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
RecentWreck
April 25th, 2012
2:31 pm
Thrilled with the move. Great work TD!
RecentWreck
April 25th, 2012
2:31 pm
…and great work, MB!
Go Falcons!
April 25th, 2012
2:32 pm
FIRST!!!
GT
April 25th, 2012
2:33 pm
Dead on.
Mark Bradley
April 25th, 2012
2:34 pm
Thanks, RecentWreck. And kudos, if you’re so inclined.
sleeze
April 25th, 2012
2:36 pm
Agree Mr. bradley. I am kind of curious to see what moves need to be made to get Samuels’ reworked contract to fit within their limited cap space..
Yunel's Frosted Tips
April 25th, 2012
2:38 pm
Mark, can I borrow your “pour Pepsi from a boot ” line.?……..that’s classic
RecentWreck
April 25th, 2012
2:39 pm
I’m not necessarily inclined but will appreciate them nonetheless…
Samuel brings a proven dynamic to this secondary that you have to appreciate. It is very indicative of the “win now” mentality pervasive through most of this organization- and unfortunately necessary for the Falcons to maintain the attention of too many of our sometimes overly critical fan base (and media).
I remain the hopeless optimist raised on the teams of the 90s and have to believe 2012-2013 will be the year.
Craig Speedy Ehlo
April 25th, 2012
2:39 pm
Perfectly said. Wish some day you could write a verbatim article about the Hawks, but for now it is clear that, you could “suggest that the [Hawks] have grown fat and happy just to keep making the playoffs in Round [2].”
coolbreeze
April 25th, 2012
2:39 pm
Glad to see a smart and hardworking team complimented. Some guys equate change and new faces with progress. Anyone could do that. Being architects of an improving team is harder. Hope the improvements continue…..
ZinoDawg
April 25th, 2012
2:42 pm
Heck yeah!
hbcuclassics
April 25th, 2012
2:42 pm
HBCU Classic Sports
2012 Draft Preview:
WR, Mario Louis, Grambling
http://www.hbcuclassics.com/hbcu_showcase
crose714
April 25th, 2012
2:44 pm
Yes sir! Great acquisition…great article. Thanks MB!
WHY ALWAYS ME?
April 25th, 2012
2:44 pm
I agree that this is easily the best management team in Falcons history and right now second only to early-mid 90’s Braves for best ownership/management team in Atlanta sports history.
GTBob
April 25th, 2012
2:47 pm
I will reserve my judgement until after this season. After Robinson and Edwards pretty much bombed as big time free agent signings, and after the Julio Jones deal that I still don’t believe was very smart, and after several recent draft busts, I have my doubts on what the team is doing. Hopefully Samuel, and the new coordinators will bring some life to this team though. I certainly feel like the Falcons are trying, I just hope they can start being a little more smart about it.
dbird1
April 25th, 2012
2:51 pm
love this trade. lets make some great draft picks and bring on training camp!
megan
April 25th, 2012
2:52 pm
“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.” I do… 3 first round playoff exits, the last after scoring only 2 points! I do not see this Samuel trade as doing much of anything!
Whopper Dawg
April 25th, 2012
2:54 pm
That was a good move by TD. I have never doubted they are driven, but rather the moves over thepast three years. That being said this one was a good one. I would like some of that Super Bowl forecast though Mark. How bout some Memphis BBQ vs whatever you suggest?
Dick Luckburst
April 25th, 2012
2:55 pm
Go Birds!!!
TRIVIA: which stars across all four of the major sports leagues are undefeated in the championship round (minimum of two appearances)?
Hint: Not Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Shaq, Kobe, Roger Clemens or Derek Jeter.
Kane337
April 25th, 2012
2:57 pm
Excited about this move. Tired of the Falcons being a 20+ rated defense. Hopefully this move improves the pass rush by making the QB hold onto the ball longer.
RecentWreck
April 25th, 2012
2:57 pm
GTBob I tend to agree with a number of your postings but will have to respectfully disagree with you here. Robinson and Edwards haven’t lived up to their potential- yet- due to injury (Edwards) and poor schemes (Robinson), but this team does trial and error pretty well. Truthfully the Jones trade was the riskiest thing management has done, as going for someone unproven in the NFL is a lot more dangerous than a free agent signing- as you mentioned with the number of busts (which every team experiences). They’re definitely trying and will get that winning combination soon enough, hopefully before the guys who have been the workhorses of this team are too old to get rings themselves.
Birdlover
April 25th, 2012
2:57 pm
We ain’t going to any Superbowl without a big improvement with the talent on the O-line (and no, a new assistant coach isn’t going to do it). Great move with Asante, but they should at least try and trade Dunta and a pick for a decent O-lineman. Franks is worth the gamble at being ready next year.
GT Alum
April 25th, 2012
3:00 pm
Not that I don’t trust the Falcons FO, but, to play devil’s advocate, haven’t the Hawks had approximately the same level of success over the past few years? And it seems like you couldn’t have less confidence in their management.
Also, retaining FAs might not being doing nothing, but I think the concern was that this team needed to improve the talent on the field, especially on the lines and the secondary. Maybe a more appropriate complaint would’ve been Standing Pat, rather than Doing Nothing.
George Stein
April 25th, 2012
3:01 pm
I applaud the effort, but I’m not a fan of Samuel. He gets destroyed by double-moves because he jumps every route. If Nolan gameplans for that, then this may work. But my expectation is that, eventually, he’s going to give up a big play at a bad time.
