Sports Columnists

By Tired of This

December 17, 2006 07:43 PM | Link to this

I’m with you Terence. When I saw Michael Vick line up at tailback, I thought that this regime has hit an all time low. As a season ticket holder, if Blank doesn’t do the inevitable, I will be greatly disappointed.

By FalconsFan

December 17, 2006 07:48 PM | Link to this

In case you don;t remember Vick gets a groin injury about every other week.

At least Mora and Knapp were trying something differant, instead of the same old things.

We knew falcons would miss the playoffs at the start of the season. we were just hoping.

By lawton

December 17, 2006 07:48 PM | Link to this

the only explanation i can think of is mora knows knapp and or donatell have to go and he is doing his version or remaining loyal to them, in other words, if they go, he goes,thus, his comments out in seattle? i may not be far from the truth, look at what he does, anytime he needs a player, he goes and get a san fransisco player, he hired all his buddies out there, to compliment the loser donatell. anyway,i distinctly remember telling everybody that blank messed up firing dan reaves. he should have fired the players who quit on reeves when vick got hurt intead. lastly, why do people let rich mckay get a pass? what has he done? hes another one who made it into the nfl because his father was a head coach.

By e.b.

December 17, 2006 07:54 PM | Link to this

I can’t believe it, T.M……WE AGREE ON SOMETHING!!!!! That was the bottom of the barrel last nite, putting Vick at Running Back. It was forced desperation, and it didn’t work any better the 4th or 5th time.

By Supad

December 17, 2006 07:54 PM | Link to this

I second your opinion, this marriage is on the rocks/over. This is what happens when you hire a inexperienced coach who is nothing but a lot of hot air and no substance. Blank will learn, in his next hire not to be swayed by fancy talk but by accomplishments. What i would really like to see discussed on this blog is who do we hire to fix this mess, Coaches or players?

By DrJay

December 17, 2006 07:56 PM | Link to this

I couldn’t agree more with your article that Mora’s comments were a HUGE distraction. No polished head coach such as Belicheck, Parcells, Reeves, Gibbs, etc.. would say such a thing whether they were kidding or not, especially before one of the biggest games of the season. However, the thing I am most ticked off about is the 20,000 plus Atlanta fans wearing there Dallas Cowboys attire to the dome. Do us all a favor and stay home next time.

I’ve been a fan since I moved to Atlanta in 1979. Michael Vick was magical with 4 TD’s, 237 yds passing and 56 more on the ground. I hope the critics that compare him to the lowly Reggie Fall and Kordell Stewart were watching. What these insane idiots don’t realize is that Vick was a champion in High School, an NCAA Division I runner-up at V Tech, and has made the playoffs in 2 of 3 seasons that he has completed. All these Vick bashers talk about 6 years, blah blah blah.

Here’s the stats:

2001 - Chris Chandler started, Vick played backup

2002 - Falcons make the playoffs under Reeves; Vick throws for nearly 3,000 yds and runs for 777.

2003 - vick breaks leg in pre-season. goes 3-1 when he returns

2004 - Falcons and Vick go 11-5; win the division, beat the RAms in the playoffs at a loud packed out DOME and then lose to the eagles in the NFC championship game.

2005 - Falcons go 8-8 after losing 4 games during the season by a deciding field goal. Run defense was the problem , porous, pitiful.

2006 - 7-7 and a chance at playoffs if the falcons beat Carolina and philly. philly will need to lose to dallas next week.

Bottom line: Vick is 38-26-1 as a Falcon. Broke the NFL rushing record for a QB and has made the Falcons sell out all games since 2002. Falcons have also been playoff contenders with Vick every year he has played from start to finish. This has not happened in this franchise since Bartkowski was QB and Bennett was coach.

* Notice to all pretenders; Keep your Cowboys jerseys at home and support your home team. What a pathetic bunch of loser fans we have that jumps on the “Tony Homo” bandwagon…*

By e.b.

December 17, 2006 07:57 PM | Link to this

Yeh FalconsFan, you’d get a groin injury every other week if you’re O-Line didn’t block for you either, and you had no choice but to run for your life.

By Najeh Davenpoop

December 17, 2006 07:58 PM | Link to this

Good column. I have been saying since last year that this offense is too gimmicky, and as a result too unreliable and stifles Vick’s development as a passer. When the Falcons call regular drop back pass plays, Vick does fine. When Vick has to sprint sideways and throw, or follow a moving pocket, or take a pitch from Schaub before looking downfield, he can’t make his reads as easily because there is pressure in his face already. And I think this offense has also proven that all the heat TJ Duckett took was undeserved as well — Jerome Bettis couldn’t score in short yardage behind this offensive line scheme. Mora and company have shown all year that they are completely inept as coaches — they can’t develop players, they can’t create schemes that maximize the considerable talent they have, they can’t call plays properly, and they can’t manage a game properly.

I don’t think firing the coaching staff at this point in the season, when the Falcons still have a legitimate shot at the playoffs, is a good idea. As many problems as this team has, they still control their own playoff destiny — based on tiebreakers, the Falcons make the playoffs if they win their next two games. Firing the coach before the season is over accomplishes nothing, because the interim coach is going to be a lame duck anyway (see Wade Phillips, 2003). However, regardless of how we finish the season, I think Mora and company have to be fired.

And let me make something else clear — Mora is incompetent, but he is not the only problem. His coordinators are arguably worse than him, and they deserve to go as well. The only coach on this staff I would keep is Joe DeCamillis, who has presided over a decent special teams group. Coincidentally, he was the only holdover from Dan Reeves’ staff. And though it doesn’t reflect in the stats, I believe Bill Musgrave has done an OK job all things considered — Vick definitely looks much more fundamentally sound this year than last year (especially in his footwork), at least when he gets time to throw the ball. The new coach should at least consider keeping him here, but only as a QBs coach, not as an offensive coordinator.

By e.b.

December 17, 2006 07:58 PM | Link to this

Well Lawton, i think McKay gets a pass, only because of the team he built in Tampa. other than that, I agree -he’s totally accountable.

By Tired of This

December 17, 2006 07:59 PM | Link to this

Just think. Lovie Smith was beat out by a salesman with a bag of books. He had no experience. Lovie had championship defenses. Boy did Arthur learn a lesson in hiring. He’ll get it right next time.

You want to talk about next possible coaches? Go after Ken Whisenhunt. The former Falcon comes home, great story.

Blank, say “no” to Mariucci. Mora learned well from him.

By Sautee Dawg

December 17, 2006 08:04 PM | Link to this

Agree with you on several things Terence, however Mora shouldn’t shoulder all the blame for Saturdays loss. Hall should have been benched for trash talking, i have nothing against talking trash on the field if you can back it up. Hall cannot. He made one good play on owens all night, the rest of his time was spent playing catch up, and talking smack.

Moras coaching career in Atlanta is probally over, never did understand how he got the job in the first place. no experience whatsoever at coaching, anyone could have taken the talent base that Dan Reves left Atlanta with and went to the playoffs in his first year. Oh well, Stanford and Washington sounds like a good match up to me.!!

