Sports Columnists

By E

December 27, 2006 10:55 PM | Link to this

How about Dan Reeves? Plus Singletary, Martz, Rivera bring tons of winning experience. The old Falcons would use this as an excuse. I hope we have left that era. Mora has loss credibility and even if they started good next year, everyone would be skeptical waiting on the second half meltdon. Plus its just not good football. Directionless man, honestly watching these guys under Mora literally brings illness and just flat out exhaustion. It’s time, it really is!

By Fire Mora

December 27, 2006 11:09 PM | Link to this

How about Rodriguez at West Virginia? Just get some fresh ideas and get back to real football. These guys insult Vick by bringing in a high school offense. Martz would be an ideal candidate. Heck he hired a good d cord in Lovie and he was a offensive Genius. If Arizona let Denny G. go he would be a intersting candidate as well. Should really have some long conversations with Steve Young about joining the organization in some capacity. Could be the missing link for Vick and total league offensive domination. Vick is still young by QB standards with tons of experience and could really take that next step with a good offensive minded coach!

By BillyBob

December 27, 2006 11:10 PM | Link to this

Difficult to fire when there is no one to hire. Remember the Marion Campbell deal years ago? Firing coaches has always helped this franchise in the past hasn’t it? Lets do it again!

By Greg

December 27, 2006 11:12 PM | Link to this

Any idea if Jim Tressel is looking to see what he can do in the NFL?

By CNote

December 27, 2006 11:24 PM | Link to this

I have said this a million and oe times. The first year Mora was here that was no his time that was what Dan Reeves had built which led us to the NFC Championship. If Reeves were still hear we would be talking and finalizing our plas for a trip to Miami. Jim Mora and his idotic group of coaches with the exception of Joe Decamilas who is fom the Reeves staff is horrible. If Mora remains the coach I will not renew my season tickets because I cannot take another idotic coaching season. What we need is an offensive minded coach with discipline high on his list because I feel that this year’s team is undiscipline and lack focus.

By SC

December 27, 2006 11:27 PM | Link to this

Oh no, not another year with a guy who interviews well. Blank hired the articulate incompetent. And now he’s not even articulate …

By bk hawk

December 27, 2006 11:28 PM | Link to this

There is no way MORA can stay, Who the hell do you think will go see this crap again after watching it two years. Blank gave his word to the Fans and he better come thru. Whats wrong with Bill Cowher or Reeves and there are more? I hope I never see Mora’s face again, I get sick every time I see him and he opens his mouth. Jeff you remind me of my X-wife, one minute she’ll tell you she loves you the next she’s leaving. Two Faced. MORA MUST GO

By SweetT

December 27, 2006 11:29 PM | Link to this

Is this really a fair statement:

“Mike Singletary (San Francisco), Ron Rivera (Chicago), Cam Cameron (San Diego): All have credentials as assistants. All are Jim Mora, three years ago.”

Based on that theory then Sean Peyton is Jim Mora two years ago….and then there is Mangini…is he the same? I don’t remember anyone mentioning Jim Mora for Coach of the Year a couple of years ago, do you?

I am not a Mora hater…in fact, I kind of like him, but to put these guys down just because they held the same position as Mora and he hasn’t blown your skirt up, is just wrong.

—T

By Mike

December 27, 2006 11:30 PM | Link to this

Do they have to have a coach,,,doesn’t seem they have one now…maybe TO stays in Dallas and Parcells walks. Not sure it matters…after all these years it seems we are destin to have a loser that can put together a winning season every 4 or 5 years. We have improved though we went from sucking to mediocre.

By Jeff D

December 27, 2006 11:34 PM | Link to this

How about Russ Grimm, assistant head coach of the Steelers, or Jim Johnson, defensive coordinator for the Eagles.

Those or two viable candidates. In fact, they are much better candidates than several of those listed above.

By Falcon's Fan

December 27, 2006 11:37 PM | Link to this

Jimmy Johnson + Falcons = SUPERBOWL!!!!!!!

By Dave

December 27, 2006 11:39 PM | Link to this

If possible look at Holmgrem in Seattle, or Jim Tressel. I know Holmgrem is under contract, bit Blank has the money and he wants a proven winner.

By No More Mora, Please

December 27, 2006 11:42 PM | Link to this

Cowher’s not going anywhere, offer Whisenhunt the job.

By A Mora Idea

December 27, 2006 11:47 PM | Link to this

I know, let’s fire Jim Mora and hire his dad Jim Mora. PLEASE, NO MORE MORA!! However it would save Arthur some money on name tags, door signage, parking space signage…etc….and nobody would have to learn any new names, and we know how the Falcons players hate learning anything new.

