The Bird Babe

By Payton=One Year Wonder

November 9, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this

Payton is just like Mora, until the Saints get a defense, they’ll win 7 or 8 games a year. The first year is just the GIMME because teams don’t know you yet.

By stendec

November 9, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this

Guess who was in the F+++++G end zone when the Saints scored on a prayer? Yep! Keith “Clueless SOB” Brooking. Was so happy with win until this untalented piece of S++T started again. He and two damn defenders who allowed Saint to get behind them late are worthless toilet scum. Bench defenders. Cut Brooking! Anyone else see the same thing?

By Don't Get Excited

November 9, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this

We’ve been here before…dont get excited. Only one win against a team with a winning record, lets not get beside ourselves!

By stendec

November 9, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this

Neglected to mention it is great the Falcons finally have a legitimate shutdown corner. Where did that other untalented loud mouth loser eventually end up?

By I wanna be first

November 9, 2008 4:41 PM | Link to this

All those years waiting and waiting on the great black hope. So glad he is gone. Wonder how Blank feels. Knowing he has better QB even if half the fan base($$$) is p** off.

By MikeP

November 9, 2008 4:51 PM | Link to this

It is more gratifying to know that our coaching staff can match your coaching staff no matter whop the oponent is. That my friends have been missing for close to decade. To have this defense playing like this is truly a coaching testament to proper planning and preparation. matt ryna? well folks we just got lucky to have a quaterback that is having the type of year i havent seen froma rookie since marino. And finally , I have always thought that Norwood should be utilized the same way saints utilized Bush….I couldnt be happier with the way we are playing.

By Carz

November 9, 2008 4:55 PM | Link to this

Stendec, did you watch the game? That late TD was defelected off a hand, then a helmet then landed perfectly into an offensive players hands. It hand nothing to do with Brooking.

By This Gets Old

November 9, 2008 4:55 PM | Link to this

As to would have guessed I have to give props to Ken Strickland and Rich Brave who said before the opening weekend that the Falcons would play like this.

I thought that they were crazy but dudes if you read this you were right. I thought that we wouldn’t play like this until late next year. These last two games they’ve done everything that I complained about them not doing.

Jerious is getting the ball in space and the TE’s are getting the ball. Honestly if they didn’t win another game this year I’d still be surprised that they played this well this season.

By Bryant

November 9, 2008 5:03 PM | Link to this

What a great win by the Falcons! Even though Brees had over 400 yards passing, I was impressed with our pass defense, which has been a liability for a good part of the season. As much as I like the effort giving by Brent Grimes, I do think that Dominique Foxworth may need to remain in as a starter. He broke up so many passes today. I loved the effort that he gave today. We should have had a few more sacks, but at least John Abraham was able to notch one more on his belt.

This was a great way to start off the 3 game homestand at the Dome. If we can knock off Denver next week and then Carolina the following week, I think the sky’s the limit for the rest of the season.

By Ryno

November 9, 2008 5:08 PM | Link to this

You can’t cut brooking because you don’t have the depth to fill his spot immediately. If you want to move him, wait till the off season and pick up another player.

Outstanding win - very balanced. Imagine what Van Gorder will do with our defense when he gets 3-4 more pieces? GO FALCONS!

By outonleave

November 9, 2008 5:21 PM | Link to this

It would be nice of some of ya’ll could quit hatin’ for ten minutes and just enjoy a victory. Once again, props to Arthur Blank for persevering in his determination to bring a legitimate team to this town. Anybody who doesn’t appreciate Blank wasn’t here for the Rankin Smith years.

By This Gets Old

November 9, 2008 5:22 PM | Link to this

I wanna be first:

Man take your hatred away from the blog. You’re like Al Qaeda or more like Satan. We’re all Americans dude so stop trying to get everybody involved in a racist arguement that has nothing to do with a Falcon win.

If you don’t like blacks then why would you watch football?

By morris

November 9, 2008 5:24 PM | Link to this

Where’s jock sniffer 2? When the Falcons win he usually stops by to give everyone in the organization credit except matt ryan.

Did matt ryan just outplay the best QB in the NFC today? Yep he sure did! What does that say about matt ryan? I’m not going to draw any conclusions just yet but I think I know where this is headed.

By dl

November 9, 2008 5:29 PM | Link to this

Bring on the buccaqueers and Carolina pussycats! It won’t be the same falcons team that lost earlier this year.

By beki

November 9, 2008 5:30 PM | Link to this

Loved the way the Falcons played this game! This was a well-balanced team effort. It is soooooo good to once more root for them and their efforts.

By Mac

November 9, 2008 5:36 PM | Link to this

KUDO’S To The Falcons For The W..

HOWEVER: I Still Haven’t Seen The KILLER Instinct

Instilled By The Coaches! They Jump Out Early Then

Its Like They Want To PROTECT The Lead!! The NO

Huddle Offense Was NOT Used Today..Very Successful

In Earlier Games..Very Little Game Planing For The

2nd Half That I Could See.. It Was ANYBODY’s Game

Down To The Wire!!

By Carz

November 9, 2008 5:42 PM | Link to this

Mac, I hate to see it, but I agree with nothing in your statement. The Falcons realized they could move the ball with conservative play calling against this defense. The second half was salting it away if they could move it on the ground. If they were getting stopped in the second half, they would have adjusted. Ryan is still a rookie and we are not going to have him out there gun slinging.

By Barkin'Dog

November 9, 2008 5:43 PM | Link to this

Where are all of those who said Ryan would be a bust before the season started? An average QB at best? Bad Pick??? Where are you now? How about a few attaboys for the man? Maybe they’re quietly ‘tipping their hat’s at home ;-) Anyway, I loved the man’s style in college and I’m crazy about his maturity so early. But props go to the entire team, especially coaching. These players are ready for anything. Do the stop every play…NO. But they make the right stops, the right offensive plays and they mange the clock the right way. Go Falcons! Take us to the promised land!

By Ryno

November 9, 2008 5:44 PM | Link to this

So let’s get serious. How many wins gets us into the Playoffs? 8? 9?

We have to start crunching numbers here. I see solid chances for Victory coming up against St. Louis and either Tampa/Carolina. Denver’s a push, Minny on the road = tossup. I just don’t know man, it’s gonna be close.

Beating Denver next week makes things so much easier. C’MON BIRDS!

By JATT

November 9, 2008 5:44 PM | Link to this

Criticize all you want, but why the raciall-tainted hate?

By bama12

November 9, 2008 5:44 PM | Link to this

Stendec: Your an idiot, please no more opinions.

The Falcons are playing as a team and it is wonderful to see. I am so happy to be able to root for a team that plays with passion, discipline, and toughness. Great coaching Smitty!

Go Falcons!!!!

By gtfan

November 9, 2008 5:49 PM | Link to this

stendec….

first off… why not say your cowardly dribble to brookin’s face.

second… as another poster pointed out the pass was a deflected fluke

third… if the coaching staff of an 6-3 team in the nfl’s toughest division think a player deserves to start than most smart fans in the know would agree but….

who said you were smart!

By stendec

November 9, 2008 5:57 PM | Link to this

Back at ya bama 12! The Falcons ARE playing with cohesion! Keith “No Tackle” Brooking IS weak link on defense. Too many whiffed tackles. Too many times out of position. Too damn slow. He was the only former Pro Bowler in end zone on Saint successful desperation touchdown toss. Lead by example. DAMN IT!

By jcy1968

November 9, 2008 6:06 PM | Link to this

Great post MikeP….you, my friend are right on the $$….the Falcons..FINALLY have the internal personell…and a QB that is a leader…What a concept..!! I’ve often fantasized about having a QB with Jeff George’s arm…and Booby Herbert’s “heart”….well….matty Ice is close…he aint got JG’s arm…but who care’s!! he’s the best QB in a Falcons uniform I’ve seen since Bartkowski…

By Algonquin J. Calhoun

November 9, 2008 6:14 PM | Link to this

Who would have thought 6-3? Me! I picked the Falcons to go 9-7 or better. Mark Bradley picked them to win a maximum of six games. they’ve done that. I don’t think they’re going to lose the remaining seven games on their schedule. Stendec, what I see is a useless piece of lying, racist scum posting b******. Shut your stupid mouth and ge the hell off this board maggot!

By stendec

November 9, 2008 6:17 PM | Link to this

Hey gtfan. Great job by Bumbles huh! It is evident you do not watch games too closely. Where the Hell is Keith Brooking on tackles? Whiffed stop on fourth down play. Forever out of position. Too damn slow. Cannot cover a damn paraplegic! Way past his prime. Team liability. Needs to retire gracefully. His ineptitude is going to hurt his team BIG TIME if he continues to hang around. Just the truth!

By bama12

November 9, 2008 6:17 PM | Link to this

I agree that Brooking has lost a step or two, but c’mon any good team would want him for his leadership. He also does not have to be the man every play on D , because he has a lot of good players around him. As long as Lawyer does not take him out again. He’ll be fine.

By Fans??

November 9, 2008 6:38 PM | Link to this

It was a rival and STILL many red seats. LOL - These Falcons will have to win the Super Bowl to even get 70% attendance in 2009.