By The real David

December 17, 2006 08:04 PM | Link to this

Great next year we can blame the new coach for the Falcons problems. The owner will walk around, smiling and glad handing, when they win. Call the coach in to his office when they lose. As long as we have this carnival with the owner (I think in certain ways, he’s worse than the last), the Falcons will fail to ever be an elite team in the league. Who, except an untested or coaching failure, would come to the Falcons. The GM needs to give him an ultimatum to stay in the background, or quit. This guy knows nothing about a professional football franchise, and he thinks he can give it the same strategy as Home DePot, and that’s disaster.

By Najeh Davenpoop

December 17, 2006 08:07 PM | Link to this

I don’t think this team is lacking in talent at any position other than offensive line. The D-line, the linebackers, and even the DBs are all either up and coming young players or veterans who have performed well elsewhere. We have pro bowl players at QB, RB, TE, DT, DE, OLB, and CB, when everyone is playing up to their abilities. Even the WRs would benefit from having a coaching staff that can develop them as players. In the past couple of weeks the WRs have played a lot better — and although they haven’t played well all year they are still young and definitely have potential to play well under a good coaching staff. The only area that needs a major overhaul is OL, where we haven’t spent a first-round pick since 1994 (Bob Whitfield). Every elite team in the NFL spends big money and high picks on the offensive line — it’s about time the Falcons started doing the same thing. This team has plenty of talent — teams with much less talent are performing better than the Falcons in this league.

Rich McKay seems to be taking a lot of heat from people — I don’t think all of it is deserved. His trades have not panned out for the most part (the Bryan Scott for Wayne Gandy trade is the only trade you can say he really won) but he is a good talent evaluator and has selected talented players in all rounds of the draft. You have to take into account that he has to draft players who can fit Mora’s scheme — the GM and coach have to be on the same page, and if the coach is running a flawed scheme it increases the likelihood that the GM will acquire a flawed player. For the most part, McKay has drafted well, and I think with a better coach his player acquisitions will look better as well.

The coaching staff obviously is terrible and must be replaced. I would look at the Steelers’ OC Ken Whisenhunt, and the Bears’ DC Ron Rivera. I would stay away from college coaches, especially ones who don’t have a lot of pro experience — Charlie Weis is the only one I would consider from college. I would also stay away from retreads — Dan Reeves might have been better than Jim Mora, but he wasn’t a great coach either. The best way to find a long term solution is to get a young coordinator somewhere who is having success. Similar strategy they tried when they got Mora, except it would be nice to get a coordinator whose unit is actually doing well.

By Tyrone Willingham

December 17, 2006 08:12 PM | Link to this

If the Atlanta Falcons job ever opened up, and I think Mora is doing a fine job, but if it ever opened up, I’d be at the friggin’ front of the line with my resume in my hand.

I wouldn’t care if I was in the middle of playing in the Poinsettia Bowl versus TCU, I’d pack my bags and move to Atlanta.

By eddiedawg

December 17, 2006 08:13 PM | Link to this

Terence- You are an idiot….Vick did not hurt his groin because he was used as a running back…..he likes to run the ball, remember? He could have hurt it just as easily on a scramble…..frankly I am shocked you have not called Blank a racist for hiring a white head coach…..lastly-I LOVED the gimmicks-they generated 28 pts..-I thought Knapp was high-he has never been this wide open….but once again, the second half the creativity goes away (guess he sobered up) and we can’t pick up a third and fourth and short….. and Donatell’s sorry bend don’t break defensive can’t stop ANYONE on third and long…..Mora, Knapp, and Donatell-been nice knowing ya….see ya……

By Josh(but you can call me Bubba)

December 17, 2006 08:13 PM | Link to this

Terence I have read your stuff for years. Sometimes you make me feel sick, especially when you drag race into issues where race doesn’t belong.

That said, you are absolutely right.

When Mora first started I was excited. His attitude reminded me of a certain young, innovative coach of a rival down in Florida who had just won it all. In three years he and his staff have managed to completely alienate me as a fan.

My first issue is the total misuse of Mike Vick. His athletic ability works wonders in a conventional offense when the pass pro breaks down. How many times (think playoffs in Wisconsin) did Vick drop back, go through his reads, then take off and make magic under Reeves? These designed QB runs are borderline worthless.

My second issue is the obvious lack of accountability. On other teams players get pulled off the field after bonehead plays (i.e. personal fouls). On this team you might hurt someone’s feelings so you don’t pull them. And BTW, who trades for a player then makes it clear that he has NO CHANCE to compete for a starting job? Even if that was your intention wouldn’t it serve you better to let your incumbent feel the pressure of competition?

Lastly, I am sick of watching other teams play solid, aggressive football while we play not to lose. Donatell is absolutely horrible. People blame Hall (somewhat justifiably) for the Owens big play. I would submit that any great receiver would make that play on any corner not named Deion when given a perfectly clean release.

Notice I didn’t even get into the ridiculous PR gaffes. Y’know, now that I think about it, Chucky is getting a pretty raw deal down in Tampa. McKay brought him to Tampa. Thoughts anyone?

By Sir Stealth

December 17, 2006 08:14 PM | Link to this

I would prefer that the Falcons coaching staff be gone next season. However, now is not the time to count the home team out. Underwhelming or not, they still have a great chance to get into the playoffs (no matter how much Terence wants to write them off). That means we should still be cheering for the team to keep fighting, because if they get, all bets are off. Saturday night’s game was not a disaster by any means. The Falcons looked real good at times and ultimately lost to a good team. Let’s concentrate on thumping Carolina and hopefully set up a showdown with the Eagles in Philly, where the third time up should surely be the charm.

By Sam

December 17, 2006 08:14 PM | Link to this

First time I’ve ever agreed with you, Terence. Mora acts like his medication isn’t quite right.

By G'Vegas Dawg

December 17, 2006 08:16 PM | Link to this

I will hardly EVER agree with Terrance Moore, but, in this case this column is right on time. Jim Mora-on has completly lost his mind. Mike Vick showed his true colors as a player/QB/Man by siting out the last series with his infamous “groin pull”. I wander if it is really a groin pull or a herpes inflamation. Anyway, right now is the time to start over. Get rid of Mora-on, Knapp, and Donatell. While we’re at it trade Vick and his herpes while we can still get something for him. Build the franchise around Matt Schaub, who is the best QB the falcons have.

By Tired of This

December 17, 2006 08:18 PM | Link to this

Excellent post Najeh Davenpoop. I agree with everything thing you said. I must add that “discipline” should be a top priority. We don’t need any buddy, buddy players coaches. Did you see what Parcells did to that kick returner who almost fumbled? He chewed his @#! out. I think that Falcons have talent but they lack discipline, especially in crunch time. One thing about Dan Reeves, he coached the greatest come from behind QB of our time, John Elway. Vick looked like he would take that mantle away from Elway under Reeves’ era. However, if you’ve noticed, Vick is just not able to the same under Mora/Knapp.

