Konz: A big man from the Big Ten could fill a big Falcons need
An ascendant career path? Once a Badger, Peter Konz will become a Falcon. (AP Photo)
Flowery Branch – It was the aerialist Karl Wallenda who (supposedly) said: “To be on the wire is life; the rest is waiting.” For an NFL general manager, the essence of vocational life is the draft. It’s the time when a GM, who ordinarily works behind the scenes, takes center stage.
Pick a winner, and you’re the most sagacious human since Socrates. Pick a bum — or pick somebody your constituency doesn’t like — and you’re the bum. The draft is the equivalent of opening night on Broadway, and Thomas Dimitroff of the Falcons had to sit out this opener.
Granted, he had himself to blame. The five-for-one Julio Jones trade last spring shipped the Falcons’ 2012 first-round pick to Cleveland. Asked last week if it felt weird being sidelined for the draft’s Round 1, which is held on a Thursday night to much fanfare, Dimitroff said this:
“I’m not sure if ‘weird’ is the word. It’s something that we have set out since the beginning of last season knowing that we were going to be picking at 55 … It’s not as much of an impact for me during this time that I thought it might have been when we first made the [Jones] pick or in the few days after. I have enjoyed the process of being involved, thinking 55 over in the 20s, or 22 in our specific case, because it really forces an organization to come together.”
Then Dimitroff, bowing to cold reality, said: “At 55, we are a long way down.”
Well, yeah. An NFL active roster includes 53 players. A whole team’s worth of talent would be gone by the Falcons got around to choosing someone, and Dimitroff, try as he might, couldn’t really hype the product.
“It is very difficult to project what is going to be there in and around 45 to 55. That element of uncertainty adds an element of excitement, if you will. ”
Then, smiling: “I am trying to make this sound very, very positive for the masses. Suffice it to say we won’t be messing up any draft parties this year.”
A case could be made that the Falcons had trumped their draft by trading for the Philadelphia cornerback Asante Samuel on Wednesday. No matter who the Falcons took with the 23rd pick of Round 2, he won’t be, figuratively speaking, the biggest new man in shoulder pads when minicamp rolls around.
Not to say that the 23rd pick of Round 2 isn’t be a big man. He’s Peter Konz, who played center at Wisconsin but who was labeled a guard by the Falcons. He’s 6-foot-5. He weighs 314 pounds. He missed games in all three of his college seasons: Once with blood clots in each lung, twice with sprained ankles. For those holding memories of Peria Jerry, the Falcons’ No. 1 pick of 2009 who’d been injured at Ole Miss and whose NFL career hasn’t taken flight, you have your quibble.
On the plus side: Konz is a value pick who could help fill a crying need. He was ranked the draft’s best center. (Sorry, Ben Jones.) ESPN ranked Konz the 41st-best player available; NFL Draft Scout 300 slotted him 37th. Both Pete Prisco and Clark Judge of CBS Sports had him going in Round 1. When you’re sitting at 55, that’s not a bad find. And it’s better still when you recall the three failed fourth-and-1’s that defined the Falcons’ 2011 season.
The knocks on Konz are that he’s not particularly strong or fast — Konz did say he’d improved his bench press since a weak showing at the scouting combine — but this was a pick for need over want. Even if Dimitroff didn’t say it publicly, offensive line was always his target for the double-nickle choice. (And the Falcons took another O-lineman, tackle Lamar Holmes of Southern Miss, in Round 3.) The Falcons, see, have enough skill players; they’d gotten light on the big nasties.
Konz’s name rhymes with Fonz, who was all the rage in Milwaukee, which is likewise in Wisconsin, back in the ’70s. (Kids, ask your parents. Or watch “Nick At Nite.”) An offensive lineman from the Big Ten is never going to cut the same dashing figure as Henry Winkler in his leather jacket, but this wasn’t a nod to style. To have nabbed such a player two-thirds of the way through Round 2 could yield a substantial gain.
By Mark Bradley
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152 comments Add your comment
Doo Dah
April 27th, 2012
9:36 pm
Furst
jjm
April 27th, 2012
9:36 pm
Boooooo
Mark Bradley
April 27th, 2012
9:37 pm
Kudos, Doo Dah.
Steve
April 27th, 2012
9:42 pm
if he is a keeper Falcons fans think of it like this he will be able to sign a lot of autographs in a hurry with nine letters to deal with most Wisconsin linemen have 9 letter last names alone
Ed Mc
April 27th, 2012
9:45 pm
All he has to do is fall forward and we pick up two yards!
Ed Mc
April 27th, 2012
9:45 pm
Enter your comments here
dawgsfan1990
April 27th, 2012
9:45 pm
GO Falcons. We like this pick better than the Nate McLouth Trade!
Cajdawg
April 27th, 2012
9:51 pm
Not strong or fast and injury prone. Sounds like a great pick to me.
Al
April 27th, 2012
10:11 pm
Sam Baker must have a big smile on his face.
Flo- Ri- Duh
April 27th, 2012
10:11 pm
Should have traded up for Glenn who all the brains said was a 1st round choice. Massee was the 2nd option and was passed over by the Falcons. Massee has all the credentials needed and he is not injury prone.
diving duck
April 27th, 2012
10:13 pm
mark, you must not watch nick at nite anymore. it’s tool time, raymond, and carlos mencia. i miss the cunninghams and bradys.
Dirk
April 27th, 2012
10:21 pm
Actually a huge fan of MB. But this really threw me off …
“Well, yeah. An NFL active roster includes 53 players. A whole team’s worth of talent would be gone by the Falcons got around to choosing someone, and Dimitroff, try as he might, couldn’t really hype the product.”
INJURIES GALORE
April 27th, 2012
10:22 pm
NO,NO,NO,NO,NO!!!!! JUST HAVING A WINNING RECORD ISN’T ENOUGH ANYMORE!!! WE HAVE TO CHOOSE PLAYERS WITH A HISTORY OF BEING HEALTHY! PLAYERS THAT CAN HELP US NOW!!! I’M NOT SAY KONZ CAN’T OR WON’T I’M NOT SO SURE HE WAS THE BEST PLAYER ON THE BOARD THAT COULD OR WOULD HELP…….NOW!!!
Jfreak13713
April 27th, 2012
10:23 pm
I know nothing about this guy but I do know that we needed O-Line and DB and we got both!
"Chef" Tim Dix
April 27th, 2012
10:24 pm
blood clots on the lungs…The new Falcon metric.
What’s next, depth charts at hospice?
Hillbilly D
April 27th, 2012
10:26 pm
I don’t know a lot about this player but at least they made a move to improve the OL, which is their greatest need, in my opinion.