By SC

December 27, 2006 11:48 PM | Link to this

We don’t need a football genius.

We need a guy who can identify and fix problems before they become fatal. We need a guy who can get the organization to communicate with itself before a team meeting is required. We need a guy who can get all the players to buy into the offensive and defensive schemes, and who can listen to feedback when things aren’t working.

There’s this saying that “Good experience comes from good judgement - good judgement from bad experience.” There ought to be a number of qualified coaches already in the Falcons organization …

By Dawg Man

December 27, 2006 11:55 PM | Link to this

I remember when the Falcons fired Leeman Bennett. The owner at that time said the team had reached a “plateau”. The funny thing is the Falcons have never reached that plateau again.

Yes Dan Reeves got them to the Super Bowl, but Leeman Bennett got them to the playoffs every other year. Making the playoffs every other year? I was happy with that. And yes, I was a season ticket holder during that time.

And if the Falcons front office had not torn apart Leeman’s team to build for the future he just might had been the first coach to take the Falcons to the Super Bowl.

This is not to slight Dan Reeves. He’s old school. If Blank had left him alone Mike Vick would be a super star and the Falcons would be heading back to the playoffs.

Could you imangine Arthur Blank talking to Dan Reeves on the sidelines with 3 minutes left in the game? Think what would have happened if Mike Ditka was the coach. We would be having a State Funeral for the owner in the Georgia Dome.

Name me a great coach that was a lap dog to the owner. The coach is the field general and the players are his soldiers that go fight the war. The owner and the front office are logistics and supply. They need to stay far from the front.

My vote is to get rid of this corporate approach to running the team and bring back someone like a Dan Reeves.

By Coach

December 27, 2006 11:57 PM | Link to this

The Falcon are an average team with average talent and a near average record, and probably average coaching.

Dan Reaves probably had less talent, gave the team better than average coaching - Stats would indicate Michael had better coaching.

I watched an Andy Reed coach football team this past weekend - it is a team with mature ownership and great coaching and a talent level which is probably not much better than the Falcons playing with their back up QB

If the Falcons change coaches it probably helps season tickets sale, it usually does, but it is 50/50 if it will give our team a better record with better coaching.

I believe Falcon ownership will eventually give us a great football team, however, they are still in the early part of the learning curve.

By Salty Dawg

December 28, 2006 12:00 AM | Link to this

Cowher can do this. He loves UGA players.

By alabama crabdangle

December 28, 2006 12:00 AM | Link to this

i heard the same crap said about sean payton,eric mangini,and mike mccarthy,now look at the teams they are coaching, saints 10&5 playoff team, the jets 9&6 probably going to be a playoff team and the green bay packers, could be 8&8 after next week, long shot to make the playoffs but have come a long way fron last year. i would take ron rivera,or cam cameron anyday,not to mention that mike martz did win a superbowl.

By dannycardwell

December 28, 2006 12:00 AM | Link to this

the only good year mora had was the first with reeves players and coaches. the more reeves player he and mccay got rid of the worse the team began. i can remember not long ago, 3 years, you could tailgate in lot a and b grille out, go to all the venues set up by falcons sponsers, play games with your kids and get all kinds of neat stuff, hats, falcons flags. things the kids always remember growing up. now arthur and company comes in, takes all that away and gets rid of the food venders from the lots, who just happened to be a lot cheaper and better than that in the dome and falcons landing. all this in an effort to get the fans in the dome 2 hours earlier to pay 4 times the prices you used to pay outside. now to leave lot a after a game, you have to wait an hour before you start your car because they screwed the traffic up where you cant leave. outside porta potty stations are not cleaned after the first games. upstairs toilets are nasty. i never understood why everyone thinks so much of blank. from what i have seen everything is about the money. it sure as hell dosent pay to have season tickets in the upper level areas. ive seen convicts get better treatment than the fans up there. thank god he didnt buy the braves. they started letting us bring in our own food after we boycotted them for a couple years. plus they at least win most of there home games.

By BirdDawg

December 28, 2006 12:01 AM | Link to this

Jeff, your argument is ridiculous.

And this is the reason.

Three years ago, Jim Mora was a very, VERY MEDIOCRE defensive coordinator of a very, very MEDIOCRE if not downright putrid defense.

He got this job because the Rich Man saw Little Jimmy’s magic notebooks, and because of a once in a lifetime interview (CON JOB), got this job over the guy Rich McKay wanted to hire… Lovie Smith.

So this is ALL the Rich Man’s fault.