By Don Johnson

December 17, 2006 08:18 PM | Link to this

AS a former sportswriter in Philadelphia when Jim Mora, Sr. was starting his head coaching career with the Philadelphia USFL Stars (appearances in all three USFL title games and wins in the last two), I watched “Prince Valiant” (as he was known then) play high school football in Southern New Jersey and then matriculate to the University of Washington. He is the same smug guy now as he was then: an average talent who parlayed family connections into a D-1 scholarship and then onto and pro staff. The betting line is that after his brief; albeit noisy, career is over in Atlanta, he wil have a difficult time findind a job, even aa an assistant in the recycled losers club better known as “NFL assiatant coaches.”

By G'Vegas Dawg

December 17, 2006 08:19 PM | Link to this

In my humble opinion, Rich McKay is useless in ATL. He is a GREAT GM when he is given any power. Everyone knows he is Blank’s puppet and has no decision making power.

By Ronny

December 17, 2006 08:22 PM | Link to this

Despite the racist comments on all of these blogs— Mike Vick is the least of the Falcons’ problems. Give him a bigger, more PROTECTIVE offensive line, please. Secondly, this coaching staff is all wrong. Jimmy is just like his dad, a big mouth who’s a mediocre head coach, at best. They’re outta here, but probably not before their last game. So where do we go from here? First of all folks, Jimmy Johnson wouldn’t touch this Atlanta mess with a ten-foot pole. And Arthur badly botched his initial hiring process— overlooking the gem that’s Lovie Smith. So let’s go to the possibilities for head coach now. Charlie Weiss would have to be the first choice. But it’s doubtful he would or could leave Notre Dame this soon, or would even be interested in the Falcons job. How about two other college head coaches with pro experience? Both Ralph Friedgen, an offensive genius, and George O’Leary, a top defensive mind, have strong Atlanta ties, and would probably be largely embraced by most Falcons fans. Granted, George (Central Florida) had his problems with his Notre Dame resume, but has paid for it ten-fold. Ralph has been a huge (no pun intended) boost for the Maryland program. Both coached under Bobby Ross at Tech, and followed him to the San Diego Chargers. They went to the Super Bowl. They’re buddies last I heard, so probably wouldn’t have problems with either as head coach. One as assistant head coach. Co-head coaches or whatever. Both are hard-nosed, intelligent no-nonsense head coaches, who could take what’s here ( whatever they’d want to keep) and build upon it. I think Arthur should look at both of these outstanding men and coaches,as he moves to set a foundation for the NEW FALCONS!

By Ol' dead bird

December 17, 2006 08:22 PM | Link to this

Michael Flick is an inconsistent thug and part idiot. Yes, we realize he has tremendous athletic ability and can make impressive plays occassionally (for almost 2 quarters last night). However, he will NEVER win the big game. When an OC has to take the screen pass out his reportoire because his NFL QB doesn’t have enough touch to trust him to, something is wrong…he is a coach killer and we should be glad because we have a slew of them that need to be taken out on a long, dark, boat ride…

By The Grinch

December 17, 2006 08:27 PM | Link to this

Najeh Davenpoop: 7:58 and 8:07 posts are right on the money.

By Don Johnson

December 17, 2006 08:30 PM | Link to this

As a retired former sportswriter in Philadelphia, I covered Jim Mora, Sr. as he embarked on his head coaching career with the Philadelphia Stars. (appearances in all three league title games with wins in th e last two) I watched his son Jim, Jr. - “Prince Valiant” as he was known then - parlay a non-descript high school football career in Southern New Jewrsey into a D-1 scholarship at the University of Washington. Gee, I wonder how that happened; better still, how did this guy wind up on an NFL staff in San Francisco; let alone with the head job inn Atlanta? He is the same guy now as he was then: a cocky, smug individualist who banked unbelievable family connections into tremendous opportunities. After his brief; albeiot noisy, NFL head cvoaching career ends in two weeks, the smart money has Junior finding a hard time hooking on with another pro staff, even in the recycled losers club known as NFL assistant coaches.

By Josh(but you can call me Bubba)

December 17, 2006 08:31 PM | Link to this

The comment about screens is foolish. The Falcons have a tough time running screens because there are always spies laying back watching Vick. Since you never know which player is spying before the snap it is risky to call a screen for fear of interception.

By Dawgs2006

December 17, 2006 08:32 PM | Link to this

I used to think Arthur Blank was our savior. He came in and waved his hand and everything jumped.

Now, I have lost all respect for the man. I feel ripped off for the Two thousand dollars I have spent the past two season for tickets.

I waited for my name to be called on the wait list, feeling it ws a good investment for spending time with my kids and introducing them to a football tradition(Outside of Athens).

Next year, we will not renew our tickets. The kids can grow up on the college tradition and the Falcons can be enjoyed from afar. It is not worth the money or the 80 mile drive into Atlanta to watch that garbage.

If Arthur Blank was man enough to fire the best coach the Falcons have ever had before the season was out, why not fire Mora?

We have to sit through anopther coaching change, while a new staff instills a new offense for Vick.

Blank has ruined Vick. He should have left well enough alone with Reeves. Should have given Reeves another full season with a healthy Vick.

As for next year, I really do not care anymore. Probally another 7-9 or 8-8. I will never get my hopes up again with this sorry franchise.

By Reverend Run

December 17, 2006 08:37 PM | Link to this

i am going to bore you ol’ dead bird with a repost of statistical crap:

if your QB did this, would you want to get rid of him?:

2002: 344 completions; 534 attempts; 3713 total yards; 24 touchdowns; 12 turnovers; 64% effective completion percentage; 8-6-1; playoff win at lambeau

2004: 301 completions; 441 attempts; 3215 total yards; 17 touchdowns; 12 turnovers; 68% effective completion percentage; 11-4; playoff victory; berth in NFC conference championship game

2005: 316 attempts; 489 attempts; 3009 total yards; 21 touchdowns; 15 turnovers; 65% completion %; 8-7

2006: (projected over 16 games) 346 completions; 537 attempts; 3742 yards; 24 touchdowns; 15 turnovers; 64% effective completion %; 7-7; playoff bound still to be determined

career average gor every 16 games: 353 completions; 546 attempts; 3723 total yards; 22.4 touchdowns; 14.5 turnovers; 65% effective completion %; 38-26-1; 2-2 in the playoffs; average record of 9-7 every year for a franchise which has never had any success

Well, those are mike vick’s true records. you all are too simple minded to analyze it that way. instead of realizing that you have a unique QB who you have to quantify his “effective production” in a manner different than you have to quantify other QBs, you all are lazy and insist on being reliant upon the traditional numbers.

if you look at the effective production for all the QBs from today and from the past, you would realize that his effective production is right up there with everyone else.

If you do not understand that, then understand this: mike vick is essentially throwing screen passes to himself when he runs, thus this should be included in his effective rate of production. look at brees: he looks for horn, colston, but then dumps, and dumps and dumps again to bush, deuce, and LT for his whole career. young and montana did the same thing: they looked for rice and taylor and then dumped and dumped and dumped to brent jones, ricky watters, william floyd, and roger craig. vick is just doing the same thing: he looks for alge, looks for a receiver, and then dumps to himself because who else on the team is going to average 8 yards on a screen or dump pass other than vick.

but whatever. i am wasting my breath. if you hate vick, you hate vick. nothing i say or show you is going to make a darn bit of difference with your hating hearts. vick ain’t perfect. he is far from it. he also ain’t an all time great or HOF yet either. BUT if takes the next step during the next 8 or so years like most QBs do between 27 years old and 35 years old, then he may yet go down as the one of the all time greats. If not, oh well. his current effective rate of production is good enough for me.