Jay
April 25th, 2012
3:03 pm
Another validation? When did the first validation happen? Bradley, please try not to get carried away or be too gushy…TRUE validation ONLY comes with playoff success. Offseason signings don’t validate anything, you should know that better than anyone (Dunta Robinson, Ray Edwards).
chokeville
April 25th, 2012
3:03 pm
wasting more millions on another over-hyped over the hill DB. It never changes with this franchise.
Manny
April 25th, 2012
3:05 pm
Well, that was a good draft!
AtlantaDude
April 25th, 2012
3:05 pm
I think we are at the stage where this management team has proven it is extremely competent, but with the low batting average of their draft picks, we can’t yet be sure that this management team is anything more than competent.
And in my view, the middle of the Dan Reeves era was the only other time we have even had competence, which is why it is so tempting to assign greatness to Smitty-Dimitty.
Kane337
April 25th, 2012
3:07 pm
TRIVIA: which stars across all four of the major sports leagues are undefeated in the championship round (minimum of two appearances)? Tim Duncan, Eli Manning.
Nate
April 25th, 2012
3:08 pm
Is Matt Ryan still the quarterback? Yes. So it doesn’t really matter who the team puts on defense. Ryan will disappear in the playoffs once again.
Chub Rock
April 25th, 2012
3:08 pm
Bradley- Loved the pour pepsi from a boot line LMAO!! Are you sure you meant pepsi or a waste liquid generally known to have a yellowish hue? LOL
rojer
April 25th, 2012
3:10 pm
Samuel is a known gambler on the back side of his career. Assuming the price is right its a fine pick up but is pretty much additional depth.
Dick Luckburst
April 25th, 2012
3:13 pm
Good call, Kane337!
(I’d need help on the hockey side if applicable.)
jerry
April 25th, 2012
3:14 pm
I am going to give the Falcon’s an A for effort. It would appear that there is legitimate reason for optimism.
Larry
April 25th, 2012
3:14 pm
Mark,
Good work!
The bad? Just the spouse, friends, neighbors and employers that are so burdened to be or work around such a negative, pessimistic and glum lot that are already doubting, piss.ing and moaning another effort by this team to get better every single year.
To all of you…log out and go find somewhere to be alone with your whiney self. Yuck!
lanier
April 25th, 2012
3:14 pm
so you are predicting a Super Bowl win this year, interesting
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 25th, 2012
3:15 pm
“Asante Samuel”
Another future fall guy for CHOKE’s failures to win in the playoffs
Joe Tess Fish House
April 25th, 2012
3:17 pm
Anoter misteak by the Flacons. Samauel is just another cheep shot artist like D Roberson. Expect a lot of pinalties and fines this year.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 25th, 2012
3:17 pm
What separates Eagle brass from Falcants brass………
When they let a guy go, they are usually pretty much done.
You may ask yourself “Why didn’t Denver make the trade”?
I’m pretty sure Samuel would rather play with Peyton vs Peyton Wannabe
Joe Tess Fish House
April 25th, 2012
3:20 pm
Yeah U have 2 ask why they only wanted a late round pix for this guy if he is so good
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 25th, 2012
3:22 pm
“RECENT EAGLES CUTS & TRADES”
Brian Dawkins…….Retired 2 years later.
Jeff Garcia……Out of football 1 year later.
Donovan McNabb…….2 teams in 2 seasons.
Kevin Kolb……..Benched in 1 season.
The Eagles are king when it comes to evaluating talent, and knowing when to cut & get value.
coloradobulldog
April 25th, 2012
3:23 pm
Get a life Nate. Ryan has won so many games for us. Who do you want at QB? Joey Harrington?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 25th, 2012
3:24 pm
WHY ALWAYS ME?
April 25th, 2012
2:44 pm
I agree that this is easily the best management team in Falcons history and right now second only to early-mid 90’s Braves for best ownership/management team in Atlanta sports history.
________________________________________
Is that based on “Playoff wins” or “Playoff losses”?
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
April 25th, 2012
3:26 pm
So you are saying we will win the Super Bowl next year?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 25th, 2012
3:26 pm
Does anyone realize that in 2008 this team was the 1st to break the NFC South tradition of going from worst to first?
Robert
April 25th, 2012
3:29 pm
Sure this does not help the Eagles more than us by moving a has been whose weaknesses they well know.
Rickster
April 25th, 2012
3:31 pm
“pour Pepsi from a boot” – in the home town of Coca-Cola?
No wonder the Falcons were so horrible in those days!
UGA sucks
April 25th, 2012
3:32 pm
I can’t wait to read Marks column about how UGA will win the SEC this year.
UGA sucks
April 25th, 2012
3:32 pm
Matt Ryan sacked at the 5 yard line.
Matt Ryan goes down again.
realist
April 25th, 2012
3:33 pm
Once again, Bradley sucks up to the Falcons management and ignores the simple fact that they have done zero to make this team a playoff success. Heck, they can’t even compete in the playoffs. Why the unfounded optimism given the terrible results in the last 8 years?
Hamp
April 25th, 2012
3:37 pm
Wow! No wonder we are considered one of the worst fan bases in all of sports. You ppl are a freaking trip. Always BMGing. B***hing, Moaning and Groaning. It is Damned if you do, Damned if you don’t with most of you. It is depressing. Either support or go away. There are 31 other teams that you could cheer for or just become a fan of another sport all together. True fans work all day and then come to this site to learn about our squad and have to hear this crap wow. Get a therapist to talk to there must be deeper issues. I love y’all though because with all the BMGing I think you at least like the team I hope. Have a good day.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 25th, 2012
3:38 pm
coloradobulldog
April 25th, 2012
3:23 pm
Get a life Nate.Ryan has won so many games for us. Who do you want at QB? Joey Harrington?
