AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2006 > November > 15
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Integrity, win or lose
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A black conversion van backed into the Falcons’ indoor practice facility, causing heads – on and off the field – to turn. After about a minute, team owner Arthur Blank, president and general manager Rich McKay and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stepped out.
An already crisp practice got crisper, as players quickly noticed that the teacher, principal and superintendent were in the house.
Goodell, who recently succeeded Paul Tagliabue, watched about the final 30 minutes of practice. When it ended, he briefly met with players and pretty much told them not to make any trouble off the field and to show class when they’re on it.
The message came a day after tailback Warrick Dunn spent a day at school with a student at Gwinnett County Elementary School and two days after players and coaches held a benefit bowling tournament at Discover Mills.
The Falcons have done a pretty good job keeping the off field news positive and even though they’ve lost their past two games, they haven’t acted like fools on the field or in the locker rooms. Blank has done a good job spreading the message to players that they are accountable for representing the team and themselves in a good manner.
Most players, like Dunn, Allen Rossum and Patrick Kerney, are very active in the community and seem to genuinely enjoy it.
I can personally tell you that even in trying times like now, the players and coaches on this team are a respectful lot. Though some of you might not care for how certain guys play, at least you don’t have to hear or read about bad attitude issues or other problems, like a lot of other teams.