He may never end up being Michael Jordan but as a long suffering Falcons fan, I sure as hell will settle for the modern day football version of Nique and the 80s Hawks. Why won’t you?

BUT maybe you all want to go back to those Jeff George years, huh?

BTW, George’s average effective production per 16 games was 297 completions; 497 attempts; 3357 yards; 19 touchdown; 15 turnovers; 60% completion percentage; 6.75 yards per attempts.

Again, Vick’ effective production per 16 games is this: 353 completion; 546 attempts; 3723 yards; 22 touchdowns; 15 turnovers; 65% rate; 6.82 yards per attempt

Elway per 16: 335 cmps; 549 atts; 3753 yards; 23 tds; 15 turnovers; 61%; 6.84 yards per attempt

Brees per 16: 358 cmps; 546 atts; 3728 yards; 24 tds; 14 turnovers; 66%; 6.83 yards per attempt

McNabb per 16: 361 cmps; 570 atts; 3816 yards; 27 tds; 11 turnovers; 63%; 6.69 yards per attempt

aikman per 16: 313 cmps; 489 atts; 3293 yards; 17 tds; 14 turnovers; 64%; 6.74 yards per attempt

kordell stewart per 16: 316 cmps; 491 atts; 2968 yards; 19 tds; 14 turnovers; 64%; 6.04 yards per attempt

randall cunningham per 16: 309 cmps; 488 atts; 3365 yards; 23 tds; 13 turnovers; 63%; 6.89 yards per attempt

aaron brooks per 16: 353 cmps; 576 atts; 3790 yards; 24 tds; 16 turnoversl 61%; 6.58 yards per attempt

steve mcnair per 16: 331 cmps; 508 atts; 3435 yards; 21 tds; 11 turnovers; 65%; 6.77 yards per attempt

vince young per 16: 347 cmps; 568 atts; 3459 yards; 24 tds; 21 turnovers; 61%; 6.09 yards per attempt

tom brady per 16: 355 cmps; 551 atts; 3680 yards; 25 tds; 13 turnovers; 64%; 6.67 yard per attempt

peyton manning per 16: 377 cmps; 574 atts; 4255 yards; 32 tds, 16 turnovers; 66%; 7.42 yards per attempt

marino per 16: 348 cmps; 572 atts; 4063 yards; 28 tds; 17 turnovers; 61 %; 7.10 yards per attempt

montana per 16: 322 cmps; 487 atts; 3519 yards; 24 tds; 12 turnovers; 66%; 7.22 yards per attempt

steve young per 16: 321 cmps; 461 atts; 3537 yards; 26 tds; 10 turnovers; 70%; 7.67 yards per attempt

favre per 16: 368 cmps; 579 atts; 3935 yards; 29 tds; 18 turnovers; 64%; 6..79 yards per attempt

namath per 16: 224 cmps; 438 atts; 3177 yards; 21 tds; 25 turnovers; 51%; 7.25 yards per attempt

bradshaw per 16: 235 cmps; 414 atts; 2881 yards; 23 tds; 20 turnovers; 57%; 6.96 yards per attempt

fouts per 16: 311 cmps; 515 atts; 3847 yards; 24 tds; 21 turnovers; 60%; 7.47 yards per attempt

phil simms: 285 cmps; 487 atts; 3387 yards; 20 tds; 15 turnovers; 59%; 6.95 yards per attempt

bulger: 389 cmps; 589 atts; 4395 yards; 28 tds; 17 turnovers; 66%; 7.46 yards per attempts

big ben per 16: 298 cmps; 448 atts; 3456 yards; 23 tds; 18 turnovers; 67%; 7.72 yards per attempt

carr: 321 cmps; 496 atts; 3122 yards; 14 tds; 14 turnovers; 65%; 6.29 yards per attempt

delhomme: 322 cmps; 523 atts; 3609 yards; 25 tds; 17 turnovers; 62%; 6.90 yards per attempt

carson palmer: 362 cmps; 544 atts; 3902 yards; 29 tds; 16 turnoversl 67%; 7.17 yards per attempt

do what you want with all of that. i think that a true look at the effective production reveals that vick ain’t the greatest and he ain’t the worst. it also reveals that he is better than the mediocre label some of you like to pin on him. because if he is average, then i guess so was john elway just from a statistical standpoint. and if you think elway was only average, then i am going to have a serious problem with you.

for those of you who like to be lazy and compare vick to his cousin and to kordell, take a good look at the effective production stats: the yards per attempt clearly reveals that vick is far better than aaron brooks and that he is light years better and more effective than kordell. but keep pretending not to be racist when you make that comparison if that is what you lazy simpletons want to do. or you can bring out a calculator or an excel spreadsheet and figure out if the stats truly back up your silly opinions

YOU ALL KEEP HATING ON VICK IF YOU WANT TO. THE MAN IS 38-26-1 DURING HIS CAREER, A 59% WINNING PERCENTAGE. HE WAS ACTUALLY 22-11-1 WITH A 66% WINNING PERCENTAGE BEFORE THE INEPT BUFFOONS MORA, MCKAY, AND BLANK RUINED A GOOD THING. ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND THAT THEY ARE 9-20 IN THE GAMES HE HAS NOT STARTED SINCE HE WAS DRAFTED. COMPARE THE LIFETIME RECORD OF VICK TO SOME RECORDS OF THE FOLLOWING CURRENT AND FORMER PROMINENT NFL COACHES:

JOHN MADDEN== 103-32-7-0.750 %

LOMBARDI==96-34-6-0.728

GEORGE ALLEN==116-47-5- .705

SHULA==328-156-6-0.676

HALAS=====315-148-31-0.669

JIM LEE HOWELL==53-27-4-0.655

JOE GIBBS 140-76-0-0.648

SEIFERT 114-62-0-0.648

DUNGY 102-58-0-0.638

COWHER 141-82-1-0.632

SWITZER 40-24-0-0.625

ANDY REID 70-42-0-0.625

LAMBEAU 227-133-22-0.623

SHANAHAN 122-74-0- 0.622

PAUL BROWN 166-100-6-0.621

BUD GRANT 158-96-5-0.620

HOLMGREN 138 86 0 0.616

BILL WALSH 92 59 1 0.609

LANDRY 250 162 6 0.605

MARTY 186 124 1 0.600

STEVE OWEN 151 100 7 0.599

MIKE SHERMAN 57 39 0 0.594

MIKE MARTZ 57 39 0 0.594

MV7 38 26 1 0.592

BOBBY ROSS 74 63 0 0.540

AL DAVIS 23 16 1 0.588

ART SHELL 54 38 0 0.587

GREASY NEALE 73 51 7 0.584

BUDDY PARKER 110 81 9 0.573

CORYELL 111 83 1 0.572

HANK STRAM 131 97 10 0.571

GRUDEN 73 55 0 0.570

PARCELLS 163 123 1 0.570

CHUCK NOLL 193 148 1 0.566

DENNIS GREEN 108 83 0 0.565

MORA, JR 26 20 0 0.565

CHAN GAILEY 18 14 0 0.563

JOHN FOX 36 28 0 0.563

BELICHICK 99 77 0 0.563

MARV LEVY 143 112 0 0.561

DITKA 121 95 0 0.560

CHUCK KNOX 186 147 1 0.558

JIMMY JOHNSON 80 64 0 0.556

BILLICK 62 50 0 0.554

WADE PHILLIPS 48 39 0 0.552

RAY BERRY 48 39 0 0.552

SID GILLMAN 122 99 7 0.550

DELRIO 26 22 0 0.542

FAIRBANKS 46 39 0 0.541

JIM MORA, SR. 125 106 0 0.541

REEVES 190 165 2 0.535

JEFF FISHER 97 85 0 0.533

COUGHLIN 85 75 0 0.531

JACK PARDEE 87 77 0 0.530

JOHN ROBINSON 75 68 0 0.524

VERMEIL 120 109 0 0.524

FASSEL 58 53 1 0.522

MARIUCCI 72 67 0 0.518

BUM PHILLIPS 82 77 0 0.516

WEEB EWBANK 130 129 7 0.502

BUDDY RYAN 55 55 1 0.500

WAYNE FONTES 66 67 0 0.496

DAN DEVINE 25 27 4 0.482

GLANVILLE 60 67 0 0.472

HASLETT 45 51 0 0.469

CALLAHAN 15 17 0 0.469

HERMAN EDWARDS 29 35 0 0.453

SAM WYCHE 84 107 0 0.440

DENNIS ERICKSON 40 56 0 0.417

BUTCH DAVIS 24 35 0 0.407

GENE STALLINGS 23 34 1 0.405

JUNE JONES 22 36 0 58 0.379

STEVE SPURRIER 12 20 0 0.375

HENNING 38 73 1 0.344

JOHN MCKAY 44 88 1 133 0.335

LOU HOLTZ 3 11 0 14 0.214

COMPARE WHAT THEIR AVERAGE RECORDS ARE FOR EVERY 16 GAME SEASON:

JOHN MADDEN 12.0 4.0

LOMBARDI 11.6 4.4

GEORGE ALLEN 11.3 4.7

SHULA 10.8 5.2

HALAS 10.7 5.3

JIM LEE HOWELL 10.5 5.5

JOE GIBBS 10.4 5.6

SEIFERT 10.4 5.6

DUNGY 10.2 5.8

COWHER 10.1 5.9

SWITZER 10.0 6.0

ANDY REID 10.0 6.0

LAMBEAU 10.0 6.0

SHANAHAN 10.0 6.0

PAUL BROWN 9.9 6.1

BUD GRANT 9.9 6.1

HOLMGREN 9.9 6.1

BILL WALSH 9.7 6.3

LANDRY 9.7 6.3

MARTY 9.6 6.4

STEVE OWEN 9.6 6.4

MIKE SHERMAN 9.5 6.5

MIKE MARTZ 9.5 6.5

MV7 9.5 6.5

BOBBY ROSS 9.5 6.5

AL DAVIS 9.4 6.6

ART SHELL 9.4 6.6

GREASY NEALE 9.3 6.7

BUDDY PARKER 9.2 6.8

CORYELL 9.1 6.9

HANK STRAM 9.1 6.9

GRUDEN 9.1 6.9

PARCELLS 9.1 6.9

CHUCK NOLL 9.1 6.9

DENNIS GREEN 9.0 7.0

MORA, JR 9.0 7.0

CHAN GAILEY 9.0 7.0

JOHN FOX 9.0 7.0

BELICHICK 9.0 7.0

MARV LEVY 9.0 7.0

DITKA 9.0 7.0

CHUCK KNOX 8.9 7.1

JIMMY JOHNSON 8.9 7.1

BILLICK 8.9 7.1

WADE PHILLIPS 8.8 7.2

RAY BERRY 8.8 7.2

SID GILLMAN 8.8 7.2

DELRIO 8.7 7.3

FAIRBANKS 8.7 7.3

JIM MORA, SR. 8.7 7.3

REEVES 8.6 7.4

JEFF FISHER 8.5 7.5

COUGHLIN 8.5 7.5

JACK PARDEE 8.5 7.5

JOHN ROBINSON 8.4 7.6

VERMEIL 8.4 7.6

FASSEL 8.4 7.6

MARIUCCI 8.3 7.7

BUM PHILLIPS 8.3 7.7

WEEB EWBANK 8.0 8.0

BUDDY RYAN 8.0 8.0

WAYNE FONTES 7.9 8.1

DAN DEVINE 7.7 8.3

GLANVILLE 7.6 8.4

HASLETT 7.5 8.5

CALLAHAN 7.5 8.5

HERMAN EDWARDS 7.3 8.8

SAM WYCHE 7.0 9.0

DENNIS ERICKSON 6.7 9.3

BUTCH DAVIS 6.5 9.5

GENE STALLINGS 6.5 9.5

JUNE JONES 6.1 9.9

STEVE SPURRIER 6.0 10.0

HENNING 5.5 10.5

JOHN MCKAY 5.4 10.6

LOU HOLTZ 3.4 12.6

HMMMMMMMMMMMM……

UMMMMMMMMMMM….. MIKE VICK AIN’T SO BAD AFTER ALL IS HE NOW.

APPRECIATE WHAT YOU GOT FOLKS BECAUSE YOU JUST MAY LOSE HIM SOMEDAY JUST LIKE YOU ONCE LOST NIQUE.

THE HAWKS AND THE ATL WERE NEVER THE SAME AGAIN AFTER NIQUE’S DEPARTURE AND THE SAME WILL BE TRUE IF YOU ALL PUSH MV7 OUT OF TOWN ANYTIME SOON.

VERY INTERESTING TO SEE RICHIE’S DADDY JOHN MCKAY HAD A VERY TERRIBLE RECORD. LOOKS LIKE DADDY’S BOY RICH MCKAY IS HELLBENT ON DRAGGING OUR FALCONS DOWN TO THE STANDARDS SET IN THE NFL BY HIS DADDY. HIS DADDY WAS A GREAT COLLEGE COACH BUT NOT SO MUCH IN THE NFL, EXPANSION TEAM OR OTHERWISE. MAYBE THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE HAVE A BUNCH OF PAC-10 GREATS HERE WITH THE FALCONS. WE NEED TO SEND MCKAY TO BE THE AD FOR USC AND KEEP HIS FAMILY LEGACY OVER THERE, SEND KNAPP TO STANFORD, AND MORA TO HIS BELOVED WASHINGTON.