Gwinnett Fred
April 27th, 2012
10:27 pm
They were considering Massie at 55 and just traded away a chance to take him at 84???????
Could have totally rebuilt OL – would like to know why we traded instead of taking Massie!
indy falcon moving south
April 27th, 2012
10:33 pm
not sure how to feel about this one..injury prone,not alot of strength??? but yet rated the top center in college??..kinda wondering who rated the linemen….but it definately wasnt Jeff Van Note…lookin more for the nastiness in the trenches..i guess we shall see
Sam
April 27th, 2012
10:34 pm
I did want Massie at first, but there has to be a reason he is slipping. Trading back just a bit and picking up an extra pick is fine by me. Zebrie Sanders from FSU would be a terrific pick for us with our next pick.
Supers
April 27th, 2012
10:34 pm
Mark, the last 3 years he has missed multiple games due to injuries in college with a 12 game schedule…red flag for sure! Dont spin this one.
Supers
April 27th, 2012
10:35 pm
Each season…forgot to add that part.
Gorilla Biscuit
April 27th, 2012
10:36 pm
Anybody else smell bacon?
Left Coast Dawg
April 27th, 2012
10:38 pm
Not sold at all on this pick and hope they find value with that added 7th round pick from Baltimore.
Left Coast Dawg
April 27th, 2012
10:39 pm
Oink oink
Hillbilly D
April 27th, 2012
10:41 pm
An offensive lineman from the Big Ten is never going to cut the same dashing figure as Henry Winkler in his leather jacket
The Fonz was only 5′ 6″, though.
Roger
April 27th, 2012
10:42 pm
Fire Demi-troff…….failure…..5 first round picks, 2 busts…..terrible pick!
Butler9
April 27th, 2012
10:45 pm
However the Falcons’ draft picks wash out, they’re apparently fighting an uphill battle. By my count, exactly half of the NFL’s teams are named after animals (Falcons, Bears, Chargers, etc.). But non-animals (Patriots, Giants, Jets, etc) have won 37 of the 46 Super Bowls. Super Bowl appearances also highly favor the non-animals — 58 to 34. Not a good stat if you’re a Falcon.
Mark Bradley
April 27th, 2012
10:49 pm
Falcons take Lamar Holmes, OT from Southern Miss, with the 91st pick.
Hillbilly D
April 27th, 2012
10:49 pm
Third round pick is Lamar Holmes (T), Southern Miss.
Hillbilly D
April 27th, 2012
10:50 pm
Sorry MB, thought it might be past your bedtime.
Jack in Macon
April 27th, 2012
10:51 pm
Skinny arms for a lineman. Doesn’t look like he’s ever lifted weights. Understand he’s injury prone. ??????????
Whopper Dawg
April 27th, 2012
10:58 pm
I echo some of the comments on here. Played center in college, we move him to guard, strength, He is a center and we move him to guard, strength, speed and injuries are a concern. I like that it is at least on the OLine which is our greatest area of need, but would have preferred the Ohio State tackle or the Iowa State guard.
Lamar Holmes, I don’t know much about, but he is a big guy, but TD skipped over 8 tackles that were higher rated to select him.
So far, it is a typical TD draft, an injury prone, out of position guy that also is a step slow and not the strongest, and a reach in the third round.
At least it is on the OLine.
HAND SOLO
April 27th, 2012
10:59 pm
this buzzard johnny wad holmes was only given a grade of 31 out of a 100 by espn….please what inthe hell is going on
OHIO FALCON
April 27th, 2012
11:12 pm
Need pass rushing and TE, and we pick a guy rated to go in the late rounds if he was lucky with a bigger guy rated 58 points ahead of him. Scratching my head on this draft.
Country boy
April 27th, 2012
11:19 pm
Hello Marky boy. – very darn good read by you regardless of the subject. enjoyed it. Cheers
Trapper John
April 27th, 2012
11:25 pm
I hope some of these guys can sing. Welcome to the Atlanta Falcons’ Boys Choir, Pete and Lamar. We are so chock full of fine character guys around here. You’ll fit right in! I predict this to be the worst Little Tommy D. draft in his short lived career here. You can’t make this stuff up. Un – frigging- believable. Blood clots in the lungs? Chronic ankle sprains? Will he ever play one single down in the NFL???
techlosesyesagein
April 27th, 2012
11:27 pm
Good picks. Go for D rest the way unless maybe a te.
Delbert D.
April 27th, 2012
11:27 pm
Holmes rated a 50 by NFL combine to 48 for Massie. Heavier, longer, bigger hands; both are projects.
techlosesyesagein
April 27th, 2012
11:29 pm
And everyone crying about the clots if they were any problem or danger to him think he would still be playing after he recovered?
Old Goober
April 27th, 2012
11:35 pm
Holmes? Who the heck is he? Sounds and plays like a taxi driver. Philly gets the best DE available, Vinny Curry, and we get Holmes and a guy who can’t even stay healthy enough to play 12 games a season? I smell brimstone, Dimitroff. We’re desperate for defensive and offensive line help, and you get us a blood-clot vulnerable guard/center and a guy who otherwise would still be waiting in the 5th round. Even the ESPN analysts were too polite to say anything about your selections. Get the luggage out of the attic.
BullDogMike
April 27th, 2012
11:42 pm
Mark, any clue as to why Brandon Boykin, and Orson Charles not even being mentioned by anybody during draft coverage ?
kenny
April 27th, 2012
11:43 pm
Hopefully not, but this pick could make the P. Jerry pick look good..T.D. make trades, not draft picks,please..
Steverino
April 27th, 2012
11:43 pm
Two major things you need to know. 1) Wisconsin 2) Offensive lineman. Konz will start off as a part time guard and shift over to center in a couple of years when McClure is ready to hang it up. I’ve got no problem with the pick.
Darkmancw
April 27th, 2012
11:59 pm
I’m fed up with dimitoff crap!!!! Once again he has drafted injury prone players & passed on players with far more talent. I wish someone would step foward & reject this new stadium mess & tell the falcons brass to concentrate on drafting & signing players to bring a championship to the city of atlanta first. But this will never happen as long as blank, dimitoff, & mckay are the so called brain trust of the ATLANTA FALCONS!!! DON’T THINK I WILL RENEW MY SEASON TICKETS FOR NEXT YEAR!!! CAN PUT THE MONEY TOWARD SOMETHING MORE USEFUL SUCH AS CHIPS & DIPS!!!
Falcon Jim
April 28th, 2012
12:13 am
Everyone on this post are potential candidates for the “Pessimist Club of Atlanta.”