If Rich McKay was left alone, Lovie Smith would be leading the Falcons into their second straight Super Bowl right now.

But no, the Rich Man decided to hire a very crappy coordinator over the more accomplished one. He decided to hire the guy who has earned nothing in football that his name hasn’t gotten him (walk on at UDub because Daddy was a coach, job with the Saints because Daddy was coach, Daddy calling the 49ers to get Little Jimmy a job).

And as for Ron Riveira, Cam Cameron, and Ken Whisenhunt… they are all ten times the coaches that Little Jimmy Mora was before he conned the Rich Man into hiring him.

They are more accomplished.

And number one above all… they all act like freaking ADULTS!!!

They aren’t sampling smelling salts. They don’t act like spoiled brats with the media. They aren’t petulant and immature and insecure about the fanbase and about their positions.

You know why Little Jimmy decided to tell us all why he deserved to keep his job instead of of just worrying about the next game, like Tom Coughlin and Dennis Green said that they would do?

Well, because he’s a terrible leader (thank you, John Kincaid), and because he is insecure, because he KNOWS that he hasn’t earned a damn thing in his profession, and now that he’s been exposed without Daddy to help him out of a jam (although Daddy certainly did his best, didn’t he?), he knows people are going to wonder how a middling coach got to be a mediocre coordinator and got to be an immature, petulant, spoiled brat of a head coach.

And once football people start asking those questions, Little Jimmy Mora knows his days in this league are numbered.

Well, that is, until some other team is desperate enough to hire Daddy to be their coach, well, then Little Jimmy can get another job.

FIRE THIS IMMATURE, PETULANT, SPOILED BRAT, INSECURE CHILD, LOSER NOW!!!

AND MAKE HIM TAKE HIS TERRIBLE COACHES WITH HIM!!!

By Birdy

December 28, 2006 12:03 AM | Link to this

Jeff,

This article comes across like “bad relationship syndrome.” Let’s stick with Mora because we don’t know what any other coaches might do.

Mora and his fellow stooges (Knapp, Donatell, Gibbs) have proven all they can do is lead a team with the highest payroll in the league to yet another 2nd half swoon.

Mora ok’d a line strategy of being smaller that leads to us getting physically dominated as the seasons wear on.

He Ok’d the idiotic “no audible” policy that deliberately hamstrings his own offense.

He stood by as the small Oline was asked to open up holes in short yardage for a midget 180 lb RB who runs soft even for a 180 lb RB. He does this even though he has griffith and McCrary who could team for a better short yardage combo.

He stands pat while his defense gets penalties * trying to get into nickel personnel packages * against the Panthers when DeAngelo Williams is playing “RB”.

This team could not possibly do worse than Mora, with th possible exception of his mentor, Mooch.

Give Singletary, Rivera or Charlie Weis a call.

Rid the team of Mora, Knapp, Donatell and Gibbs.

Put in an agressive defensive scheme. Let the QB audible. Get a bigger Oline and feature RB. Then the team can get back on track, competing with the big boys again.

By STEALTHMAN

December 28, 2006 12:08 AM | Link to this

MORA is a player killer like his dad! You cannot be the players buddy, you must be a MAN!, and a real one at that. A coach should not be passive nor speak weak about the playoffs, nor kissing the players,(“This is Football!”). In Mora’s radio and TV interviews he would always sound so soft. A real coach should not stand for a loss. He should be a winner. And very mindfully skilled on how to speak and not joke on serious topics. All Mr.Blank has to do is Fire Mora and Staff and have a serious offer ($$$$$$) for an experinced coach who wants the Job. The offer itself should be the highest paid NFL Coaching Job, the Fans deserve the “Best!”. This town deserves more than just one Championship Trophy,>MLB. We need a Super Coach for a SuperBowl Job.

By ATLplayer

December 28, 2006 12:10 AM | Link to this

Mr. Blank I know Jimmy Jr. is gone after the season so here is my suggested short list.

1. Ron Rivera (Chicago)
2. Mike Singletary (San Francisco)
3. Urben Meyer (U. of Fla)
4. Monte Kiffin (Tampa)
5. Dan Reeves (you are NOT too proud to admit you were wrong)

Get rid of that finese run game.

By Festus

December 28, 2006 12:11 AM | Link to this

The Falcons have drawn a blank - he’s the real problem here. Get that meddling Jerry Jones off of our sidelines.

