AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2005 > November > 24 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USGood-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
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By USAFCCF
November 24, 2005 09:52 PM | Link to this
Terence, you are right on about Warrick Dunn. have followed him since his days at FSU. Why doesn’t he get any recognition? Ask the national media, they are the ones who ignore him. Maybe it’s because he has too much class and profressionalism. It seems to me that you either have have to be flashy, be a jerk or always call attention to your self to be recognized by ESPN et al. Warrick Dunn is a goodexample on and off the field. And on this Thanksgiving I am thankful the Falcons have him on our team.
By BillyBob
November 24, 2005 10:06 PM | Link to this
For Falcon Fans Warrick Dunn is something to be thankful for.
By cassandra francis
November 24, 2005 10:44 PM | Link to this
give the ball to dunn, and trust me it will always be a dunn deal. no matter what he do, he is always great at it, he should have gotten the gobblin gobber.he is wonderful on and off the field.
By cassandra francis
November 24, 2005 10:44 PM | Link to this
give the ball to dunn, and trust me it will always be a dunn deal. no matter what he do, he is always great at it, he should have gotten the gobblin gobber.he is wonderful on and off the field. great job warrick
By jefe
November 24, 2005 11:30 PM | Link to this
As a bucs fan I have watched dunn for many years now. I agree that all that the national sports media wants to focus on are his achievements off the field - which are no doubt inspiring. However, it is too easily forgotten that Dunn is a very talented athlete as well. The media can focus on bad boys like TO all they want to, but the people in the ATL (and the folks back home in Tampa) certainly recognize that Dunn does so much more on the field than he could ever do off the field - which is a pretty amazing statement considering the things he does to help the communities he lives in.
That being said, the dirty birds need to start fighting for the wildcard cause t-town is winning the NFC-South this year. GO BUCS!
By E-man
November 25, 2005 01:13 AM | Link to this
Dunn is a Simon-pure individual. It’s rather unfortunate to know that the press loves unprincipled elements. This is a decent young man that let it’s actions both off and on the field speak for itself. It is very delightful to have a person of higher class and standard in Falcons organization. Keep up the outstanding work both on and off the field.
By This gets old
November 25, 2005 02:42 AM | Link to this
Son if you gotta’ wonder why they carried Mariah Carey out on that field instead of Warrick Dunn they you’re the most blind brother in Motown including Little Stevie Wonder!
By MG in Lawrenceville
November 25, 2005 07:14 AM | Link to this
FSU fans have known this for long time. Too bad it has taken the rest of the sports world this long to catch up.
By TRobb
November 25, 2005 07:48 AM | Link to this
Warrick Dunn is this Gator’s favorite ‘Nole. He deserves a trip to Hawaii this year; hope he gets it.
By Mike
November 25, 2005 08:44 AM | Link to this
It’s nice to see the Falcons win in spite of the complete lack of support by the AJC lackeys. We learned a lot more about the AJC columnists this week than we did the Falcons. You guys just flat out suck.
By chris deighan
November 25, 2005 09:22 AM | Link to this
Warrick is a stud. The national media focuses on his good works because that’s what the media does. It’s all about the “story” and less and less about what happens on the field.
I also think it’s about time the O-line gets some credit. Most agree offensive lines take time to gell. This crew has been together for awhile now and it shows.
As for Atlanta’s road effectiveness, I just think the team is so much more “professional” on the road. At home, the Falcons resemble a college team and come out either too high or too low.
From Mathis’ fight with Trotter on opening night to all the penalties against Tampa, the Falcons at home have a hard time executing.
I for one would be happy to see them cut the pre-game pyrotechnics. Cut some of the rah-rah, in-your-face stuff and just play professional football.
By Jennifer
November 25, 2005 11:10 AM | Link to this
Amen.
By DbleD23
November 25, 2005 12:12 PM | Link to this
Warrick Dunn is a great SYSTEM BACK. Alex Gibbs’ run-blocking system is just perfect for a guy that doesn’t want to get hit or just takes a dive to avoid it. But maybe the slurping will help him in free agency because he’s Dunn in Atlanta after this season ends. He won’t get close to that 6 million the Falcons owe him.
By k330k
November 25, 2005 12:53 PM | Link to this
DbleD23, are you nuts? Blank will never get rid of Dunn. He is one of the highlights on this Falcons team. Better yet, why don’t you leave?
By Brian Hunt
November 25, 2005 04:04 PM | Link to this
Love me some Dunn. I bought his Jersey after he stone-walled Julius Peppers last year in the Saturday night game that the Panthers had to win, and couldn’t, in order to get to the playoffs.
By Rick
November 25, 2005 06:31 PM | Link to this
Great read on my favorite NFL player. Keep it going Dunn, despite the national media not paying you any attention, you have alot of fans here that do care what you do on the field. Here is to 1500+ yards this season.
By the way GO NOLES!!
By Ken Stallings
November 25, 2005 11:07 PM | Link to this
Actually, Warrick Dunn has been appreciate for many year by fans of the game. From his time at Florida State to his time in the NFL, fans have always appreciated him as a player and as a class human being.
It’s simply the media through their obsession on the negative that ignores him until it’s time for the obligatory remark about what a great person he is.
Fact is, there are many players like Warrick Dunn. Perhaps not as good, but similar. Frankly, I think it’s high time the media shun the other extremes — those players who have garnered media attention for foul manners and selfishness.
Then, they’ll be enough print space not merely for exceptional players like Dunn, but also the many other players who are also good humans, if not quite as good.
By Ken Stallings
November 25, 2005 11:07 PM | Link to this
Actually, Warrick Dunn has been appreciated for many year by fans of the game. From his time at Florida State to his time in the NFL, fans have always appreciated him as a player and as a class human being.
It’s simply the media through their obsession on the negative that ignores him until it’s time for the obligatory remark about what a great person he is.
Fact is, there are many players like Warrick Dunn. Perhaps not as good, but similar. Frankly, I think it’s high time the media shun the other extremes — those players who have garnered media attention for foul manners and selfishness.
Then, they’ll be enough print space not merely for exceptional players like Dunn, but also the many other players who are also good humans, if not quite as good.