_________________________________________________________
Is there a difference?
Joe Tess Fish House
April 25th, 2012
3:39 pm
Asante Samaul is Ray Edmunds part 2
Joe Tess Fish House
April 25th, 2012
3:40 pm
Thne the excues will be he had a pour seasion cuz he was injrued and he will be beter next year.
pj
April 25th, 2012
3:42 pm
Well written Bradley. You aren’t being an apologist here at all. You’re telling the haters what they need to hear. I’m floored at the bloggers who don’t seem to remember that the Falcons have been a mostly terrible franchise and this is the best 4 year stretch in Falcons HISTORY. EVER.
Only one team can win the ultimate prize each year – and this organization is doing everything in its power to get there.
Thank your lucky stars we have TD. I know 25-30 other owners that would love tosnatch him away from us.
Ted M
April 25th, 2012
3:46 pm
So Mark you are predicting the Falcons will win a super bowl this year…I hope you’re right.
The Falcons management and the media have over valued Matt Ryan’s worth. I hope I’m wrong but I see 9-7 and out of the playoffs.
ga4boats
April 25th, 2012
3:47 pm
Mark – I agree with what you are saying and hope that this addition works out well for the Falcons. In my view, they got a real good deal having only to part with a 6th round pick. I believe, however, that this team will lilely only go deeper into the playoffs if the QB does what it takes to get the job done better. Matt has the weight of the world on his shoulders, but he also has great WR’s, a Hall of Fame TE and a way above average RB.
Joe Tess Fish House
April 25th, 2012
3:48 pm
So U R sayin that just cuz the Flacons added an over the hill cheep shot artist they will when the Superbowel? If that was the case why didnt it work last year with Ray Edmunds? Wasnt he the guy that was suposed 2 get them 2 teh Superbowel? Who will it be next year?
Mike
April 25th, 2012
3:56 pm
Wow, I swear some of yall guys is Aints fans or something like that. That is the reason why they make the big bucks doing this and other stuff and there is another reason why this deal might happen. I give yall two hints: 3rd Pick and NYG, now figure it out.
Joe Tess Fish House
April 25th, 2012
3:58 pm
This is not garden club Mike we R not hear 2 do puzzles we R hear 2 tlak football.
Joe Tess Fish House
April 25th, 2012
3:59 pm
Im fraid I dont no you who evrey U R
Mike
April 25th, 2012
3:59 pm
*did
Joe Tess Fish House
April 25th, 2012
4:03 pm
did what?
vafalconfan
April 25th, 2012
4:04 pm
Well said Mark! We are blessed to have great ownership and a stellar front office.
extremus
April 25th, 2012
4:05 pm
At least on paper this is a great pickup for the Falcons; the secondary has been a thorn in their side at least since Mike Smith took over (and probably further back). I agree with an earlier assessment that in some ways, Samuel makes up for the loss of the Falcons’ first-round draft pick in the Julio Jones trade. He’s a proven, veteran shutdown corner and will hopefully help end some drives that FRUSTRATINGLY have kept getting extended on 3rd and long the past few years.
The remaining areas of concern are the offensive and defensive lines. The O-line can’t seem to push anybody to gain short yardage, and they’re sporadic at best in opening up holes for our running backs. And the defensive pass rush is still a serious sore spot; with the departure of Lofton I have to wonder if it could actually get worse unless they get another difference-maker somewhere. Unfortunately, the Falcons had to adjust cap space just to get Samuel, so the entire wish list may have to wait another year (as sadly always seems to be the case).
Roy
April 25th, 2012
4:05 pm
Without a pass rush things won’t change you can count on that!
BamaGuy
April 25th, 2012
4:07 pm
Roy
April 25th, 2012
4:05 pm
Without a pass rush things won’t change you can count on that!
Roy, I think I will count on Nolan….Now, Back to the register
RM
April 25th, 2012
4:09 pm
Hopefully this means the end of watching Owens and/or Franks getting burnt like toast!
Real American
April 25th, 2012
4:10 pm
Who wants to bet at what point during the season it becomes apparent that the Eagles have, as they always do – gotten the better of the deal? I say game 5.
Mike
April 25th, 2012
4:11 pm
For the smart folks, i was talking about using our 3rd pick to get Osi if we can get under salary cap and pick up DT and OL.
Falkor
April 25th, 2012
4:11 pm
Good article MB
It will be interesting to see how the cap room is created now that we have Asante. I know he restructured but I assume his cap hit still puts us over the limit.
Sam Baker is not a good starting LT, but he does add depth to a thin line, so I have my eye on his situation and how it plays out. Ovie is in the same boat, only he is one of the best at what he does. The question with Ovie is whether his benefit is worth the large cap hit (especially for a Full Back).
The Walrus
April 25th, 2012
4:12 pm
There’s our 1st-round pick for 2012.
I like the deal, especially if it is indeed for a 6th round pick.
Real American
April 25th, 2012
4:12 pm
The Eagles have screwed over another team, my goodness.
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.
mark
April 25th, 2012
4:16 pm
Choke good you could make it out of your mother’s basement to make more asinine comments. Still stings that the Saints got bitched slapped by the NFL. It was fun while it lasted for the Saints but those days are over back to 6-10 and never sniffing the playoffs. Can’t wait to see what the Saints do at #3 I mean round not pick. Choke take your bong and your nudie magazines and go back to mom’s basement. BTW I think they just did a film about your life. Joe Smelly Fish I bet you and Choke have a circle jerk every other day while looking a fathead of Drew Breese.
