Falcons

By big tone

March 28, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this

Grady Jackson doesn’t deserve to get a huge contract ,for a tackle that’s only in the game for one to two downs on opposition,let him walk.Anyone that doesn’t want to be here with the falcons’organization let him walk.

By bryan

March 28, 2007 12:14 PM | Link to this

Looks like the Falcons are going to draft Louisvlle DT Amobi Okoye

By Marcus

March 28, 2007 12:14 PM | Link to this

As much as I like Grady and what he did for the team, I think he should be released. The last thing a new coach needs is a lack of harmony within his players. Not to mention if the outcomes doesn’t work out in Grady’s favor and he does comeback I believe he will give less than his best effort from game to game. Cut your loss and move on while there is still time?

By Khao$

March 28, 2007 12:22 PM | Link to this

It’s almost impossible to keep him. This creates another hole in a DL that has 1 and 1/2 starters (Coleman the one and the 1/2 being Abraham who will miss his obligatory half of the season to injuries). This dampens the draft, IMO. It looked like we we’re going to get Landry or Jamaal Anderson. Anderson still looks like a possiblity because we need a DE. But Landry is now a luxury, because safety is as big of a need position as DE and DT. Right now, it looks like we don’t have much of a defense to put on the field.

By Falcons Fan

March 28, 2007 12:23 PM | Link to this

I like grady Jackson too, but this was a bad move on his part. Find out what it will take to make him happy, but let him walk it he can’t bring 100% to the game. Poor negotiating by Grady and his agent both currently, and when this original contract was negotiated. There are better ways to go about this than by drawing lines in the sand.

By "D" in Houston

March 28, 2007 12:27 PM | Link to this

Pay up! This is a business. Why is it that everytime a player does something it’s wrong, but coaches and even owners get away with anything they want! Get real. The only solution I can see is getting Ian Scott which I heard is resigning with the Bears. Pay the guy, we stole him last season, and he was an immediate difference maker.

By johna

March 28, 2007 12:30 PM | Link to this

Another blow to the Falcons. We really did not need this. Might want to rethink the negotiations with Scott. This defense has more holes than swiss cheese. How many rookies can we start this year? With the cap money spent we could be looking at another long season ahead of us with no playoff’s.

By FloDaddy

March 28, 2007 12:30 PM | Link to this

Hey Grady! Get the hell on!! Take your fat, greasy, dull gold tooth wearing butt back to where you come from. I’m tired of all this. We didn’t do a damn thing this year and you tripping about some damn medical records. We don’t need this. Just go!! If any other Falcons want to moan about some ridiculous trash like this for more paper, you can go to! Spoiled assess! I’m busting my butt to pay for tickets to see you guys lose and then I see stuff like this. It’s pathetic. Your a weak person Grady!

By MS

March 28, 2007 12:52 PM | Link to this

B. As long as the contract isn’t too ridiculous.

By Greg

March 28, 2007 12:54 PM | Link to this

Grady has the Falcons in a bad bind. They have glaring needs at DE and either FS or CD (depending on where Jimmy Williams plays). If you add DT to the list, they will not be able to field a credible defense. Coleman and Abrahams are unlikely to start 32 games between them, they don’t have a proper MLB…

Grady’s move is sorta Bush league, but the Falcons need a freaking plan to address their glaring deficiences on Defense.

And they’ll probably blow their first pick reaching on Levi Brown.

By This gets old

March 28, 2007 12:58 PM | Link to this

It’s not easy to replace a guy like that and the Falcons have the money. In retrospect doesn’t it look foolish to have given Abe a big contract without taking care of PK?

You really trust McKay to bring in THREE new defensive starters? He’s drafted two of the starting eleven. Wasn’t McKay the guy who told Steve two years ago that “you can always find a safety”? Ruskell was the guy with the eye for talent. Don’t expect any rookie to come in and play as well as GJack.

It’s difficult now for Brooking to make plays for losses and you’re going to stick a rookie or Lions reject in front of him??

I don’t care how he comes about it. Swallow hard and give him the money.