By shc77

December 28, 2006 12:13 AM | Link to this

The problem with the Falcons starts at the top…Arthur Blank. I love that he’s passionate about the team, but either let your GM be the GM or fire him and get a new one. If you want to make personnel decisions, make yourself the GM. If you don’t think McKay can do the job, hire someone else. But please…let the person you hire do his job. Rare is the team with a meddlesome owner that wins consistently, the Yankees notwithstanding, but even Steinbrenner doesn’t sit in the dugout. He just buys the talent and tells the GM and manager to win.

To recap: hire the best guy for GM (e.g. McKay) and then let him do his job. Obviously, you hired McKay as GM for a reason, presumably because you thought he could do the job. So let him do it. Quit meddling. Not convinced? See Braves, John Schuerholz, and Bobby Cox (no meddling owners, at least not with personnel or assistants).

Let the people do their jobs, please. As long as the owner constantly needs his input to be heard, this organization will not go anywhere.

By P.J.

December 28, 2006 12:19 AM | Link to this

Suppose Cowher steps down and Whisenhunt is offered the Pittsburgh job, but the ATL job is out there. Who would you rather work for? The parsimonious (cheap) Rooneys or the “throw-money-at-the-problem” Arthur Blank?

Granted, Whisenhunt would have to learn to live with an owner who patrols the sidelines like his doody reeks of potpourri, but at least you would have any resource at your disposal.

It’s a fait accompli. Mora’s gone because the star of your franchise has regressed and he ain’t gettin any younger. There’s no sense in bailing out the captain of this sinking ship.

By BirdDawg

December 28, 2006 12:24 AM | Link to this

Oh, and Russ Grimm is going to be the next Head Coach of the Steelers, if they do hire from within.

So Whisenhunt will be out there, and we can hire him right away, because neither us or them are playing beyond Sunday.

By BIRDLESS

December 28, 2006 12:36 AM | Link to this

YOU COULD BRING IN LARRY CAMPBELL OF LINCOLN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL ON SATURDAY AFTER HIS FRIDAY NIGHT WIN & IN ONE DAY A WEEK HE COULD HAVE A BETTER PLAN & BETTER CHANCE TO WIN ON SUNDAY THAN MORA WITH A YEAR TO GET READY.OUR LOCAL POP WARNER CHAMPIONS COACH HAS A BETTER CLUE THAN THE FOWLCOONS ACTIVE STAFF.

By pj

December 28, 2006 12:40 AM | Link to this

pathetic fans…you’re doomed because of your players and not your coach!!! The GM has acquired average players (check out all the “pro bowlers” stats vs. NFL)and Arthur Blank is king so you can’t question him. Get an offensive line, a drop back quarterback, and you might get back to contention but don’t blame coaches….blame the upper management who wanted a “consesus coach” rather than a Bill Parcells who just wants to win.

By Dan Bradford

December 28, 2006 12:52 AM | Link to this

First thing first. I do think that the Falcons should make a coaching change.I’m not going to get into personal attacks against the current coaches.I’m saying they need a coaching change because the team as it is is in total disarray. Should all the blame be on the coach? I’m not sure,BUT,in the end,the coach is responsible. Having said this,I don’t think that the players should be slingin mud at their coaches because the players haven’t been performing their jobs very well either. To see the player’s taking shots at the coaches is really sad because you don’t read where the coaches are singling out the players for their lousy performances. This tells me that the Falcons might need to bring in a coach who won’t be afraid to call out player’s when the need arises. It has to be someone who ain’t afraid to bench a player regardless of position. I’ve never read a quote from coach Mora where he was singling out a player for his performance,when he has had every right to do so,yet for player’s to be talking about what ain’t working is wrong. The coach has not overthrown one receiver this season.The coach wasn’t out of position against any Detroit Lion receivers. The coach didn’t miss one tackle against Cleveland. The coach didn’t drop one pass against New Orleans. If the players look hard enough they will see that their windows could use a little windex as well. I’m just keeping it real.

By Bo

December 28, 2006 12:59 AM | Link to this

Good job BirdDawg I totally agree with your 12:01 blog. I still like Cowher or Reeves first, but Whisenhunt has the balls to get job done.

By bk hawk

December 28, 2006 01:09 AM | Link to this

Birdless you are right aboutLARRY CAMPBELLWhat a great coach and Man.

By Roger

December 28, 2006 01:37 AM | Link to this

Sorry Mora needs to go, your offense scored 3 points against a team who had already packed it in—we lost to WEINKE for crying out loud—Singletary would scare anyone to play hard with his eyes!!that is what the players need!!!