Larry
April 25th, 2012
4:16 pm
Ok half empty glass crowd,
Ture the Falcons OL, DL and DB’s needed help this offseason, or just what is it about a team with the 29th ranking (uh, that’s only better than 3 other teams) in thrid down defense that you can’t understand?
Yes, we need a better pass rush, a better OL and clearly at least one more solid, DB with the great QB’s we will be facing this upcoming season: Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Phillip Rivers, Mike Vick, RG III, Matthew Stafford, and twice each, Drew Brees, Cam Newton and Josh Freeman….that’s 12 of 16 games our defense will be facing goo to great QB’s!
So, TD did the right thing to shore up one area with a pro bowl talent that just turned 31 a couple of months back (Darrell Green, all 5′9″ and 180 pounds of him played CB until he was 41) so to say he will lose a step in the next 2-3 years is absurd…CB’s don’t take that kind of pounding ion their bodies!
So, goobers and whiners, please tell us what OL or DL could the Falcons have signed that are available via draft, FA or trade that could have made more a difference and also handled the above QB’s in the process.
Think before you type, pinheads! This was a brilliant move!
1911A1
April 25th, 2012
4:20 pm
“What I couldn’t understand was the utter misreading of the Falcons as an organization.”
It’s really pretty simple, Mark. Stupid people own computers.
Email Profiling Is Wrong
April 25th, 2012
4:25 pm
Jeez Bradley. Good thing you released all that self-righteous steam. You were about to explode.
As a card-carrying member of the “masses” you are correct. I am not privileged to what transpires in the Falcons’ inner sanctum. I watch what transpires on the field – particularly against top-tier competition – particularly in the playoffs. After the ignoble ends to both the 2010 and 2011 seasons, I concluded the Falcons have problems. Seems they’ve addressed most of them as best they can.
I would bet reasonable folks who call themselves Falcons fans are encouraged by where we stand today – but it was a process that took four months.
What we got from Dimitty(?) back in January after the latest post season flop was empty, organizational spin. As a fan I was rightly disgusted with it. Especially the ludicrous claim that Matt Ryan is an elite QB who just needs the guys around him to step up their games. Puh-leeze.
But that was then and this is now. Your buddy Dimitty replaced both the O and D coordinators, not to mention some position coaches.
It’s a big freaking deal to have retained most of our critical free agents. And the acquisition of Samuels is extremely encouraging. Dimitty and Smitty and Artie deserve our kudos.
But you killed my buzz with one sentence:
” 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.”
What in the wide world of sports do you see in Matt Ryan that indicates he’s capable of leading a team to a Super Bowl victory?
From what I understand, Matty spent his off season golfing, honing his tweeting skills and watching American Idol. Which means he’ll be the same spaghetti armed wimp he was in 2010 and 2011. And nobody in the organization challenges him to improve.
Of course, from my perspective as a member of the masses, I have no way of knowing if that last statement is true or not. Again, I have to watch what transpires on the field. I don’t have my hopes up
Joe Tess Fish House
April 25th, 2012
4:25 pm
Takes 1 2 no 1! LOLOLO!!!
Dawgfan0711
April 25th, 2012
4:25 pm
If the Eagles are king of evaluating talent, where are there super bowl trophies?
ToccoaDawg
April 25th, 2012
4:27 pm
Mark I too remember the Smith Family years and wondering WTH on so many things that family did. This Smith we believe in.
SeenThisBFalcon
April 25th, 2012
4:28 pm
SUPERBOWL BOUND TO NEW ORLEANS……
reckingball
April 25th, 2012
4:29 pm
Good upgrade, but they really need to upgrade the OLine, if they are going to have a chance to win it all. Pass rush needs to improve also.
OLine is the weakest link on the team.
Larry
April 25th, 2012
4:34 pm
reckingball,
See! We can agree on football!
O agree that we need a much stronger OL and hopefully we aren’t done there yet. We could definately use a better LT, a bigger and stronger center, and a good RG. Hopefully we can get some of these guys we’ver drafted the past couple of years to step up and also bring in some UDFA’s and late season cap casulties by September.
AGTFan
April 25th, 2012
4:35 pm
Mark, this is one of the best, most intelligent columns you’ve written. You pretty well summed up the bizarre thought processes of so many Falcon’s fan.
One other thing to say. Chokes a joke!
Joe Tess Fish House
April 25th, 2012
4:36 pm
U all dont no nothing. The Flacons will strugle aagain this year.
mike
April 25th, 2012
4:36 pm
Enter your comments here
Joe Tess Fish House
April 25th, 2012
4:37 pm
Enter your comments here
Joe Tess Fish House
April 25th, 2012
4:37 pm
Mark my words
Hamad Meander
April 25th, 2012
4:38 pm
As I said before, this trade allows the Falcons to go linemen with their 2nd and 3rd round picks. They shouldn’t deviate from that plan either. The offensive and defensive lines are clearly the weak link and I would be SHOCKED if they didn’t draft two offensive linemen. There are no other needs.
Having said that, I’m thrilled with Asante Samuel joining the Falcons. We are going to be in the nickel most of the snaps, so basically we’ve traded a middle linebacker for a ProBowl corner. I like that trade a lot, since great corners are rare and good middle linebackers are not.