By crabapplejoe

November 9, 2008 7:05 PM | Link to this

Algonquin J. Calhoun wrote: “Stendec, what I see is a useless piece of lying, racist scum posting b*. Shut your stupid mouth and ge the hell off this board maggot!”* I second that emotion Algonquin. Stendec is a racist idiot who can only sing one note i.e. hating on Brooking. Brooking is the forth leading tackler on the team. Lofton leads the team with 53 and Brooking has 50. Coleman and Milloy are at 52. So, Stendec, should we also cut these guys who essentially have the same amount of tackles over a nine game stretch?

By stendecisamoron

November 9, 2008 7:34 PM | Link to this

stendec you are the talentless peice sht!You arent worthy to hold Brookings jock you worthless peice of racist crap!Convick is NOT coming back so take your racist behind back to your Black Panther meeting and leave the true fans alone you sorry sack of of sht!

By ExodusMentality

November 9, 2008 7:34 PM | Link to this

@bama12 - didn’t LawDog lay Brooking out?! And it wouldn’t have happened if Brook had been making a decent tackle. Brooking may deserve respect because of all he has given to the Falcons, but even that goes against the grain of the N(ot) F(or) L(ong). Any other time it’s all about what have you done for me lately. If it were anyone else, I don’t think he would be starting after getting toasted by every RB or TE that goes against him. It’s simply time to try someone else. The leadership he is providing could be provided from the sidelines. And who the hell gave 56 credit for a sack today?!?!?

The game ball goes to the secondary. They played one hell of a game against very good receivers, and a very good QB. They made every play they needed to make. I predicted a pick 6 today and they did not disappoint. Foxworth especially looked like he was truly ready for a breakout game

And one final thing, from a die-hard Vick Fan. I am also a diehard Falcons fan, and the two are not mutually exclusive. Matt Ryan is playing insane, and I sincerely hope he continues to get better. But his success is more a function of team success and coaching than it is about him being some super wonder-kid rookie QB. Did he even get his uniform dirty today? I’m not sure I even saw any sweat stains, that’s how well he was protected.

Everyone wants to blame Mike Vick for the past few dismal seasons. When did he ever play a game for the Falcons and did not get dirty? I’m not saying he was the best ever, but he would have been great in this situation. This isn’t a knock on Ryan, it’s a knock on management and coaching that was horrendous for all of Vick’s years in an Atlanta uniform. I can guarantee you if Mike Vick had this team, we would be 9-0.

The man made a foolish decision and he is paying for it more than any of you internet geniuses will ever have to pay for any of your foolish decisions. If you Vick haters (or Black people haters) had any football sense, you would be sending Arthur Blank a letter a week asking him to really give Mike a second chance and bring him back to the team. But you won’t, so you get to see him realize his potential on another team. And the sad part of it is, most of you haters would rather see the Falcons go 1-15 without him, than win a Super Bowl with him.

By STLfalcon

November 9, 2008 7:36 PM | Link to this

Bird-Babe, are you paid for your 50 words a week or is this some REALLY easy “A” for some internship?

You have no personality, I only read because I look forward to the responses to your dribble. Where’s that “one hearbeat” guy, he should write your “column,” if it’s long enough to call it that.

By Exodus = Another Brain Dead Wannabe

November 9, 2008 7:42 PM | Link to this

Sure. 9-0. Clearly. You’re very smart.

By savannah dawg

November 9, 2008 7:50 PM | Link to this

Exodus Mentality, YOU ARE AN IDIOT!

By Dave

November 9, 2008 7:57 PM | Link to this

ExodusMentality - 9-0, man you must have gotten hold of some really good stuff…

By eddie dawg

November 9, 2008 8:02 PM | Link to this

**WHERE’S VICK SUPPORTER 2?? NICE JOB SHOWING UP WHEN FALCONS WIN, LOSER…..

GO HOME SAINTS, AND GET OUT THE BAGS-NO PLAYOFFS FOR YOU!! WHO DAT!!

HOW BOUT THEM BIRDS!! WE ARE A MUFFED PUNT AWAY FROM 7-2!!**

By Boo Boo

November 9, 2008 8:08 PM | Link to this

Brees reminded me of Jeff George out there, running the Run & Shoot offense. Brees reminded me of Jeff George out there on the sidelines yelling at people.

Looked like Roddy White had a late flashback to Mike Vick, when a bullet football pass hit him between the numbers and it bounced onto the ground incomplete. He catches that ball and the game ends 27 - 13. Instead, he dropped it and the flying circus acts began. Jim Mora would call those last 170 passing yards Brees got “garbage time” yards.

By Orange

November 9, 2008 8:09 PM | Link to this

ExodusMentality

I played college football at Syracuse and yes I am embarrassed about the current state of affairs surrounding that program. That being said I will tell you emphatically having played against M Vick twice that he is a super athlete but not close to the quarterback Ryan is today or will be in years to come. Vick had a strong arm but highly erratic, he wasn’t a very cerebral quarterback and ranked on the very low end with his ability to read a defense and make adjustments (audible).

I follow Donovan McNabb closely; he has matured as a quarter back and leader. Like Vick he could always run, unlike Vick he is an accurate passer, leader and smart enough to make adjustments. Mike Vick isn’t an NFL caliber quarter back and judging from those that know or played with him the word is that he certainly isn’t a leader.

Again having played at Syracuse I’m not in love with BC, but knowing football this Ryan kid is something very, very special. I guarantee there isn’t a GM or coach in the NFL that would trade Ryan for Vick. Most would not have wanted Vick in his prime; Vick’s style and lack of intangibles and lack of an NFL arm are most obvious.

Ryan must have called 40 – 60 percent of the plays at the line of scrimmage, he is very, very accurate, has a sufficiently strong arm and appears smart as hell, the kids a leader, a stud and will be all pro for many, many years. Any one that would prefer Vick to Ryan never played football at a high level.

By Brad

November 9, 2008 8:09 PM | Link to this

7 games to play… 10 wins almost always makes the playoffs and 9 will at least have you in to tie-breakers… 3-4 or 4-3 the rest of the way is all we need! With 4 home games left, including Denver and St. Louis and having the tougher of the teams in our division (Carolina and T.B.) also only at home in the last 7 games, this could be the 2nd best season in Falcons history (only behind the super bowl season of 98)…

A lot of fun to watch these guys play!

By Orange

November 9, 2008 8:11 PM | Link to this

ExodusMentality

I played college football at Syracuse and yes I am embarrassed about the current state of affairs surrounding that program. That being said I will tell you emphatically having played against M Vick twice that he is a super athlete but not close to the quarterback Ryan is today or will be in years to come. Vick had a strong arm but highly erratic, he wasn’t a very cerebral quarterback and ranked on the very low end with his ability to read a defense and make adjustments (audible).

I follow Donovan McNabb closely; he has matured as a quarter back and leader. Like Vick he could always run, unlike Vick he is an accurate passer, leader and smart enough to make adjustments. Mike Vick isn’t an NFL caliber quarter back and judging from those that know or played with him the word is that he certainly isn’t a leader.

Again having played at Syracuse I’m not in love with BC, but knowing football this Ryan kid is something very, very special. I guarantee there isn’t a GM or coach in the NFL that would trade Ryan for Vick. Most would not have wanted Vick in his prime; Vick’s style and lack of intangibles and lack of an NFL arm are most obvious.

Ryan must have called 40 – 60 percent of the plays at the line of scrimmage, he is very, very accurate, has a sufficiently strong arm and appears smart as hell, the kids a leader, a stud and will be all pro for many, many years. Any one that would prefer Vick to Ryan never played football at a high level.

By cb

November 9, 2008 8:12 PM | Link to this

First of all, I want to congratulate the birds on a good solid display of football. The offense was effective and made no mistakes (although they left points on the field—i.e. the missed opportunity at the beginning of the second half). The defense played inspired, smart, and were very disciplined. This team is prepared every week and that my friends is an indication of GREAT COACHING. Ryan is going to be an outstanding qb if he continues on this learning curve. Turner and Roddy are “for real”. Norwood is being utilized the way he should be—in space. Foxworth is proving to be a great pickup and Abraham is an absolute BEAST who needs to get more help from the rest of the d-line (Andersen needs to STEP UP!!!!) Brooking has been a major force for our defense for many years but he is a liability. At this point in his career he is the classic example of the mind being willing but the body not able. I also want to say how impressed I am by this offensive line. With that being said this has turned out to be a great season so far (and I’ve been around for all of them) GO FALCONS!!!!!!!

By ExodusMentality

November 9, 2008 8:21 PM | Link to this

What exactly do you think I “wanna-be”? Surely you don’t think a few insults mean anything to me? I said it and I meant it.

That’s right 9-0, since the 3 games we lost were a result of poor QB play, (and in all fairness, poor team play as well in some instances). The simple fact of the matter is that nobody really thinks that Ryan can take a game on his shoulders and win with his skills and will. Every single Falcons team member and fan not only thought he could do it anytime, but even expected it out of MV7. We’ve all seen Mike Vick do it time and time again.

So yep, I got the good stuff, and it’s smooth too. Too bad you can’t come share in the flavor. And for savannah dawg, dave, and nameless, please, continue to hate on me all you want. Call me an idiot, but don’t bother to address any of my reasoned positions. I need my haters to be more vocal, so I can get all the motivation possible from them.

