Moving to a new location
AJC blogs are moving to a new technical platform. So check out Terence Moore’s new blog home and bookmark it.
Home > Terence Moore > Archives > 2008 > December > 19 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USFalcons visit Minnesota with future in mind
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ten seasons ago, the Falcons did the impossible in Minneapolis. They won their only NFC championship. They did so against a loaded Vikings team that supposedly was roaring toward a world title with a record-setting offense, the new Purple People Eaters on defense and the look of destiny everywhere.
Now, the Falcons are back in Minneapolis on Sunday, but the Super Bowl isn’t four quarters away this time. At 9-5, and with much of the solar system fighting for a wild-card spot, the Falcons are trying to slide into the playoffs with two games and a bunch of tie-breaking scenarios left.
They’ll make the postseason, or they’ll fall within a chinstrap of doing so.
Whatever the case, the Falcons have the right attitude. That’s because one of their key players has the perfect attitude. His name is Keith Brooking, an accomplished linebacker, who cherishes everything involved with that other trip to the Metrodome, but who mostly is focused on right now.
Attitude. Focused.
Those are attributes of any team with true playoff aspirations. Said Brooking, “On Sunday, [the 1998 season] will be the last thing I’ll be thinking about. We have one of the best running backs in the league on our team [Michael Turner], but No. 28 [Adrian Peterson] for the Minnesota Vikings, he’s right up there with him. That’s going to be our main goal defensively. He’s a very big part of their whole equation. That’s going to be the main thing on my mind.”
Well, such will be the case for Brooking during the game. Before and after it, he will reminisce. He’s the only member of the current Falcons who played on that 1998 team.
“I’ll never forget the excitement in the locker room, and the feeling of what it’s like to celebrate with a group of men who knew you couldn’t accomplish something like that without the effort of everybody,” Brooking said, recalling the Falcons’ 30-27 upset in overtime. “Those are memories that I’ll have with me the rest of my life.”
The same goes for the season 2002, when the Falcons performed their Miracle in Green Bay, where they gave the Packers their first playoff loss ever at home. The same goes for 2004, when the Falcons reached the NFC Championship again before losing to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Other than that, the Falcons mostly were busts during Brooking’s 11 seasons. So, as the elder statesman on a predominately young roster, he is an expert on what you should do and shouldn’t do down the stretch of a playoff drive.
To hear Brooking tell, the “should do” list begins with peace and ends with quiet.
“The one thing that was common with all those other teams and this one is that there have been zero distractions,” said Brooking, whose 2007 Falcons had everything from Michael Vick and his dogs to Bobby Petrino and his Hogs. “Every player on this team, football means a great deal to them, and it’s right there at the top of their priority list. We’ve completely bought into what [first-year Falcons coach Mike Smith] has preached to us from Day One.”
As for the “shouldn’t do” list, Brooking said quickly, “Especially for a young football team, it’s very easy, starting with the coaches, to put a certain amount of pressure on individual players and a team as a whole in this situation. You can’t go into a game uptight or too emotional and too intense. Worry about the task at hand, and then take care of business.”
You also should ignore the past — at least after the opening kickoff.
Permalink | Comments (24) | Categories: Falcons/NFL
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Interested fan
December 19, 2008 7:35 PM | Link to this
The Falcons of 2008 are a success. I hope they realize it and don’t let the pressure get to them on Sunday. Yes, we want you to win but you have brought honor to a laughingstock franchise. Thank you, regardless of the outcome on Sunday.
By dyot
December 19, 2008 7:56 PM | Link to this
Amen brother
By saint
December 19, 2008 8:30 PM | Link to this
I just hope they remember curfew time !!
By falcon21
December 19, 2008 8:44 PM | Link to this
Interested fan, you make it sound like it is ok to lose,these falcons will not accept that.These are winners and believe in each other.I am very proud of them also but do not cut them short.They will win or give them one hell of a game. Go Falcons.We fans believe you guys will get it done. GO FALCONS! PLAYOFFS!!!
