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Home > Jeff Schultz > Archives > 2008 > September > 15 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USWe will now find out about Falcons’ grit
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Flowery Branch — One week after Matt Ryan introduced himself with a touchdown pass, Michael Turner broke a rushing record and Mike Smith won a game and gave the world a game ball, some joker had to go plug in an old videotape.
The Falcons were drilled at Tampa Bay Sunday, and before the sun came up Monday, Lawyer Milloy — team leader Lawyer Milloy — was charged with DUI and speeding, and spent five hours in a Gwinnett County jail.
Franchise exorcism: Not so complete.
Now, this doesn’t mean the Falcons are on the verge of collapse, and it doesn’t mean anybody should start looking for more black-painted shacks on Moonlight Road, and it doesn’t mean one insanely stupid act should obliterate Milloy’s 13 wonderful seasons in the NFL. He is known as a standup guy, although something is wrong when a standup guy doesn’t show up Monday to, well, stand up in front of the media. (He finally released a one-sentence statement through his attorney 16 hours after his arrest.)
But if the Falcons were wondering when their first test would come, this is it. We find out about athletes and teams when they are under duress. We will now start to find out about the Falcons.
The loss to Tampa was a cold slap back to reality. It’s never certain how a young, potentially fragile team will react to that. The arrest of Milloy might not seem like a big deal to some. (Newsflash: Football players often decompress and numb themselves after games.) But the fact this involved such a high-profile player on a franchise toting so much baggage elevates its significance.
“It’s a sad situation, and it’s definitely not what we need after a loss,” fullback Ovie Mughelli said, shortly after hearing about Milloy. “But he’s human. We’re all human. We’re all about trying to live in the now and doing what we can to fix everything we can. I’m not worried. We’ve been through harder things in the past.”
The last time the Falcons had a player involved in something at 4:30 a.m., Rod Coleman had left a bar and flipped his Escalade after swerving to miss a deer. Or was it a 10-foot rabbit? Leprechaun?
The team did not handle that well. Jim Mora played dodgeball with questions. Everybody else went under cover.
It wasn’t quite that bad Monday. Smith said the team was “extremely disappointed” and that Milloy’s act was “completely unacceptable.” But he said the matter will be “handled internally,” which is something out of the coaches’ handbook. He said he couldn’t elaborate because he was handcuffed by the Collective Bargain Agreement.
There was a degree of truth to that. Matters pertaining to drugs and alcohol fall under one set of rules in the CBA. Incidents deemed in violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy (example: “Pacman” Jones) fall under another. Technically, a player can’t be suspended or even fined for a drug or alcohol offense until the matter runs its course in the legal system.
However, Smith could have been a little more enlightening than, “We’ll handle the matter internally.” Certainly, Milloy could have been present to address the matter. This will be an issue when the team resumes practice Wednesday.
We can’t yet know how fragile this team is. For that matter, we can’t even be certain of Milloy. He didn’t seem enamored of playing for a rebuilding project this season. He is in the final year of his contract. The Falcons wanted him back to help steady their young roster, but they weren’t going to sweeten his contract. There’s potential for some ripple effect.
For now, they all stand together. Players say they will bounce back from all of the inglorious headlines.
“When you play in this league, a lot of things come your way,” Keith Brooking said. “You just have to put blinders on. We just got beat by Tampa Bay, and now we have Kansas City standing in front of us. Anything else, you’ve got to put that to the side.”
It sounds so easy. We’re about to find out how.
Permalink | Comments (16) | Categories: Falcons/NFL
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By falcon59
September 15, 2008 6:51 PM | Link to this
And the beat goes on for this sad franchise. Oh, Brooking had on blinders. That explains why he could not see anyone to tackle.!!
By Kudzu
September 15, 2008 6:53 PM | Link to this
I know I’m not gonna gain much support, but I say release the guy. This is what (sends a statement) to the team and the city for that matter, “that reckless, irresponsible, and dangerous behavior, will not be tolerated, NO MATTER WHO IT IS. Eventually, you hope, that everyone gets on the same page…it’s a painful thing, but this organization needs to be narrowly moving forward, raising the bar (no pun intended).
By Falc Fan
September 15, 2008 6:58 PM | Link to this
Lawyer Milloy made a mistake, he knows it and he’s going to move on from this. He has been nothing but a stand-up guy in his 13 years in the NFL. I don’t agree with the situation. Nobody should drink and drive, period. However, I am behind Lawyer Milloy 100% and i hope he gets through this ok. Go Falcons….
By bigeasy830
September 15, 2008 6:58 PM | Link to this
By Kudzu, did you feel the same way after Danny Heatley incident.
By stringer63
September 15, 2008 7:10 PM | Link to this
Is this Milloy’s first brush with trouble? If so, give him a chance to redeem himself. If he’s had something like this happen previously, cut him. I agree with Kudzu on that point.