I hope any ONE of you have the nads to admit you were an idiot if one, or both, of these guys turn out to be a good pick. But of course you arm-chair butt-holes are all just puzzies.
falcon for life and Georgia sucks
April 28th, 2012
12:28 am
darkmancw…..Dimitroff has NOTHING to do with the new stadium. The center is a steal. I like the So. MIss. lineman.
JSS
April 28th, 2012
12:47 am
@ Hillbilly D…
So would you call this (draft) an indictment of their previous drafts and inability to evaluate or develop player talent (especially linemen)?
Falcon Jim
April 28th, 2012
1:07 am
A Blank, Dimitroff, M Smith and Mark Bradley should ALL be fired. The AJC should shut-down and EVERYONE move out of Atl.
Vote Obankruptbama……………………..JEEZ ! ! ! ! !
Tdawg
April 28th, 2012
1:09 am
You mean to tell me that the Falcons had a chance to grab Brandon Thompson and passed. Did Smith not see teams gashing us up the middle all season long. Well at least our DE’s are gonna put pressure on the ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,. Never mind.
Falcon Jim
April 28th, 2012
1:14 am
Bring back T Nobis and Cannonball Butler.
JONESBORO SLIM
April 28th, 2012
1:19 am
Whats all this crap from you “no nothing GM’s” as always you’re drinking the kool-aid from the TV talking heads…you people were praising the man early this week with the Samuels trade…but like a woman you can make up your mind about what dress to wear…. just because ESPN, NFL channel, the Sporting News, those old former GM’s and the great Chris Berman who broke every rushing NFL record when played said it …doesn’t make it right…
Tdawg
April 28th, 2012
1:22 am
Yea Falcon Jim, we could also use Bob Berry and Harmon Wages.
panic fan
April 28th, 2012
1:28 am
way 2 early to be making such negative remarks about 2 new players that have a chance to make our team better sprain in the ankle can be healed and repaired its how good he is on making line calls that matters most he is 1st round talent on our new beast for running screens with the quizzz we have many diffrent types of o line players now so its mix and match plug and play our oline has many more choices to find who will be on the field both these players can start remember how bad our line got last yr? 2012 new players new coaches new scheme ill take it win or just win
WeBurn
April 28th, 2012
2:27 am
An offensive lineman who isn’t strong…uh-oh.
wxwax
April 28th, 2012
3:01 am
Injury-prone.
Dimitroff has an Achilles heel and this is it. He falls in love with players who get hurt a lot.
Chub Rock
April 28th, 2012
4:23 am
I think it’s safe to say Thomas Dimitroff walks to the beat of a different drum. Every year he either drafts a guy that he could get as an UDFA or he drafts a guy 2 or 3 rds higher than he is projected. It’s almost like he’s afraid to succeed at the draft. A solid pick falls in his lap in Konz then he feels the need to go off into his Beautiful Mind BS with the Holmes pick. Lamar Holmes is a good draft pick but you do not have to use the 91st pick on Lamar Holmes. Dimitroff clearly falls in love with guys he scouts, there is no other way to justify such a pick at this position in the draft. For godsake man draft Lamar Holmes if you must but in the 5th RD. Heck you’ve got 2 picks there. I just don’t get it. The guy thinks he’s smarter than everybody else and it’s just not true. I don’t care if Lamar Holmes turns out to be a Hall of Fame LT, you could still get him in the 5th rd on present day earth. If Dimitroff is taking 6th rounders in the 3rd I’m afraid to watch the draft tomorrow. I guarantee he takes at least one guy tomorrow that does not project to even be drafted at all….probably in the 5th rd. Then in the 6th and 7th he’ll compensate for that by drafting guys who have fallen in the draft.
dudah
April 28th, 2012
5:50 am
Mark – enough skill players?? Who is going to return kicks & punts with Weems gone? (Coulda been Boykin with either pick)
Who is the next RB or TE? As this is clearly the last year for Turner & Gonzo..drafting a weak, injury prone center or guard (they don’t even know where he projects on the line) & a ‘huge’ project? Looks more like Bake & Jerry all over again to this long suffering fan
Greg
April 28th, 2012
6:19 am
Two (out of several) of my favorite comments so far:
Whopper Dawg: “So far, it is a typical TD draft, an injury prone, out of position guy that also is a step slow and not the strongest, and a reach in the third round.”
Chub Rock: “The guy thinks he’s smarter than everybody else and it’s just not true.”
Both you guys nailed it.
Nativebird
April 28th, 2012
6:28 am
Konx, big 10 lineman, need at center, best rated center in draft…GrEaT pick Dimitroff! Lamar from USM?…….not so much. TD just loves going “off board” on these diamonds in rough picks to prove somehow that HIS scouting guys somewhere are more brilliant than everybody else. It never works.
Falcons Draft 2012: Day 2 O-Line Help - The Recycle Bin
April 28th, 2012
7:06 am
[...] Konz is a value pick; top center in the draft. Is he injury prone? Not to say that the 23rd pick of Round 2 isn’t be a big man. He’s Peter Konz, who played center [...]
Lil Jimmy
April 28th, 2012
7:20 am
So this guy was projected by some as 1st rounder yet slipped all the way to 55 – in the 2nd round after every team retooled their draft board. I don’t understand our fascination with injury risks.
Lil Jimmy
April 28th, 2012
7:31 am
I think we will regret not taking Lavonte David. Time to end the Stephan Nicholas failed experiment.
The Moving Company
April 28th, 2012
7:39 am
Hello, is this Sam Baker?
Hi we have you down for a cross country move next Saturday. We hope you enjoyed your time in Atlanta.
Samuel
April 28th, 2012
7:46 am
IF THESE PLAYERS ARE REALLY GOOD, THEY MIGHT TAKE A STARTERS SPOT. IF NOT, MAYBE A GOOD BACKUP ROLE PLAYER.
Longtimefan
April 28th, 2012
7:49 am
So we have probably a dozen professional scouts and analysts with likely hundreds of combined years experience evaluating college and NFL talent who have spent the last several months of their life preparing for the draft, with inside knowledge of the players- and you guys that work at Home Depot or deliver mail or just sit on your a$$ at home think you know more than they do about the players! What a joke. Konz was projected as the best center by everyone and considered a first round by quite a few. I think TD knows a little more than you . And nobody wants Massie-obviously an issue the Home Depot clerks haven’t been informed about.
steven a smith
April 28th, 2012
8:02 am
Longtimefan
April 28th, 2012
7:49 am
Yes, you are correct!! Falcons did a great Job drafting Sam “THE BUST” Baker and Perria Waterboy Jerry. Yeah, 2 great 1st round Picks.
LONGTIMEFAN obviusly took the SHORT BUS to school!!!