By Sly Ty
December 19, 2008 8:44 PM | Link to this
I agree with the Intrested Fan. This team has already been a success no matter what happpens the rest of the way. Honor has been restored, and so has hope. Should “WE” fall on sunday, it won’t really be a setback in my eyes. GO Falcons/Hawks/Braves/Tech/Dawgs/Morgan County High.
By oldtimer
December 19, 2008 8:45 PM | Link to this
this team is going places never before visited by previous Falcons team.. with all due respect to previus teams… my Dad took me to the first regular Falcon game ever played, and I have been a fan ever since. Never seen anything like it (for the Falcons) solid football, played with passion… I think Blank put the right formula together and backed away… it was a learning curve for him.. like anything else….
By This gets old
December 19, 2008 9:10 PM | Link to this
When the schedule was released nobody ever thought that this game would be anything but the penultimate game of the season.
They’ve put themselves into the playoff race. Win or lose there’s no mistaking that in the entire league the Falcons are the team on the come. They haven’t been under .500 one day this season. Amazing year.
By J Mills
December 19, 2008 9:42 PM | Link to this
Brooking needs to have a good game… for a change.
By sapelodawg
December 19, 2008 10:07 PM | Link to this
The Falcons have earned the right to be where they are by winning on the playing field in lieu of trash talking & fighting on the field. Here’s hoping they never even give a tryout to another Virginia Tech player.
By michaelgee
December 19, 2008 10:11 PM | Link to this
TM, Over the years I have not liked what you have written about my Falcons. My angst may have been misplaced since the Falcons of the past did not bring it to the table at game time.
I got to say this TM, it must be a pleasure to write about this bunch of Falcons. They are totally the opposite of mediocrity and these are no longer the dull Decembers that we have been accustomed to living. With AB, Thomas Dimitroff, Mike Smith, Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, a valid coaching staff and a gang of old time football players, I’ll just bet that your job this season must be a real joy to observe and report, well the past was pretty bleak in Falconland. I think Atlanta has finally reached the point of turning this tired old franchise into something fun to watch and in your case, finally fun to observe. You are not nearly the butthead you appeared to be since we now have real NFL football, and TM, it finally seems to be geting much better for writers and Falcon Fans.
GO FALCONS!
By johnsoncountyrednecks
December 20, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this
Go Falcons show the world Sunday
By gman
December 20, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this
The Falcons are having a surprisingly great season and have established a good foundation to build towards winning a Super Bowl in the very near future. Thanks for the good years and the good words to KB, but one key to getting to the next level will be getting him replaced with someone who is not constantly a step behind the play. When was the last time he made a great play in the backfield, interception, sack, fumble cause or recovery? You don’t even hear his name called much at all. He has been a great player and a defensive icon for the birds over the last decade, but it is time to hang up the cleats and go out with class. Go Falcons! Why not here? Why not now?
By crabapplejoe
December 20, 2008 4:42 PM | Link to this
JMills wrote: “Brooking needs to have a good game… for a change.” Brooking has had a number of good games this year. He is essentially tied for third with Curtis Lofton in tackling for the team (87 total tackles versus 86 for Brooking after 14 games). If you’re looking for better production at the LB spot check on Mr. Boley’s numbers…and I won’t even bring up his dropped interception that cost us a game.
By Juddist
December 20, 2008 5:05 PM | Link to this
The Falcons are good and can be much better if the replace KB on defense. If you look closely he is always playing from behind and tackleing after the catch instead of preventing the catch. If the Falcons are to be champions they will need to replace KB.
By crabapplejoe
December 20, 2008 5:39 PM | Link to this
Actually, I’ve heard Brooking’s name called out quite a bit this year….at least 86 times. He is essentially tied with Curtis Lofton as the third leading tackler on the team. Here are our LB stats:
Lofton—87 tackles Brooking—86 tackles Boley—57 tackles
Hmmm…the hole in the LB corps is a guy whose last name begins with a ‘B’….but it ain’t Brooking. See if you Brooking haters can figure it out. The coaches have figured it out since they brought in Coy Wire last game to replace someone whose last name begins with ‘B’ and has a first name of Michael.