Joe Tess Fish House
April 25th, 2012
4:39 pm
So U R saying the Flacons will have 2 reach in the daft getting lineman?
Great Falconi
April 25th, 2012
4:39 pm
I read a pretty good story about how Ryan’s been in the weight room a lot this offseason. His build reminds me of Tom Brady. Brady didn’t start hitting the weights until he was 26 or so. That’s when his downfield passing began to improve. Ryan isn’t Brady, but Ryan has had the room to grow and get stronger because of his lanky frame. A guy also tends to get his man strength around 25 or 26, so don’t discount that going forward.
mike
April 25th, 2012
4:39 pm
I still don’t understand why the Atlanta media gives these two bozos (smith and TD) a free pass. Does Arthur Blank have some sort of dirt on AJC writers?
Where are the playoff wins? Where are the Super Bowls? Where is the offensive line? A cornerback, but no pass rush whatsoever?
Mark- stop praising Dimitroff/Smith like they has accomplished something in this league.
I hope they win the Super Bowl every year, but I still don’t see a complete team.
Joe Tess Fish House
April 25th, 2012
4:40 pm
Mr Bradely do U have a way of keping the dummys from posting hear? Some of these remarks are so stoopid.
Bobo is Not the Problem
April 25th, 2012
4:48 pm
Mark, what YOU don’t understand is that all of us “average fans” care about results, not effort. It’s great that management is putting in so much effort, but you are not an insider for any of the other 31 teams, so you can’t say how that effort compares. And regardless of effort, the results aren’t there, so if the effort is so great, perhaps the knowledge and expertise isn’t.
Finally, the Falcons have 0 Super Bowl wins in 46 seasons, and that’s the definition of “mediocrity” if not “pitiful.”
rojer
April 25th, 2012
4:48 pm
Darrell Green?
Veteran shut down corner?
Yall got the wrong guy. This guy is a 3rd corner about now. A nice piece. Now go do it 8 more times.
Joe Tess Fish House
April 25th, 2012
4:50 pm
http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-falcons/new-stadium-plan-retractable-1425916.html
This is funy cuz the Flacons will not seel out in a new stadium
Terrible Truth
April 25th, 2012
4:52 pm
Looks like Ryan’s gonna be running for his life again this season.
UGA sucks
April 25th, 2012
4:54 pm
The Eagles are paying back the Falcons for giving them a horrible football player called Mike Vick.
UGA sucks
April 25th, 2012
4:54 pm
“I firmly believe these men know what they’re doing. ”
Says the guy who predicted the Braves would win the WS, UGA win the SEC and the Pats to win the SB.
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
longtimefan
April 25th, 2012
9:43 pm
In some perverse way I will miss the asinine comments from the Joe and Choke Show when the Falcons win the SB this year.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 25th, 2012
9:49 pm
“GM COMPARISON”
McKay 2 winning seasons in 4 years
Dimitroff 4 winning seasons in 4 years.
McKay 1 Championship game in 4 years.
Dimitroff 0 Championship game in 4 years.
McKay 2 Playoff wins in 4 years.
Dimitroff 0 Playoff wins in 4 years.
Seriously you think Dimitroff had better success?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 25th, 2012
9:55 pm
longtimefan
April 25th, 2012
9:43 pm
In some perverse way I will miss the asinine comments from the Joe and Choke Show when the Falcons win the SB this year.
___________________________________________-
And the Easter Bunny will be the starting quarterback
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 25th, 2012
9:56 pm
Curtis Lofton would still be a Falcant if CHOKE would be the team player that Matt Stafford is and restructure that OVERRATED contract
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 25th, 2012
9:59 pm
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
There have been 8 Superbowl Champions since the last time the Falcants have won a single playoff win. Great stuff
Coach
April 25th, 2012
10:03 pm
Mark Hi-Jacked Bradley strikes again. Topic will no longer matter now. Good piece of writing though, even if I don’t agree with everything.
longtimefan
April 25th, 2012
10:18 pm
The Falcons could have signed Manning and Williams and 20% of the “fan” base would be critical. There are some people who are never satisfied and constantly look for the negative in all situations. Others, like Choke, just like to jerk peoples chains and like the attention-negative or otherwise. Similar the the Fish- nobody is that big of a moron. I think he is probably pretty smart to find innovative ways to intentionally mispel wrds.
jfreak13713
April 25th, 2012
10:39 pm
Samuel a nice addition to an already good team. They have some holes but are solid to really good at almost all key positions. I don’t think Samuel makes the Falcons a Super Bowl pick but it certainly moves them into the conversation. They key to next season will first be injuries but following not too far behind the play calling by the coaching staff. Questions remain about Ryan and his ability to take his game to next level but no Mularkey to kich around now. I am a Ryan fan and believe he can / will do just that but its time to move past projections and into accountability.
Really hard schedule this year if you assume Saints are ok and Newton doesn’t have soph slump. I think if the Falcons play really well they are 11-5 or 12-4?? I would not be suprised if they are 10-6.
super bowl!!
April 25th, 2012
10:58 pm
bradleys says the falcons will win the superbowl by next season!!! YES!!!!! Falcons–world champions!!! YESS!!! Samuel is the deal!!!!
Bigdawg
April 25th, 2012
11:17 pm
All the Tech people look at the football world with their glasses half-empty, while we Bulldogs look at the world with our glasses half-full.
Do y’all always walk around with a cloud over your head?
