AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2008 > January > 14 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USGM hiring playing well online
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Editor’s note: Our D. Orlando Ledbetter will be surfing Websites daily to catch up on the latest buzz on team owner Arthur Blank’s search for a general manager and head coach. Look for his posting around 1 p.m. Monday-Friday. If you have a Website you think he should check out, send it to him at dledbetter@ajc.com.
The hiring of Tom Dimitroff as the Falcons new general manager is playing well in cyberspace.
It was noted by the Trenton Times that Dimitroff beat out Tom Heckert, the only candidate interviewed who had previous general manager experience.
But the local fans are embracing the move. On the fansite TheFalcoholic.com , they were trying to project who Dimitroff would take with his first Falcons pick based on his top New England picks.
They concluded he’d skip on the quarterbacks and take an offensive lineman. They expect him to pickup lineman throughout, a safety and a kicker.
Dimitroff even got the blessing of New England coach Bill Belichick in a CBSSportsline.com article on his hiring.
“Tom’s done a good job for us,” Belichick said. “I’ve known him a long time, since I was in Cleveland.”
(No mention of if Dimitroff had any knowledge of the spygate incident.)
There’s one little troublesome point that must be addressed. One of Dimitroff’s pick was Miami’s Brandon Merriweather. He was involved in the nasty brawl with Florida International in 2006. Merriweather was caught on tape repeatedly kicking a downed FAU player. With the Falcons in the past stressing character, will the new guy pick talent over character? Merriweather was off of several team’s draft boards last season.
Some of his other top picks include, cornerback Asante Samuel, offensive linemen Logan Mankins and Dan Koppen, running back Laurence Maroney, tight end Ben Watson and defensive linemen Ty Warren.
On Profootballtalk.com, they couldn’t believe the Falcons hired Dimitroff without a face-to-face interview.
“It’s amazing,” PFT.com wrote. “After hauling a nine-person committee all over the country to interview candidates for head coach and G.M., the guy who got the most important job in the business has never met the owner.”
On SportingNews.com, most of the comments were favorable and one fan wonder if the Dimitroff was bringing some of the New England scouts with him and if this was a way for the Falcons to get Josh McDaniels to reconsider interviewing for the head coaching job.
So did the Falcons get the right guy? Would you’d like to have seen Heckert, or one of the Green Bay execs, Reggie McKenzie or John Schneider? Should they have gone with an experienced general manager, who has a track record of building a team and has functioned in the job before?
Comments
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By CD
January 14, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this
I like the move. The guy is a talent evaluator..now let’s get a good head coach and move on from this disastrous season.
By Bubba, Lower Forty
January 14, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this
Hi y’all! As with any promotion to a new position, you wonder if the guy can handle it. Based on the needs of our team, this is who I would have taken. Heckert had a good resume, but he is an already established GM. We need someone to step in and mould our whole organization into a cohesive unit. Start from the top and go down the line. As for the draft, my guess would be Jake Long. Even though I would dearly love to see McFadden in Red and Black, we’ve got to shoot for the long term.
By Pogo Stick Comments
January 14, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this
I hope he’s able to summon up a very good coach like Marty and get the “Ball” rolling on this season because the other two are clueless, I will be able to tell early how this GM choice pans out.
By Poor McKay
January 14, 2008 4:10 PM | Link to this
Sounds like he spends most of his days traveling around to college campuses and senior bowl events. Sure, we need help with draft picks but also with acquiring veterans and hiring a head coach. I’m a little concerned that we hired a guy who may not have the administration skills initially. But I guess he can be extremely hands on during the upcoming draft and then learn the nuances of supervising a team and management staff in May.
By Falcons Fan
January 14, 2008 4:10 PM | Link to this
I love the hire. They have someone who still has something to prove,not someone who has been there, and done that like McKay. Don’t misuderstand me, I like McKay, but he had already built on team, and made them successful, now we have someone who is still hungry, and wants to start his own legacy. Let’s hire a smart coach, who will be around for a couple of years, and won’t embarress us on T.V. As far as the draft, we need a safety, middle linebacker, Offensive lineman immediately. We can wait another year for a quaterback, if the right one does not fall into our lap, or pick up one as a free agent.
By Realistic Ricky
January 14, 2008 4:45 PM | Link to this
I think this is a great ATTEMPT at doing something right for a change. No reasonable thinking person can argue that New England has not been the most successful franchise in the NFL for the past 6-7 years, and Dimitroff obviously was a key player. As with all NFL decisions, only time will tell if this one was a good one, but I give Mr. Blank an A+ for his efforts on this one. Keep it up, Arthur!!!
By Braves Fan
January 14, 2008 5:33 PM | Link to this
Next time, check Footballsfuture.com. Got great people on there.
I honestly think McFadden will be the pick.
By 89viking
January 14, 2008 6:03 PM | Link to this
i love the pick,,,he seems to be well liked and respected by members of the pats and other teams personnel. he may not have made all the decisions before but having worked for belichick, pioli and parcells, he has to have learned some shrewd business decisions and tricks of the trade. my 1st choice was pioli but since he wasnt going anywhere, someone from a CONSISTENT WINNING organization has to be at the top of the list.
now,,,if he can start by picking a winning head coach.