Home > Jeff Schultz > Archives > 2008 > April > 28 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBlank looking to sell Ryan’s hope
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There’s a great old story about the launching of Home Depot, when Arthur Blank and Bernie Marcus supposedly stood in the parking lot and handed out $1 bills just to get people to walk into the store.
Slight correction.
“It wasn’t me, it was our children,” Blank said Monday. “Bernie and I took our kids out of school. The stores opened at 11 a.m. and we told our wives, ‘Don’t worry, we’ll have them back in school by noon.’ But at 9 o’clock at night they were still out there. Nobody came. We couldn’t even give all the dollar bills away.”
So take comfort. When it comes to the state of Falcons and where they rank in our unconsciousness, at least there’s this: Blank won’t resort to standing outside the Georgia Dome, handing out $1 bills to draw spectators.
But the mere fact he even joked, “I would be happy to do it if we thought it would work,” says something.
Blank is in full sales mode, somewhat pleading with fans to support the team. (“If this sounds like an appeal, it is an appeal.”)
The team’s website is splashed with the word, “New!” which, as I seem to remember from my one marketing class in college, is the thunder-jolt of any sales campaign.
The jerseys of draft picks already are on sale, before even their first mini-camp.
Ticket prices have been cut, and the season-ticket waiting list - which once carried claims of being “at least 90,000” - has been replaced: “Screamers Wanted - Season Tickets Now Available!”
Sheet rock! Hammers! Harvested souls left behind by Bobby Petrino! We’re blowing it out to the bare walls!
Dollar a dance?
Six years ago, Blank purchased a franchise that had never managed consecutive winning seasons. Hard to imagine, but he’s got a bigger challenge now. At least in 2002 he could sell Michael Vick. Now he has to sell hope.
Nothing against Thomas Dimitroff, Mike Smith and Matt Ryan, the franchise’s three new cornerstones. But hope has kind of been trampled in these parts.
This sort of thing doesn’t just bounce back, especially when there’s lingering debate over whether the team took the right player in the draft.
Blank: “The fans have been through a lot the last two years. We’ve had two coaching turnovers and the off-the-field issues with Michael. People have 1,001 questions related to the future. But I do believe we’ve turned a corner.”
And then: “Yes, we’re selling. But quite honestly, it’s an appeal to fans to support their team. I think the organization and the coaches and players deserve the support of the community. We’ve tried to do the right thing.”
People are watching. The question is whether people are buying. Season ticket-holders had until March 21 to renew. Several thousand didn’t.
Question: Were renewals down?
Answer: “Absolutely. They were significantly less than in the past.”
Question: What are the numbers?
Answer: “We don’t need to dwell on that. But we need to dwell on the fact we have a lot of seats to sell.”
We all knew this was coming, almost from the time Vick was indicted. The team crumbled. Fans either rebelled or lost interest or both. Petrino’s back-door exit, Bill Parcells’ two-faced negotiations, Rich McKay’s awkward job change - that’s all just ugly window dressing. At this point, it’s about winning or at least convincing people you’re not that far away.
Blank said at a news conference this weekend, “We’re doing everything we can to put our house, your house in order. … We want to ask our fans to be an integral part of our success.”
But he’s a smart guy. He knows in the end it’s about the product, not concepts or gimmicks. It’s going to take more than Matt Ryan’s highlight package from Boston College. It’s going to take more than a freshly painted Georgia Dome, new red seats and slogans like, “A New Era, New Excitement and New Hope.”
Because it’s hard to sell losses. Even with a handful of $1 bills.
Permalink | Comments (65) | Categories: Falcons/NFL
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By BirdMahn
April 28, 2008 8:19 PM | Link to this
It’s all about the L’s & W’s. Win and they will come.
By ant17
April 28, 2008 8:21 PM | Link to this
mike vick goes to carolina. please belive it.
By Scott from Fairburn
April 28, 2008 8:26 PM | Link to this
I like the new “anti-thug G” approach
By The Truth
April 28, 2008 8:38 PM | Link to this
Amen Scott!!!!!!
