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Thursday, December 18, 2008
Abraham got jobbed by shallow Pro Bowl voters
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
THE BRANCH - Can’t wait to talk to John Abraham today during open locker room.
I know he’s ticked at not making the Pro Bowl, but has had some time to calm down. He had a family emergency and missed practice on Wednesday. Got a tip early about him not making the Pro Bowl and made some calls around the league.
There was sentiment is some locker rooms - including the NFC South — that was a little weird. Some contended that he has an easier path to his sacks because the Falcons rest him, wait until second-and-long, third-and-long and unleash him on the passer. Easiest job in the business, it was said. Crazy, but true!
That’s using your players smartly. But the players get one-third of the vote and Abraham didn’t win in some locker rooms because of that sentiment.
However, Abraham is a first alternate behind Carolina’s Julius Peppers, Minnesota’s Jared Allen and New York’s Justin Tuck. The Giants also move Tuck around and he even plays some tackle.
Rookie QB Matty “Ice” is also a first alternate.
I don’t understand the hype about Peppers. It seems like whenever he plays the Falcons, Todd Weiner gives him the business. I’ve seen him in about 8 to 10 games in person, and don’t remember one big play.
Also, it needs to be explained how not one Falcons linemen made it. They have paved the way for Michael Turner and the league’s top rushing attack. Also, they have cut their number of sacks from 47 to 13 with two games to play.
Center Todd McClure makes the group go, but left guard Justin Blalock is also having a fine sophomore campaign. Weiner could have gone just for playing on that reconstructed knee. Right guard Harvey Dahl and right tackle Tyson Clabo will get their shots down the road to if the Falcons keep winning.
Too many guys on the offensive line got in off of past reputations. That happens annually.
The Falcons could have had a third Pro Bowler. After training camp, they tried to sign running back and returner Clifton Smith to the practice squad. He was in camp with Tampa Bay and the Bucs came up with some extra cash over the practice squad minimum to sway his decision. Smith spent 7 weeks on the practice before being added to roster. The former undrafted rookie free agent from Fresno State (we featured him back in April in our AJC pre-draft series on returners the Falcons may look at)http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/falcons/stories/2008/04/17/faldraft_0418.html made it to Hawaii as the returner. The Falcons signed Ken Darby to the practice squad instead.
Well, if I were Gus Frerotte or Tarvaris Jackson I wouldn’t want to be facing the Double-Nickel this week. How many sacks do you think Abraham will get against the Vikings? Who’s going to win the battle of the top two rushers in the league? Can the Falcons repeat the Metrodome miracle of 1998?
(Keep our conversations on football. Trying the short notice since everybody has been doing so well.)