By Greg

March 28, 2007 12:58 PM | Link to this

Okoye is a very intriguing prospect, but he’s not going to replace Grady’s immense girth and presence in the middle. Unless they wish to rotate Okoye between DE and DT to beef up the entire line, he’s the wrong guy to get.

By Najeh Davenpoop

March 28, 2007 1:37 PM | Link to this

As far as I can tell the lawsuit isn’t about his contract as much as it is about his failed physical last year, and the Falcons releasing the details of his physical. I don’t know the details or whether Big Grady’s lawsuit has any merit, but if the Falcons care about the run defense at all they should pay him his money. Even if he never played on third down, the guy pretty much single-handedly improved the run defense last year, and was probably the Falcons’ most consistent defensive lineman after Patrick Kerney. Losing him would leave John Abraham and Rod Coleman, both of whom are prone to injuries and neither of whom is very good at stuffing the run, as the two best and most experienced linemen on the team. Behind Abraham and Coleman, this team is perilously thin at every defensive line position. Not to mention, who doesn’t love watching Big Grady carry his blimp-shaped body into the backfield and falling face-first on an unsuspecting running back? Pay up, Falcons.

By Pepe

March 28, 2007 2:00 PM | Link to this

If the relationship can be prepared and his contract is doable, I say bring back Gravy. We have to many holes to add the loss of Gravy.

By Southern Al

March 28, 2007 2:02 PM | Link to this

Grady was the most productive run stopper on the team last season. The Falcons made that information public to devalue his stock and to dissuade any other potential team who may have had interest in signing him. The real issue is why are the Falcons being so cheap? Can you honestly say that he is only worth the league minimum? If the Falcons brass hadn’t overpaid for Brooking, Hartwell, Webster than they could afford to pay the man market value. If they don’t think he’s worth it, than cut him. I’m pretty sure the Panthers/Bucs/Saints will give him a look.

By Voice of Reason

March 28, 2007 2:18 PM | Link to this

Whatever happened to the good ol’ fashioned holdout?

By CMS

March 28, 2007 2:32 PM | Link to this

We gotta keep Grady J. He was the only reason we could stop most teams from running. If we let him go the only possible replacement in the draft would be Alan Branch (6”6’ 330, probably 350lbs).

But if they draft Branch and keep Jackson at the same time, the run is officially stopped!

By Ken Strickland

March 28, 2007 2:35 PM | Link to this

Let him go. You don’t pay top $$ for a DT that’s nothing more than a situational player with limited ability. When teams pass on 1st, or 2nd dn, GJackson becomes a liability. He virtually has no pass rushing ability, no lateral movement, no ability to persue, and if he goes down, the play is over for him. We need overall talent and ability more than mere size. RColeman is considered one of the best DT’s in the NFL, and he’s less than 290lbs. Okoye is 305lbs, and he’s quicker, faster, more versatile, and can play every down, and/or situation. Why would anyone in their right mind waste money just to acquire an extra 50lbs+, and obvious limitations. And on top of that, GJackson is coming off knee surgery.

We should use next yrs 2nd rd pick, and one of our 3 4th rd picks, to move into the 1st rd. Draft a DE with that pick, and draft a CB/FS with our remaining 2nd rd pick. If LB DWilliams leaves, we’d get another 2nd rd pick, which I’d use to take UTex OG/OT Justin Blalock, 6’4” 329lbs. It’s almost a consensus opinion that he has the size, strength, and athletic ability to be a good NFL (R)OT. But as an OG, his overall talent would make him a Probowler for yrs to come. He’d provide insurance if our new 350lb+ FA OG doesn’t pan out, or if Forney’s chronic dislocating shoulder acts up again. Then draft a MLB in the 3rd rd, and let he and Beck compete for the starting job.

By TFM

March 28, 2007 2:41 PM | Link to this

I have to say the bigger issue is if any of the allegation is true. If the Falcons did leak in order to bring his market value down then that has to be a bad karma thing. Maybe other teams do it, maybe it wasn’t intentionally leaked, I don’t know. I just hope it is not true. That being said, put togetehr a deal that makes both sides happy and keep Grady. Could our DL get any thinner?