By md2020

November 9, 2008 8:48 PM | Link to this

Personally, Bird Babe, I am through with this blog. Each week the rascist, black and white, take all of the joy out of looking to celebrate a Falcon win with other fans. I wish there were a forum for true fans to discuss the game. This blog is an embarrassment. I know it’s not your fault.

By Time and Again

November 9, 2008 8:57 PM | Link to this

Time and Again? Having never missed a Falcon game during his tenure I can remember a handful of times. Ryan, as a Rookie has shown far more competency as a QB and under pressure than MV7. MV7 - electrifying and exciting. Can’t put a game on his shoulders? Ok, 6 seconds requires perfect throw to win a game. Short term memory. Must be that smooth and flavorful stuff. Same receiver group now makes plays since the ball is actually thrown professionally. Checkdown and audibles? Never in the past. Better knowledge of the playbook, what to do with the ball and where to deliver it. Ability to fit catch able balls into tiny windows. Strong poise and ability to convert on 3rd and long consistently. Ryan will be a star if he progresses on the level that makes him the best rookie QB since Marino. Vick was a sideshow who had superior athleticism, which was already in decline, and when he loses that ( 2 years inactive on a prison diet and I don’t care if he is benching 300lbs since this is irrelevant) he does not have the passing skills, game management skills, and intelligence to compensate. Oh, and the Falcons still lead the NFL in rushing with a superior passing attack. I know that this is lost on you. I know that the Vick is the greatest player in the history of sport and all pale in comparison. I know revisionist history and folklore are stronger than fact. I leave you to it.

By eddie dawg

November 9, 2008 8:58 PM | Link to this

EXODUS….you are a moron….go cuddle with your hero in Leavenworth….. The difference between Vick and Ryan is Vick was a “me” player, and Ryan is a team LEADER….. Ryan will take us where Vick never could…..the Superbowl at some point….that soft touch pass Ryan made to Jeirious for the TD? Vick would have sailed that 10’ over his head….no accuracy from your loser hero…..

By Vick Supporter

November 9, 2008 9:21 PM | Link to this

@eddie dawg, good for the falcons. Ryan is playing well, but we will see who’s the best. If Ryan turns out to be better, I’m man enough to admit it. Ryan has what Vick never did, a real coach (except Dan Reeves, greatest time in falcon history) you already kmow about McKay, and Blank is is letting the staff do their job. That didn’t happen when Vick was here. Any real football fan knows it. Mora? Petrino? Cmon man. Not to say that Vick was perfect, but there’s a ton of other factors involved. Vick 09.

By Howie

November 9, 2008 9:29 PM | Link to this

Matt Ryans qb rating was 134.0…. I know we had a quarterback recently that ran for 1000yds. and made NFL history but isn’t it great to see the position played properly and not having to win games by having your qb run for his life… Prior to this season we had won only 5 games out of the previously 24 played and 13 of the previous 40… What an amazing season this has been….

By matt ryan = future

November 9, 2008 9:37 PM | Link to this

I agree with eddie dawg…where’s that sorry vick supporter 2? He gloats and talks big in the week but when the Falcons show up on Sunday, he is nowhere around. If I remember correctly, he predicted that we would go 0-6 in the NFC South. Wrong again, Loser!

By ICEMAN

November 9, 2008 9:43 PM | Link to this

Congrats Falcons On a Well Played, Well Deserved Win!!! GO FALCONS!!!

By Recent Reader

November 9, 2008 9:54 PM | Link to this

Well the tought thing for me now is 80% of the folks on my straight up work Pool now pick the Falcons. I was used to being part of about 20% that got the Falcons win. This is in South Florida where there are few Falcs fans - but now they all are beginning to respect the team and see they are for real.

By Justice Now

November 9, 2008 10:03 PM | Link to this

The balances will be addressed now that a rightful government is erected in Washington. More coaches of many colors, and no more singleing out players for harrasment becasue they show up the players with no color. A new and righteous day is dawning. Sports will be for all and all will share equally based on talent not color.

By ExodusMentality

November 9, 2008 10:03 PM | Link to this

@Orange. Please believe me when I say that nothing in my comments is meant to disparage Matt Ryan. IMO he has far far exceeded any reasonable expectations for his rookie year, and with 7 games left to play, I honestly think he will continue to get better. I am satisfied with him leading this franchise for the foreseeable future.

And further, you will never catch me hating on the Falcons, even when I have a problem with any part of the team, coaching, management, or ownership. But the ridiculous racially motivated hate displayed on all of the AJC blogs needs to be addressed.

So even though I don’t think you meant to do it, for you to say Vick wasn’t “cerebral” is to fall back on the centuries old lie about Black people, and the decades old lie about Black quarterbacks. It’s simply not a question of intelligence. We’ll never know if Vick could have called 60 percent of his own plays in the NFL because he was simply never given the chance.

I know none of us are in the locker room, none of us know what the coaches are seeing. I know I have NEVER heard any of Vick’s coaches or teammates complain that he did not understand the game or understand how to read defenses.

And your contention that he did not have an “NFL arm” is truly beyond my understanding. Yes MV7 has a cannon arm, and maybe he needed to learn more finesse. But we are talking about a guy who played only 4 full seasons as a pro QB, and took his team to the playoffs 2 of those 4 years. And since you brought up the comparison, I think MV7 career stats for his first four full seasons are very comparable to McNabb’s in the passing department (in spite of the fact that the Eagles have been a much more prolific passing team in terms of passes attempted). Their completion percentages are very close, even though the dropped passes by Falcon receivers was literally the stuff of legends and ESPN investigative stories. And Vick was head and shoulders better in the rushing department.

And if you think NFL coaches and GM’s won’t want Vick, just wait until he gets reinstated (a virtual guarantee now that Arthur is in his corner). I’ll come back here and say I was dead wrong if there aren’t at least 10 teams trying hard to get him. I’ll bet if you read other cities fan blogs, you will find overwhelming support to pick him up once he is available.

As for people who’ve played at a high level or not, if you think that everyone who has played at a “high level” should be considered an expert over those who haven’t, then you should give Vick props for playing at a much higher level than you or I ever will. And I guess that makes everyone but professional athletes incapable of evaluating sports. I don’t really think you believe that.

@ BirdBabe and others. Some people think these blogs are just for giddy fans who only want to cheerlead for the team. I think they are a forum for serious football fans to communicate about the good, the bad, and the ugly of our team (btw, MV7 is still technically on the team, and qualifies as the ugly right about now). Unfortunately, too many of the “fans” are serious only in their disdain for Black people.

They would rather see my reasoned position on Mike Vick as some sort of Blacks for Blacks rationalizing , even though they have no idea of my race, so therefore must simply be projecting their own racial animus. That’s OK. As a native Georgian of over 40 years, I know enough to expect it and not let it get me down.

By RTW

November 9, 2008 10:15 PM | Link to this

Exodus Mentality “And the sad part of it is, most of you haters would rather see the Falcons go 1-15 without him, than win a Super Bowl with him.”

What? I think it’s the Vick supporters who would like to see the Falcons go 1-15 without him. MV let himself down, the city down, his fans down, his owner down. Take responsibility for your actions, man. Look at the man in the mirror. You must be a democrat. It’s always someone else’e fault. Lose the crutch. Man up, admit failings, we all have them. Only then do you earn respect.

By Cerebral

November 9, 2008 10:37 PM | Link to this

Take it for what it is - This particular individual is dumb as can be. Trading 130MM for 5K. Not smart. The handling of his affairs since his demise. Not smart. Inability to conduct himself in a legally and socially acceptable manner. Not smart. We are not talking about the former Editor of The Harvard Law Review who took great intelligence and overcame significant environmental hurdles to achieve ultimate success, we are talking about a guy who has simply proven he is could not handle the mental rigors of his profession or any element of his personal life.

By ExodusMentality

November 9, 2008 10:46 PM | Link to this

@ RTW, yet another apparently uninformed diatribe at my expense. Hi, Hater.

Show me where I said anything about wanting the Falcons to go 1-15 with Vick? Show me where I said anything about anyone else being responsible for Vick’s actions. In fact, I said the man made a bad decision. So in fact, I “MANNED UP” long before you decided to donate your two cents.

And how exactly did Vick let you down? Do you take the position that everyone who makes a mistake or commits a crime is letting you down? Or is that special position reserved only for Vick? Vick didn’t let me down; he let himself and maybe his family down. He put his team in a bad position and disappointed a lot of his fans. But it’s those of you who appear to have far too much invested in Vick’s life and times, who pretend that he had some kind of special obligation to you, that appear to harbor the biggest grudge against the man.

And as far as admitting failings, Mike Vick has done that, further intends to do that in response to the state charges still pending, and is serving his time in payment of his debt to society. Evidently all of that is still not enough to “EARN” your respect. In fact, in spite of all that, you chose to disrespect me, simply because I support the man for what he did (and IMO could one day do again), as QB for the Falcons.

So keep hating. Don’t bother to let facts or reason get in the way of that hating.

Bye, hater.

By RTW

November 9, 2008 11:07 PM | Link to this

Is calling “one” a hater, your way of saying “I don’t hear what you say, I don’t agree with what you say, or I don’t like what you say?” My life does not revolve around what does or doesn’t happen to MV. Seemingly your’s does. So sad. Venonmous defense of one’s position speaks of an emotional, not reasoned rationale. Hate? Runs in your blood, not mine. Just stating the facts. Sorry if it “offends” you. Try a “cogent” response next time.