Malcome the Falcon
April 25th, 2012
11:55 pm
I have followed the Falcons since 1966,and I have never seen a Management team react this way. I have wanted them to, but just figured it would be the Cowboys or Oakland that made trades or F.A. acquisitions. I admired them for doing what it takes to win championships. Now it is our turn to do those things that it takes to be winners! Way to go Falcons! By the way, Nate is a saint’s fan.
Robdawg
April 26th, 2012
2:06 am
To all you losers, this guy is the best db to play w the falcons since prime time. And neon deon did not want to tackle anyone either. But, he did lead two teams to sb victories after he left the falcons. So all you loud mouth know it alls need to just shut up and quit your complaining. You have the best football talent evaluators in Atl that we have ever had. They have won more than we ever had. And all you bunch of whiners can find to complain about is how matty ice can’t win the big one. Well Peyton never
won the big one till he won the big one. Had that Brady guy in his way. Cut matty a little slack! He has lost to some pretty good defenses and been mauled along the way. I would like to see one of you big mouths take one of the shots that he takes every game. I would think you might respect him a little more if you did this . All he does is get up after every shot and go back to the huddle and call the next play. Sure, he wishes the o-line was better but he never complains about them, he just goes on about his business. We still need help there and hopefully for his safety we will either address that in the draft or pick up a few more linemen thru draft day trades. Meanwhile, all you naysayers need to take your daily complaints to Tampa, New Orleans, Philly or Charlotte where you bunch of whinning losers will fit right in.
.
Amazing Lizardo
April 26th, 2012
3:10 am
I certainly applaud the Falcon’s management for trying so hard to bring Atlanta their first football world championship. How ironic that while I am celebrating this blessing that I must also plead for common sense and a revision to the bone headed plan they have simultaneously proposed. I am of course speaking of the horrible plan to destroy the Georgia Dome as part of the plan to build a new open air stadium. The latter is something I can support wholly, provided a few common sense provisions are met without taxpayer expense, with only some sadness reserved for the likelihood that many an average fan may no longer be able to afford to attend Falcons games. They do look good on TV after all.
This kind of absurd and wasteful thinking really makes me sick to my stomach. The very idea of destroying a perfectly useful building that has been paid for by a heavy public investment of tax dollars and such makes me angry at best. For Arthur Blank to truly pay for the cost of this precious new facility, he must absolutely shoulder the costs of keeping this existing building viable whilst paying for the new as well. He will thus protect the public investment by a community he now owes a great deal to for providing a way for him to expand his profits using the subsidized gift from the public that is the Georgia Dome. Enjoying the profits that an NFL owner does is a privilege that is built on the contributions of countless taxpayers nationwide. After all, we provide the roads and public transportation and many other things that allow him to attract paying customers with ease. And public funds were involved in the construction of the current magnificent facility that has better views than the vast majority of football facilities in the entire nation. It comes up short only in the number of luxury boxes for the well to do when compared to a mere handful of other NFL stadiums. Most colleges would surely feel blessed to have this place!
Yes, I realize it is expensive to operate, but this is a blatant attempt to avoid the civic obligation to maintain a building that is and can be useful for many civic purposes-except perhaps ever larger profits for one solitary pro football team. And let’s not forget the cost of this new facility will certainly include pricing the Falcons experience out of reach for many more sports fans, just as Braves games are no longer affordable to a large number of ordinary citizens. The least he can do to make it up to the greater public is this. It would also be nice to offer just a few tickets at affordable prices so those who used to be able to afford the experience can continue to do so.
Just think. A lot of high school football players could enjoy the experience of playing in a world class facility without necessarily having to make the state playoffs. Georgia State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Morehouse and many others could also enjoy the benefit of using the Dome occasionally-thus providing some relief from such a burdensome expense for the Falcons ownership. The goodwill generated by giving back to the community in this way might well expand Mr. Blank’s popularity well beyond that of beloved local sports owner. He could indeed become a national hero by setting a great and proper example for his fellow owners.
This could also greatly improve the public perception that the well to do simply have no regard for the social contract that has allowed an unprecedented number of millionaires to enjoy the American dream on a level that only a few can truly experience, but a level to which so many aspire. We cannot all win the lottery after all. The benefits for the greater community could extend well beyond sports of course. But don’t get me started brainstorming on these possibilities, there are surely a lot of great ideas besides the ones I might offer-and I would love to hear them!
Zach
April 26th, 2012
7:02 am
Falcons fans always press the panic button way too fast at the first sign of things not going as expected. This is the greatest run of winning football in Falcons history. It needs to be enjoyed and the front office commended. Ryan, Smith and TD are winners. Mr. Blank is fully committed to winning. The playoff wins will come. Just be patient!
Jimmy Crack
April 26th, 2012
7:58 am
You can blame the fans all you want, Mark. I blame television for our short attention span and the microwave oven for our impatience. So there.
Submariner683
April 26th, 2012
8:03 am
Matt “Choke” Ryan
1967-2001 Number of Saints playoff wins ZERO! 35 Super Bowl Champions in that time! Great stuff:)
Once Brees leaves it’s quite possible they’ll go another three decades with no playoff wins.
Number of games Mckay will be GM this year 8/ Dmitrioff 16 (at least)
Number of times Dmitrioff has authorized a bounty system – 0, Mckay, you know the answer moron.
If this wire tapping thing is true, number of games mckay will be a GM in the NFL – 0
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 26th, 2012
8:30 am
“0-3 in the playoffs”
Definitition of a bust…….anymore questions?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 26th, 2012
8:34 am
Jim Mora took this team to the championship game in his first season. This is the great Dimitroff/Smitty/CHOKE’s 5th season.