By Good God

December 28, 2006 02:06 AM | Link to this

Man, are there some absolute IDIOTS on this blog. You dare to compare Steelers ownership to Falcons? Five Super Bowl titles to NONE for the Falcons. Since 1980, the Steelers have added Greene, Harris, Bradshaw, Ham, Lambert, Swann, Blount, Webster and Stallworth to the Hall of Fame. The Falcons don’t have a single representative. Yet, a Total Retard thinks Whisenhunt would be dying to come to Atlanta and coach for this woebegone third-class franchise! Please tell me that you have not contaminated this planet by reproducing. Blank can possibly get Cowher if he offers $8 million + draft choices to the Steelers.

By Real Bird Fan

December 28, 2006 02:07 AM | Link to this

Dan Reeves was fired for a reason! His play calling* sucked*, he was toooo conservitive. We don’t need Dan please no. We need someone who can bring order here. I don’t know who but Knapp and Donatell must go. I have three guys I’d be happy to give a shot too. Urban Myers, Mike Singletary or Mike Martz (favorite)

Go Falcons!!!

By Whopper Dawg

December 28, 2006 02:37 AM | Link to this

Wow!! The coach is failing and never once in your column did you mention his boss, the guy who hired him.

Don’t look to Mora as an ouster, that should be a foregone conclusion, but McKay is a joke and the real problem.

There are no “name” or “hot” coaches out there?? So, Mora stays by default????? Are you kidding me???? Look, in my industry, I can hire someone for a job because I have been in it for twenty+ years. I know the industry and the people in it. Quality people. One would think an NFL GM would too. Mora was a flyer from the start.

Fire both NOW and hire a quality GM who will hire a quality coach, or we will be having this conversation 1) next year if Blank (notice I didn’t say McKay) keeps Mora and 2) for the next four if he keeps McKay.

The Whopper Hang’em both.

By tjack

December 28, 2006 03:18 AM | Link to this

Coach Cowher is going to retire on Monday and spent the next few years with his family in N.Carolina. The Rooney family will not let Steelers Offensive Coordinator Ken Whisenhunt leave town without naming him the Head Coach of the Steelers.

If you want someone from the Steelers coaching staff better aim at Coach Grimm.

By Steve

December 28, 2006 03:42 AM | Link to this

Bill Cowher would chew the a* off of this team if anyone acted like they are now. He is perfect for this team. Oh yeah, he has a Super Bowl ring.

By Kevin

December 28, 2006 05:39 AM | Link to this

Falcons need tell crumpler n fellow who back flips to start playin are U clods not be here…and Mora we had good season is bull dong…8-8 7-9 sfter esgles creme Birds 37-3…Yep great season touch season ,,,Oh please Mora what excuse for last year is…..If u could teach Vick to throw n better keep and why has shockley Not played any u afraid he out play U better

By Najeh Davenpoop

December 28, 2006 05:57 AM | Link to this

There’s a key difference between Whisenhunt, Rivera and Cameron now, and Mora three years ago. Rivera has the #1 defense in football, Cameron has a top 5 NFL offense, and Whisenhunt has coached a unit that won a Super Bowl with a 2nd year quarterback. Mora’s unit was 15th in the league the year before he got hired here, and there was no other statistical evidence to qualify him as being the next great hire. I still think based on how Whisenhunt has coached Roethlisberger he would be the best hire, and considering his Atlanta ties I don’t think it’s a longshot for the Falcons to get him. If he is out of the picture Rivera or Cameron wouldn’t be bad consolation prizes either.

I agree with the basic idea of the article — it makes no sense to fire a guy when you don’t have quality candidates to take his place. But there definitely are quality candidates. And as it looks right now, the Falcons, Giants, Raiders and Cardinals are the teams most likely to be looking for head coaches. So even if there was a limited number of quality candidates, there’s also a limited number of teams competing for those candidates. And of those four teams, the Falcons and Giants easily have better situations than the Cardinals or Raiders do for a prospective head coach.

By batrol

December 28, 2006 06:39 AM | Link to this

Let’s promote the offensive line “coach.” I realize he’s way down the food chain but his genius is evident. Seriously, Tom Cable must be the worst assistant coach in the NFL. He should have never been given his job. I guess he was a friend of Mora or Knapp-the only skill necessary to get a job on this staff.

By Beretverde

December 28, 2006 07:14 AM | Link to this

First… fire the biggest overpaid boon-doggle VICK! That will free up the team’s salary cap… The coaches will be knocking each other over to get here to coach!

By Dawgone!

December 28, 2006 07:27 AM | Link to this

Coach

I disagree with this statement a little, “The Falcon are an average team with average talent and a near average record, and probably average coaching.”

The Falcons are a below average team with well above average talent, a below average record and less than even barely adequate coaching.

My 5 year old son on is less predictable playing Madden 07 and he only uses 6 or 7 plays.