By RTW

November 9, 2008 11:12 PM | Link to this

ExodusMentality — By the way, you’re too east to p*ss offf. Lose the chip.

By Algonquin J. Calhoun

November 9, 2008 11:34 PM | Link to this

Vick doesn’t have a thing to do with this team! He didn’t lose any games and he didn’t contribute to any of the victories. He may play in the NFL again but it won’t be with the Falcons. Mr. blank has been very clear that he wishes Vick well in re-starting his football career, somewhere other than Atlanta. Why do you bums keep talking about how good he would be and all that crap? He was horrible and two years of playing pick-up-the-soap isn’t going to make him better!

By JD

November 9, 2008 11:35 PM | Link to this

Well said, Exodus Mentality…

I’m with you in that people who come on these blogs are only here to make their case for why Mike Vick wasn’t an ‘NFL qb’ or why the Falcons weren’t always in the mix for the playoffs each year he played. We all fail to look at it for what it was. While here, he was successful; the team was winning and the buzz was generally good for the team. And like all good things that happen with an NFL team, when the team’s doing good, the qb is responsible. However, the same thing is indicative for when the team does bad. The qb is inevitably the cause of that. But, since the whole drama with Mike Vick has gone down, it seems like more people who frequent this blog are THRILLED that this happened. It was an inhumane thing for him to get involved in, but to actually revel in his downfall is incomprehenisible. I’m of a mind that, if you didn’t like him just say that you don’t like him and be done with it; don’t show your ignorance by bringing race into it. A person’s race is not a determining factor in whether or not he can be a productive participant in the NFL. If that were the case, then we would not have our Jim Browns, Randall Cunninghams, Warren Moons, etc.

When I mention those names, people will come back with “those players didn’t get caught up in dog fighting.” That’s true, they didn’t. But, for whatever indiscretions they DID happen to get into, race was never a factor in a public opinion discussion regarding them. As a matter of fact, for ANYONE who has ever been mentioned in any indiscretion away from their professional arena, race was never a dominant subject. I mention that to say that we, as reasonable adults, can discern that the reasons (good or bad) for the Falcons’ successes or failures should not be because of one man’s race.

Now, as to a comment before regarding Keith Brooking’s play at the end of the game; it’s a hail mary play - that’s why they call them that. Anything can happen. I know that the notion is to bat the ball down, but when it starts bouncing around off of helmets and lands in the guy’s hands, what more do you want him to do? The Falcons played a well-executed game, overall, and it’s refreshing to see the team win games in all facets of production. Even though Drew Brees had a lot of yards, most of those yards were from the Saints basically abandoning the run game and concentrating on passing the ball. And we see how effective that was when they were in the red zone twice and the results of that when a good secondary can match up and take away receiving threats. Brees was having fits trying to figure out the secondary.

And, it’s not RACIST to have an opinion on a player’s performance. If that were the case, EVERY opinion about EVERY player on EVERY team would be construed as racist. Let’s keep the conversation to the Falcons, keep the hate out of it, and let’s enjoy the fact that the Falcons are 6-3, are very much in contention for a possible playoff bid, and are playing better football than anyone in the media (and even some on this blog) would dare give them credit for.

Let’s go FALCONS!!!! Let’s keep it going!!!!!

By allweather fan

November 9, 2008 11:41 PM | Link to this

ExodusMentality

To say that MV7 was not cerebral enough to handle the audibles was not a racially stated comment. You intrepeted it that way. MV7 did have different OC’s so i will give you that but if he was dedicated and prepared in his studies he would have taken it upon himself to want to read defenses and call plays at the line. To say the coaches didn’t want him to is a copout, I believe it is more the coaches did not have enough confidence in him to call the plays from the line of scrimmage. For a rookie to call plays from the line and audibles and read defensives very well (case in point the chess match Matt Ryan won against the 5 time pro-bowler Brian Ulacher) is a testiment of how well prepared this kid is. He will never have the godgiven talent MV7 has but he is something very special in his own right which is mature beyond his years.

By richbrave

November 9, 2008 11:47 PM | Link to this

THIS GETS OLD:

Thanks for the props. You ain’t seed nawthin’ yet. Just wait ‘till next years draftees are in the fold. Enjoy this ride. Next year’s schedule will look a little different.

By Algonquin J. Calhoun

November 10, 2008 1:02 AM | Link to this

The coaches didn’t allow Vick to audible because of his poor speech. No one could understand him. Coach Reeves went so far as to have him work with a speech therapist but, apparently, without success. As for being cerebral, he wasn’t. He was inclined to run whenever possible because that was what he was known for. He was viewed as a superstar for his running and not for passing. His passing stats never were good. His last season here he did have eleven touchdown throws in three games and it seemed he’d turned the corner but he,quickl, reverted to old behaviors and sank backwards. The real problem was he didn’t study, didn’t have time to study. the dog fighting enterprise took lots of his time and energy. He always figured he’d be able to outrun enough people to make it respectable. Consequently, his high-water mark in touchdown throws was twenty, Not horrible, not good. His passing yardage,except for one year, was between one and two thousand yards, His last year here he guided the Falcons into thirty-second place in passing. Last in the league. Ryan, through nine games, has passed for 1661 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s a rookie, on pace to match the best seaseon Vick ever had throwing the ball. There’s no point in conjecturing as to how Vick would do here now. He’s not here and he won’t be again. He made a fortune here, was idolized, and then threw it all away. The money is gone. His reputation is that of a convicted felon. It will be hard for him to have a decent career in the NFL again. Still, once his sentence is finished and he’s available to be signed, some team may take a chance. My feeling is he’ll have to play Arena Ball first so people can see his talents and how he’s been rehabilitated. I have a feeling he’ll be much stronger but not as fast. He’s been doing a lot of weight lifting and he’s probably bulked up considerably.If this is the case then the cerebral part of the game will be that much more important. Vick isn’t an idiot, he just never studied. If that changes he could have a decent career yet.

By JD

November 10, 2008 1:57 AM | Link to this

Poor speech…..poor speech???? Is that the best argument someone can make as to why a person can’t make an audible in a game? I would rather you say something like he couldn’t make the necessary adjustments at the line than to say that poor speech was the reason why he couldn’t audible. That’s like trying to give someone credit without actually giving them credit. Saying that his speech was the reason for his failures is crazy, given that the man was the spokesperson for plenty of advertisers. Apparently, THEY didn’t think that his speech was a problem.

Look, we can all agree that maybe Vick didn’t spend enough time looking at film and stuff to become a better qb. I’ll give you that. I’ll even give you the fact that he couldn’t make the adjustments at the line OR in the game. But it’s been documented that during Mora’s coaching tenure, he wasn’t allowed to make changes at the line (Knapp’s decision). We all know that not everyone can run a West Coast offense. It generally takes a qb at least three years (as stated by Steve Young, Donovan McNabb, or any other qb that has run that style of offense successfully) to learn the nuances of that style of offense. He had his best statistics when Dan Reeves was the coach, running a standard pro-style offense with a running game that set up the passing game. Not everyone can run it. When Arthur Blank removed Reeves as head coach and brought in Mora, Knapp, and the WC offense he was told that it would set Vick back in his development. Guess the coach was kinda prophetic.

I’m not here to make an excuse as to why Michael Vick did or didn’t succeed here in Atlanta, or even to pass blame for who’s fault it is. It’s clearly Vick’s own fault for getting involved in dog fighting instead of focusing on honing his craft as a qb, but as a collective group of fans of the Falcons, let’s move past this. The TEAM has put all these things in the past, why can’t we? It’s kinda embarrassing when people come on here and make it all about race as to why things were in the state they were in. It’s not like that anymore; the Falcons are WINNING with a rookie qb who is, for all intents and purposes, the offensive rookie of the year in the NFC. We’re winning with a re-vamped defense that is holding its own when it can sometimes seem overmatched. We’re winning because of the change in direction this franchise has taken, one that has made the so-called experts look like damned fools. That’s why the game is played on the field instead of on paper. I would like to think that, in the 21st century that we would be past all this pettiness.

Moving forward, I would like to advocate that we all look at the Falcons objectively instead of bringing feelings of disenfranchisement or race into the discussion. Bring the passion for the team, including their successes and failures, into the discussion, but let’s limit it to that. If you wonder why Atlanta gets painted as a horrible sports town, take a look at some of the things that are said on these blogs; THIS is where that opinion is formed.

By Boo Boo

November 10, 2008 2:07 AM | Link to this

Vick was exciting to watch at first, when Dan Reeves was his coach and he seemed to grow from week to week. He ran enough to get the Superman attraction, but he was being trained to be an NFL quarterback. That meant he had to learn the playbook and study film, in addition to how much touch to put on a throw. I don’t think Vick liked classwork as much as he liked just running around on a field.

The thing I could never understand was two coaches (Reeves and Mora) both publicly said, “Mike Vick needs to work more on taking snaps from the shotgun. He’s not ready to run the offense from the shotgun.” What? Why? The shotgun is playground formation stuff, isn’t it. Was it because if he watched the ball into his hands, he would lose track of where the defensive players were and where the receivers were running?

Somebody help me understand why Mike Vick could not run an offense from the shotgun formation, until (at least) late in his second year starting (4th year in the league, 1st year under Mora).