MAN, I AM TURNING MYSELF INTO A BIG PAC 10 FAN. IMAGINE IF USC, STANFORD, AND WASHINGTON DECIDED TO SOLVE ALL OF OUR PROBLEMS FOR KING ARTHUR BY “STEALING” AWAY THE INEPT MORA, MCKAY, AND KNAPP.

I CAN ONLY HOPE AND PRAY……

SANTA, ARE YOU LISTENING…….

SEND THESE MORONS OUT TO THE PAC-10 FOR ME

the falcons all time record is 250-364-6. the falcons have an all time winning percentage of .408. Their average record over a 16 game season is 6.5 wins and 9.5 losses

9-20 without vick starting since he was drafted in 2001. 38-26-1 with vick starting since he was drafted in 2001.

3-12 when he does not start since 2002. 37-25-1 since 2002 when vick starts.

2-10 in 2003 without Vick. 3-1 with Vick in 2003.

6-8 with chandler in 2001. 9-7-1 with vick over his next 17 starts over 2001 and 2002.

yes, they are 15-14 with vick over his last 29 starts. but what the hell are they without vick? they would be at best 12-17 if they had a decent QB like Chandler but based upon track record that 3-12 with subpar QBs multiplied by 2 would be 6-24 over the last 30 games. There is no promise that Schaub will ever be as good as Chandler or anywhere near as bad as Kittner and Doug Johnson. But, bottomline, their win totals over the last 29 games would be somewhere between 5 wins and 12 wins without vick and schaub starting. the track record of the team’s success without vick makes it clear what the difference is in the win totals with him out there.

So, yes, the results have been disappointing over the last 30 games. BUT what would the results be if Vick was not the starting QB. the record so far with and without record clearly tells you what the results would be.

this team was in the conference championship game 2 years ago with the guys reeves handed off to the inept crew of Blank, McKay and Mora. They have all tinkered and tinkered and tinkered and screwed the team up. the supporting cast surrounding the stars reeves handed these McKay, Blank, and Mora clowns have failed not only Vick but Dunn, Crump, Griffith, Finneran, Kerney, and Brooking. I do not only look at Vick. All of these other core Reeves guys showed me that they can win too. BUT even all of these other guys lost an awful lot during all of those games I mentioned where Vick was not in there playing.

Hell, vick went 3-1 with the bumbling fool Wade Phillips as his coach. Now, that is monumental and very telling about just how very inept Mora, Blank, Knapp, Donatell and McKay truly are as a collective dunce crew.

Vick’s record with a team that was a combined 3-11 without him during 2002, 2003, 2004 was 22-11-1 with him during that same time period. That is all I need to know about the difference Vick makes on a ball field and for this team. If he has only gone 15-14 over the last 29, that just tells me that they would have been 5-24 without him.

BUt keep attacking Vick. Keep being lazy like that. keep picking on convenient targets. do not ever use your mind. Or you can for once start applying some real analysis to your posts instead of your typical I hate Mike Vick nonsense

By Edward

December 17, 2006 08:39 PM | Link to this

Who do we hire? A Offensive Guru or a Defensive Guru? Do we bring someone from college(Bobby Petrino) or do we get a coordinator off a NFL staff (Ken Wisenhunt, Ron Rivera)? I know one thing…I don’t trust Mckay with choosing a coach for us…or players…

By Ahman Gangrene

December 17, 2006 08:47 PM | Link to this

I agree with most of what my former teammate, Najeh Davenpoop said above.

By Dawgs2006

December 17, 2006 08:48 PM | Link to this

FYI, Nobody reads long post!

Just get to the damn point.

By dean

December 17, 2006 08:56 PM | Link to this

I think that anyone that claims vick is a great quarterback or a bad one is wrong. vick is an average qb. until vick can learn to come from behind in the 4th quarter he can not be considered a great qb.

By billy g

December 17, 2006 08:57 PM | Link to this

Jr. did not have the qualifications to be hired as Head Coach of the Falcons. Mr Blank fell in love with him and that was that.

Jr still does not have the qualifications to be a NFL Head Coach. He adds nearly nothing to this team. He is supposed to be a defensive guy, yet his defense consistently underwhelms. Does he add anything to this offense? Don’t bother, I already know the answer.

By Jerry

December 17, 2006 09:09 PM | Link to this

Launch Mora!

What planet does this guy come from thinking that he’s qualified for one of top slots in the PAC10 ??

By Covington,Ga

December 17, 2006 09:16 PM | Link to this

Like father like son….Mora is a idiot..we should have never hired this dude…from the statements that his father to him wanting another job during the season…These guys are a bunch of thugs…let get rid of them

By DB

December 17, 2006 09:16 PM | Link to this

From day one, Jim Mora, Jr. and his new coaching staff were a major part of the Falcons problems. There have been major flaws in our offense, defense, special teams, play calling, red zone, receiving core, defensive line, offensive line, secondary, kicking game, etc. During Mora’s 1st winning seasons (the team and winning record he inherited from Dan Reeves) there were major problems, last year’s 8-8- season there were major problems, pre-season there were major problems and each week there have been major and different problems.

Rich McKay did a great job of finding key talent (at least the players were before they put on our Black and Red and started spending time with Mora and his coaches) and Arthur Blank is a superb owner (unless he and Rich doesn’t address the root problems of our very talented and grossly under-performing team). There has to be a reason why our initial players and the new upgraded group of players that Rich McKay brought in were extremely successful prior to joining the Falcons and not now. There is no reason we should have so many problems with the team considering with have Mike Vick, the X Factor, and probably more pro bowl players than any other team in the NFC, if not the NFL. I have always been skeptical about Mora, his rah-rah, and his coaches’ sometime excuses of injuries because injuries are a part of football and many of the Falcons problems were prevalent when the team was healthy (remember the 1st New Orleans game in which Jerious Norwood only played one play in a loosing effort, don’t forget about New York, or better don’t forget about Cleveland and Detroit). Yes, we all know that the receivers haven’t been catching the ball consistently, but the Falcons problems are many and it is deeper than the receivers.

Mora’s radio interview, record, and disrespect for the team gave Arthur and Rich another reason to make a change and they should, because Mora will never be able to lead the Falcons to compete for or win a Superbowl. I always thought that winning a championship is a professional team’s goal, or at least Arthur’s goal. I am hard pressed to believe the Falcons can do it with Mora at the helm!

When Mora leaves or asked to leave and takes his West Coast offense back to the West Coast, Arthur and Rich can hire a competent emotionally mature head coach. Hopefully, the new coach will hire a great coaching staff, work with Rich to improve the secondary and hire numerous offensive linemen from Nebraska. Hopefully, the new coach will also understand the difference from having a great practice versus practicing the right things.

In closing, we love the Falcons and its organization, but they are too talented to not have a highly talented effective and successful coach. Mora has sealed his faith and it is now time for the Falcons to move forward in a positive way. Hire a coach that can help build a winning franchise (Lovie Smith type vs. well, you know the, Jr.). Mora good luck in the NCAA!

