid of Sam Baker, he stinks bad. I hate him.
John
April 25th, 2012
7:43 pm
Mark, I like you have always been willing to give any Atlanta sports team the benefit of the doubt if I see that it is being ran well. I like the direction and the leadershipm team the Falcons have in place. There is a master plan in place that we as sports fans are not in on. When Arthur Blank was running The Home Depot, I had no doubt of the driection orany question concerning his leadership when he was in charge.
When he left THD, let’s just say things changed and not for the better until recent. When Mr. Blank took over the Falcons I was extremely happy because not only would he put a quality product on the field and take care of his people but he would ensure one day that the Lombardy trophy would reside in Atlanta. There is NO DOUBT in my mind that Mr. Blank will have multiple Lombardy trophies reside in Atlanta…. Nubian Eyes are Watching
russ
April 25th, 2012
7:45 pm
Hey Bradley ,why are you always praising these guys and dumping all over the Hawks Brass and coaches when any blind man can see which organization has been better in recent years.The Falcons always play down to inferior teams and get blasted in the play-offs during the Smitty Demitty era.Woody for the hawks took limited talent and made them into a winning team with an improved record year after year,he maxed out the guys on his roster.and Drew seems to be taking them a bit farther but all they get from you is sarcasm and negativity,I wonder if their color has something to do with them not being in your words (smart and driven) like Smitty and Demitty.
JSS
April 25th, 2012
7:46 pm
“There is a master plan in place that we as sports fans are not in on.”
Am I the only one rolling my eyes at that statement?
Ed
April 25th, 2012
7:49 pm
Great move welcome to Atlanta Mr Samuel
DawgDad
April 25th, 2012
7:52 pm
“Am I the only one rolling my eyes at that statement?” No, that was over the top. Mark must have had lunch with the Editorial staff.
George
April 25th, 2012
8:04 pm
Patience among the Atlanta sports faithful has grown thin. Having been one of those faithful for over forty years I think I (we) have every right to question our teams’ successes (or lack thereof). One championship (Braves ‘95) simply isn’t enough.
Nativebird
April 25th, 2012
8:06 pm
Apologist! hee, hee….couldnt help myself. Seriously, enough with the “boy they used to be real aweful” stuff. please. This organization themselves set the bar. This organization themselves believed they only needed ONE MORE player to get there. Face it guys. THEY failed their own litmus test…Quit trying to blame fans for only believing what the organziation says. Dont try to tell us that pigs can fly, and black is white. It is what it is. THEY missed the bar…not the fans. and we DONT care about your holier than though access to all these mighty brilliant football coaches and GMs. the Fact is, this GM and this Coach was in denial about needs. You can spin that all you want about how much they care…and how much they tried. Thats NOT the fans fault. True fans are and should be brutelly honest. Falcons front office have NOT, repeat NOT done the job to get to the Superbowl, and MANY fans have been saying since 2008. If they is unpalatable for you…so be it.
Tim
April 25th, 2012
8:15 pm
Mark I don’t totally agree with a lot of what you write but I totally am in line with this 100 percent! Great article!
Tim
April 25th, 2012
8:22 pm
I have 1 question for the idiot talking up the Eagles. How many Super Bowls have the Eagles won?
Firsttimer
April 25th, 2012
8:43 pm
Well spoken article…no need to say anymore.
D man
April 25th, 2012
9:16 pm
Great pickup Falcons. We are a better team today…
dc74
April 25th, 2012
9:17 pm
Atlanta Falcons..45 years..ONE Super Bowl appearance. Over 100 games below .500..one of the worst franchises in sports history.
A Complete Blank
April 25th, 2012
9:24 pm
Bradley has indulged in too much of his Bulldog 4/20/12 stash for this article FOR sure.. MB.. Tell us HOW this Validates the current management???? Now that we have gotten the Eagles THIRD best corner that the Eagles DID NOT want due to his largess salary…criticism of management AND not to mention his LOWEST interception total since 2005 last year??? How does this FOOLISHNESS Validate the current Falcon management?? I remember YOU MB… last season acting like the Falcons had signed Reggie White when the Vikings DIDNT WANT Ray Edwards anymore and TD signed him…. I REMEMBER reading the blogs of Texan Fans when Dunta signed.. ” this guy couldnt even cover Kenny Britt!” Finally MB… AB has hired THREE STRAIGHT head coaches with ZERO NFL head coaching experience… HOW did Jim Moron and Bobby Cheatrino work out??? Heres whats gonna happen this fall Super Bowl Bradley…… The Falcons will finish 6-10… Mike Smith will be FIRED and Falcon fans will long for the days of the fun teams under the Smiths ownership…
dawg4u
April 25th, 2012
9:26 pm
Mark, how dare you insult us tostito eating fifty somethings in our barcaloungers watching the old ‘Three’s Company’ reruns. I only watch the ones that Suzanne Somers was in because the show pretty much hit rock bottom after she left. Both TD and Smitty are portrayed as folks that do more by 9 a.m than the rest of us working stiffs do all day but it sure ain’t translating to any playoff success but it is comforting to know that they are constantly breaking down game film. Hopefully we may even have our first playoff win in 2012 for this regime.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 25th, 2012
9:28 pm
“@ Najeh why do you keep bucking for the hawks they freaking SUCK, but I forgot fans like you are satisfied with getting to the 2nd round year in and year out. ”
Fans like you give the benefit of the doubt to an organization that hasn’t even come close to winning a playoff game with the current regime. “Jeez louise let the offseason and regular season play out first”? Who is really “satisfied” here?
I am not satisfied with the Hawks, who are satisfied with making the 2nd round and losing every year. I am even less satisfied with the Falcons, who not only can’t come up with a way to win a playoff game but delude people like you and Mark Bradley into thinking they are a bunch of geniuses who are on top of their games. Until they prove that they can build a championship contender, they deserve just as much criticism as the Hawks, if not more so.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 25th, 2012
9:28 pm
Oh and by the way, if you are a Laker fan, move to LA. GTFOH
primo
April 25th, 2012
9:29 pm
One player does not make a team a contender…delusional as always………lol
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 25th, 2012
9:41 pm
Oh great, now maybe the Falcants will score 4 points in the playoffs
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 25th, 2012
9:42 pm
Jim
April 25th, 2012
4:12 pm
I AGREE with you wholeheartedly!. People forget that the team we have lost to in the first round of the play offs the last three years, has gone on to win the Super Bowl!
We have great ownership and excellent GM and coach.
________________________________________________________
Or could it be if the Falcants had beat those 3 teams they would not have played in the Superbowl…….
Nice try in rationalizing being a LOSER