MrHughes
April 28th, 2012
8:08 am
It’s funny seeing these folks threaten not to renew their season tickets. Clearly, they’ve never set foot in the Dome. Renewal date already passed guys. They alwawys get your money way before the draft. Haha!! Love these picks. We are building a mass of talent at online that is versitale. With that new coach (hill?) they will dominate.
11 year season ticket holder
Darkmancw
April 28th, 2012
8:18 am
To falconforlife & georgia sucks: Dumitoff does has something to do with this new stadium. He’s the one in charge of putting a championship product on the field which he has not done. My thing is this give this city what it wants which is a championship football team & they would be more than happy to give them a new stadium. Because the way Dumitoff, Smuth, & Dekay draft players this city will never get what it wants. So why should they!!!!!!! So you like no talent, no power in the upper body or legs injury prone linemans? WOW!!!!!! Sure glad you are not in the falcons the scouting department. You must be related to Dumitoff. Okay now i understand why!!!!
native atlantan
April 28th, 2012
8:36 am
Why is it that Atlanta sports are always middle of the road, not bad, but not great either. Middle of the road will never cut it in the world of sports. Falcons, Braves, Hawks and Thrashers are all examples, and obviously the Thrashers are gone because of this.
notso fast
April 28th, 2012
8:37 am
I hope i’m wrong but I am beginning to think TD thinks he is smarter than anyone else. Someday he will get lucky and one of his picks will turn out to be very good and we will all sing his praise. Hope this is the year.
GT
April 28th, 2012
8:43 am
We got what we needed. If we had higher picks we might of picked a CB but we traded for one instead, we will be fine. Estimating talent is the secret of team sports. Nobody does it better than New England, Dimitroff is from that school. Wes Welker was a free agent. Tom Brady was drafted by the New England Patriots in the sixth round.
Go back and look at the four and five star athletes recruited by Georgia over the last four years. Few even scratched the surface of what they were suppose to be. Is it the eye or the coaching? Considering Bill Belichick was not Don Shula when he came to New England I am saying it is the front office and a coach that doesn’t mess it up.
agent7g
April 28th, 2012
8:44 am
This is all about building depth. We finally have more depth in the secondary and now we will have more on the o-line.
Atticus
April 28th, 2012
8:49 am
Why not Brandon Boykin, he can be the punt and kick returner and also play some slot and RB while backing up at CB. The dude is a football player.
I like getting OL but I am not sold on Dmitroff’s record drafting lineman. Sam Baker, Garrett Reynolds, Joe Hawley and Mike Johnson.
Can someone tell me the status of Mike Johnson?
Mike Jay
April 28th, 2012
8:51 am
I don’t get the injury prone label being thrown on this guy. In 3 years starting he had a couple of sprained ankles and …… blood clots in his lungs. How on earth does that make someone injury prone? News Flash: Football is very physical and injuries can and will happen.
Atticus
April 28th, 2012
8:53 am
GT, you mean like Matthew Stafford and AJ Green and Alec Ogeltree and Jarvis Jones. You are an idiot. At least 5 stars go to UGA not to that pathetic ACC school on North Avenue.
And Dmitroff is not the Patriots, Belicheck and Pioli were the reason for their draft success. Dmitroff is good at building a team but his drafts have been mediocre, not one consistent pro bowler.
old man
April 28th, 2012
8:56 am
Dan Kadar has Konz ranked #16 overall in the first round: http://www.mockingthedraft.com/2012/4/24/2973249/2012-nfl-draft-overall-rankings
I hope we are all very pleasantly surprised by this pick. I think we could be.
The Falcons passed over 7 tackles on the SI Board to pick Holmes. I don’t think you do that unless you have a pretty substantial reason. We’ll see.
Bobbie Massie’s position on the SI Board list of tackles was passed over by 5 teams. The Dophins, Steelers, Browns, Chiefs, and Falcons all passed over him to pick a different OT. Is there some off-field issue here I have missed? Again, I don’t think you see that unless there is some information known around the league that would make him a risk. So I won’t question it.
My summary so far is that Konz could be as real find at #55, for G or C. I’m just curious about Holmes, why we jumped so far down to get him. TD may make mistakes, but he’s not an idiot.
And, I am very, very pleased that we are focused on O-Line. If we could average just three tenths of a second more time in the pocket, Julio could have a huge, huge year.
Bumblebee Tuna
April 28th, 2012
8:57 am
Falcon Jim: “Everyone on this post are potential candidates for the “Pessimist Club of Atlanta.”
I hope any ONE of you have the nads to admit you were an idiot if one, or both, of these guys turn out to be a good pick.”
Amen. Bicep circumference is not an official NFL stat the last time I checked. I seem to recall that Jessie Tuggle turned out to be a pretty darned good player and he went undrafted. Let these guys play some downs before the crying hits full stride.
Atticus
April 28th, 2012
9:03 am
Bumble, when you haven’t won a playoff game and haven’t drafted a consistent pro bowler in 4 years you are going to be open to criticism. They are big boys they can take it.
PaulieOldSchool
April 28th, 2012
9:03 am
I like the Konz move, mostly. Little concerned with the health issues, but I assume that they reviewed med records, etc. The Lamar Holmes move, on the other hand? Are you f***ing kidding me? We don’t need projects, man. We need people that can play ON THE FIELD from day one. I would have been waaaaaaaaaay happier with Brandon Thompson in this spot. SMH.
joe
April 28th, 2012
9:07 am
Another Sam Baker IMO – guy can’t stay healthy, lacks strength. Seems like a guy more suited to play in a zone blocking scheme.
GT
April 28th, 2012
9:07 am
It is all about gradually building up to a contender, no miracle drugs. The Falcons are winning more now than in their history. Most transients of Atlanta sport’s history have no appreciation of that. We have head shaved Archie Bunkers spraying spit on a open mike sizing up something from the window of a Greyhound bus before they have even gotten off of it. Like a guy showing up with black socks and sandles, electrically lite white legs applying for a lifeguard job in Southern California. Franchises learn by their mistakes and a lot of that learning process is learning to not listen to people like the press that have a lot to say without skin in the game. Atlanta sports teams are just now arriving to a maturity gained by years of mistakes, and are now showing it by winning.
That hockey team leaving town was about the only subject these carpetbaggers had an upper hand on in sport’s knowledge. It also generated the enthusiasm of a Jimmy Carter, Mitt Romney rerun. Sport’s teams here have got it right, grin at the uninvited gate crashers, who complain about what you are servicing and go back and cook some more grits. Life is good in Atlanta pro sports, if not the college sports of old.
old man
April 28th, 2012
9:10 am
@Chub Rock
I share your concern about picking Holmes so early. You have to think that they had some inside information that (1) Holmes is a lot better than his is listed on most boards, and (2) some coach at his school gave them some inside information that some other NFL team has told him he is going to be picked at a certain spot, and they need to preempt that. That’s the only explanation. I’m sure there is a lot of intelligence and counter-intelligence going on all the time. They would only drop down to get him if they felt sure he would be gone when their next pick came up. They might be wrong, but they would not do that out of thin air. They had to base it on something.