By VICK SUPPORTER 2
December 20, 2008 7:05 PM | Link to this
THE GRINCH THAT STOLE PLAYOFFS
ONCE UPON A TIME, THERE LIVED THE
GREATEST ATHLETE TO EVER COME OUT OF
COLLEGE. HE HAD THE SPEED OF LIGHTNING
AND A ROCKET FOR AN ARM. HE WAS SO
BLESSED THAT HE WAS DEEMED FOR EARLY GREATNESS. OF ALL THE GREAT TALENT IN
THAT DRAFT HE WAS PICK NUMBER 1 OVERALL.
THAT CREATED QUITE AN ANGRY MOB OF
CERTAIN PROFILES OF FANS. TO SILENCE THE
ANGRY AND BIASED FANS, IN HIS FIRST FULL
YEAR OF STARTING FOR A TEAM WITH A 43-
YEAR HISTORY OF FAILURES, HE GUIDED THEM
TO THE PLAYOFFS IN JUST HIS FIRST FULL
SEASON. THIS IS A FRANCHISE THAT PRIOR
TO HIM ARRIVING, HAD ONLY WON 2-
DIVISIONAL TITLES & AND ONLY MADE IT TO 1-
CONFERENCE FINALS. TO MAKE HIS HEROICS
EVEN MORE LEGENDARY, HE WENT TO A
FREEZING GREEN BAY AND ACCOMPLISHED
SOMETHING THAT NO QUARTERBACK HAD EVER
DONE - HE BEAT THE IMMORTAL BRETT FAVRE
IN HIS OWN BACK YARD FOR THE FIRST TIME.
TO REWARD HIM FOR HIS EFFORTS, HE WAS
AWARDED THE LARGEST CONTRACT IN THE
HISTORY OF THE NFL, WHICH WAS HIGHER THAN
THE IMMORTAL BRETT FAVRE, TOM BRADY AND
PEYTON MANNING. THIS CREATED AN OUT-RAGE
WITH THE CERTAIN PROFILE OF FAN BASE.
HE DIDN’T LET THIS CONTRACT GO TO HIS
HEAD. A YEAR LATER HE BROUGHT THE
FRANCHISE JUST THEIR 3RD DIVISIONAL TITLE
AND A MOST IMPRESSIVE (2ND) CONFERENCE
FINAL. THEN HE WAS DEEMED OVERRATED AND
WAS CALLED RACIAL NAMES, WHILE TRYING TO
BRING THIS LOWLY FRANCHISE A SUPERBOWL
RING, ALTHOUGH HE WAS NOT BLESSED WITH A
FRONT OFFICE THAT WAS COMMITTED TO
WINNING, UNLIKE THIS NEW FRONT OFFICE WHO
COINCIDENTALLY WAS MAGICALLY BROUGHT
TOGETHER AFTER HE WAS OFF THE PLAYING
FIELD. A COINCIDENT? PERHAPS, BUT IN
DOING SO, IN SHOWING HIM THE ULTIMATE
SLAP IN THE FACE, THEY LABELED AN AVERAGE
PLAYER “THE NEW FACE OF THE FRANCHISE,
THEREFORE A SPELL WAS CAST ON THE
FRANCHISE. THERE WILL BE NO PLAYOFFS
UNTIL HE RETURNS TO THE NFL. SO THE TALE
CONTINUES………..
By OldTimer
December 20, 2008 7:07 PM | Link to this
There is a reason that Keith Brooking is the Falcon with the longest tenure. Quite simply it’s heart.
By brian hayes
December 20, 2008 7:15 PM | Link to this
Character is what defines any successful team and thanks to coach Smith the Falcons of 2008 have developed character. It is no mystery what makes teams successful it is doing the small things well time and time again. That takes good coaching with very little flash and our Atlanta team has that.
By TheJama
December 20, 2008 7:18 PM | Link to this
What was a little astonishing was how long it took most Falcon fans to figure out that we had secured a winning season after beating Tampa last week. Let’s start there and then talk about playoffs. Great job all around for the organization, coaches, and the team. I don’t live in the ATL any more but everyone I talk to about the Falcons really like this team and it’s players. And I’m not just talking about Ryan, Turner, and White.