By Malcolm
April 28, 2008 8:41 PM | Link to this
The new administration is reaping what they sowed. Prior to the draft there were selling the fans on the idea of drafting players to strengthen the middle so they could run the ball and stop the run. That didnt happen at all over the weekend. Now they want us to buy in to their latest scam. I think many of the fans in Atlanta are tired of empty promises. We want results! If the Falcon’s organization wants support they need to earn it on the field.
By Manny
April 28, 2008 8:46 PM | Link to this
Regardless if you like Mike Vick or not he will always be tied to the falcons and how they do. The falcons needed a wake up call, Vick was carrying the defense and offense on his back. It’s like a quarterback that gets hurt, if you don’t have the proper personal in place then you fail and that 3 or 4 years of bad drafts, this team will be bad for another 2 or 3 years. Mike will be back in the NFL and I bet that team will be placed on the schedule to play the falcons and he is going to run and pass all over them! Free Mike Vick!
By douglas cain
April 28, 2008 9:10 PM | Link to this
QB first is not my pick but it’s our pick. Nobody wants to wait another three years for a QB to develop. I think the fans want to see either side of the ball productive. With all the opportunity in this draft it would be a waste to see the falcons give up 30 and score 7. They drafted a QB to save an already tarnished image? It’s the NFC south and everyone is reloaded. Saints,Panthers, and Bucs will all be competitive.
By CD
April 28, 2008 9:21 PM | Link to this
As mentioned above..win and the fans will come. All the racists like some directly above should find some other way to spend their money. You are a blight on society. Build the team with character..we may not win this year, but we will have a future.
By Tim Graupman
April 28, 2008 9:24 PM | Link to this
Don’t forget about Mike Mularkey’s fan-friendly, offensive scheme…With the speed he has to work with in Atlanta, it should be a rollicking fun time just trying to find the football and maybe worth the price of admission by itself.
By Rutuger
April 28, 2008 9:27 PM | Link to this
I’ll be there. Why not? We have nowhere to go but up.
By "The House Micheal Built"
April 28, 2008 9:39 PM | Link to this
Go to hell with that anti-thug stuff! Just because a black man made some bad decisions does’nt make him a thug(You white boys kill me trying to label blacks as thugs). Vick brought life to this terrible franchise when it was “DEAD”! No one will ever be able to pack the dome the way mike did. R.I.P falcons…
By brian
April 28, 2008 9:39 PM | Link to this
Amen maybe we will get to go to games without so much THUG atmosphere. And thats not a color remark but a social one.
By TradeMe
April 28, 2008 9:39 PM | Link to this
Larry “the cable guy”, Dude if you didn’t know, this is Hotlanta for a reason. Our (Falcons) season ticket fan base is a little different than that of the Braves……If you can’t stand the atmosphere, stay home and watch it on television, in the comfort of your own trailer park!!!
By CJW80
April 28, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this
As a White republican male, I am even offended by Larry and other racist dueche bags comments. Our team needs to be about sports, competition, bringing a city together. not about a bunch of dumb racist idiots trying to divide our team. So Larry go @#$% your racist hating self!!!!
By MVP
April 28, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this
Larry u got it right my friend.Great post!
By Watching Larry
April 28, 2008 9:45 PM | Link to this
Larry you are an IDIOT!!!
By Jack G
April 28, 2008 9:51 PM | Link to this
Real Fan
I didnt read the same blog by Larry that you did. I didnt see race mentioned until you mentioned it
Its the same sort of situation that Rocker was in. Everyone called Rocker everything but a Christian But the one thing that no one did WAS CALL HIM A LIAR.
tELL IT LIKE IT IS.
By JD
April 28, 2008 9:52 PM | Link to this
All of the racist and thug remarks are completely out-of-line.
Besides, Atlanta had a chance to add draft picks with local backgrounds. It would have helped with ticket sells. You made a choice to bank your success on a QB from Boston. Good luck!!