Atticus
April 28th, 2012
9:12 am
GT they are more consistent but they are NOT winning more. WInning is about playoffs and Super Bowls. Are they are better franchise as far as foundation? Agreed. But they are going to be open to scrutiny and that is part of the job. The fans pay their salaries. As a GM you don’t make moves based on fans opinions but you better win or ultimately the fans are the boss.
GT
April 28th, 2012
9:17 am
Carlton Thomas, Richard Samuel, Washaun Ealey,Zach Mettenberger,Caleb King,Isaiah Crowell ,,,
neil
April 28th, 2012
9:20 am
Let’s wait and see what happens. I trust the front office has the knowledege to get the job done. The negative comments don’t help. Go Falcons!
Atticus
April 28th, 2012
9:25 am
As you prove you are an idiot. You said no 5 star players “scratched the surface”. Then you back it up by listing Carlton Thomas, Ealey, Mett and Caleb King who were all 4 stars (Carlton was a 3 star) and then the two five stars Crowell who was the SEC offensive rookie of the year and Richard Samuel is a great kid but clearly overrated. But you fail to acknowledge the players I listed. Nice argument. And the fact that GT can’t even recruit five star players. GA will have 10 players drafted in the NFL next year. How about GT?
Red Dawn
April 28th, 2012
9:26 am
I wanted the Titans to pick Konz in the 2nd round last night!!
They need a center badly!!
GT
April 28th, 2012
9:48 am
Atticus your team is a Macy’s parade in Calhoun, Georgia. The mafia couldn’t fix a schedule with the tomato cans you have found for opposition.
ps check Scout rating for your “stars”. I don’t think we messed up Calvin J or Thomas and Hill went before anybody from Athens this year. Look if you find being sub par to South Carolina satisfying who am I to blow that happiness up, have at it pal.
Atticus
April 28th, 2012
9:57 am
I love the GT Maggotts, can’t back up anything with raw data. You bring up Calvin (stud by the way), Bay Bay and Stephen Hill going on front of GA players. Do you realize you idiot how many GA players are in the NFL compared to GT? Is not even close. Please bring something else to the table. We will have 10 players drafted next year. We were a very young team and we still played in the Championship so how is that sub par to SC? They have never won a conference championship which by the way GT never has either. Our opposition is the SEC. Who do you play? The ACC sucks. Losers bring up isolated cases of one year or one player but they ignore the body of evidence. Face it, Tech sucks and they always will suck. Ga has dominated them every decade and will continue to do so.
Snake doc
April 28th, 2012
10:01 am
Loved the line on 11alive news when Jerry Carnes was covering a presser about the falcons stadium plans and the cost to taxpayers.
Jerry repeatedly asked some smarmy little pencil neck a question along the lines of – If you don’t raise the expected revenue from the visitors tax to pay for the new stadium, can you guarantee that the taxpayers of Atlanta won’t see their taxes go up to cover the difference?
The smarmy little geek kept saying – “PUBLICLY” our stance is that we will raise the money to pay for the stadium with the hotel/motel (VISITORS) tax. Your clue here is the word “PUBLICLY”. So “PUBLICLY” the falcons and politicians want yo to know that they will raise the money to build the stadium via the visitors tax.
In typical Atlanta fashion and politician fashion people are counting their chickens before they’ve hatched. I would think if the price to visit Atlanta goes up because of a higher hotel/motel (visitors) tax, in this economy, your gonna get fewer visitors, therefore that tax will actually raise less revenue.
So “PRIVATELY” what the smarmy little pencil necked geek and Rich McKay and the Falcons know is that you as a taxpayer of Atlanta are gonna get screwed again when they don’t raise the expected revenue from the VISITORS TAX and they have to raise your taxes to pay for this boondoggle.
As for me, it Blank wants the stadium he can pay for it. If he doesn’t want to pay. No Stadium, simple as that.
Falcon228
April 28th, 2012
10:12 am
Ah the comments become way out of bound after so much time after an article is posted. Konz will fill the need the Falcons were looking for. Now his needs should and will be met. Conditioning, diet and expert medical monitoring will fill his needs. John Abraham arrived in Atlanta with chronic groin problems his former team, the Jets, seemed to ignore. We got him healthy. Konz is an outstanding talent. Look for this player to have many healthy years in a Falcon uniform.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 28th, 2012
10:18 am
It still doesn’t solve the 0-3 man behind center
Dimitroff is no Ozzie Newsome that’s for sure.
Thanks to him Cleveland was able to grab Trent Richardson and the Minnesota Vikings were able to rebuild their team.
When you don’t have a pick until half way through the second day of the draft, Houston you have a problem.
5 years and no playoff win is a failure. Say what you want about Mora Jr. but he remains the last coach to win in the playoffs
Falcon Jim
April 28th, 2012
10:23 am
Hey, UGA/GT little bitches, this is a FALCONS POST.
Vulture
April 28th, 2012
10:34 am
Lot’s of whining. The Falcons continue to solidify. Does anybody remember how in past good players did not want to come to Atlanta? No back to back winning seasons. An old motel in Suwanee to the new facilities Flowery Branch. Blank has made the Falcons into an extremely interesting diversion year in and year out.
bucko
April 28th, 2012
10:38 am
I cannot beleive you cry babies that put the best owner,gen. manger and coach the falcons have some class since these guys came to ATLANTA
bucko
April 28th, 2012
10:41 am
I cannot beleive you cry babies put down the people that has in the last 4 years has a winning record and added class to this team. All of you need to move to N O.
Michael
April 28th, 2012
10:42 am
I wondered about why we did not take Massie in the 3rd if we considered him in the 2nd before taking Konz, but then I read his scouting report and compared it to the report on Lamar Holmes. Look at their weaknesses:
Holmes: has a bad habit of stopping his feet on contact, which works in pass protection but leaves him vulnerable when pulling or blocking against the run. His feet don’t coincide with his hands when engaged on a block, and he will need to learn to eat up grass in the run game or he will get plays blown up at his expense at the next level.
Massie:
Massie is not a very dynamic athlete and is a slow-footed mover. He is not a natural bender and is rigid in many of his movements. He labors to work to the second level and and struggles when sifting through traffic to engage his man. He relies on catching his man as a blocker in pass protection and will get in trouble with that technique at the next level.