Now let’s go get some purple!!!
By DHD
December 20, 2008 7:45 PM | Link to this
Nice article. Go Ravens, Go Chargers.
By Edd
December 20, 2008 7:46 PM | Link to this
Team game Folks ! Lets not forget all the bad years. Certain players may not be pro bowl players anymore but we have salary caps and all to deal with. Lets don’t micro manage the Falcons now. Sure in a perfect world we would love for EVERY position to be in the pro bowl. Get back down to Earth. Why do Atl fans forget so easily? All I/we ever wanted was to be competitive and not the laughing stock of the NFL. People !!! Remember the Braves ? Go Falcons !, Thanks Mr. Blank, Thanks Mr. Smith , Thanks Thomas everhowyouspellyourlastname, and the true fans of the Altanta Falcons. This is a fun year and it looks to be the same for years to come as Mr. Blank wanted. I love Vick too as a Falcon but it’s time to move on and I wish him the very best for I hope he has learned from all of this. I will pull for Mike Vick to come back and be great. He was our hope and now we have found a new one in Mr. Matt Ryan. I new the only thing to get over the exciting Mike Vick was to win !, And the Falcons with Matt Ryan have done that, Wow !! The whole team, Wow !! From top to bottom, WOW, and Thanks, and Mr. Blank , Thanks for believing in us. Edd Anderson
By GT GRAD
December 20, 2008 7:48 PM | Link to this
old Timer is correct!
Keith Brooking is the definition of the perfect football player. He makes a huge difference with his play on the field as well as with his leadership on & off the field. He is athletically gifted (even after 13 years, he is still fast and strong enough to be an impact player), very intelligent, rarely misses any plays or games due to injury and he makes every player on the team better in soooo many ways. I would like to see him play 1-2 more years and then transition into a coaching role with the Falcons!
Most of the Brooking haters on these blogs are biased and or ignorant. Every coach he has ever had has placed Brooking in a critical position due to his mental approach and physical abilities. It is unanomous……he has had several coaches since high school, GT and the Falcons; ALL of them have raved about him and put him in critical roles/positions. Should we believe the coaches he has had for the past 21 years or a few knuckleheads on a local newspaper blog who seem biased and ignorant? I am obviously a huge fan of Mr. Keith Brooking and I trust the judgement/opinion of the professional coaches!
By gman
December 20, 2008 9:13 PM | Link to this
Having the football intelligence to see when a LB has reached his time to pass the cleats does not make one a Brooking hater. His career has been outstanding and I have always been a fan. He has had an OK year, but it is obvious to anyone that has an unbiased eye to see it is time to get a player for thee future in that critical defensive position NOW if you are going to make a run for the gold in the next two to three years. Yes he had 86 tackles, and has the football intelligence to get to the play, but way too often 5 or 10 yards down field or after the ball is caught and advanced. in 1 or 2 years when the other key players are in their NFL prime and you are ready for the top you will have a serious liability if the key LB position is a weak spot which it will be if you don’t make a change this spring in time to grow with the others. Mark my word. The Falcons coaches will agree.
By crabapplejoe
December 20, 2008 10:36 PM | Link to this
gman wrote: “Yes he had 86 tackles, and has the football intelligence to get to the play, but way too often 5 or 10 yards down field or after the ball is caught and advanced” ROTFLOL. I get so tired on this lame excuse whenever I quote Brooking’s far superior tackling statistics. In order to buy into your theory one of three things must be happening. Either the “slow” Brooking is missing the tackle at the line of scrimmage but somehow uses his inferior speed to run down the RB from behind, or 2) Brooking is the only one playing defense since the other ten “affletes” somehow missed the RB until Brooking catches him 15 yards downfield, or 3) The coaches are having Brooking play incredibly deep. The reality is that Brooking is having a much better year than Boley. The stats show it and the coaches know it. That’s why Coy Wire will replace Boley not Brooking this week.