By Hasavior

March 28, 2007 2:47 PM | Link to this

Check this out!

Every player in the NFL is as good as his last year. Players don’t last as long in the NFL depending on what position you play and the level of the teams talent from year to year.

Grady is his own man and made the professional and legal right to sue, not due to Contract issues, but to personal health records. All health records local or private must abide by the HIPPA standards of law, if they are breached that employee or contracted business may press formal charges, especially if the ramifications are prudent to the welfare of the individual.

In this case, Grady is a contracted business owner that feels his protection under the HIPPA law were breached compromising his welfare to earn comprehensively gainful earnings.

Yes, this has a direct link to his existing contract. other teams may have inquired tender for him, therefore increasing his pre and post annual value within teams throughout league. That matter is detrimental in obtaining other potential contracts to consider during free agency. Actually, his current contract is secondary and comprehensive to the intitial notion of HIPPA policy breach!

By MontyPython

March 28, 2007 3:17 PM | Link to this

Grady Jackson is doing what Patrick Kearney and Matt Schaub have done before him and that is to get out of town after passing ‘GO’ on the monopoly board and picking up your cash on the way out. Money controls everything whether its Anna Nicole Smith or Tubby Smith the goal is to chase the cash until you get to the vault and once you grab the cash you can get out of Dodge as fast as you can. All of these people have used the same formula and money will continue to rule the world as long as we live. Anna Nicole Smith spent most of her adult life chasing after Howard Marshalls money until she died. Her survivers Berkhead, Stern and her mother are picking up where she left off and that is to chase the cash until you catch up to it. You cant blame them because they are all driven by the almighty dollar. Good luck Grady and thanks for sealing your fate.

By U-Dubb

March 28, 2007 3:55 PM | Link to this

Grady is as good as gone.

I was wondering why the Falcons began looking at DT’s this offseason. I thought that was one position where we had enough depth but now I see.

All I have to say is this… Remember when Ellis Johnson and Ed Jasper used the word “retirement?” They were not on the team the next season.

One was traded and the other was cut. We’re going to end up trading Jackson and draft a DT.

With Babineaux’s pending legal trouble, Kerney leaving, and now Jackson’s thing D-Line just became a huge priority.

Don’t worry about Laundry. He might be gone by the time we pick anyway.

By NoSacFalcFan

March 28, 2007 4:17 PM | Link to this

Grady reminds me of a slimmer version of myself.

By Andy

March 28, 2007 4:33 PM | Link to this

I’d add some incentives into his deal and make him dismiss the silly suit.

With the salary cap going up, you will hear more stories of players doing odd things to get cut and paid by another team or get paid by their current team. This story is just the nasty side of the business fo getting $$$.

What I want to know if you and Steve talk to the Falcons NFLPA reps (who are they?) about their side of issues like this and the new personal conduct policy????

By Singletary

March 28, 2007 4:41 PM | Link to this

When law suits are filed, I’d say the relationship is in the canner. Cut losses.

WHAT are we doing with very little O or D Line? We are hobbling Vick again with no protection and no relief on D.

WHY are we wasting money on 35YO Joe Horn (while talented) who is not going to be playing at full strength? I’d have much rather declared 07 as a rebuilding year and shot for the moon to get Calvin Johnson.

By dt

March 28, 2007 6:09 PM | Link to this

Let Grady go . We then need to sign Ian Scott and get on with it . We don’t need disgruntled players that don’t want to work out and get in shape to play .

By hawks are cursed for trading Nique.

March 28, 2007 6:11 PM | Link to this

If we give up on Grady our run defense is going to suffer! I think Grady is one of those pieces we need to be a superbowl contender as opposed to just a playoff contender.
I still say even after we got joe horn that the falcons should get Calvin Johnson..hes a quality player and letting the bucks get him at #4 would be a MAJOR mistake!!

By This gets old

March 28, 2007 6:17 PM | Link to this

Does anyone feel comfortable with the depth at ANY position on the Falcons? Those who want to blame Blank can do so but let’s ask this question. He went out and hired the best candidate available for the GM job.