I am good with both of our picks
Michael
April 28th, 2012
10:45 am
@ Bucko, thank you. How quickly they forget what we had before this group. As to Mora, he had one winning season and won one home playoff game against an 8-8 team from the NFC West where the QB matchup was Michael Vick vs. Marc Bulger. Yes it was a playoff win but do not act like he was Lombardi now.
Jackson
April 28th, 2012
10:51 am
Konz will be the center of the future, Hawley the backup. Holmes? It is because he has great pass blocking skills. Massie was known NOT to have them and would have been project in this area. With a pass happy league, that could be a reason so many teams passed on him.
Carini
April 28th, 2012
10:54 am
Konz is a great pick at 55. Put him at right guard this year and move him to center next year after McClure retires. Mayock says he will start right away. I want a tackle out of Mississippi, but we got the wrong one. I wanted Massie from Ole Miss. I think we could have gotten Holmes in the 5th round. At least we did pick up a 5th round pick.
Michael
April 28th, 2012
10:58 am
Holmes was a team captain at Southern Miss, that is always something that Smitty/TD like
Falcon Jim
April 28th, 2012
10:58 am
Maybe we should bring back Marion Campbell? Surely he would be better than Mike Smith.
Eddie LeBaron could replace Dimitroff. And, definitely, Rankin Smith JR should replace Arthur Blank.
Falcon Jim
April 28th, 2012
11:03 am
Forgot……………..Kim McQuilken should replace Ryan.
Jackson
April 28th, 2012
11:05 am
I believe we have made two weak areas potential sources of strength (OL and CB). Should focus entirety on DL the rest of the draft. No top notch TE will be left by the time we pick again.
Steve Broussard
April 28th, 2012
11:06 am
everybody chill. The Falcons know what they are doing, they took me in the first round and look how my career turned out…
Aundrey Bruce
April 28th, 2012
11:10 am
Don’t forget about me.
Jackson
April 28th, 2012
11:21 am
I’m hoping TE Green from La-L will be available.
Peter
April 28th, 2012
11:23 am
Wow a center who is Not strong, and injury prone, and the second guy who;’s draft score was a 30…..
Maybe we found something in these two guys, or the guy picking is just DUMB !
Rob
April 28th, 2012
11:23 am
I like the 2 picks! It’s a big stretch to call Konz inury proned…he had blood clot issue that has been rectified and he had some ankle injuries…easily rectified. As for his strenght, Mike Mayock said he can “Squat the House, very strong lower body”. He bench 225 lbs 23 times at his pro day…they can work on his upper strenght…he is Wisconsin lineman which are known for their great o-lines.
As for Holmes, Mayock said there was 2 big surprised in the senior bowl and Holmes was one of them. I don’t think TD would pass up all the talent he passed up in the 3rd round if he wasn’t in love with this guy. I don’t think anyone can assume we could wait until the 5th round to get this guy. If TD liked him and Mayock liked him then some other team may have picked him in the 4th. TD moved back in the 3rd round (for an additional 5th round pick) for a reason. He didn’t have a 4th round pick but felt like this guy woudln’t be around in the 5th round.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 28th, 2012
11:24 am
Michael
April 28th, 2012
10:45 am
@ Bucko, thank you. How quickly they forget what we had before this group. As to Mora, he had one winning season and won one home playoff game against an 8-8 team from the NFC West where the QB matchup was Michael Vick vs. Marc Bulger. Yes it was a playoff win but do not act like he was Lombardi now.
____________________________________________
That’s 8-8 vs 9-7 for the World Champion New York Giants who ironically EMBARRASSED the Falcants allowing just 2 Defensive points, compared to the 40+ that the Falcons put up vs the 8-8 Rams.
You can spin it all you want, but Mora took the team to the Championship game in year 1 and Smith and CHOKE are in year 5
charles
April 28th, 2012
11:57 am
Good point Rob-if we had a fourth round pick he probably would have waited until 4th and chosen someone else in third round. Hope these picks work out but would have loved to have picked up Brandon Thompson!
john
April 28th, 2012
12:00 pm
o give me a break you people are so dam negative. Just trust that these people know a little more than you do and see what konz can do. This is probably mcclures last season and do you really want hawley taking over? With pat hill to coach him up and a years experiance konz could become the best center weve ever had for all you know. So just shut up and wait for gameday
charles
April 28th, 2012
12:05 pm
You tell em John!
Falcon Jim
April 28th, 2012
12:09 pm
Konz = another Van Note……………………….
charles
April 28th, 2012
12:21 pm
Falcon Jim-i really hope you’re on the money cause Jeff Van Note was terrific!
falconsRuLe
April 28th, 2012
12:21 pm
Half the fools complaining are either football illiterate..or just bunch of MC 7 jockstraps….good job TD
falconsRuLe
April 28th, 2012
12:22 pm
Mv 7 was is and sadly will always be a JOKE
Kelly
April 28th, 2012
12:29 pm
I’ve seen the concerns and complaints, but for where he was slotted, this pick was double nickels on the dime. Good luck Konz.
shannon
April 28th, 2012
12:56 pm
I bet orson charles wish he stayed in schhool now
Paddy
April 28th, 2012
1:25 pm
Massie was not just a project but a training camp cut waiting to happen. Same goes for Zebri Sanders at FSU, still not drafted. He was not even the best lineman on a below avg line at FSU.
old man
April 28th, 2012
1:49 pm
Hearing from Aundray Bruce and Steve Broussard got me thinking. Ready for a stroll down memory lane?
Atlanta has had 46 1st round picks. You always expect a first rounder to be a “great” player. That’s why you pick them in the first round. Some guys are outright busts, because they are not even respectable starters. Some have good careers, but you wish you had picked them in the 4th round. I call those “OK.” Here goes:
Year Pick Player name Position Notes
1966 1 Tommy Nobis * Linebacker GREAT
1966 15 Randy Johnson Quarterback FLOP
1967
1968 3 C. Humphrey Defensive end GREAT
1969 2 George Kunz Offensive tackle GREAT
1970 12 John Small Linebacker FLOP
1971 7 Joe Profit Running back FLOP
1972 15 Clarence Ellis Safety Notre Dame FLOP
1973
1974
1975 1 S. Bartkowski * Quarterback GREAT
1976 9 Bubba Bean Running back FLOP
1977 6 Warren Bryant Offensive tackle OK
1977 20 W. Faumuina Defensive tackle FLOP
1978 13 Mike Kenn Offensive tackle GREAT
1979 17 Don Smith Defensive end FLOP
1980 7 Junior Miller Tight end FLOP
1981 25 Bobby Butler Cornerback OK
1982 9 Gerald Riggs Running back GREAT
1983 16 Mike Pitts Defensive end FLOP
1984 9 Rick Bryan Defensive tackle OK
1985 2 Bill Fralic Offensive tackle GREAT
1986 2 Tony Casillas Defensive tackle OK
1986 17 Tim Green Linebacker OK
1987 12 Chris Miller Quarterback OK
1988 1 Aundray Bruce * Linebacker FLOP
1989 5 Deion Sanders Cornerback GREAT
1989 27 Shawn Collins Wide receiver FLOP]
1990 20 Steve Broussard Running back FLOP
1991 3 Bruce Pickens Cornerback FLOP
1991 13 Mike Pritchard Wide receiver FLOP
1992 8 Bob Whitfield Offensive tackle OK
1992 19 Tony Smith Running back FLOP
1993 9 Lincoln KennedyOffensive tackle FLOP
1994
1995 26 Devin Bush Safety FLOP
1996
1997 11 Michael Booker Cornerback FLOP
1998 12 Keith Brooking Linebacker OK
1999 30 Patrick Kerney Defensive end OK 2000
2001 1 Michael Vick * Quarterback FLOP?