HA HA HA
Falcon4Life
April 26th, 2012
8:35 am
Mark, I understand, that if you BASH, this organization, they will cut you off from information! However, this team has NOT won a PLAYOFF game under this regime! I think you are accepting mediocrity here…YES, you have to win in the regular season to get to the playoffs, and really appreciate the winning regular seasons under this regime, but, I want Championships, and this regime has not gotten it done! So, as far as I am concerned, they are on the clock. Their move!
I am appreciative of Arthur, because, I was around for all the Rankin days…God Bless his soul, SO….
Falcon4Life
April 26th, 2012
8:38 am
One more thing, INSTANT GRATIFICATION?!!! BWAHAHAHAHA!!! How Long has this Regime been here? LOL! That was HORRIBLE statement!
Dan
April 26th, 2012
8:54 am
Ha Mora was lucky, the man doesn’t understand the first thing about leadership. I recall a game at the Dome I believe against the Giants. I was amazed at the 3 “captains” that trotted out for the Falcons. Vick, MeAngelo, and Rossum. Could you select 3 worse people to be your captains? Thats really all you need to know about his management skills
TODD
April 26th, 2012
9:31 am
Even if Samuel doesn’t pan out the fact that they gave up only a 7th round pick = win. So say all you want Eagles fans but the Falcons got the better end of the deal. You didn’t have any leverage and you were forced to give him away for nothing. End of story.
Go For 2
April 26th, 2012
9:47 am
Mark: Falcons are moving backwards…the line play remains terrible…keep bring us those unsubstantiated predictions…gotta lock in Most Favored Suck up Status with Falcons, Inc….good job Mark
Von
April 26th, 2012
10:58 am
You can paint, polish and shine all the exterior you want…but it won’t matter if the there’s nothing under the hood. The Falcons are in desperate mode now and it’s beginning to show. Why was he on the trading block for two years, and no buyers until now? How many pro bowl offensive lineman do the Falcons have? The Saints had two, lost one, got another one and now have two again. Get with the program Falcons.
Joe Tess Fish House
April 26th, 2012
11:14 am
Im still mad the Flacons did not trade 4 Time Teabow. Instead they trayd 4 an over the hil cheep shot artist that wont do N E thing 4 this team.
typical know it all
April 26th, 2012
11:45 am
CHOKE is a Vick fan. Answer this quesiton CHOKE. Will Vick actually play a full season? Will he actaully make the play-offs again?
Email Profiling Is Wrong
April 26th, 2012
12:02 pm
@ Robdawg
I agree with your comments about Matt Ryan. But I’ll differ with your perception that they somehow make him virtuous. They don’t. It’s his freaking job to get up after he’s knocked down. He should support his teammates (publicly anyway).
You can say a lot of negative stuff about Matt (God knows I do), but dumb he ain’t. So tossing his O linemen under a bus with public criticism- particularly when a guy is as immobile as Ryan is – would be downright self destructive.
Here’s hoping Matt comes to camp bigger, stronger and more decisive. We need a real football player at QB. And if he’s elite as Dimitroff claims, he should make his teammates better. His teammates shouldn’t have to prop him up.
PFT: NFL might kill the Pro Bowl this year - Breaking News Online
April 26th, 2012
12:37 pm
[...] praise for the work done by the Falcons front [...]
PFT: NFL might kill the Pro Bowl this year | Hot Sport News
April 26th, 2012
12:43 pm
[...] regard for the work done by a Falcons front [...]
colelinski
April 26th, 2012
1:12 pm
I don’t think anything the Falcon brass does will satisfy a lot of these so-called fans. Jesus Christ himself
could’nt satisfythem. I believe the Falcons will win at least 10 games and maybe more if the injury does’nt
strike
PFT: NFL might kill the Pro Bowl this year - HOTTEST WORLD NEWS
April 26th, 2012
1:15 pm
[...] praise for the work done by the Falcons front [...]
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 26th, 2012
1:37 pm
Dan
April 26th, 2012
8:54 am
Ha Mora was lucky, the man doesn’t understand the first thing about leadership
_________________________________________________________
You want some WHINE with that cheese?….ha ha.
I guess Smitty/Dimitroff/CHOKE aint lucky. Good point
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 26th, 2012
1:41 pm
TODD
April 26th, 2012
9:31 am
Even if Samuel doesn’t pan out the fact that they gave up only a 7th round pick = win
_______________________________________________________
What round was Brady, Terrell Davis & Jamaal (running back) Anderson drafted?
It’s not the round its how you evaluate talent. Look at Trent Cole in Philly. He was a 4th or 5th round pick and he has averaged over 10 sacks for his whole career.
I will laugh if that 7th round pick turns out to be a starter….ha ha
Asante is a smart guy. He knew Philly would cut him and only the Falcants would sign him to such a good contract…..ha ha.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 26th, 2012
1:48 pm
When the defense outscores the offense with just 2 points in the biggest game of the season….
Well that’s all you need to know about CHOKE
If it takes you 5 seasons to win a playoff game when it only took Flacco, Sanchez, Tebow & Vick their 1st season as a starter, well folks you have been RIPPED off.
CHOKE doesn’t even show any pride in working on his physique by spending some time in the weight room.