This draft is important for Rich McKay. Lots of picks and if it’s a good draft then we can contend. A bad draft and we’ll be starting over in three seasons.

By falcons4life79

March 28, 2007 6:39 PM | Link to this

i tell grady to get his fat a** outa here, he is goning to have his records released, he is in the NFL, get over it and get lyposucsion

By OddJob

March 28, 2007 7:01 PM | Link to this

Starting Williams at cb helps define the teams needs,and makes it more likly Petrino will go Safty with the first pick.I trust the coaches judgement but I don’t know of a top corner with Williams size,most are 205 or lighter.If I were the man I’d trade down, take Okoye,then trade up and take Griffin the Texas safty with my second pick.

By mountain_jim

March 28, 2007 7:25 PM | Link to this

So if Atlanta ‘settles out of court’ on the charge of leaking his med recs, is that a loop-hole for paying him that way and keeping his current contract and cap hit the same?

By big tone

March 28, 2007 9:09 PM | Link to this

This might sound crazy but i’d take ted ginn jr first round.he can be the slot guy and the punt and kick off return man.i’d take michael bush first pick second round.the second pick second round would be reggie nelson if he’s available.

By Ken Strickland

March 28, 2007 9:13 PM | Link to this

With Petrino’s decision to start JWilliams at CB, he seems intent on having a top rated secondary. If we draft Landry with our #8 pick, we will essentially have 3 starting CB’s. His decision to start CDavis shows the DEF will use a lot of blitzing to pressure the QB. With Hall & Williams at CB, and Landry at FS, we will be able to play some serious man coverage. That would allow us to blitz 2/3 LB’s.

Petrino’s decision to stick with so many of last yrs starters is really revealing. After reviewing practice and game film, it appears the staff has reached a consensus opinion. They seems to feel the former coaching staff was a bigger problem for the Falcons than the players. By spreading the OFF, and forcing the DEF to cover the entire field, they can reduce the pressure on the OL. Teams won’t be able to overload the OL by bringing their safeties and LB’s into the box. Now they have to worry about RB’s as REC’s out of the backfield, and the QB changing the play at the line to offset their formation. In fact, in obvious passing situations, especially with 3/4 REC sets, the DEF will have to replace their LB’s and SS.

Petrino, and the staff he has put together, appear to be the complete opposite of our former regime. They’re organized, prepared, they have a plan, and seem to know how they intend to impliment that plan. They intend to utilize, and maximize, the talent that’s on hand. They will draft talented players with the idea of developing them as replacements. And last, but certainly not least, they will emphasize pass protection and make it a priority by actually practicing it on a regular basis.

By destin

March 28, 2007 9:35 PM | Link to this

I don’t think CDavis is a front line DE with the size we need to build a dominant front 4. Before this Grady thing came up, DE was and probably still our #1 draft priority. With Grady as good as gone, we may have to take a look at the ‘big man’ DT from Michigan if he’s there at #8.

By Fans with $hit for brains and sport writers

March 28, 2007 9:41 PM | Link to this

we have to keep Grandy Jackson this year. This is about money. With out him and his huge body we will be in troblem on the run. This don’t look all that good but we need him. We need offense and defense real linemen bad. After this year we will need to draft a middle line backer Keith is starting to get old and Jordan Beck is to light in the a$$ to play the middle. I here the falcons are looking at o’neal from the bengal at CB in a trade! Is this a good move?

By SC

March 28, 2007 10:24 PM | Link to this

Ken Strickland, the last paragraph of your last post summarizes very closely my opinion of the Petrino regime and the difference between it and the Mora regime. It shouldn’t be so amazing how much an incompetent head coach can handicap a football team - but to me it is. Perhaps the difference simply shows how bad a mistake Arthur Blank made in hiring Jim Mora. I hope we can continue to look back and shake our heads.

I don’t care if we draft Landry, Okoye, or player X with our first pick. I’m not criticizing anybody for having a favorite. I just hope that McKay gets it right and drafts a long term playmaker. On a team with so many needs as the Falcons, sacks, stuffed runs, interceptions, pancake blocks, etc, are all good.