2002 18 T. J. Duckett Running back FLOP
2003
2004 8 DeAngelo Hall Cornerback OK
2004 29 Michael Jenkins Wide receiver FLOP
2005 27 Roddy White Wide receiver GREAT
2006
2007 8 J. Anderson Defensive end FLOP
2008 3 Matt Ryan Quarterback OK ( SO FAR)
2008 21 Sam Baker Offensive tackle FLOP
2009 24 Peria Jerry Defensive tackle FLOP
2010 19 Sean Weatherspoon Linebacker GREAT
2011 6 Julio Jones Wide receiver GREAT
I count 11 that have played like you hoped when you picked them, or show enough already, like Julio Jones. Ten are OK, but anywhere from a little to more than a little disappointing–had or having respectable careers. That leaves 25 complete flops. They may have played a handful of years, but well, well, below what you thought.
I suspect a lot of teams have similar histories.
Would love feedback on some who disagree with my grades for these picks.
Falcon Jim
April 28th, 2012
1:55 pm
Junior Miller a FLOP? Maybe not fully want you want from a 1st rounder, but he was pretty good.
Falcon Jim
April 28th, 2012
2:06 pm
Junior Miller was a two-time Pro-Bowler.
Receiving Rushing
Year Age Tm Pos No. G GS Rec Yds Y/R TD Lng R/G Y/G Att Yds TD Lng Y/A Y/G A/G YScm RRTD Fmb AV
1980* 23 ATL TE 80 16 14 46 584 12.7 9 36 2.9 36.5 2 -2 0 0 -1.0 -0.1 0.1 582 9 2 8
1981* 24 ATL TE 80 16 16 32 398 12.4 3 37 2.0 24.9 398 3 0 6
1982 25 ATL TE 80 9 9 20 221 11.1 1 39 2.2 24.6 221 1 1 5
1983 26 ATL te 80 15 6 16 125 7.8 0 19 1.1 8.3 1 2 0 2 2.0 0.1 0.1 127 0 1 3
1984 27 NOR 84 15 0 8 81 10.1 1 22 0.5 5.4 81 1 0 2
Career 71 45 122 1409 11.5 14 39 1.7 19.8 3 0 0 2 0.0 0.0 0.0 1409 14 4 24
4 yrs ATL 56 45 114 1328 11.6 13 39 2.0 23.7 3 0 0 2 0.0 0.0 0.1 1328 13 4 22
reckingball
April 28th, 2012
2:17 pm
I think that your grading system is a little bit limited, but going with it, I think:
1989–Deion Sanders was less than Great, but maybe a little more than OK(I have always thought that he is one of the most over-rated players,ever.)
2004–Micheal Jenkins was very OK and a lot better than Flop.
2008–Matt Ryan is way better than OK, going off the grid and saying he is VERY GOOD. IF, Mr. Dimitrof can put together a good OLine to protect him, I believe that you might be a lot more satisfied with the qb.
that’s my opin.
old man
April 28th, 2012
2:24 pm
@Falcon Jim
A lot of these are distant memories. I think you’re right. He was “OK.”
What this tells me is that there is a lot of maturation in the move to the NFL, even for first rounders. I.e., if Andrew Luck does not progress as a player, he will be a flop. I was wondering if this means it made sense to just have a bias for dropping out of the first round, and picking up 3 second rounders, and increase your chances of getting someone who progressed as a pro. Here are the only I guys I see in Falcons history who lived up to second round status:
Art Malone (I loved this guy–tough as nails)
Ken Burrow?
R.C. Theilemann (1st round caliber)
Buddy Curry
Scott Case
Mike Gann
Tim Green
Alge Crumpler
Jonathan Babineaux
Justin Blalock
Curtis Loftin
Chris Houston
William Moore
So, 13 guys who played like 2nd rounders, versus 11 guys in the first round who played like first rounders. And I only see one second rounder who really might have been a “great” first round caliber player. So, statistically, it would seem that keeping your first round picks makes sense. I kept peaking and noticed a several 3rd and 4th round players who ended up being darn good, as many as in the 2nd round, though I was not keeping track.
old man
April 28th, 2012
2:25 pm
@Falcon Jim
Two Pro Bowls? Definitely “OK.” Not Great.
old man
April 28th, 2012
2:26 pm
recking ball
Can’t disagree. I questioned each of those myself.
old man
April 28th, 2012
2:26 pm
OK, next comes best all time late rounders, 4th round and below. Gimme a sec.
old man
April 28th, 2012
2:39 pm
Ken Reaves, S, 4th round
Greg Brezina, LB, 11th round (Wow!)
Jim Mitchell, TE, 4th round (Wow!)
Jeff Van Note, C, 11th round
Fulton Keykendall, LB, 6th round
Jeff Merrow, DE, 11th round
Alfred Jackson, WR, 7th round
Tom Pridemore, S, 9th round
Lynn Cain, RB, 4th round
Ken Whisenhunt, TE, 12th round
Jamal Anderson, RB, 7th round
Stephen Nicholas, LB, 4th round
Jason Snelling, RB, 7th round
Kroy Biermann, DE, 5th round
Who was the best value?
Falcon Jim
April 28th, 2012
2:39 pm
Jamal Anderson was a 7th round pick.
old man
April 28th, 2012
2:40 pm
Dang–all that work–where did it go? Shoulda saved it.
INJURIES GALORE
April 28th, 2012
2:43 pm
TO ALL FALCON FANS……………..ARE YOU EVEN PAYING ATTENTION??!! THE MANGEMENT @ TAMPA BAY & CAROLINA ARE SMOKIN’ OUR GUYS……….BIG TIME!!! IT’S OKAY TO BE A FAN & BLEED RED & BLACK BUT SOFAR THIS DRAFT & FREE AGENT OFFSEASON THESE TWO TEAMS HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO MAKE BIG TIME UPGRADES!! WE HAVE MADE SOME MOVES BUT NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE A BIG ENOUGH DIFFERENCE!!!