By Algonquin J. Calhoun

November 10, 2008 2:17 AM | Link to this

Coach Reeves had Vick work with a speech therapist to improve his enunciation. It didn’t work. No one could understand the guy. As for his clients, none of them were happy with his speech either. He never put much effort into it. Nor did he put the appropriate effort into becoming a better quarterback. He never improved for the time he was here. He had a stretch of three games where he threw eleven touchdown passes his last year in the NFL. He was his old self in the next two games and lost to the Browns and Lions.
for that season he wound up with twenty touchdown passes, which is the most he ever had. that year the Falcons’ passing game finished 32nd in the league. The guy wasn’t a good quarterback and the team record proves it. He’s no longer here and he’ll never be here again. The guy was rubbish from the beginning and he proved it with poor performance on the field and criminality off it. He was a bum! The best that can be said of him is he’s gone. He’s going to stay gone!

By JD

November 10, 2008 2:24 AM | Link to this

The shotgun isn’t just playground formations; it was originally designed so that the qb could be given more time to read and react to a defense. So if a qb was in the shotgun, and the defense was sending the blitz, the shotgun would give the qb the extra time to read where the blitz would be coming from and react to where the ball would need to go.

He couldn’t run the offense from the shotgun because he didn’t do that in college. He had to be taught. The reason why a traditional drop back passer like Brady, Manning, etc. are able to run an offense from the shotgun is because they were able to do so in college and perfect it in the pros. That’s the difference. The WC offense is not one that has a lot of shotgun formations (for point of reference, how often does Donovan McNabb, who runs the WC offense, go into the shotgun formation? Peyton Manning spends a great deal of time in the shotgun but the Colts don’t run the WC offense). It’s designed with three, five, and seven step drops where the qb has to read on the fly and decide where the ball needs to go. That means that protection in the pocket is essential to its success, and as we all know, the o-line was not all that great at protecting their qb at the time.

By ExodusMentality

November 10, 2008 3:27 AM | Link to this

@RTW - hater is a term used in some sectors to refer to a person who appears to harbor negative feelings for another person based on little or no rational thought process. When you tell me to “man up” or you say take responsibility for your actions to someone who has already done so, without anything concrete to back it up, it appears to be “hating”. So you would then be classified as a “hater”. There’s nothing emotional about it on my part, it’s simply applying the proper descriptor to the character in question. You couldn’t hurt my feelings with an Uzi, so please don’t waste your time thinking you did.

@allweather fan - you apparently are not aware of the long history of completely unfair stereotyping that the NFL and society in general has engaged in to the detriment of certain groups of people. The knock on all Black QB’s since the first one tried out for the position was that they weren’t “smart enough”. All the Black QB’s from the past who are venerated now, and a number of QB’s who never got a chance at the position in the NFL were saddled with the same bias and prejudice. You “believe” that the coaches had some problem with his ability to read defenses, but it was widely reported that Knapp simply did not want to give up the reins of the offense. Vick publicly complained about not having the opportunity to run the offense and nobody ever said, it’s his fault, he won’t study, he doesn’t understand. So your belief is based on nothing concrete, but your own personal feelings, about a situation that you admittedly know nothing about. See above definition for RTW, and try to avoid same.

@ A.J. Calhoun - it’s truly pathetic that you are sitting there at your computer, banging away with what I can only assume must be one hand, and you don’t even have the common decency to get real stats. Control+T will open a new tab for you and NFL.com has all the stats.
MV7 full season passing yards, 2002-2,936 2004-2,313 2005-2,412 2006-2,474

Now which one of those seasons was between 1,000 and 2,000 yards? I have nothing else to say to you since your entire thought process is built on lies, distortions, half-truths, and misconceptions.

And I must say, this Vick talk is getting old. Especially with the tenor of the conversations never getting beyond the simple minded, poorly disguised racial innuendo. I’ll leave it alone from here, unless another one of these haters decides to come after me again.

By TIWAS

November 10, 2008 6:00 AM | Link to this

The Falcons played a good game yesterday but there were lapses I saw that should be addressed before they get out of hand. There was an attempt for a trick play on the opening series, after the interception, that shouldn’t have happened. Run your offense and save those type plays when in desperate situations. The need for better linebackers in the draft should be addressed. Lofton is making plays that should be handled by the OLB. If I was coaching against the Falcons I’d throw to my TE and FB and run screens 25-35 plays a game.

The games the team has won against Chicago and New Orleans they were missing key players.

Good Win but……..

By crabapplejoe

November 10, 2008 8:01 AM | Link to this

Algonquin J. Calhoun wrote: “He never put much effort into it. Nor did he put the appropriate effort into becoming a better quarterback. He never improved for the time he was here.” So true. Whenever they would pan the camera to Vick on the sideline he would just be sitting there staring off into space. Never looking at photos of the defense or talking with his coach. He just wanted to play sandlot ball and be the hero. It is some much more fun watching Ryan and todays Falcons team. With emphasis on “team”.

By crabapplejoe

November 10, 2008 8:13 AM | Link to this

RTW wrote: “Is calling “one” a hater, your way of saying “I don’t hear what you say, I don’t agree with what you say, or I don’t like what you say?” “Hater” is a term blacks now use anytime you criticize one of them or one of their “brothas”. It is a simplistic defense they now use since “racist” has been worn out and whites no longer recoil in horror when that term is used.

By Algonquin J. Calhoun

November 10, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this

Exodus/lack of mentality, Vick’s average for six years wa 1917 yards and 11.83 touchdown passes. His ability to read defenses was only one of his problems. I would guess his ability to read at all was also a problem. He, apparently, did not read the playbook much, if at all. I did not care for Vick because he was a lousy quarterback! As it turned out, he was a lousy person too. His departure from the team was of his own doing and is well deserved. Racism did not make him start, fund and be the money behind a six year criminal enterprise. Spare us that b******! Racism did not make him play video games instead of studying the playbook. Nor did it make him a bad quarterback. He did that! You don’t get style points in the NFL. You either win or lose. Vick was a loser. Doug Williams fought through some bad times and he won a Super Bowl. I’m sure there were those who didn’t like his complexion but that didn’t matter. His priority was football. For Vick it was always something other than football. There are those who don’t like the porcelain sheen of the current Falcons’ quarterback but he’s winning and people tend to like winners. Vick was never a winner and the turns his life has taken are testament to that fact. That you have nothing further to say to me is great. I don’t care for the flatulence you’ve been giving birth to anyway. Vick was a lousy player and person and it had nothing to do with his race or anyone’s feelings about his race. It had to do with his character, which was sadly lacking!

By JB

November 10, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this

Yo Ryno

I’m a die hard Falcons fan and i’ll tell you right now that VAN GORDER BLOWS!!! He needs to be kissing Abrahams and the rest of the D lines a* right now!! That s** head has nothing to do with the D steping up and doing well this year. I attended Georgia Southern University during VAN DOOMS s** storm. He came down here on his high horse and left faster then bobby petrino left Atlanta. Those guys should date they would have alot in common. He scraped the whole team and our traditions only to bail on us at the end of the year and the WORST RECORD IN SCHOOL HISTORY. You know Gorger was with Atlanta last year too. We sucked last year…. That man sucks and he is the only think about the Falcons that I dislike. when anyone at a bar in Statesboro sees him on TV they boo. VAN Petrino…. it’s sad that mike smith kept him

PS. Mike Smith is the man and did anyone else hear the announcer call Turner… MARTA…really

By newsflash

November 10, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this

The dirty birds have beaten only one team with a winning record, Chicago and they barely beat them. You have simply been playing against a bunch of inept teams. Your performance against Carolina, Tampa, and Philly indicates that you are an average NFL team.

Wow. I am shocked. You folks are still talking about michael vick? Get over it the same way you get over being dumped by your exgirlfriend/ boyfriend.

By JB

November 10, 2008 9:08 AM | Link to this

Correction I forgot that Gorder and Spurrier had a brief pow wow as well… I wonder if VAN GORDER lives in a van down by the river because he gets around more then Joey Harrington has…. you got to feel bad for Harrington though.

By please

November 10, 2008 9:12 AM | Link to this

here we go again somebody always has got to bring race to the subject at hand. (I wanna be first)enough already anyway let’s take care denver ponies,tampons bay, and carolina meows, ok go FALCONS

By Mark M

November 10, 2008 9:25 AM | Link to this

For the Brooking haters on this blog I happen to have the Final defensive statists. Keith was 2nd behind Eric Coleman ,Brooking had 7 with 1 assist for a total of 8

By Rico

November 10, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this

**Keith Brooking’s best years are behind him. The only reason he continues to play is because of his veteran status and his respect for what he has accomplished in the past and among his team mates. As far as his physical ability…he has truly lost a step. The guy has no cover skills and does not have the speed to be an outside linebacker.

For those of you who constantly support this man for whatever reasons…let me break down the outside linebacker position.

Keith Brooking’s responsibility at Outside Linebacker:

RUN PLAYS: Attack/Contain the middle on inside draws and Contain the edge with speed on outside sweeps.

Grade (D-): He does not possess the speed to contain the outsides or the agility to elude offensive linemen. Can still tackle just like anyone else in the NFL.

PASS PLAYS: Will be responsible for spying and zoning/soft coverage on zones, and matches up against tight ends and running backs.