By Bird-dog

December 17, 2006 09:18 PM | Link to this

Dear Rev. Run, Are you aware of the fact that Mr. Flick (you’re all everything) is not paid an average salary…so don’t compare him to all the average QB’s from present or past. Not to mention, he is a thug (he has no class and very little heart). You want to address that one in a brief, readable post? He is a thug…he will NEVER win the big one. Additionally, how in the world can you predict how many games we would have won if Matt S. had been taking the snaps? Come on, dude - Matt S. is now more ready than Flick is to be an NFL QB - nothing racial or personal about it…

By moBEbetter

December 17, 2006 09:19 PM | Link to this

I thinks we need a black coach, what do you thinks, T.Moore?

By domeOFpain

December 17, 2006 09:19 PM | Link to this

I have never commented on one of your columns, mostly because I disagree with them; so why bother. However, I agree, when I saw MV7 at tailback I was p**. Mora and his coaches are in over their head. Its time for him -Jim Mora - to go.

By I am the decider

December 17, 2006 09:22 PM | Link to this

I agree 100%. Mora and the rest of the staff has to go. Sniffing inhalers on the sideline, not being able to conduct himself professionally, but most of all, and as other have pointed out, just wanting to be “one of the guys.” I wonder what sort of discipline he dishes out after players are called for unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and the like. I had no problem with Vick being in the backfield with Schaub, esp. since Norwood was out, but it did appear to be an act of desperation by a desperate man. I will be surprised is this man is ever a head coach in the NFL again.

By taco slammer

December 17, 2006 09:29 PM | Link to this

Jimmy Jr can borrow a line from his dad and his coaching days. Playoffs? What Playoffs?

By ATLplayer

December 17, 2006 09:33 PM | Link to this

I know Mr. Blank will not see this but, Fire Jim Mora Jr. now!!!! You can not continue to allow this guy to lead your team. He has made it perfectly clear where his head is and it’s not with the Falcons. You gave Dan Reeves a very short leash and fired him during the season. Jr. makes Reeves look like the greatest coach ever! You fired Reeves and he was the only coach ever to lead the Falcons to the SB! Now, I know you will fire him after the season is over, however, I say you can’t wait. Mora Jr. has embarrass us enough.

By dean

December 17, 2006 09:35 PM | Link to this

this headline from the chicago daily says it all vick, anderson set records, cowboys win game.

By BCTROJAN

December 17, 2006 09:47 PM | Link to this

I THINK THAT IF NOT DAN REEVES THEN WE KEEP MORA. TELL ME SOMEONE THAT HAS NOT MADE A MISTAKE OR TWO. WHAT EVERY HAPPEND TO FORGIVENESS. THIS TEAM SEEMS TO BE JUST THAT A TEAM. THESE GUYS ARE LIKE FAMILY, IT WOULD BE A SHAME TO BREAK THAT UP. I SAY BE PATIENT AND GOOD THINGS WILL COME. LETS NOT FORGET THAT WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL KEY INJURIES TO KEY PLAYERS THIS YEAR JUST AS WE DID WHEN VICK BROKE HIS LEG REMEMBER!!!! GIVE THIS TEAM A CHANCE MR BLANK IF THE COACHES WANT TO BE HERE LET THEM BE HERE, WE HAVE A GOOD THING HERE AND SOME OF US JUST DONT REALIZE IT, I GET JUST AS UPSET AS SOME OTHER FANS BUT REMEMBER U DONT WIN THEM ALL LOOK AT CAROLINA, PITTSBURGH, NEWYORK. THIS IS THE SAME MORA THAT EVERYONE WAS PRAISING NOT LONG AGO, THAT GIVES OF HIS TIME AND FINANCES IN THE COMMUNITY. I BET MR BLANK WAS’NT A SUCCESS IN 1, 2, OR EVEN THREE YEARS, IT TOOK TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!SO LET EVERYTHING JUST FALL IN PLACE. LET THE MAN WORK OUT HIS CONTRACT!!!!

By Reverend Run

December 17, 2006 09:50 PM | Link to this

bird-dog - i do believe the QBs mentioned above were not average QBs. there are alot of HOFers up there and a bunch of Pro Bowler up there and a bunch of people racists like you love to compare him to. the coaches are all HOFers or prominent names.

i also find this very interesting: do you refute any of the things i posted? no! not at all! i hit you with facts and you hit me with mike vick is a thug. what a response! the reason the post was so long was to prove my point which you so amply proved with your retarded response. Thank you for that BTW. The point is this: no matter how much truth you are hit with, you can not help but have a hateful heart. The post was long on purpose. I was trying to bait the likes of yourself. Thanks for being so stupid to take the bait.

Mike Vick is far from a thug. What thuggish thing has he ever done? Your dearly beloved Schaubie is actually the one who has been arrested for a bar room brawl he took part in as a rookie during the middle of the season. Do I call Schaub a thug? No! i live in the real world. he was just a stupid young man like the rest of us in our early twenties.

Very little heart, huh? I think that not many, even your fellow racists, would you agree with you on that one.

BUT you also probably say that he can’t pass, can’t read defenses, has no heart, is a thug, is a glorified RB, etc., etc., Well then how is he able to basically not be very different from a statistical stanpoint from the prominent (not average) QBs and coaches named above? open your mind, you dumb little neck. You are embarrasing your race.

What makes you think schaub is any good? You have no reason to think he is. NONE! You have no basis for any opinion about Schaub. None of us do. Not even me. he could be great, good, average, horrible. None of us know. I hope he is good someday. BUT for now I have a QB on my team who has proven, as explained in detail up above, that his franchise is far beter with him starting than without him starting.

Dawgs2006, of course, you did not like a long post either. The facts destroyed your simpleton opinions of Vick. I have seen you post too often over the last 4 months. I know for a fact you are racist. FYI to you, if that was a long post blasting Vick, you would have been eating it up. Ain’t that right there little fella? what an embarrassment to the dawg nation you are? remove the dawgs from your moniker now you little neck

By Ol' Dead Bird

December 17, 2006 09:58 PM | Link to this

BCTROJAN:

Is your last name Mora? Are you sure…

By skydog

December 17, 2006 10:08 PM | Link to this

I agree that putting Vick at RB was dangerous, but if you are going to do it why leak the “plan” days ahead?

Mora`s got to go.

By Allen McWhorter

December 17, 2006 10:10 PM | Link to this

Hey, terrance, this is one great article! This may be the most sensible column you have ever written! I am certainly saying that Mora’s days are numbered after last night’s loss to the Cowboys. I agree one hundred percent with everything you are saying in this column. Mora just isn’t mature enough to be a head coach in the N.F.L. He has obviously proven that! And why in the world would a coach call two pass plays on fourth and 1 when he supposedly has a team with the best running attack in the N.F.L.? I agree totally! Mora will be fired soon! Could be as early as next week! Superb article Moore. You described Mora to a tee!!!

By Ryder

December 17, 2006 10:25 PM | Link to this

All that matters right now is that Atlanta wins out and they make the playoffs, regardless of what Philly does to Dallas next week. The way this season (actually this whole week) has gone no one can predict what’s going to happen. I believe in the Falcon players (only if Vick could play cornerback) it’s the coaching staff I have no faith in.