The Falcons will be lucky to win 4 games next year. Maybe, a #1 pick will be inline for the ‘09 Draft.
By Swami
April 28, 2008 9:56 PM | Link to this
Just like Obama and Jeremiah Wright will always be connected, so will the Falcons and Vick always be connected. People who value loyalty will never forgive Obama for throwing Wright to the dogs, pardon the pun. Of course, it’s naive to think that loyalty exists in the NFL, or any professional sport, but whenever Blank is trying to get in your pocket, he talks about loyalty and community support. But back to the point, people who have a sense of loyalty won’t forgive Blank or the NFL for the way they allowed the Vick issue to unravel. Arthur save the talk…put a winner on the field or ask PETA to help you sell tickets.
By TheyareONLYDogs
April 28, 2008 10:01 PM | Link to this
Larry, you are not much of a man. If your family has to go to a game and be afraid, AND YOU ARE THERE WITH THEM, you are garbage as a man. You can’t protect your family PUNK. You are not a protector to the woman you married. You are a COWARD. Maybe your family need to go into the restrooms to get a gander at what REAL MEN look like and get away from a coward like you. Typing stuff on a message board as opposed to saying it when it counts fits you perfectly.
Scott, this team had that “anti thug G” look for years and still don’t have back to back winning seasons. This si a losing organization, and now without Vick, it can go back to its dark days of nothing because next to NOONE is going to renew season tickets to see Matt Harring… er Ryan.
By Gunny Hank
April 28, 2008 10:06 PM | Link to this
I don’t care how many games they win. Let’s put together a solid team. They’re heading in the right direction.
Season ticket sales down? Goes to show you that all the Vick and Hall huggers were about one thing. Vick and Hall.
The racists are leaving… and they’re not caucasion.
By TheyareONLYDogs
April 28, 2008 10:11 PM | Link to this
Vick and Hall were all the Falcons had going for them. You can call yourself a fan but it takes a pretty stupid individual to keep giving money to an organization that is LOSING AND BORING and only gets more vanilla (puns are cool) with Harrington Jr.
By David Rogers
April 28, 2008 10:12 PM | Link to this
Hey guys forget the racist stuff…lets get our red, white, and black falcons gear and lets cheer our birds to victory this year…we got a great RB in Michael Turner and a new talented QB in Matt ryan..not to mention we got the man at Safety Lawyer Milloy along with Chris “Shutdown” Houston! Come on guys forget the racism and get your jerseys and caps because HOTLANTA is going to be on fire this year baby! Let’s go FALCONS!!!!!!!
By X-Ticket Buyer
April 28, 2008 10:14 PM | Link to this
I am an ex-season ticket buyer, who cancelled in the 2004 season.
I see hope and the roots of success in the new coach and the team. Now, if they would just trash the black helmets and go back to red (with the new and improved logo that was put out a few years ago—-) I WILL buy again.
Out with the old, in with the retro!
By mwilk
April 28, 2008 10:14 PM | Link to this
Mr. Blank:
I’ve been a season ticket holder for 17 years and a falcon fan many years before then. I’ve been through some awful years and a few good ones. I remember the standing ovation you received during your first home game as owner. People were pleased with the steps you had taken and the promise of a new era. I want to thank you for personally getting involved in raising Atlanta football to a new height.
Though we have hit a new low with the franchise, I have faith that you will do all that you can to once more pull this team up by its bootstraps. I’ve questioned decisions along the way and even have questions from this past weekend. But despite the questions, I trust your strong business instincts will be able, over time, to create a sustainable formula for success.
My one request is simple. It should never be better to be at home than at the dome for a game. Yet the lack of instant replays on the dome screens, and the complete void of replays on plays that are to the Falcons disadvantage, greatly reduces the fan experience. Please correct this.
Never waver from your goal to build a winning football franchise. Atlanta deserves it!