Grade (F): Average speed for starting runningbacks in the NFL is 4.37 in the 40yd. We know that Brooking doesn’t come close to that speed. Tight ends play more physical than him and are evolving into more of a possession receiver than your average tight ends nowadays. And because of Brooking’s cover skills or lack thereof, he is always found in no-man’s land.

Thus, with this being said, his ability to play linebacker in the NFL is not what it used to be. Thanks Lofton and Boley for helping us successfully run a 4-2-4.

Maybe when Brooking’s contract is up he can go play for the Bengals?

By mars

November 10, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this

And now, back to 2008…….

By Rico

November 10, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this

A%$hole/I mean NEWSFLASH

You’re an average idiot!!! Place Matt Ryan on an average team (Miami, Arizona, Jacksonville) and see if they are 6-3. And all of those team have above average quarterbacks…Warner, Pennington, Gerard. Average teams lose games they are suppose to win, and win games by calls and other teams mistakes. So far we have killed teams we are supposed to beat, and have remained close in games we have lost.

Don’t let the stats or the score deceive you in the losses. The teams we lost to have the the top ranked defenses in the NFL, in which they used certain schemes and personnel packages to confuse our rookie quarterback, which should happen because he is learning. But the games still reamined close from beginning to end. Obviously you don’t watch the Falcons so before you come on here bashing my team and showing your ignorance in only watching the SportsCenter highlights get your facts straight. And don’t respond back unless you have something legitimate to say.

By SHUT IT DOWN

November 10, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this

I have seen many posts on this and other Falcons related AJC blogs requesting that the AJC monitor and screen vile racist offensive posts. I have never seen a satisfactory reply. Are they not able to control this tripeor do they simply choose not to?

Well apparantlt they CAN IF THEY WANT TO. The following disclaimer was taken from another AJC blog today:

Note: Any inappropriate comments will not be tolerated, along with offensive “screen names.” Your posts are identified by the AJC with logging your IP address, not your screen name or email address. We encourage your comments and opinions, and only request that you use good judgment.

BIRDBABE: Do your job and remove/block the offenders from your blog!!!!

By VICK SUPPORTER 2

November 10, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this

NO REGGIE BUSH—NO DEFENSE—522 YARDS ALLOWED—AT HOME—LATE INTERCEPTIONS

YEAH THAT’S AN IMPRESSIVE WIN :)

MV7 2009 —— THE RETURN——-PRAY FALCONS PRAY —— VICK & CAROLINA WILL BE A MUTHA :)

By VICK SUPPORTER 2

November 10, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this

RODDY/JENKINS/ABRAHAM/TURNER/BOLEY/NORWOOD

GREAT PERFORMANCES AS USUAL

LEAF PRAY YOU HAVE JENKINS & RODDY

MV7 THE GREATEST QB EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!

By MWC

November 10, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this

Just when you think it’s safe, look who shows up… Is it no wonder why the AJC continues to struggle as the only “fish wrapper” in town? My family including myself worked for the paper for many years when it was “once upon a time” one of the TOP pubications in the nation. Yo SHUT IT DOWN, I hope this was helpful. Peace

By Boo Boo

November 10, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this

Hey Newsflash, your reasoning is flawed. The Falcons completely dominated the patsy Chiefs and Raiders. Tampa Bay (which beat Atlanta) should have lost to Kansas City (they needed OT and luck), and yesterday Carolina barely beat the Raiders, because Jake Delhomme played like he was Raider material (57 total yards passing, with only 7 of 27 completed, to go along with four interceptions), while the Raiders were without Jamarcus Russell. In other words, your analysis of who is easy to beat is only relative to who easily got beat; and if that was an easy thing to determine, we would all be millionaires and bookies would stop letting us bet on football.

By Brian

November 10, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this

Amazing. Some of you are picking this team apart like they were in the Super Bowl last year and are underachieving by leaps and bounds. This is a rebuilt team people. Enjoy it. They are exceeding everyones expectations. Let them go 10-6 this year, then complain about a slow start next season.

By Russ

November 10, 2008 12:45 PM | Link to this

VICK SUPPORTER 2 - You say that’s not an impressive win, but everyone knew Bush was going to be out and you still said the Saints would win 37-7. Could you please just admit you’re an idiot and get it over with. Seriously, I don’t even consider you a football fan…you idolize one player (convict) rather than enjoying a successful team. What do you have to say about several experts coming out recently saying Matt Ryan is the most impressive rookie QB since Marino? I don’t recall Vick ever earning those types of comparisons. Vick is an extraordinay athlete, no doubt. He could beat bad teams in the NFL with his legs, but teams with good defensive speed gave him fits and he looked ridiculous when he was forced to win by throwing the ball. That’s why any team led by Vick will only go so far, sooner or later you are going to run into a team that can easily contain his running. With Ryan at QB the sky is the limit. The scary thing is he is still just scratching the surface of his potential. I wonder VICK SUPPORTER 2, do you think Ryan will work hard and keep improving or do you think he will start a dogfighting enterprise? Those are two good options to become a successful NFL QB. Gee, I can’t decide the better route…work hard and study lots of film or become deeply involved in dogfighting. I’m sure Falcon management is losing a lot of sleep over who the better QB is, LOL.

By D.Ellis

November 10, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this

Vick Supporter 2-Your 30 minute Internet time is almost up at the local library.

You know nothing about football.

It’s killing you inside to see the white boy do his thing.

At the beginning of the season it wasn’t white players who suck. It was the Falcons who suck.

Now that the Falcons are pretty good it is the black players who are doing it. And none of the white players.

AS long as you have to keep retracting every week deeper and deeper to find something we’re in good shape. Pretty soon though you’ll run out of things to say.

Face it bro….your football knowledge is worth a pile of flaming hot doodoo

By the way nice prediction on the game

37-7 Saints HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH…somebody call the WAAAAAAAAAmbulance for Vick Supporter 2….BWAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHHA

My name is Vick Supporter 2 and I approve this message

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

By Space Mountain

November 10, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this

OMG. D Ellis that is too funny.

By Navigator

November 10, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this

I choose not to comment on writings by so many with so little to say, especially about this team. Fact is, this team was horrible last year, with most of the players still playing. Fact is, the few changes at running back and QB have made the difference. Van Gorder has the defense playing close to what they did during 1998. The reason the media is raving about Matt Ryan, is because a QB with his abilities rarely come along. Wait a couple more years, and even the dumbest blogger will figure this out.

By Kenny

November 10, 2008 2:04 PM | Link to this

Barkin’Dog…….I was one of the people who didnt like the pick so i am going to have to agree with you. Here is my “attaboy” for Matt Ryan. I love the new offense and D. I would change anything that happened in our past. It made us a better team today……….GO FALCONS!!!

By Kenny

November 10, 2008 2:19 PM | Link to this

Vick Supporter 2…..Get off this blog, this is for FALCONS fans NOT Vick fans. Get over vick like the rest of us did and just wish him well in the Future, we dont want him back here. We are dominate, we dont need PETA distractions when he gets out…………..

By Kenny

November 10, 2008 2:27 PM | Link to this

I want everyone to know that i am a die hard falcon fan from Cali. I will be at the Chargers VS Falcons game on Nov 30 to represent. I will be talkin SH!t to all the charger fans their like i usually do when i go there. All those fans at Quallcomm stadium are all bandwagon fans because they never represent their team when they lose. I always represent the falcons out here in Cali. I get alot of hate from people out here but i dont Give a Damm……GO FALCONS, i am so proud

By VICK SUPPORTER 2

November 10, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this

VERSUS KC/DETROIT/OAKLAND/NEW ORLEANS

GOOD ON PAPER

VERSUS CAROLINA/PHILLY/TAMPA BAY*

DOGS WITH THEIR TAILS BETWEEN THEIR LEGS :)

——— ANALYSIS———-

AGAINST “REAL” DEFENSES RYAN LEAF

IN OTHER WORDS

BUST 2009

BE A FINALIST IN THE MVP BALLOTING THEN TALK TO ME

SEE THAT GREAT WIN BY NEW ENGLAND YESTERDAY

WASN’T WON WITH IS ARM - IT WAS HIS LEGS…..SOUNDS FAMILIAR :)

OH YEAH - HE WAS A POCKET PASSER :)

By D.Ellis

November 10, 2008 2:39 PM | Link to this

Vick Supporter @

How do you claim the leading candidate for ROY is a bust?

Jsut a simple football question that requires a simple football answer.

By Kenny

November 10, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this

you forgot Chicago and Green bay, are they bad teams?!. We could have won the Philly Game, we were in it til the end, Sh!T happens. Now stop Blogging

By VICK SUPPORTER 2

November 10, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this

RODDY/JENKINS/HOUSTON/NORWOOD/ABRAHAM

THANKS FOR EARNING YOUR SALARIES

By Turner4MVP

November 10, 2008 2:47 PM | Link to this

Hey does anyone think that pelle can actully become a big time tightend ? and how bout erik coleman having a good season for a so called sub par saftey

By Kenny

November 10, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this

Vick supporter, Ryan is earning his salary as well…..U gotta give him credit, stop thinking about your boyfriend so much and start thinking about the falcons new regime….

