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Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Jordan’s vow is to ‘finish strong’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
He was popular as a Falcon and remains popular as a Brave. He is popular in the community. He has always been popular with teammates, coaches, managers and general managers. Also with trainers, office staff, media members, postal delivery workers, the pool boy and the cable guy.
Brian Jordan has hit only .244 this season and makes those creaky loose-floor-board kind of sounds when he walks. But he’s such a nice guy that the tendency is to think only, “Oh, poor Brian.” Because if he were like every other schlep, you would say: “Dude. It’s over.”
Now, there is always the chance it’s not over for Jordan. He certainly doesn’t believe it’s over. If he thought it was over, he would quit even before the Braves had a chance to activate him today, when Major League rosters expand.
“Once I’m back on the field,” Jordan said Wednesday, “I know I’m going to perform.”
Such a nice guy. You want to believe him. But with that stance, Jordan is in the minority.
If the Braves hang on in this race and reach the playoffs for the 14th straight time, they will have a decision to make. Jordan: activate or shelve?
That’s not what the 38-year-old had in mind when he returned here in January. It was hoped he would bring the team something more than just a strong clubhouse presence. That hasn’t happened. His season has been successful only if you compare it to Raul Mondesi’s.
But Jordan is thinking about October. It’s the only reason he has put himself through this rehab.
He is asked, “If you knew right now that you were not going to be on the postseason roster … ” and answers before the question is completed.
“This wouldn’t be worth it,” he said. “The reason I’m coming back is for the playoffs. If health-wise I can’t do it, then I’d tell Bobby [Cox].”
And if the decision goes against him?
“It would hurt me a little bit. But I’d still be there for the players. I’m a team guy.”
Three outfield spots likely will go to Andruw Jones, Jeff Francoeur and the recently acquired Todd Hollandsworth. That leaves Jordan battling Ryan Langerhans and Kelly Johnson for possibly two spots. Since the Braves remain in a pennant race, Cox can’t concern himself with who gets playing time.
“This isn’t like the beginning of the season,” Cox said.
Jordan had thoughts of retiring last month. The knee pain had worked its way up to the cranium. He had been dealing with this since surgery cut short his season two years ago in Los Angeles.
It’s not a pretty sight when an athlete’s mind says one thing and his body says another. Jordan spoke to his father, Alvin, who had coached Brian since he was eight years old, and let it slip that he was considering retiring. Dad wasn’t keen on that idea.
“I knew how my knee was feeling and how much pain I was going through,” Jordan said. “I talked to my dad and said, ‘I don’t know if I can play the rest of the season.’ One thing he stressed to me is, ‘You’re competitive. You’re not a quitter. You’re not going to give up. So whenever you get back out there, you just do the best you can do.’ I had thought about retirement. But then when I got to Rome, I knew I could still play.”
Yeah. He killed ‘em in Rome. He went 8-for-16 against Class A ball pitching and a previously slumping team went 5-1 during his stay. It allowed Jordan to joke, “I was MVP of the Rome Braves.”
He managed to get over teammates calling him Mr. Jordan.
“They could’ve been my kids,” he said.
Nothing against inspiring the youth of America. But Jordan doesn’t want that to be his season highlight.
“One thing I want to do is finish strong,” he said.
That attitude goes a long way to fueling an athlete’s popularity. But mind and body aren’t on the same page. Jordan’s moving parts apparently aren’t big on sentimentality.
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Maybe Price isn’t the problem
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
And then there were four.
Once there were five.
That’s right. Prior to Tuesday morning, when the Falcons shoved former No. 1 wide receiver Peerless Price out of their Flowery Branch door, there were five possible reasons as to why their passing game barely existed last season.
You had the Price theory, which goes: He only prospered in Buffalo because he was on the other side of Eric Moulds, a truly stud wide receiver. Get rid of Price, who couldn’t shake defenders and who dropped too many passes, and watch the Falcons become Air Mora or something.
Well, Price is outta here. Now what?
If the Falcons’ passing game continues to reek, you’re left with those four other theories. Such as the one involving the offensive line, which goes: Since Michael Vick was sacked more times per pass attempt last season than any other quarterback, he didn’t have time to find receivers downfield. Improve the line, and Vick evolves into Peyton Manning.
If that doesn’t happen, then what? You have the other wide receivers theory, which goes: Dez White, Michael Jenkins Roddy White, Brian Finneran and whoever replaces Price are as equally mediocre (or worse) as Price was perceived to be. Replace that bunch, and the Falcons’ offense is the most balanced in the NFL.
If that doesn’t happen, you have the offense theory, which goes: The Falcons’ version of the West Coast offense doesn’t fit Vick. Change to something more conducive to his running and passing skills, and everything will be just fine.
And what if that doesn’t happen? We’re down to the Vick theory, which goes: He can’t run this version of the West Coast offense or any offense for that matter when it comes to throwing and completing the deep pass with consistency.
Stay tuned.
Maybe, just maybe, Peerless Price wasn’t the problem after all.
Permalink | Comments (44) | Categories: Quick Hit, Terence Moore
