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Thursday, November 24, 2005
Good-guy Dunn shows he’s a great player
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
Detroit — Even if you consider that the Lions spent Thursday at Ford Field looking worse than the windy, frigid, brutal conditions on this side of the Detroit River, the Falcons did exactly what they needed to do.
They won. They did so with Michael Vick continuing his growth as a runner and a passer, a rejuvenated defense, a nice return game for a change and (ho-hum) their greatness at running back that many have a tendency to forget.
What many prefer to remember is that, except for maybe the Nobel Peace Prize, the Falcons’ greatness at running back has won every award invented for good guys and humanitarians. This makes absolutely no sense. I mean, why can’t folks hear the name Warrick Dunn and recall that he is capable of brilliance whether he’s wearing a uniform or a suit?
“At the beginning of the year, a lot of people just looked at me as the guy who did a lot of things off the field, but hopefully now, people will start to look at me as a football player, not as a guy who is just a philanthropist,� said Dunn, after evolving into an everyman in the minds of more than just a few. Well, let’s hope so. To meet Dunn for only a little while is to like him a lot. Amidst much bad these days, he’s everything that’s decent about professional athletes in so many ways.
That’s why this was such a splendid Thanksgiving Day for those who already knew about the small player with the big heart. This time, Dunn displayed his considerable worth as one of the NFL’s most unappreciated stars to millions on national television before they headed for their sweet potato pie.
It wasn’t just that Dunn rushed for nearly 7 yards per carry against what was a respectable defense against the run. It’s how he did it. Along the way to finishing with 116 yards on the ground after playing less than three quarters in a 27-7 blowout, Dunn ran untouched through Detroit defenders for long stretches.
He was his own Motown soundtrack, because this was “The same old songâ€? by Dunn — you know, as a prolific runner, and he had his opponent screaming, “Mercy, mercy meâ€? and wishing he would just “Stop, in the name of love.â€? Then again, Lions offensive guard Damien Woody didn’t have “The tears of a clownâ€? after Dunn ended the afternoon with more than 1,000 yards rushing in a season for the fourth time in his nine NFL seasons, including four with the Falcons.
Woody is among the slew of veterans in the league who admire greatness, even if it wears different colors than their own and especially if those colors belong to Dunn.
“With the world watching, all that a game like this does for him is give him the exposure that he needs to show what he’s made of, and I’m really, really happy for him,â€? said Woody, who contributed to two NFL championships with the New England Patriots before joining the Lions last season. “When a lot of people think of Warrick, they think, ‘Ah, he’s a nice, shifty, little back,’ and that’s about it. But he’s a lot more than that. For a guy that size of 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, he doesn’t take a lot of hits, and for him to do the things that he does every week, wow, I think it’s amazing.â€?
Yes, it is. So is this: Unlike Dunn, folks always remember his peers, ranging from Shaun Alexander to Edgerrin James to LaDainian Tomlinson. There also are those who can recite the exploits of Tiki Barber, Larry Johnson and even Ronnie Brown, a rookie who only hopes to do what Dunn already had done.
If you combine Dunn’s consistent professionalism on the field and his legendary selflessness off it, you have to wonder why he wasn’t the one that they carried into the stadium on that elevated royal mattress as part of Thursday’s holiday celebration instead of Mariah Carey. And consider, too, that while more than a few of Dunn’s teammates have contributed in significant ways this season to the highs and the lows of a Falcons team that just ended an ugly two-game losing streak, Dunn has remained Dunn.
You know, steady, productive, consistent, dependable, classy.
Did I say “great�?
Permalink | Comments (18) | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Terence Moore
Catch this: Dogs win, Tech covers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
From the home office of Weekend Predictions, a subsidiary of the Aquarium Journal-Constitution, whose sole mission is to provide 700 words, a photo essay and a flow chart on every fish by next Tuesday — Marge! Look! Another grouper! — welcome to the almost final forecast of this semi-pro season.
Our .614 winning percentage against the spread would have satisfied all of your financial dreams, had you actually invested on the picks, which of course you didn’t because that would be illegal, and it also would upset NCAA officials who abhor exploiting our student athletes, except in matters of selling out to TV networks and sponsors and expanding seasons to 12 games. But I digress. (Marge! Sandcrabs!) We will continue to provide economic indicators on NFL Sunday and publish a special bowl game edition of Weekend Predictions, provided trout aren’t spawning that week.
But first, it’s Georgia vs. Georgia Tech. This game once looked like Chan Gailey’s going away party. Suddenly, the Jackets are a couple of upsets away from the highfalutin Gator Bowl, while Georgia could be in danger of transitioning from Sugar to Cotton to Cap-1 to Outback to Peach.
Where’s the Sugar, Larry? Can you see it? Chicken nuggets, falling from the sky!
The Bulldogs have won four straight meetings. Gailey has been around for the last three. The deficits have shrunk from 44 to 17 to 6 but that still doesn’t play well on the rubber chicken circuit.
Reggie Ball suddenly looks under control. And this is the best defense the Jackets have had.
The problem? Last week. You win at Miami, everybody notices, including your next opponent. Tech’s best weapon, the sneak-up factor, just went kaput.
It’ll be close. Like two smelts cuddling in the night. (Do smelts cuddle? I missed that edition.) But I don’t see this series flopping just yet. Georgia wins — but take Tech and 3.
Second Day Turkey
(W.P. Holiday Shopping Tip of the Week: Doofus. Sleep in. Pay the extra 71 cents for Play-Doh next week.)
FSU at Florida: Gators quarterback Chris Leak — determined to succeed in Urban Meyer’s spread offense, and clearly with no place to go as a sociology major — announced he will return next season. Meyer, in isolation since the South Carolina loss, was unavailable for comment and is questionable for the game, according to Nurse Ratchett. Gators win but take Noles and 5.
Arkansas at LSU: Les Miles was a fool back when Meyer was cool. Seems they have morphed. LSU has won eight straight since losing to Tennessee (a former SEC school once good enough to have beaten Vanderbilt, according to campus historians). Actual factual: LSU allowed 61 points in the first two games (30.5 per) but only 70 in the next eight (8.7). See, I just look dumb. Cats over Piggies, cover 17.
L’il Orange at Kentucky: I’m sure Tennessee jokes will get old some day. Fortunately, I’ll be dead by then. Even Johnny Majors took a shot at Phil Fulmer in the aftermath of a home loss to Vanderbilt. “I don’t pull against those players up there,” quoth Majors. “But I don’t have any regard for Judas Brutus, who’s coaching up there.” Guess he found the fingerprints on the knife. Vowels win but take Cats and 9.
The Canes of Wrath: After losing at home to Tech, Miami QB Kyle Wright said, “We can lower our heads and go play in the Dust Bowl, or we can finish strong.” At least Tom Joad could read a blitz, Kyle. The Canes won’t blow it against Virginia, but forget covering 18.
North Carolina at Va-Tech: The Tar Heels will try to become bowl eligible against a team being given a second chance to clinch a spot in the ACC title game. Sure. And for John Bunting’s next trick, he’ll split an atom. Hokies cover 23.
Mississippi at Mississippi State: A lot like Harvard-Yale. Winner advances to the 20th century. (Oh look. I’ve got mail.) Col. Sanders covers 3.
I’M SCARY GOOD
Last week: 4-3 straight up, 5-2 against the line.
Fiscal season: 64-19 straight up 50-31-2 against the line.