With the talent the Falcons have, they should be a 10 - 6 or 11-5 team consistantly. Oh well, cant wait til the start of baseball season.

By Kudzu

December 28, 2006 07:49 AM | Link to this

shc77, nicely said…

By Connie Lingous

December 28, 2006 07:55 AM | Link to this

Hire Deion as the HC - let’s get a winner who has proved his dedication to excellence and will have the respect of the players.

Note: I am not kidding.

By falcon guy

December 28, 2006 08:02 AM | Link to this

How about Bobby Petrino from Louisville? He’s been offered the Oakland Raiders’ job three times, but I don’t think he’s turned it down because it was an NFL job, it was because they are awful. The Falcons are a unique opportunity for any coach who has designs on succeeding in the NFL, because they have a talented roster, an owner committed to doing whatever it takes to win, and are in an attractive area that is good to raise a family. Any coach should covet this job, unless they are a Jimmy Johnson type, who craves the GM/head coach combo job. I’d at least float the idea to Petrino to see if he’s interested before re-committing to Mora.

By Ron Roberts

December 28, 2006 08:03 AM | Link to this

Folks, Ken Whisenhunt is a former Falcon… … if he had an offer in Pittsburgh and in Atlanta, he might just take the road home.

That’s my choice, and hell, if I’m Blank, I fire Mora now to get the leg up on the talks.

By falcon guy

December 28, 2006 08:04 AM | Link to this

Hell, what about Bill Cowher? I know the chatter with him is that he is ready to retire. But I’ve also heard that he might take a year off (since he technically has another year on his Pittsburgh contract) and then return to coach somewhere else, for a big payday. Well, why not buy out his final year with the Steelers, and bring him to Atlanta, which is very close to his new home in North Carolina?

By Hotrod

December 28, 2006 08:10 AM | Link to this

Football is an emotional game.Just look at the reactions of the players after a tackle or touchdown.

When I was a little league’er, I had a coach who would get the team so fired up before a game we went out and had a 14 - 0 season. He had us chanting , screaming , clapping, etc. It justs lites the fires. The team was destined to win on shear positive energy.

Now I know the pro’s are suppose to be all grown up and proffesional but just think for a second how you are. Most of us would say ” I still feel around college age inside “. Alot of these pros are just out of college , so they can easily relate to their high school fame.

Point is , we like to feel like kids. The same kids that like to be charged up to go out and play the game of football with enthusiasm which is led by the coach.

Its just one facet of the complete coach, but when the camera is on the sideline, I see alot of ’ deer in the headlight stares ‘, ’ frustration ‘, and just a team that is sincerely un- enthused.

Too much talent for .5oo ball.

By Dawgbird

December 28, 2006 08:19 AM | Link to this

Lack of candidates? Buffalo Cookies! Hire Mike Martz as head coach and Jim Johnson from Philly as the defensive coordinator. Most importantly, trade Vick for the highest draft pick we can get. Hopefully, some foolish GM will give us and no. 1 so we can draft Calvin Johnson. Then we would have something to look forward to and cheer about. Watching Vick line up at quarterback is the most discouraging thing I have seen for the Falcons since the days of Jeff George, but at least he was a real quarterback

By Dawgbird

December 28, 2006 08:22 AM | Link to this

One other thing, if Blank is too proud to admit he was an idiot to give Vick a $100 Mil contract for a decade (fool!), and keep him at quarterback, at least bring back Dan Reeves. Vick was most productive under Dan. But, definitely, hire Jim Johnson as the DC from the Eagles. The Eagles will beat the Falcons by at least 14 by the way.

By Catman

December 28, 2006 08:23 AM | Link to this

I’ve read that Arthur Blank wants a coach who has NFL experience as a head coach. That rules out most of the above candidates. How about Mike Riley, the head coach at Oregon State? I know that name won’t excite a lot of people but he has had more success at Oregon State(in 2 stints there) than any other coach they’ve had in recent history including Dennis Erickson, and he has NFL experience as head coach of the San Diego Chargers. He had very little talent to work with when he was with San Diego. Blank seems to like “west coast” guys. Riley has coached most of his career on the west coast but he has some roots in the south as he played for Bear Bryant at Alabama. He’s still a fairly young guy and I never hear his name mentioned for job openings anymore. He’s gotten a lot out of his players at Oregon St. with not a lot of talent to work with. I think if he had talented players like we have on the Falcons roster he could be a great NFL coach. Just thought I’d throw his name out to see what everyone else thinks about it.

By Ivey Mock

December 28, 2006 08:28 AM | Link to this

Charlie Weis!!