By Ken Strickland

March 28, 2007 11:07 PM | Link to this

SC, I would prefer we not draft Landry. This draft has enough FS’s to allow us to get starter quality in the 2nd rd. There won’t be another DT close to Okoye’s overall talent in the 2nd rd. It appears Petrino and Jackson want another JWilliams type talent playing FS. Griffin of the Utex is actually rated higher than Landry as a pure FS, but he doesn’t have his overall skills.

At this point, I’m with you. Petrino and his staff have convinced me they know what they are doing. I will support any decision they make, because I know they have a plan. From an OFF standpoint, we will have the fastest HB in the NFL, and possibly the biggest and strongest FB in the NFL. Man, we are going to put some serious pressure on opposing DEF’s.

By Mike

March 28, 2007 11:36 PM | Link to this

Ken you hit on something I questioned a lot last year when you said they will be using RB’s as recievers. I was just curious to why they never did spread the field with Norwood in the back and use him for swing passes, screens, or just a little shovel pass. If the D’ covered him, and had coverage on the recievers downfield, there was no way anyone would have Vick contained. Falcons offense is loaded with speed, and could have created major headaches for opposing D’s. If Atlanta takes Landry in the first should they gamble on Thomas out of FL in the 2nd. He would have been easily a #1 had it not been for his off the field problems. I still believe with one of the #2’s they should take a reciever. I like Sydney Rice if he is still there. He is not really a deep threat, but he is an excellent possesion reciever, and can get tough yards up the middle.

By Najeh Davenpoop

March 28, 2007 11:47 PM | Link to this

I’m with Ken — with the depth of free safeties in this draft, the Falcons could easily get someone like Eric Weddle or Michael Griffin in the 2nd round. And anyway, a great front 7 can make a secondary’s job much easier by pressuring the QB and making him release the ball sooner; on the other hand, without pressure on the QB even a great secondary can only cover for so long before a receiver finds a way to get open. The successful teams in the NFL spend high picks on linemen on both sides of the ball. A main reason the Falcons haven’t been consistently good over the last 15 years is because they have only spent two first-rounders on a lineman on either side of the ball (Patrick Kerney and Lincoln Kennedy). Whomever the Falcons rate the highest among Jamaal Anderson, Adam Carriker, Gaines Adams, Levi Brown, Amobi Okoye, and Alan Branch should be the pick at #8. Assuming Adams is off the board, my pick is either Okoye or Anderson.

By SC

March 29, 2007 12:05 AM | Link to this

Ken, if Amobi Okoye turns out to be the next Tommie Harris, the choice will be hard to argue. There’s no doubt about that.

And now there are rumors of a trade for Deltha Oneal. I hope we don’t trade away that chance to draft Amobi.

I get the impression that Petrino is just alot more mature than Mora. As a remote observer, I don’t see his ego. At least I don’t see his ego obstructing his expert opinion. I have heard the stories about Petrino’s poor PR performances, but I don’t see that guy now. An interesting milestone will be first time things really go bad on the field. It will happen - every team has a bad game. If Bobby handles adversity in the same way in which he has so far conducted himself …. then we will know we have a great coach.

By SC

March 29, 2007 12:13 AM | Link to this

Has anybody else noticed how DeAngelo Hall seems to have conducted himself with so much more maturity since the end of the season? First, he is open about his view of the coaching change, but he is also open minded. Then D shows up as an advocate about off-field conduct. He sounds a lot more circumspect about his situation, more mature. Steve Wyche, is this a great interview subject for the taking? ;-)

By SC

March 29, 2007 12:18 AM | Link to this

Ok, I’m tired. I apologize Mr. Ledbetter - your blog. I appreciate your team reports in another media channel (he said obsequiously).