The real issue here is what has been pointed out - how will the team respond on the field. My hope is that they get really p** off and take out the frustration on their opponents.
Enough is enough gentlemen - time to kick some a##. We’ve got a good thing going. Ryan just needs to settle in and get comfortable. Had he been effective in that game, we would have beaten TB.
By #1 Grady Jackson Fan
September 15, 2008 7:17 PM | Link to this
Lawyer needs A LAWYER
Pray FOR MR. MILLOY
He has never been a Hot Dog like
DeangeloME Hall.
By JJ
September 15, 2008 7:18 PM | Link to this
He is a human being that made a mistake, period. He is a cornerstone of our defense. He will pay his price and lets learn to forgive people!!! Who here has never made a mistake? We’re human, its over and he’ll have community service *sucks) and that 4 day dui class (really sucks!) Let him be! I’m sure he knows he made a mistake and the fans/media should lay off!
By crabapplejoe
September 15, 2008 7:28 PM | Link to this
Give Milloy a break and let him work this out on his own. He doesn’t have a history of being a trouble maker that I know of. The Mothers Against Drunk Daddies (MADD) have turned the whole DUI legal system into an “industry”. If he had been pulled over twenty years ago the cops probably would have just followed him home and told him to stay off the streets that night. Pretty soon they will lower the DUI limit to .06 and close all the restaurants and bars in town.
By marko
September 15, 2008 7:29 PM | Link to this
Milloy’s a good man that made a bad mistake. I would hope that he would have the full support of his team mates. Many believe that teams assume the personalities of their head coaches, if that’s true the Falcons are going to be just fine.
By Mac
September 15, 2008 7:29 PM | Link to this
I Don’t See Malloy As A Stand Up Guy..I See Him As The Coward That He Is! He’s Very Selfish And 2 Faced.. On One Hand He Preaches Respect..Hide’s Behind His 13 Years In The League..SO WHAT? On The Other Hand, He’s Out Carousing Till 4:30 Am? Why Is He Not At Home With His Wife & Kids Resting Up For Next Game?
By travis
September 15, 2008 7:47 PM | Link to this
This should be the third story of the day. The first should be the pathetic efforts of overrated 1st round pick J Anderson. The second should be on the whereabouts of our superstar outside linebacker (not Nicholas or Boley)!!!
By JUDGE NOT
September 15, 2008 7:49 PM | Link to this
HAVE YOU EVER GONE TO BUY MILK AT 4:30 a.m. for the family at Kroger, Mac Give the guy a break. You ELECTED george w with two DUIs and dick cheney with three DUIs TO BRING HONOR AND DECENCY and look what we got. MILLOY for PRESIDENT
By Boo Boo
September 15, 2008 7:58 PM | Link to this
Lawyer needs to be made to leave flowers at the following graves:
Brad Beckman, TE, Atlanta Falcons, car accident 1989
Ralph Norwood, OT, Atlanta Falcons, car accident, 1989
Andy Spiva, LB, Atlanta Falcons, car accident, 1978
By gdg73
September 15, 2008 8:15 PM | Link to this
I am right there with you Travis. When are these knucklehead sportwriters for the AJC say something about Keith Brookings lackluster play at WLB. Steve Wyche for one has been p!@## in our faces and calling it rain for the longest in singing the praises of Brooking and his legendary abilities at the LB position. This guy has been stealing money for years now, and nobody at the AJC seems to say anything. Milloy has played his a* off in the last two games and made a big blunder last night/early this morning. Now the focus shifts to that and not the player’s actual performance yesterday. I saw four players that stood out on defense yesterday. None of their names was Keith Brooking. This dude is making too much money not to making any plays. Please write an article on “football issues” and stop treating Keith Brooking like Sarah Palin.
By gdg73
September 15, 2008 8:16 PM | Link to this
I am right there with you Travis. When are these knucklehead sportwriters for the AJC say something about Keith Brookings lackluster play at WLB. Steve Wyche for one has been p!@## in our faces and calling it rain for the longest in singing the praises of Brooking and his legendary abilities at the LB position. This guy has been stealing money for years now, and nobody at the AJC seems to say anything. Milloy has played his a* off in the last two games and made a big blunder last night/early this morning. Now the focus shifts to that and not the player’s actual performance yesterday. I saw four players that stood out on defense yesterday. None of their names was Keith Brooking. This dude is making too much money not to making any plays. Please write an article on “football issues” and stop treating Keith Brooking like Sarah Palin.
By alan webb
September 15, 2008 9:17 PM | Link to this
I thought about killing myself after reading about another jerk-off incendant with the Falcons but talked myself out of it. Well, now I am going thru with it…. Dallas 14-Philly 6 and T.O. has a touchdown catch. When is something going to go my way??