By Connie Lingous

December 28, 2006 08:32 AM | Link to this

I repeat … Deion Sanders.

By Carroll

December 28, 2006 08:44 AM | Link to this

A lot of peeps say we should not have gotten rid of Reeves, BUT everyone seems to be forgetting about the one guy that we also had, that did a great job for us, but wasn’t even given a legitimate shot at the job: Wade Phillips.

Remember him? He filled in admirably after Reeves left and got the team headed in the right direction instantly. Now he has one of the better defenses in the league, and will prolly win a SuperBowl with San Diego.

But I suppose he wasn’t attractive enough or firey enough to warrant real consideration from the shallow Blank. H didn’t put on as good of a show as Mora did. So Blank got exactly what he deserves: all show, no substance.

By Jeff

December 28, 2006 08:44 AM | Link to this

As a falcon fan in Tennessee - I’d love to see Blank woo Jeff Fisher away. Look what he’s done to utilize Vince Young - a raw and less gifted version of Michael Vick. Word is he can be lured away. He’s done more with less talent. There are good coaches available who love to take this talented underachieving team. Waiting another year doesn’t assure that better coaches will be available but might assure losing some talent to free agency.

By Carroll

December 28, 2006 08:48 AM | Link to this

But ultimately, unless we get rid of the tumor that is Vick, then a coaching change is just like a band aid on a shotgun wound.

Oakland, PLEASE take him off our hands!

By ChazH

December 28, 2006 08:53 AM | Link to this

What about making Morten Anderson head coach? I mean he has enough experience.

By Davis

December 28, 2006 08:53 AM | Link to this

Ditto DawgMan

By chazh

December 28, 2006 08:55 AM | Link to this

What about making Morten Anderson head coach? I mean he has the experience.

By SRF

December 28, 2006 08:58 AM | Link to this

The fact that you compared Mike Singletary to Jim Mora was enough to make me skip the rest of the article.

Dude, Mora was a mediocre DB at UW and Singletary was one of the smartest and best linebackers of his era.

Given a choice… I will take the one with the Super Bowl ring.

By Dictator

December 28, 2006 08:59 AM | Link to this

this text will be bolded SINGLETARY, SINGLETARY, MIKE FREAKING SINGLETARY!!!!

By Reggie

December 28, 2006 09:12 AM | Link to this

I still say swap Psycho Jim and Doug Plank.

By Donald Igwebuike

December 28, 2006 09:16 AM | Link to this

I wonder if Arthur Blank will contract a sexaully transmitted disease after pushing Vick around in his wheelchair. Hilarious! The money these thugs make….They are all thugs…

By jg

December 28, 2006 09:19 AM | Link to this

Ray Lewis is one of the best linebackers of his era… and he has a SB ring. Why don’t we take him? Plus he knows the Atl area.

By JB

December 28, 2006 09:20 AM | Link to this

Jeff, the question of the coaches is valid although I think grimm and Whisenhut in Pittsburgh would give the discipline this team is lacking. I don’t want player to love the coaching staff. I do not want them to even like them. The next question is Rich McKay’s ability to select a better coach. I have great reservations in his abilities. He has screwed up the salary cap, though not through all his own doing. Mora Sr. said Vick was a coach killer. McKay is more so the coach Killer, Dungy now Mora.

By Kerry Goode

December 28, 2006 09:20 AM | Link to this

Dan Reeves is totally responsible for you falcons fans having a winning spirit around here. Until his arrival, the falcons sucked. Blanks has done a good job enhancing that winning spirit but they’ve hired an idiot.

By Chick Stephens

December 28, 2006 09:20 AM | Link to this

I still believe in Mora. I don’t believe in Knapp. The Birds had the opportunities to win this year and could not put the plays together in the red zone. Complete loss of identity when we get inside the 20. Predictable! That word rings so true. Everyone knew what we would run when we got there. You prayed that we would break off a big play for a touchdown, because if we were down on the 3 it was F/G time. One thing was true in every game, we went the way that Vick led us. Look at his demeanor on the sidelines in every loss. As soon as we got behind or he got hit, he would go directly to the bench and pout. I mean like a 2 year old. Look back at the games, follow the camera to Vick hitting the pines, covering up with a blanket, and just waiting for the next opportunity to go back out there. We need leadership! In the absence of leadership, we look depressed. We had no hope. As early as the first QTR in some games, you could see him do it. Lead Michael! Take your offense by the facemask and lead them to a victory instead of Prozac.