By Ken Strickland

March 29, 2007 1:42 AM | Link to this

NAJEH DAVENPOOP, I would select DT Okoye because there are as many quality DE’s in this draft as FS’s. As far as DE’s are concerned, CDavis is as good a Kerney was against the run. His weakness is his limited pass rushing ability. Since we rotate our DLinemen anyway, we only need a pass rushing specialist at this point. The kid out of UGA, Johnson I think, would be perfect. We use our 3rd pick overall to get a FS like Griffin, or Merriweather, or Weddle.

MIKE, what I am about to tell you will defy logic. When the Saints DC realized our WR’s could be played with man coverage, our entire OFF structure was destroyed. The Saints showed the rest of the NFL how to cover our REC’s, load the box with 7/8 men, and blitz. GKnapp’s reaction was to do the complete opposite of what is recommended to conteract that DEF. Knapp refused to spread the OFF, by using swing passes to isolate our very quick and fast RB’s against LB’s. He refused to allow our QB’s to have on-field control of the OFF, and audible. This fools solution was to keep his RB’s in as blockers, which actually benefited the DEF. He even started holding Crumpler in to help with the overload of blitzers. That is why his 2nd half numbers went down. Imagine, your team is in a 3rd and long situation, and you’re using your best REC, Crumpler, as a blocker.

Common sense should tell a person with a below average football IQ that if the DEF is packed inside the box, you go outside. You either pitch it out to a RB, throw a swing pass to a RB, or throw a quick out, or fade to a WR. GKnapp did neither, and we paid the price the 2nd half of the last 2 seasons. His formations, and his execution made it easier for the DEF to carry out their mission. This moron didn’t even have special formations, or personnel, for short yardage, goal line, or redzone situations. While every other OC in the NFL was adding weapons to attack DEF’s, he reduced our potential weapons(examples: not using Norwood like NO used Bush, not allowing audibles like every other NFL OC, not using our RB’s as REC’s, etc.) I’ll bet you one thing, Petrino and his staff won’t let a talent like JWilliams waste away on the bench, or special teams.

By OddJob

March 29, 2007 2:20 AM | Link to this

Ken Strickland Charles Johnson is more than a pass rusher,he is solid against the run and he has a great knack for getting in passing lanes and knocking down a ball.I think he could be one of the real sleepers in this draft.

By savannah falcon

March 29, 2007 6:43 AM | Link to this

Ok the falcons need to redo his contract. We cannot afford to lose him and we can afford to pay him. Give him some money and lets get ready for off-season conditioning. By Jackson staying in Mississippi and missing the off-season conditioning, he will be out of shape for next season. Injuries will set in as with all players that sit out.

By nix

March 29, 2007 6:51 AM | Link to this

Pay him. I don’t care for the way he went about getting a better contract but you can’t deny what he’s done for the team. I don’t know about yall but i feel like this season is gonna be tough enough, why make it worse. Let’s win a couple games.

By Titothebear

March 29, 2007 7:50 AM | Link to this

The Foulcons are, by far and away, the worst franchise in the NFL. The reason? Mike Vick, who was the 32nd rated QB in the entire league. What did his 1,000 yards rushing do for the team? Only produce 7 wins, that’s right, and only 15 wins the past two. The more you dunderheaded fans grasp this, the better off you’ll be. Then again, look who I’m preaching to!

By CQ

March 29, 2007 8:36 AM | Link to this

I was waiting to see who the first idiot that would bring up Vicks name in a negative way.

By Dirtie Birdie

March 29, 2007 8:51 AM | Link to this

McKay truly does not get it. Championships are won with a strong offensive line and defensive line. He keeps going after pretty boy players - cornerbacks, wide receivers, and now safety. DRAFT SOME FREAKING LINEMAN ALREADY! Your QB gets killed because you have no line. Your running backs gain lots of yards but gain nothing in short yardage, third down, fourth down, or the red zone. Other teams when they want to run are able to run all over our defensive line. Kerney is gone. Abraham who knows if he will ever play enough? Coleman is good but not great. Championships are won on OL & DL. We will never win a championship with Daddy’s Boy McKay because all he cares about is drafting pretty boy players and not the hosses who will drive this team to a championship. Linebackers and safeties are useless if the DLINE is not big enough and strong enough to keep the offensive line off the linebackers and safeties. Cornerbacks are useless unless the DLINE can apply enough pressure to the offense so that the cornerback is not running around all day back there trying to cover the receivers. QBs and wide receivers are useless unless they are given enough time to throw and catch and run around and get open. Running backs are useless unless the offensive line can get the needed push on third down, fourth down, goal line, short yardage, and the red zone.