By X-Ticket Buyer
April 28, 2008 10:16 PM | Link to this
I am an ex-season ticket buyer, who cancelled in the 2004 season.
I see hope and the roots of success in the new coach and the team. Now, if they would just trash the black helmets and go back to red (with the new and improved logo that was put out a few years ago—-) I WILL buy again.
Out with the old, in with the retro!
By TheyareONLYDogs
April 28, 2008 10:16 PM | Link to this
And another thing “yall” need to remember. The black people didn’t need anyone elses help to sell out the Dome., You know, 6 years of sellout AND a waiting list. White people have never and won’t still filled HALF of the Dome. Blank’s gonna have to move this team….
By Paul from Milton
April 28, 2008 10:18 PM | Link to this
The only label I care about is “winner”. Regardless of what people say trying to “bury” the Falcons - if they start winning there will be plenty of people ready to fill the empty seats.
By falcondawg
April 28, 2008 10:19 PM | Link to this
Hey theyareonlydogs…..
Nice moniker…..why not change it to theyareonlyDEADdogs?? You are a moron….Harrington jr is what you call Ryan?? He hasn’t taken a snap yet….give him a chance….oh wait, he doesn’t deserve a chance because he is white, right?? I am beginning to think you Vick lovers are also homosexuals…..
By Smarty Jones
April 28, 2008 10:23 PM | Link to this
As for our defensive line there will be a lot of veteran help available for the June cuts that are going to present us.
As for all the comments about thugs, etc…Here is a story for you. Back in ‘98 during the ‘Dirty Bird’ Super bowl run. We won with a lot of help of White athletes and black athletes…Jamal Anderson and Chris Chandler. Well after a game against Miami I was tailgating LATE into the evening with some black folks and WE ALL had a great time drinking and dancing! IT WAS all about winning…and Winning comes in no colors BUT in the shape of W’s and L’s and that year we had a ton of W’s.
FNA let’s get some more W’s!!!!
BTW Terrance Moore go F yourself you racist. Next time I see you in Panera in Vinings you will get a earful from me you hate monger!
By reddawg
April 28, 2008 10:25 PM | Link to this
LARRY, YOU’VE GOT MY VOTE !!!
By Falcon fan
April 28, 2008 10:26 PM | Link to this
I’m with you Larry, I quit going to games for the same reason about two years ago. I wasn’t going to take my son with me if I didn’t even feel really safe. Say what you want about Larry but the man just spoke the truth, so call it what you will, he spoke the truth. I will just go to Athens on Saturday and watch what ever NFL game I want on NFL package. Larry I’m with you!!!!
By Matt
April 28, 2008 10:28 PM | Link to this
Why is everybody on here complaining about the draft picks? No one has any idea how good any of them will be at this point so it’s a pointless to argue over it. Our last pick could be a hall of famer and Ryan could be terrible. How about some optimism for a change? The racist crap is tired too. I’m white and I thought Mike Vick was a winner who made bad decisions. I hope he does make a comeback and anyone feeding into this “End of Vick Era” journalistic BS is retarded. The Vick era was over when he got busted. If you get all riled up over that crap you’re just doing exactly what these AJC crackpots want you to do….turn into a race issue.
By jacketFan
April 28, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this
Larry - Apes?
That post needs to be pulled. This is 2008.
I guess you need to move far outside any major metro area in the South (Charlotte, Jacksonville, Tampa, etc), West (Denver, Houston, LA, Seattle), Midwest (Chi, Det, STL, Indy), or the NE (NYC, Philly, etc) to get away from Apes!
By ron
April 28, 2008 10:32 PM | Link to this
ryan is a david carr clone= 3rd string quaterback.
By Keep Hiding PUNKS!
April 28, 2008 10:33 PM | Link to this
To:Larry, MVP, Scott, and the rest of you keyboard punks. You not man enough to say this stuff in public so you hide behind blogs and fake internet names. Show your face punks so I can show you a real thug..