Disgusted
April 28th, 2012
2:50 pm
Konz might be a decent player but then again, U are taking about a guy who needs strength…..
Hey, it was a lack of strength that they could not make those crucial foourth and a few inches conversions last yr. And you are talking about getting a guy who needs strength.
The Holmes pick is a joke and Dimitroff clearly does notknow what he is doing in the draft, the Falcons have become good in spite of Dimitroff. Dimitroff has one good impact pick, Matt Ryan, a very good QB. Not great but good.
And the Julio Jones pick looks right, I am glad they traded up for Julio because TD would have messed up last yrs draft, he does not know how to get value in late 1st early second rds. At least we got something.
Baker and Jerry are busts,
I WANNA SAY THIS LOUD AND CLEAR—-THINK OF WHAT A BILLION BUCKS CAN DO FOR OUR SCHOOLS. YEA—OUR KIDS.
I LUV THE NFL BUT U DON’T NEED TO TEAR DOWN A SUITABLE STADIUM AND FORCE THE TAXPAYERS TO PAY FOR THE LUXURY OF A NFL TEAM—ATL CANNOT AFFORD IT NOW.
NADA TO THE NEW STADIUM.
Disgusted
April 28th, 2012
2:58 pm
OLD MAN–Some of those guys you rated as flops could be put as mediocre, which is between a flop and OK. OK is pretty good.
Lincoln Kennedy did become a good player with the Raiders. Devin Bush was mediocre, and Clarence Ellis was a step above a flop. I remember he being a starting corner for a few yrs.
Fralic was good, not great.
Micheal Vick, that is a tough rate, sometimes great, other times fair to good and the ending did turn out to be a flop.
Eric C.
April 28th, 2012
3:00 pm
@MCR, shirley you ain’t serious…that 2004 Rams team was one of the worst to ever make it to the divisional round. The 2008, 2010, 2011 Falcons would have picked that Rams team apart.
Glenn
April 28th, 2012
4:16 pm
Another high draft pick with a history of injuries. I should have put money down on this.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 28th, 2012
6:22 pm
“BRYCE BROW” Running Back
Remember that name. He is the pick that the Falcants gave to Philly
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 28th, 2012
6:27 pm
@Old Fart
Mike Vick has 4 Pro Bowls & 2 Runner Up seasons for MVP
By your standards that must mean CHOKE is a Triple BUST
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 28th, 2012
6:32 pm
ic C.
April 28th, 2012
3:00 pm
@MCR, shirley you ain’t serious…that 2004 Rams team was one of the worst to ever make it to the divisional round. The 2008, 2010, 2011 Falcons would have picked that Rams team apart
_________________________________________________
COULD’VE, SHOULD’VE, WOULD’VE…………………
But still 0-3 in the playoffs and ZERO points in last year’s playoffs
JSS
April 29th, 2012
2:11 am
“Shirley” MacLaine might have actually gone back in time and scored points!
Paddy O
April 29th, 2012
2:29 am
heck, I think TD was intending to draft in the very low 20’s, if not the 30’s this year – but he finally saw the light on our predictable coordinators. If he is correct that this team has the talent, next draft we’ll be in the 30’s – if we are lucky – and of course, good (the Giants prove luck is far better).
Paddy O
April 29th, 2012
2:31 am
choke – tell me the odds of Ryan becoming a felon, or a drug user, or contracting a STD that he spreads around wantonly. Plus, Vick has as many SB rings as ryan. Morality generally is awarded.
Paddy O
April 29th, 2012
2:34 am
old man – you have what is called asinine idealism. many of your flops were serviceable players, and none are indicated WHERE in the 1st round they were selected, which also adversely affects your credibility. that post is rated a FLOP.
Rankin Smith
April 29th, 2012
12:36 pm
I’d have to give the Falcons an A. for the most part because of the trade for Samuel Asante. He’s a big addition to the secondary. For the first time maybe ever, the Falcons have a solid secondary. The defense should be much improved, and they will run the ball better on 3rd and 4th downs in short yardage situations.
JoBoo
April 29th, 2012
2:47 pm
The Chargers were actually named after a credit card company. I know NFL trivia….look it up.
JoBoo
April 29th, 2012
2:48 pm
The team’s original owner, Baron Hilton, named the Los Angeles Chargers after the Carte Blanche charge card he developed.
The most common theory appears to be that the Chargers were named after the newly introduced Carte Blanche credit card. The first team owner, Barron Hilton, was then the first president of the Carte Blanche credit card company formed in 1959 by his Father Conrad Hilton. Credit cards were still a new thing back then and people who used them were called “Chargers”. The credit card company was losing money and he wanted to promote the use of his cards hence the name “Los Angeles Chargers” was born. When the team move to San Diego they kept the Charger name.
Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_did_the_San_Diego_Chargers_get_their_name#ixzz1tSNfmIOB
Falcon James
April 29th, 2012
9:06 pm
I am sortof taken back by all the negative comments. This guy not even in a Falcon uniform and all the pretend falcon fan throwing him under the bus. I for one believe that this will be great signing. The Falcon certainly could have done worse and by signing this guy, we are better than we be last year. Give a brother a chance before we run him out of town on the same bus we going to put Dunta on next year.
TD has no clue!
April 29th, 2012
9:57 pm
Typical TD pick. Often injured. And if I read correctly he has one foot in the grave.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 29th, 2012
10:04 pm
The Eagles got a grade “A”
Mikey
April 30th, 2012
10:12 am
Very happy to see the concentration on the O-Line this year. I trust Dimitroff’s and Smith’s talent evaluation SO much more than these posers that can’t even spell. By the way, I am also quite pleased with the Falcon’s progress! They are playing at an extremely high level in the NFL. They have lost playoff games to nothing but Superbowl contenders/winners and it is a pleasure to see them win consistently throughout the regular season. They continue to improve and this year’s draft / free agent trades / coaching changes are a significant improvement over past years. They continue to get better and are a force within the NFL… count on it! Falcons fans will see that continuous improvement pays off in any endeavor. I know it is a concept new to Falcons fans but I remain optimistic that they will catch on after many years of repetitive success.
Shanny
April 30th, 2012
7:20 pm
I don’t know the so called grade they received , it really won’t matter to year 2 or 3. but alas I rate the draft as poor.
OK enuff
May 4th, 2012
5:31 pm
Hey Matt Choke Ryan,why are so racist man,or maybe you are a gay black man with a HUGE man crush on Vick,tell us you idiot.