By VICK SUPPORTER 2

November 10, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this

* B U S T 2 0 0 9*

By D.Ellis

November 10, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this

@ Vick Supporter 2

Beginning of the year ” Falcons Suck they will go 0-16 without The best ever”

After week 1 ” You beat Detroit the worse team in the league…that will be your only win”

“Ryan is a bust” ‘Ryan is Leaf”

“Deangleo all is going to get a pick 6 on Leaf and I’m going to laugh”

“Saints 37 Losers 7”

“What is Leaf going to do when Urlacher is coming at him”

” A-ha You guys lose. Bears win”…before the kick

ANALYSIS

VICK SUPPORTER 2 is the biggest dumass that has ever crossed this blog.

By Kenny

November 10, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this

D. Ellis….You could not have put that any better. Vick supporter is a DUMMASS!!!!!!!!

By Vick Supporter

November 10, 2008 3:20 PM | Link to this

All I have to say is wait till 09. We will see who’s the best QB (VICK). Ryan has talent, but it takes more than that to actually be successful. The Falcons have a stable franchise for the 1st time since Dan Reeves was here. If Ryan played here with Mora coaching the team, it would be no different. Ryan had better count his blessings that the team has ca[able coach and GM, which the great Mike Vick never had. VICK 09

By D.Ellis

November 10, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this

Is that what this is about.

Who is the better QB? It’t not abut that. It;s about what this team wen through last year and the AMAZING turn around they are having. Right now you can’t compare waht Vick accomplished to what Ryan has accomplished. Ryan has only played 9 games.

You just can’t do that.

However I can stick up for Ryan as much as Vick Supporter 2 keeps spittin his nonsense calling him a bust when anyone with any real NFL IQ knows he sin’t.

Read something other than this blog like some real NFL people/experts and you guys tell me if anyone on this planet thinks he is a bust.

But no…some of you want to call him a bust because he is white and you can’t stand to see him do good like he is

By Vick Supporter

November 10, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this

@D.Ellis, you’re getting me mixed up with Vick Supporter 2. I’ve always said that Ryan has talent, i just believe Vick is better. Ryan was fortunate enough to come at time when the organization wants to do things the right way (finally). It was the Michael Vick show when he was here and you cannot win that way. Vick will get his chance to go to a team that does things the right way and not have everything riding on his shoulders. The Falcons failed in the development of Vick, no question about it. Did Vick have his faults? Absolutely. But you can’t place all of the blame on #7, as most of the white folks on here do. No surprise there. The sad thing is that Ryan can have bad games and he will have excuses made for him because he looks like you, and he looks more like the so called “traditional” qb. Ryan is a good player, but he’s not a GREAT player like VICK. VICK 09

By Algonquin J. Calhoun

November 10, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this

Vickschlongschlosser, the great Mike Vick is in prison! He hasn’t played in two years and the last two years he did play his team was 15-17. The great Mike Vick is done! He’s a former mediocre player and that’s all he is, other than a convicted felon. The Falcons are getting better every week and they’re happy to be rid of that albatross. The great Mike Vick, once released from prison, may find himself suspended for an additional season. Some Arena League team may take him on but he’s going to have to prove himself to the NFL. They have standards and he doesn’t measure up to them. Remember he admitted to gambling. It is known, now, he’s a user of illegal substances and he’s a dog fighter who crossed state lines in furtherance of an illegal enterprise. In short, he’s a criminal and there’s reason to question his rehabilitation. he’s going to have to prove himself and that can’t be done while he’s in prison!

By Spud Webb

November 10, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this

Falcons great, great win. I am very, very excited. Heck if we go 8-8 for the season I will be excited. This team has a bright, bright future. I look for them to upgrade at the TE position and both lines and saftey (age with Milloy) has to be a concern at some point! I hope we sign foxworth and a couple of free agents and look out! Roddy will have a lot more room with a stud TE going down the middle. This front office has done a great job, coaching staff continues to learn and continues to get better and better. LOVE THE EFFORT all the way around. Great job guys.

By Russ

November 10, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this

Rookie QB helps lead team that went 4-12 last season to 6-3 start. If he keeps winning 2/3 of his games his whole career I’ll be happy to have this “bust” on our team.

VICK SUPPORTER 2 - I couldn’t disagree with your obervations on this team and ConVick anymore than I do, but I actually enjoy your posts. It is hilarious watching a person make ridiculous, incorrect predictions week after week… and come back the next week without even acknowledging how completely wrong you are all the time. I have to admit I see a lot of people on these blogs that sound very stupid, but you are absolutely the reigning king of the dip$hit$. Congratulations!!! VICK SUPPORTER 2 - the 2 has to stand for your IQ, right?

By Vick Supporter

November 10, 2008 4:32 PM | Link to this

@Algonquin J. Calhoun. You’re right!! Vick is in prison. Guess what? He’ll be out in January, just in time for the 2009 season. I’m glad he gets to have a fresh start with a new outlook on life. Unlike mean spirited people like you, there are people who want to see him turn it around, and he will do it. Goodell is a tyrant, but I know he will give Vick the chance to redeem himself, just like everyone deserves a chance. Its people like you that truly don’t understand what people will do with second chances. it will be the greatest redemption story we’ve seen in recent memory. You will sit your fat a* on your couch and criticize, but who cares what you think. If you knew so much about the game, you would be playing in the NFL yourself so shut your stupid a$$ mouth. Vick 09, whether you like it or not. Put that in your meth pipe and smoke it.

By Kenny

November 10, 2008 4:32 PM | Link to this

Vick Supporter(Not Vick Supporter 2)….When i compare the two QB’s i am not looking at race. I like Matt Ryan because of his leadership skills and maturity, both of which Mike NEVER had. I am white and i do not base my opinions because someone looks the same as me. PLus, what makes you think that all white people look alike, we dont so enuff with that Bullsh!t. I love black people, hispanic people, white peoiple, asian people, all humans. So dont say sh!t like,”The sad thing is that Ryan can have bad games and he will have excuses made for him because he looks like you, and he looks more like the so called “traditional” qb”, that is some straight BULLSH!T. Look at talent and not skin color……DUMMASS

By Kenny

November 10, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this

Also, i still like vick and i wish him the best, i hope he does take his team to the superbowl if thats the case, i want to see him do good, just not on the falcons. We have our team now and it feels good to have’ W’s, GO FALCONS

By Vick Supporter

November 10, 2008 4:43 PM | Link to this

@Kenny. You should tell that to the rest of your people. You don’t know what Vick was. You didn’t play on the team, so you don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve never heard one coach or Blank himself say that Vick didn’t play hard and that he wasn’t a leader. You can be a leader w/out running up and down the sideline. believe it or not, you don’t have to give pep talks to be a good leader. Tell me one coach that has come out and said that Vick didn’t play to win. DUMMASS

By Kenny

November 10, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this

Yes he did play to win and i am a fan of his but Dog Fighting and Bullsh!t like that does notmake you dedicated to win. That is not leadership skills and that is not a commitment to the team so what are talking about buddy. So what kinda nonsense are you goin to say back to me……………

By Kenny

November 10, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this

And dont say my people, i consider you my people also, i consider everyone my people so please refrain from the racist nonsense

By VICK SUPPORTER 2

November 10, 2008 7:04 PM | Link to this

I LOVE THIS BLOG

IT MUST REALLY HURT KNOWING A QB CAN BE THE FRANCHISE’S 2ND WINNINGEST PLAYER AND CAN’T THROW ACCURATE, CAN’T CALL AUDIBLES & CAN READ DEFENSES.

WHAT KIND OF LOSER CAN DO THAT - I MEAN HE CAN’T POSSIBLY EVER BE AN MVP CANDIDATE OR TAKE A TEAM TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

OH WAIT - HE DID :)

By Orange

November 10, 2008 7:09 PM | Link to this

These blogs are sad as I haven’t seen or felt as much racism in my entire life. I moved to Atlanta 2 years ago after spending a short time working in NY. I’m proud to be a black man and will emphatically tell you I never felt racism while at Syracuse or at my job.

It seems both black and white have issues on these blogs and for those of you that do its disgraceful and shows a lack of education. As a freshman on the Syracuse football team white’s treated me with as much respect as blacks. White teammates from the Syracuse area opened their house to me as often as they did to their white teammates.

My assessment of Vick was that he was / is a great athlete that was an unusual NFL quarterback. The league catches up with Quarter backs that don’t think pass first and aren’t scholarly at quickly understanding defenses, Vick was not the best at the aforementioned. I disagree with those that stated Ryan doesn’t have the skills of Vick because thinking and processing information quickly is a god given skill. Vick was entertaining, the NFL gets faster every year and has caught up with the Vick’s of the world that’s why Donavan has adopted. Ryan white or black is intelligent, thinks quickly has a strong very accurate arm and appears not to be a “me” first teammate. He is as good as I have seen with the amount of experience he has had to date,

By Orange

November 10, 2008 7:11 PM | Link to this

These blogs are sad as I haven’t seen or felt as much racism in my entire life. I moved to Atlanta 2 years ago after spending a short time working in NY. I’m proud to be a black man and will emphatically tell you I never felt racism while at Syracuse or at my job.

It seems both black and white have issues on these blogs and for those of you that do its disgraceful and shows a lack of education. As a freshman on the Syracuse football team white’s treated me with as much respect as blacks. White teammates from the Syracuse area opened their house to me as often as they did to their white teammates.