By yoyoma
April 28, 2008 10:36 PM | Link to this
I can picture TheyareONLYDogs now; sitting at home in his apartment with his Malcolm X t-shirt on, ironed to perfection. As he reaches out for his latest edition of Black Panther weekly, one might get a glimpse of his brand-new red, green and yellow Africa tatoo! How cool! And orginal! I can dig it brotha! You do you, except when you can’t or won’t or when your busy doing someone else…or something. Tru dat.
By Kris G
April 28, 2008 10:37 PM | Link to this
Once again, people complaining about a prejudice against white QBs in an organization that’s only had one starter of any other hue.
I wanted Dorsey over Ryan… since Jake Long was taken. I understand that Dorsey is a rarer player. We can find a QB by the time we build our lines… and leaving those untouched are what bugs me the most about the draft.
I’m glad Vick seems to be out of our future. But I hope he gets back in the NFL, I hope he can eventually redeem himself in some way for his unbelievable judgement. Yeah, it was blown out of proportion, but he still owes the world a lot more than an apology.
By Get a New VP of Sales
April 28, 2008 10:38 PM | Link to this
This one’s for you DC.
Falcon Fans do yourself a favor and read the bios of some of the Falcons executives. Pay particular attention to the VP of Sales. He took the job when Vick signed on and in the bio it goes on to talk about how great his sales ability was in selling out the Dome. An idiot could have done that. In the last two years ticket sales have been terrible due the Vick situation, HOWEVER, please Mr. Blank. take a closer look at your VP of Ticket Sales down at the Dome. You should probably gather by now that he’s terrible. Get someone that is a bit more fan and sponsor friendly.
By frank
April 28, 2008 10:38 PM | Link to this
I feel sorry for Ryan because of all the hits he will have to take due to a weak offensive line.
I feel sorry for the secondary because of all the big plays they are going to give up.
I feel sorry for the linebackers because of all the running backs that will be running over them.
I feel sorry for the fans who will have to sit and watch a team that had so much potential fall back to the bottom of the NFL.
By yoyoma
April 28, 2008 10:42 PM | Link to this
Uh, Kris G? Why don’t you check the ‘hue’, as you so smartly put it, of the team as a whole? Then we’ll talk.
By the truth
April 28, 2008 10:48 PM | Link to this
The problem with the falcons is the game day atmosphere, it is like going straight to the ghetto. The Georgia dome, both inside and out, is the worst atmosphere in all of football. Who wants to pay a bunch of money to spend time wandering around a bunch of thugs in the parking lot only to go into the game and find it to be even worse. You couldn’t pay me to go back to that place.
By black/white
April 28, 2008 10:50 PM | Link to this
This is 2008 and we have members of the clan and the black pathers fight for equality in a sports blog room. WOW, I guess the falcons and there fans just got set back another 20 years. Yes, there are some tacky comments I agree with that but, we as society can not let this contiune to happen. Mike Vick messed up, he knows, it the fans know it and he is paying for his crime. Does he deserve another shot in the NFL it depends should he be forgiven YES! He has done his time! I think that as a resident of Georgia we all know the Falcons suck, we are all p** at the way the past few years have gone. Regaurdless of color that is the truth. Not all blacks are thugs, just as not all whites are trash. Lets put this all to rest and support a cause that is in dire need of support. GO FALCONS.
racist biggots the man upstairs will deal with your ignorance!
P.S another bad season could provide the falcons with a lot of young talent with could bring all of us fans back togeter to watch the games, until then enjoy the black outs on TV.