Keep drafting pretty boy players Arthur Biff and Richie McFly and ignoring what wins championships.

By Falcons 190

March 29, 2007 9:14 AM | Link to this

The Falcons are a bunch of geniuses. Knowing that they were tight against the cap, they signed a player that they really needed to less than he deserved. But, they made some under the table deal that Jackson would sue them after the first season and they would make an out of court settlement. Therefore, Grady gets the money he deserves, but he doesn’t count as much against the cap. With more shrewd moves like this, they will be in the Super Bowl by the end of this decade.

By steve

March 29, 2007 11:38 AM | Link to this

Hit the road Jackson…

By gdg73

March 29, 2007 11:45 AM | Link to this

There is a chance that Adrian Peterson falls to #8. If he does, pick him because Buffalo or Houston would take him. This would set up a trade with Green Bay at #16 who is in need of a running back. Also, Carolina and maybe Houston are the only teams between 8 and 16 that need a safety, with Landry, Merriweather, Griffin, and Nelson still on the board to choose from. If Green Bay wants Peterson, tell them to pick one of the safetys, and trade him to us, along with a second round pick. We would then have three picks in the second, two in the third, and three in the fourth. If Peterson falls, for some odd reason, all this is highly possible.

The following picks would play out like this: 2nd Charles Johnson, DE 2nd Arron Sears OT/OG or Justin Blalock OT/OG 2nd Steve Smith, Dewayne Jarret, or Sidney Rice(one will slip, watch) 3rd Quentin Moses DE (Abe’s breather) 4th Marcus Thomas DT (Coleman’s successor; will fall like Darnell Dockett FSU three years ago) 4th Buster Davis MLB (Hartwell’s replacement) 4th Yamon Figurs Return Specialist (Good Bye Rossum)

By JeffD

March 29, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this

One person not mentioned in many posts is Levi Brown. Like Landry and Anderson, Brown would be an excellent pick at 8. Don’t be surprised to see the Falcons take him. Petrion has committed to Vick, and seems intent on makeing Vick a better passer. An important step at reaching that goal is overhauling the OL.

If they take Brown at 8, they could then take Merriweather with their first pick in the 2nd, and a DE with their second 2nd round pick.

Another option would be to take Landry at 8. Then, hope that Blalock is availabe when we pick in the second round. Again, a DE would be our third pick.

And Mike Bush looks to be an viable option for our third round pick.

Either one of these scenarios would be excellent.

By Falcons Fan

March 29, 2007 12:25 PM | Link to this

I’m hearing that the Falcons are trying to trade for Deltha O’Neal from Cincinnati. What would that mean for Jimmy Williams, who a day earlier was named as the starter at CB?

By Glenn

March 29, 2007 12:34 PM | Link to this

According toNFL.com, the Facons are attempting to acquire Cincinnati Bengals former Pro Bowl cornerback Deltha O’Neal.

By Ken Strickland

March 29, 2007 1:10 PM | Link to this

ODDJOB, I wasn’t trying to slight Johnson’s ability in any way. I was just showing how we could do well with a one dimensional player at the position. The fact that he isn’t just one dimensional acts in our favor, should we draft him.

CQ, were you actually suprised at which idiot responded 1st. Who else did you expect?

DIRTIE BIRDIE, you are right about building strong OL/DL. After Petrino and his staff watched film of our OL, they came to a conclusion. The previous coaching staff didn’t practice pass blocking enough to adequately evaluate the OLinemen. He actually referenced that issue in a public statement. Petrino feels our OL’s pass blocking problems, under Mora/Knapp, were a result of poor preparation, poor scheming, and very poor implimentation. I’m certain they considered how Forney, McClure, and Weiner were very effective in Dan Reeves power blocking system. If fact, Reeves signed Weiner because of his pass blocking skills to protect Vick’s blind side. Gandy, even at 35/36, is still better than a lot of OT. This staff seems convinced this OL can get the job done if given the proper scheme, preparation, and implimentation. They viewed MLehr as the only weak link.