My assessment of Vick was that he was / is a great athlete that was an unusual NFL quarterback. The league catches up with Quarter backs that don’t think pass first and aren’t scholarly at quickly understanding defenses, Vick was not the best at the aforementioned. I disagree with those that stated Ryan doesn’t have the skills of Vick because thinking and processing information quickly is a god given skill. Vick was entertaining, the NFL gets faster every year and has caught up with the Vick’s of the world that’s why Donavan has adopted. Ryan white or black is intelligent, thinks quickly has a strong very accurate arm and appears not to be a “me” first teammate. He is as good as I have seen with the amount of experience he has had to date,

By Orange

November 10, 2008 7:25 PM | Link to this

Saw this on a blog

Just caught Trent Dilfer and Mike Greenberg on Sports Center. Dilfer gave Matt some great accolades. Topic was Matt Ryan. Greenberg said Ryan has been great so far in 2008 and asked Dilfer how good Matt is in his opinion. Dilfer said he has been associated with the NFL for 15 years and the two best rookies he has seen come into the NFL are unquestionably Matt Ryan and Randy Moss. Dilfer said Matt has it all.

Atlanta hit the jackpot on Ryan. The rest of the country is finding out what BC fans have long known about Matt.

By Kenny

November 10, 2008 7:36 PM | Link to this

yea he did take us to the championship game but then drove us to the dirt for a 4-12 season last year….

By Dogbyte

November 10, 2008 7:43 PM | Link to this

All of us would have been delighted with a 8 - 8 season, now it sounds as if many of you are in the “playoffs or failures” mode. I still think a 8 - 8 season would be a significant accomplishment, but I will be happy IF they reach the playoffs. But, if not, they have come a long way and have earned our support and congratulations. Next season is the time, if ever, to put the bug on them.

By Mr Charlie

November 10, 2008 8:03 PM | Link to this

If we are going to judge Falcon QB’s by “who had the best season”, then:

Superbowl

NFC Championship Game

Ryan? When is done, we will see.

By Jim Mora

November 10, 2008 8:11 PM | Link to this

Vick did not just fail to develop as at QB, he failed to develop as a person, hence, look at him today.

Dan Reeve’s tried.

By BostonBCfan

November 10, 2008 9:56 PM | Link to this

“Orange”

Thanks for finally saying what I’ve been saying and other BC fans have been saying since the Falcons drafted Matt Ryan………that he was the right pick and that he would be successful. I watched the kid do amazing things up here in Boston for 3 1/2 years. And i mean, amazing some of the plays this kid made. He is so much more mature than most QB’s coming out of college. What most of you didn’t realize down there in Atlanta was that Matt played in a PRO style offense at BC. He was running plays 4 years ago that he’s running now in Atlanta and that has been a huge difference in his learning curve versus other some other college programs that other QB’s come out of.

Just remember that i said it guys, the best is still yet to come from Matt. Enjoy it.

By BravesFan79

November 11, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this

Im so glad the REAL Falcons fans are back……you know those of us that have been die hard fans since the days of Deion and Andre Rison back in 91, and the GREAT run we had in 98 behind Chris Miller (the last good QB to play for the Falcons before Ryan)

All you bandwagon jumpers that jumped on just because of Vick can now jump back off!

And were tired of you blacks labeling every white player as “slow, or unathletic”
do we label every black player as “dumb and selfish?” Face it…. Brooking is a good player and your just jelous its not U out there. I mean your black and all…dosent that mean your Automatically great at sports?? why are you not in the league instead of Brooking? lol….

Go Falcons, Jets, Braves, and GT. LOL….at the packers… your getting what u deserve u traitors!

By BravesFan79

November 11, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this

I ment Chris Chandler in 98…. Chris Miller was our QB back in 91 when we beat the Saints in the playoffs and gave Washington their toughest game on their superbowl run. (and who i used over and over again on Nintendo Techno Super Bowl… the Greatest oldschool game ever!!)
What a great year 91 was for the Falcons and Braves!

By boxer99

November 11, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this

Why anybody on this blog wastes thier time arguing with that mental midget convick Supporter 2 is beyond me. He clearly demonstrates how much of moron he is every week. He leaves no doubt in anyones mind about that. My message to Convick supporter: maybe Convick will win the mvp if he can 1) Get back in the league rienstated 2) If a team will sign him 3) Can he call an audible…probably not way too dumb 4) Can he read a defense, see number 3, Finally be an upstanding citizen and not Smoke dope, Flip off his fans, get STD’s and and be an outright piece of s**. This I can guarantee will never happen. So sorry to burst your bubble but convick will never a mvp of the league. He could be mvp of the penal leagues with that scumbag O.J.

By Ken Strickland

November 11, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this

THIS GETS OLD-thanks for remembering. Based on what we did last yr, and our OFF alone, I figured we’d be good enough to have a winning season. Going into the season I knew we were loaded at the skill positions(QB, RB, WR). When we drafted LT Baker, a 3 time All American, I knew our OL would be big, strong and solid, with LT-Baker, LG-Blaylock, C-McClure, RG-Forney(I thought he’d retain his position) and RT-Clabo, coached by Boudreau, one of the NFL’s best. The only OFF suprise I had was the unbelievable play of QB MRyan.

I also stated that our team would only go as far as the DEF takes us. I knew our pass rush would be weak, but I didn’t expect such outstanding play from our DB’s. We signed FA CB VHutchins to replace DHall, but he sustained a season ending injury. That prompted the trade for CB Foxworth. With the play of rookie MLB CLofton, the improved play of CB CHouston, the outstanding play of FS EColeman and the continued health of JAbraham, our DEF has exceeded expectations.

The Falcons have reached a level of maturity and confidence that will prevent us from losing gms like we did earlier in teh season. Tampa Bay, Carolina and Philly stopped the run and our passing OFF wasn’t developed enough to compensate. Now our OFF is so balanced that we can win gms rushing or passing. Teams now have to pick their poison. AND GIVE CREDIT WHERE IT’S DUE. OUR COACHING STAFF HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB OF STRUCTURING A DEF SYSTEM THAT HAS TAKEN FULL ADVANTAGE OF OUR TALENT. THAT SAME CAN BE SAID ABOUT OUR OFF AS WELL.

By boxer99

November 12, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this

I dream about Mike Vick all the time, I can’t wait for him to get back to the NFL!!!

By JoeBrave

November 12, 2008 9:53 PM | Link to this

i DREAM ABOUT vICK TOO, i DREAM SOME 350 POUND LINEMAN WILL TACKLE THE b@STARD,AND BREAK HIS bACK IN ABOUT 10 PLACES ,PUT THE SORRY EXCUSE FOR A HUMAN OUT OF FOOTBALL FOREVER,AND IN SOME KIND OF MENTAL INSTITUTION,HWRE THE PIECE OF CRAP WILL NEVER HURT ANOTHER HELPLESS ANIMAL!!! AS A MATTER OF FACT MAYBE HIM AND HOBAMA, WILL WIND UP IN PRISON TOGETHER!!1

By JoeBrave

November 12, 2008 9:56 PM | Link to this

HELL YES I HATE MIKE VICK, HE MAKES ME SICK!!I HATE HO-BAMA MORE THAN THAT!!

By 2hellwithvick

November 13, 2008 7:52 PM | Link to this

I was a season ticket holder and loved to watch Vick play. He was not a good passer at all but he brought excitement to Atlanta. But his thug a* brought all that bs on himself.Why does so many support him? For heavens sake he played in the NFL and was so stupid to fight dogs. Just wonder how good he could hav been if he would have concentrated on being a QB instead of a dumbass..

By even-keeled

November 14, 2008 9:46 AM | Link to this

why can’t we all just get over talking about mike vick? yes mike was a good qb, but he does not play for the falcons anymore, he’s still on the team yes but he will not play for us anymore. matt ryan is having great success but lets just talk about what is actually happening in football please. you can like mike or matt. dosn’t matter this is about the falcons right now. not in a year from now and not 2 years ago.

By oldbird

November 15, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this

People, Mike Vick or Matt Ryan? Why bother. The last time I checked, Vick was in prison and had been suspended from the NFL. The Falcons have a quarterback and his name is Matt Ryan. Let’s move forward.

By Mike

November 15, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this

I am impressed with the play of the Falcons to this point. I felt that they did a good enough job in the off season to earn a little respect this year. I was sure Turner, White, and Norwood would be great impact players. I however did not think that 9 ganes into the season they would be a playoff contender. It is very exciting to watch these young players, with a brand new coaching staff, and new GM having the kind of season we are having. There is a lot of promise in the future for the birds. I am happy to say it appears I was wrong about drafting Ryan. i was highly critical over taking Ryan over Dorsey. Hopefully Ryan will proove me wrong season after season.

By Fratuszewski

November 15, 2008 5:49 PM | Link to this

Guys come on. Can we stop talking about Michael Vick? We now have Matt Ryan. We have moved on. Its stupid to talk about Vick. He will get out of jail and join another football team. Let’s try and focus on the Falcons here. Matt Ryan is the future, Mike Vick is the past.

By Fratuszewski

November 15, 2008 5:51 PM | Link to this

Guys come on. Can we stop talking about Michael Vick? We now have Matt Ryan. We have moved on. Its stupid to talk about Vick. He will get out of jail and join another football team. Let’s try and focus on the Falcons here. Matt Ryan is the future, Mike Vick is the past. On a side note is the Bird Babe hot? Just wondering.