By yoyoma
April 28, 2008 10:57 PM | Link to this
Oh well. Arthur will just move the team to Gwinnett…
By FDrank
April 28, 2008 11:09 PM | Link to this
Yea… Arthur Blank is all about preaching LOYALTY when it comes to getting the purchase tickets, jerseys and all the other Falcons branded stuff on sale… BUT… Where was Arthur’s LOYALTY when it came to Warrick, Algie, Grady, Rod and Duckett?? They were all dismissed without explanation or justification. Where was the LOYALTY when it came to Vick? Yea, he has to pay the price for doing a terrible thing but look how quick Arthur distanced himself from Vick. The same Mike Vick that Arthur said he looked upon like family and who also made Arthur a lot of $$. Where is the LOYALTY to the fans who constantly have been insulted by the poor decisions of the coaches, GM and owner? Like deaf, dumb and blind fools, Arthur thinks he can dress up this pig, scream “IT’S A NEW DAY”, challenge us with LOYALTY and everyone will come out in masses to buy what he’s selling… LOYALTY… I think Not!
By Ken Strickland
April 28, 2008 11:10 PM | Link to this
Don’t get into an argument or even respond to racist comments from ANAL MINDED MORONS like LARRY, REDDOG and MVP. The next time you read simular comments, just remember the following statement. NEVER GET INTO A DISCUSSION WITH AN IDIOT, BECAUSE THEY WILL ONLY PULL YOU DOWN TO THEIR LEVEL AND DEFEAT YOU WITH THEIR VAST EXPERIENCE.
By Sack Squad
April 28, 2008 11:11 PM | Link to this
The title of the column is: Blank looking to sell Ryan’s hope.
Ryan’s hope: is to get more offensive linemen that can block so that he doesn’t get killed, much like David Carr with the Texans, and Joey Harrington when he was with the Lions.
I still can’t believe that we only drafted 1 OL. That was what we needed the most going into the draft…
All GREAT teams build from the inside out… that means linemen!!!
By Sack Squad
April 28, 2008 11:11 PM | Link to this
The title of the column is: Blank looking to sell Ryan’s hope.
Ryan’s hope: is to get more offensive linemen that can block so that he doesn’t get killed, much like David Carr with the Texans, and Joey Harrington when he was with the Lions.
I still can’t believe that we only drafted 1 OL. That was what we needed the most going into the draft…
All GREAT teams build from the inside out… that means linemen!!!
By Will
April 28, 2008 11:13 PM | Link to this
Can’t we all just get along?
By Will
April 28, 2008 11:14 PM | Link to this
Can’t we all just get along?
By Chip
April 28, 2008 11:16 PM | Link to this
Hey, this is a rarity. I believe David Duke and Jeremiah Wright are posting on the same website.
By Chip
April 28, 2008 11:17 PM | Link to this
Hey, this is a rarity. I believe David Duke and Jeremiah Wright are posting on the same blog.
By Front Office
April 28, 2008 11:19 PM | Link to this
Players have come and gone in droves yet the same cancer exists- the front office. Mr. Blank is too trusting of the very people who fail to ever get things right. McKay has been a complete disaster and would have been fired in any other town. Here he gets promoted to President and likely made this year’s draft decisions. As long as the blind lead the blind, success can only happen by accident here. If Mr Blank wants a ring, he should hire competent people- not yes men- and step aside.
By Marcus
April 28, 2008 11:21 PM | Link to this
The dome sucks, and its in a shabby part of town too boot. Build a new out door facility in Gwinnett,or North Fulton…P.S. We have the people and the money to support the teams, and since they all live up here anyhow….
By Faze
April 28, 2008 11:25 PM | Link to this
Larry is a Godsend. The Dome is filled with idiots that “hollar” for no reason and get rowdy and scream at the most stupid things. IF anyone belives that this is not arace issue in Atlanta you are lying to yourselves. Atlatna will never forget Michael Vick. The Blacks all belive that he is innocenteven though he confessed. If anyone belives that he is innocent they are idiots. We should all cheer and not have a white and black fan base but a red, black, and white fan base!
By N GA BOB
April 28, 2008 11:28 PM | Link to this
Larry, your comments were great. The city of Atlanta at time was a fairly safe and decent ciy (50 yrs ago). The ant hill just kept getting bigger and bigger. By the way AJC…you don’t seem to want to post my comments…well that’s ok. Just remember you are not just an Atlanta paper-you are distributed throughout the state of GEORGIA.