FALCONS 190, I don’t know where you got that idea from, but it is really intriguing and innovative. If it’s true, it would rank right up there with using team sponsors to supplement key players salaries. The Bulls paid MJordan a comparatively small salary, which kept them under the cap. They signed Jordan to endorsement deals with team sponsors, and they paid the rest of his salary. The same trick was used by Dallas and San Francisco to sign Dion Sanders and stay under the cap.

GDG73, I am with you on that issue. The players we need most, especially on DEF, are plentiful in this draft. There are a lot of teams in need of a quality RB, including teams that traded for RB’s this off season. Some of those RB’s are just short term solutions, and Peterson would have a yr to adjust. Another 2nd rd pick would allow us to get just what we need most. We could get DT(Okoye), DE (Moss, Johnson), OG(Blalock) and a FS(Griffin, Weddle, Merriweather). Louisville’s RB Bush just had surgery to replace an old pin in his leg. This could likely drop him into our lap in the 3rd rd. Imagine, at the end of just the 2nd rd, the team will have addressed all of it’s most pressing needs(DE,DT,FS,OL,big RB). And we will still have 6 picks left to restock our bench. It works for me.

By Titothebear

March 29, 2007 1:54 PM | Link to this

Ken Strychnine,

Stick it where the sun don’t shine! I’m just pointing out the facts and if you can’t deal with them, then that’s your problem…HOLLA!

By OddJob

March 29, 2007 2:01 PM | Link to this

Dirtie Berdie Was Montana,Rice,Jim Brown,etc a bunch of pretty boys?To say a team needs a line or a this or that but not the other thing is silly.What wins games is a team and that means players performing at all positions.That said the d-line needs work,so after Mckay extracts his foot from Jackson’s fat a* he can go back to evaluating talent.

By destin

March 29, 2007 2:32 PM | Link to this

We must get ‘bigger’ on both lines. Losing Kearny and now Grady, The DL line is 1st priority. Bigger - like Anderson(6’6”,288)or Carriker(6’6”,296) instead of Chauncey Davis or Charles Johnson (both around 6’2”,260). And at DT, bigger like Alan Branch(6’6”,330) instead of Okoye(6’2”,300).

By REAL RED BIRD FAN

March 29, 2007 2:43 PM | Link to this

LISTEN UP ALL FALCONS FANS IF A.PETERSON IS AVAILABLE AT THE 8TH PICK. WE’VE BETTER TAKE THE BEST AVAILIBLE PLAYER!!!HE IS A GAME CHANGER AND CAN BE THE REPLACEMENT TO OLD A$$ W. DUNN THAT WILL GIVE US TWO HOME RUN HITTERS AND AND A RELIABLE 3RD DOWN BACK! OR A TRUE PLAY MAKER IN REGGIE NELSON WITH BALL HAWKING SKILLS.

By Ken Strickland

March 29, 2007 4:14 PM | Link to this

DESTIN, why are you so obsessed with size? You seem to think bigger guarantees better, and nothing could be more wrong. The Chicago Bears had one of the best DEF in the NFL and they rode their DL to the SB this yr. Their DE’s weigh 260lbs each, and their DT’s weigh 318lbs and 300lbs respectively. That averages out to 284.5lbs. The Ravens use a 3/4 DEF and their front 3(280lbs, 310lbs, 340lbs) average 312lbs. The Vikings also had a top rated DEF and their front 4 averaged 298lbs. Drafting, signing FA’s, or trading for players based solely on size defies all logic.

“STICK IT WHERE THE SUN DON’T SHINE”! TITO, that seems to be your biggest problem, as well as your biggest pleasure. HOLLA BIG HORN, HOLLA.

By destin

March 29, 2007 4:40 PM | Link to this

Ken, the players I mentioned have size ‘and’ talent.