CHOKE doesn’t even show any leadership or as a team player by reconstructing his contract like Matt Stafford did in Detroit. Now Stafford is a team leader!
hbcuclassics
April 26th, 2012
2:32 pm
Falcoons Easy Button 2012 2.0
55. Bobbie Massie, OL, Ole Miss
84. Zebrie Sanders, OL, Fla. State
157. Chris Rainey, RB/WR, Fla.
192. Christian Thompson, S, SC State
229. Ryan Davis, DE/OLB, Bethune
249. Traded to Eagles for A.Samuel
http://www.hbcuclassics.com
Longtimefan
April 26th, 2012
2:53 pm
Choke-what’s with the little smiley face after all your posts. I kind of like it in a way-it reminds me of my daughter’s grade school years the way she signed letters. She grew out of it by high school.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 26th, 2012
7:42 pm
“FROM Cleveland & Minnesota”
Dear Thomas Dimitroff:
On behalf of the Cleveland & Minnesota Organization, we would like to extend a whole hearted thank you for the 4 of 5 picks you donated to us. Thanks to you, we were able to land Richardson from Alabama and all it cost us were 4 picks that you donated, and now Minnesota will rebuild their team thanks to you.
Thank you Thomas. Please shop again
Uncle Rico
April 26th, 2012
9:43 pm
Why do I have to keep come on this blog and keep reminding TD & MS that you don’t build a winner without a solid foundation e.g. Offensive Linemen. Every improvement project is completed in this manner and football is no different.
They need a Six Sigma Black Belt to come in and show them how to build a d!@m winner….And I am for hire!!
jim from Atlanta
April 26th, 2012
11:12 pm
GEEZ–Atlanta got hosed in the draft and traded for a has-been–hope Asante brings his walker with him–And we thought the Smiths were stupid–No Hope for Atlanta–Loserville.
jim from Atlanta
April 26th, 2012
11:16 pm
Does anybody see the likeness in Bartowski and Ryan–both professional losers with a team bent on hype not performance–have a cheap owner and he’s more concerned about concessions than playing football–where is the Old Ted Turner when you need him?
Mora less Petrino
April 27th, 2012
1:21 am
Mark,
Your statement, “But Dimitroff and Smith are different: They’re the best GM/coach in team history,” is probably correct. But Leeman Bennett and Eddie LeBaron did pretty good under the Smith ownership! We’ll never know how well they could have done with a better owner and and a longer tenure. The Falcons history would likely be a bit better.
The Leeman Bennett firing was one of the worst moves in the history of professional sports in ATL. (The firing of Reeves, and hiring of Mora and Petrino are way up on that list as well). The Falcons were dreadful for the remainder on the 80’s, going 57-94-1 for that decade. The team won more games in the 70’s, 60-81-3, while only playing a 14 game schedule until the 1978 season.
Joe Tess Fish House
April 27th, 2012
8:26 am
Why didnt the Flacons make a pix last night?
Joey
April 27th, 2012
8:49 am
Great get!
Now, take the shackles off of Matt Ryan. That 2 yds and a cloud of dust offense will get nowhere in the playoffs.
Email Profiling Is Wrong
April 27th, 2012
8:56 am
@ jim from atlanta
“Does anybody see the likeness in Bartowski and Ryan?”
Good Lord, no. Don’t know how old you are, but I was around when Bartkowski was drafted. Bart had some growing pains, but he matured (after he was benched for a game or two for June Jones). He QB’ed teams that one a number of playoff games. He was truly and elite QB.
Bart had a cannon for an arm and good pocket presence. He could make all the throws truly elite NFL QB’s are expected to mak. He knew how to avoid the rush and extend the play to buy time for his receivers to get open.
Maybe they have the same middle name or something. But beyond being the starting QB of the Falcons, there’s no comparison whatsoever.
Matty can’t hold Bart’s jock up to this point.
Falcons_in_the_house
April 27th, 2012
8:58 am
Yes, Eagles are so good and they only move players when they are washed out…
Michael Vick 100 millions man… How is that paying for Eagles…?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 27th, 2012
12:37 pm
The Eagles give up 2 picks, and still have 3 picks before the Falcants first pick.
Now thats a REAL GM
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 27th, 2012
12:42 pm
Falcons_in_the_house
April 27th, 2012
8:58 am
Yes, Eagles are so good and they only move players when they are washed out…
Michael Vick 100 millions man… How is that paying for Eagles…?
_________________________________________________________
2010 3,000+ Passing 700 + running…..Runner up to Tom Brady for MVP
2011 3,000= Passing 800+ running…..
Never shut out in the playoffs
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 27th, 2012
12:44 pm
What does Flacco, Sanchez, Tebow, Vick have in common?
on the flipside……………….
What does CHOKE, Ryan Leaf, Joey Harrington have in common
Fred Macmurray
April 27th, 2012
1:08 pm
So “Choke”,, Whats your point?,,, Just kidding,, keep going,, you’re on a roll today buddy
hbcuclassics
April 27th, 2012
2:46 pm
Falcoons Easy Button 2012 3.0
55. Bobbie Massie, OL, Ole Miss
84. Zebrie Sanders, OL, Fla. State
157. Chris Rainey, RB/WR, Fla.
192. Christian Thompson, S, SC State
229. Ryan Davis, DE/OLB, Bethune
249. Traded to Eagles for A.Samuel
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 27th, 2012
8:43 pm
HA HA HA……Everybody on t.v. laughing at the Falcants. Almost in the 3rd round and these clowns still haven’t picked yet.
Yeah Dimitroff is a genius
Great Validation
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 27th, 2012
8:46 pm
HA HA HA
The only pick in the draft and what does the genius Dimitroff do? Draft another injury prone college player.
This is hilarious