By Lil E
April 28, 2008 11:37 PM | Link to this
I am disappointed we did not draft more linemen on both sides of the ball. However, I think our off. line will be ok with a veteran line coach and a new LT. If everyone (mainly Weiner and Forney) can stay healthy, I would even say we have a good offensive line. Matt Ryan is going to be a good QB if our offensive line can hold up. I don’t think you can compare him to Carr or Harrington, because neither of them had good running backs in the backfield with them. Matt Ryan didn’t put up particularly gaudy numbers his senior year. However, I do believe he has the makings of a true franchise QB. He has great pocket awareness, can read defenses, and has a good arm. His mechanics are good and he is somewhat mobile. He carried a BC team with only 1 other offensive player (as far as I know) making it into the NFL.
By ignition
April 28, 2008 11:39 PM | Link to this
THIS BOARD IS HORRIBLE.. THE EXACT REASON WHY THE FALCONS WILL ALWAYS BE TERRIBLE… (returns to a great Hawks blog a great young Hawks team)
The Falcons have fans that fully represent them.. TERRIBLE ONES…
By Harry
April 28, 2008 11:39 PM | Link to this
Atlanta has never had what most will call a successful draft. I remember a number of years ago, Atlanta drafted a quarterback who was going to be the quarterback of the future. But wait, after 2 years at #2, (we had Chris Miller, I believe that was his name) so we traded the #2 QB. By the way, that quarterback was Brett Farve, yes we had him and did not let him mature. The rest is history (Super Bowls, Playoffs, etc.). Give Ryan a chance. For those that cannot give up on Vick, sorry but he is gone, so look at the posters and wear his jersey’s, that is your “right”. He may have been a criminal, he may have been a thug, he may have just been a ,”poor misunderstood child”, but we have to build on the team we have now. If you don’t like it, get cable or satellite televison to watch other games and support other teams. You can remember this, that if the Falcons do by some chance become a team like the Packers or 49’ers (in their hayday)I wonder if you will support them, or still cling to your worn out Vick posters.
By Rich in Gwinnett
April 28, 2008 11:54 PM | Link to this
THE DOME SUCKS! Follow the money, Mr. Blank!!!!!
By MIKE VICK
April 28, 2008 11:57 PM | Link to this
i can’t wait 2 bust ur a** fair weather kkk fans. in dallas they’ll love me 4 taking over 4 romo in 2010 after this sorry cat who run the nfl get’s sued for only suspending black player’s. what about brett farve, chipper jones, and danny heatley they have character issues but white america loves them and they get a pass. u bloggers who showing all this hate on me now can never do the things i can on the field and that’s why u hate me so much i gave u hope and u hate that. u are like a spoiled kid who don’t get they way well now u got ur great white hope enjoy him and u’ll be drafting a new one in 3yr’s. much love #7
By Ken Strickland
April 28, 2008 11:58 PM | Link to this
Fans of MVick shouldn’t be angry with anyone but MVick for not being the current QB of the Falcons. He has nobody to blame but himself for his current plight. Vick kicked himself out of the NFL and placed himself in prison because of his own stupidity. You should also remember he was the most successful QB in Atlanta Falcons history. He won more regular season gms, more playoff gms, more Probowl selections and more conference titles than any other QB Atlanta Falcons history. And, he did it in only 4yrs as a starter.
I hope MRyan is even more successful because he’s our QB now and we need to support him. I think our OL will be much improved due to having an experienced hands on OL coach. Those are 2 elements we haven’t had in the last 4yrs. The only OFF skill position in which we aren’t solid is TE.
All of these comments by the local media, with racial overtones, are disgraceful. The so called MVick era officially ended when Joey Harrington took the field as the Atlanta Falcons QB to start the 06 season. The beginning of the end of this so called era started when he was band by Goddell from participating in the O6 training camp. So how did drafting MRyan signal the end of anything, especially relating to MVick?