By Reverend Run

December 17, 2006 10:31 PM | Link to this

one last point for the dear ole reverend:

Vick has had 3 coaches in his career thus far:

Vick winning%: 59.2%, 9.5w; 6.5 losses per 16

Mora, Jr winning%: 56.5%; 9w, 7 losses per 16

Reeves winning%: 53.5%; 8.6wins; 7.4 losses per 16

Wade Phillips winning%: 55.2%; 8.8 wins; 7.2 losses per 16

WOW! Mike Vick is some coach killer, huh? Nope! Looks like he actually makes his coaches better than they historically would be otherwise, don’t it?

I hit you with facts. Too many for most of you. Now hit me back with something better than the good ole racist he’s a dumb, heartless thug. Can you do that?

well, that’s it. i’m done boring y’all for the night. i am sorry that i hate to bore the rest of you while teaching the necks a lesson they will never understand because they are too hateful to open up their minds

By Fan since ' 78

December 17, 2006 10:37 PM | Link to this

Jim Mora has proven himself to display less discretion than his father. This is ridiculous and completely inexcusable!! I applaud Vick’s efforts week in and week out to help this team win. I wouldn’t bring this staff in to coach a high school team. Any reasonably educated footbal fan can see they routinely make horrible defensive adjustments as well as lack effective game planning. Looks like Mora had another decent start to the season, however once they hit the 6th game, unfortunately this team folds, which indicates to me a lack of effective leadership. They have good players on both sides of the ball, so long as they stay healthy and can catch.

Mora must really be “jacked up” and “excited” now that the Falcons are, for all intents and purposes, out of the playoffs. I’ve seen local high school coaches display more tact and leadership than Jr. has. This is just so disappointing.

By Informant

December 17, 2006 10:39 PM | Link to this

Obviously the hiring of Mora looks and smells worse by the day. He is a tempestuous product of privilige.

Lovie Smith has just gone 12-2, secured home field, back-to-back winning seasons, is 10-0 in the conference. While not as slick in front of a camera, he is a man of real maturity and character.

Mora makes Blank look like a fool to the world for giving him an extension. Mora knows Knapp will be fired so he pulls this to force a firing. This way this unprincipled blackguard gets paid his salary for 3 years — sticking it to Blank, the man who would dare fire his best friend. Mora’s behavior is reprehensible.

Next time Blank should look at a man’s accomplishments and not be swayed by big talk or other suspect criteria.

By Dirtie Birdie

December 17, 2006 10:44 PM | Link to this

did anyone else notice marshall faulk being a hypocrite last night? who was more injured that marshall faulk? that man was never on the field during the last 6 years of his career. Do you think the Rams would have been far better over the last 6 years of his career if marshall was actually healthy once in a while and if his team actually knew he was going to be on the field for every minute of every game? it never happened over the last 6 years of his career. SO, Marshall, I am sorry, I am calling B.S. on you, on calling you a conveniently forgetful hypocrite!!!!

By Falcons Correspondent

December 17, 2006 10:47 PM | Link to this

How about the fact that Mr. Vick is 8-15-1 against teams with a winning record at the time he plays them. That is a .354 winning percentage. Vick can beat up on poor teams (except this year – see Detroit and Cleveland box scores) but he can’t compete with the good ones.

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/fantasy/corrstory?teamId=15&sportId=1&datePosted=11152006&timePosted=0948

By theedge56

December 17, 2006 10:58 PM | Link to this

Call Norm Chow now dammit! If we want some offense. Find a great defensive mind for DC. And then lets go!

By reverend run

December 17, 2006 11:05 PM | Link to this

now correspondent, that is a helluva stat. (makes me angry). BUT thanks for the link. hard to refute that one.

By DrJay

December 17, 2006 11:13 PM | Link to this

Reverend Run, great post my friend. I would have you know that I am a white, 30-something male and have been a fan since 1979. If you go back and read my post near the top, you will find that I was trying to explain the same thing to people like bird dog. The problem with these idiots is that they are used to playing teams like Vandy, Ga Southern, Western Kentucky, and East Boonfart, going 10-2 in college football and considering themselves the best football team. What these ignorant, uninformed people also do not realize is that this is the NFL and any team can beat the other on a given day. Just look at Carolina and NY Giants. Both of these teams were expected to go to the superbowl this season, but where the heck are they now?? 6-8 and 7-7 respectively.

Bottom line, *GREAT POST Reverend Run. * I have watched every game from start to finish nearly every year since 1979. I am happy to have a franchise player like Michael Vick that is giving this team a chance year after year.

Let’s not also forget that the Falcons receivers have the most drops as a team but less pass attempts than any team in the NFL. These receivers have also dropped 6 TD passes this season.

Let’s see, does anyone have Carolina tickets?!?? I am a Falcons fan for life and am permanently ignoring the idiotic redneck dawg fans like bird dog that know nothing about pro football.

By trikdaddy

December 17, 2006 11:29 PM | Link to this

i loved your post revernd run best of the season i think i am going to print it and hang it up on my job bullention board i am not a racist i may be a little pro black true vick has done some bad things but he is truly the reason why sundays fell like saturdays to this dawg fan go falcons what it is the falcons reflect so much of what atlanta has become the new south that most people dont want to accept including our all-world qb greatest athelete to represent this great state since hershel walker go falcons like my boy pac said keep ya heads up i will be weatching on sundays just like most of your haters

By Caleb King

December 17, 2006 11:31 PM | Link to this

MV has done the franchise and the city well !!! Mora and his crew have tried and have been given thier chance but they are in over thier heads. MV must be moved so the salary can go with him, the team gets some decent drafts picks and/or players, and he has an opportunity to try his hand somewhere else. Change for the sake of change is bad, but in MV’s case it could be very good. I wish him well and thank him for all of the exicitment and wins he brought us. As for Mora and crew - GOOD BYE AND GOOD LUCK!!!!!

By Buck Man

December 17, 2006 11:34 PM | Link to this

Josh/Bubba: Glad to see you’re such an astute football fan, especially when it comes to the Bucs. McKay didn’t hire Chucky. He offered the job to Marvin Lewis (see Cincinnati Bengals), the owners nixed the deal and went behind his back and negotiated directly with Al Davis.

By Redrum

December 17, 2006 11:40 PM | Link to this

Reverend Run, I’ve got to hand it to you; your posts have been dead-on about Vick and all of the dawg/bird bloggers. I too have noticed that the bigoted dawg/bird bloggers have NOTHING positive to say about Vick, and continue to send nothing but hate blogs. But your FACTS have put those idiots hate blogs to the toilet.

By DrJay

December 17, 2006 11:47 PM | Link to this

Falcons Correspondent:

When Michael Vick has started with the Falcons, their record is 38-26-1. When Vick has not started during this same period, the Falcons are 9-20. This proves that his supporting cast is not up to the task. Whether it be coaches or subpar players, the Falcons would suck without Vick. Now, go back to washing your Dallas Cowboys Emmitt Smith jersey, you bandwagon loser.

By Caleb King

December 17, 2006 11:48 PM | Link to this

Hey drjay and the rest. Do you understand that the NFL is a business? If a company is under performing year in year out you have to make tough choices