AFTER ALL, VICK WAS IN PRISON AND ON THE ROSTER BEFORE MRYAN WAS DRAFTED, AND HE’S STILL IN PRISON AND ON THE ROSTER NOW. SO DRAFTING RYAN DIDN’T CHANGE VICKS STATUS ONE BIT. IT’S JUST THE AJC AND ITS WRITERS STIRRING THE DEEP POT OF RACISM TO SELL NEWSPAPERS. THAT’S WHY WE HAVE RACIST RESPONSES LIKE THE ONE FROM LARRY MORON.
LET’S ENJOY AND CELEBRATE THE BEGINNING OF A WINNING ERA OF FOOTBALL IN ATLANTA. LET’S NOT ALLOW RACISTS, INCLUDING THE AJC, MAKE IT ABOUT QB’S AND THEIR SKIN COLOR.
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By BLACK AND RED WINNER DAWG
April 28, 2008 11:58 PM | Link to this
EVEN THOUGH MIKE VICK WAS EXCITING TO WATCH HE ALL WAYS DIVIDED THE WHITE AND BLACK FANS. LET’S SEE WHAT THE NEW REGIME HAS TOO SHOW US. BEING A REAL WHITE SOUTHERN GENTLEMAN I AM TOTALLY DISGUSTED WITH ALL OF THE RACIST BANTER. WHEN CAN WE GET BACK TO BEING FOOTBALL FAN WHO LOVE ALL ATHLETES BLACK AND WHITE. WHO ALL JUST WANT TO WIN BROTHER. GIVE EM’ HELL FALCONS AND DOGS(GA. BULLDOGS)!!!
By Keith (Douglas,GA)
April 28, 2008 11:59 PM | Link to this
All I got to say is this. I just read down to Larry’s ignorant comment and wanted to go ahead and get this off my chest. First off, I’ve been a Falcons fan for a number of years and what Vick brought to the game will never be replicated. When Dan Reeves was the head coach the offense was more aggresive and a lot less predictable. If they would have stuck with him(Reeves) and just beefed up the defense, I believe the outcome would have been much different. All this bull about Vick couldn’t pass was a crock. The sheer number of passes that were dropped is unrealistic. And as far as the atmosphere in GA Dome, I thought it was incredible. I am a southern white male and I couldn’t have been treated more curtious by these so called “thugs.” If people wouldn’t be so quick to judge and associate with their respective peer, maybe one would come away with a different perspective. I only went to see Vick play four times in the dome and I wish I could have gone everytime. Will we ever see the splendid heroics of #7 in the NFL, the slippery spins and jaw-dropping cuts and not to mention a simple flick of the wrist and out shot the ball with flawless spiral action only to be dropped. Anyhow, I’m still a fan because it’s in my blood, and maybe they are headed in the right direction. we’ll see
By Keith (Douglas,GA)
April 28, 2008 11:59 PM | Link to this
All I got to say is this. I just read down to Larry’s ignorant comment and wanted to go ahead and get this off my chest. First off, I’ve been a Falcons fan for a number of years and what Vick brought to the game will never be replicated. When Dan Reeves was the head coach the offense was more aggresive and a lot less predictable. If they would have stuck with him(Reeves) and just beefed up the defense, I believe the outcome would have been much different. All this bull about Vick couldn’t pass was a crock. The sheer number of passes that were dropped is unrealistic. And as far as the atmosphere in GA Dome, I thought it was incredible. I am a southern white male and I couldn’t have been treated more curtious by these so called “thugs.” If people wouldn’t be so quick to judge and associate with their respective peer, maybe one would come away with a different perspective. I only went to see Vick play four times in the dome and I wish I could have gone everytime. Will we ever see the splendid heroics of #7 in the NFL, the slippery spins and jaw-dropping cuts and not to mention a simple flick of the wrist and out shot the ball with flawless spiral action only to be dropped. Anyhow, I’m still a fan because it’s in my blood, and maybe they are headed in the right direction. we’ll see