By jim

December 28, 2006 09:25 AM | Link to this

Here’s a name not mentioned yet, Mike Zimmer, Dallas Defensive Coordinator. He’s had #1 ranked defenses in the NFL and is a Parcells guy who will bring disipline. Dallas may be struggling now but it’s because of personalities not the assistant coaches. Zimmer is 10 times a better defensive coach then Mora.

By CJ2

December 28, 2006 09:26 AM | Link to this

I agree with Jeff’s article. The are two additional complicating factors:

1)The new coach would have to agree to McKay’s Oline and Dline philosophies: 250 pound “quick” lineman that wear lace panties. This will be a non- starter for several potential coaches.

2)The new coach will have to agree to be “nand-cuffed” to Mike Vick. Again, this will be a non-starter for several potential coaches.

By Jason

December 28, 2006 09:30 AM | Link to this

open up the wallet for Jimmy Johnson but if it doesn’t work how about Charlie Weis didn’t do so bad with the late draft pick that was Tom Brady. after that I’d say Urban Meyer, Mike Martz (with an awesome def. coordinator), and just along shot how about Parcells.

By Dave

December 28, 2006 09:32 AM | Link to this

No qualified candidates??

You have GOT to be kidding!!

HALF of the offensive and defensive coordinators currently in the NFL are BETTER QUALIFIED to be head coach than Jim Mora!!!

Look to winning organizations under established, winning coaches, and you will see a myriad of qualified candidates!

Neither Arthur Blank nor Rich McKay are stupid! They will see what needs to be done and do it!

By brent

December 28, 2006 09:37 AM | Link to this

oh man! Singletary would be an awesome defensive coordinator. I’m not actually convinced that ours is the problem but i feel that our pass rush would out of control in a very beautiful way if we had Singletary in our camp. As far as knapp……… OFF WITH HIS HEAD!!

By Goodbye Mora

December 28, 2006 09:38 AM | Link to this

MORA MUST BE FIRED and HERE’S WHY.

1. Inconsistency: Mora’s teams have been anything but consistent. He has a defensive background yet his defense has stunk. His offense is even worse.

2. No Adjustments: Time and time again the fans see the required adjustments before the coaches ever do. This coaching staff seems impervious to making any changes.

3. No Fire: Mora does not get his teams ready to play. Last Sunday was case in point.

4. Patsy: After poor performances, Mora says things like “I’m jacked up” “Our guys never quit” “players had a great week of practice”. All this when he should be reading them the riot act.

5. IDIOT:* Cell phone incident, Washington Radio interview, running 2 minute drills like he has 10 minutes, no 4th quarter TD passes in 18 games.

Goodbye Bozo!

By Wes

December 28, 2006 09:40 AM | Link to this

I wonder if we could get Frank Beamer out of Blacksburg. Think about it, he’s already coached half of the guys on the team…including the franchise QB.

By Arturo Blanco

December 28, 2006 09:43 AM | Link to this

Deion Sanders as the head coach is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.

Nobody has mentioned Rex Ryan, defensive coordinator of the Ravens and son of Buddy Ryan. Sure, we have a bad taste in our mouth from sons of former coaches, but Ryan is the real deal. I’d rather have Whisenhunt or Rivera ultimately, but Ryan should at least be a candidate.

And Dawgbird, I’m sure you’re just being a “homer”, and Calvin Johnson looks to be pretty good (hard to tell with Ball as his QB) but Dwayne Jarrett is twice the receiver Johnson is now. Having said that, we shouldn’t be looking at him either, because if McKay has a brain cell between his ears, he won’t draft another skill position player in the first three rounds. When will you people realize that we need to draft big a$$ Iowa farm boy OFFENSIVE LINEMEN. We went wide receiver 2 straight years and look what we have too show for it. Receivers are better picked up through free agency, and don’t give me Peerless Price - he was the exception, not the rule. Falcons fans have consistently lobbied for the skill players while as a franchise, we’ve have had very poor offensive lines, year in and year out. Why get a 330 pound left guard that can protect your QB when STEVE BROUSSARD is out there?? Why draft a 315 pound center when we can get RODDY WHITE?? Yet year in and year out, Falcons fans lobby for some other running back, receiver, QB, or corner. Our line is terrible, if we don’t draft O line with our first round pick and least one other, we’re not doing the right thing.

By Gene

December 28, 2006 09:46 AM | Link to this

Look in the mirror Jim Mora and Falcon players. Let’s be honest about the team and coaches, they stink. When the head coach is afraid to tell his QB to tuck the ball in when decides to run, you got problems. Mora responded when asked about this replying,” I don’t want to put Mike in a box”. Coach, last I heard when you cross the line of scrimmage, you can’t pass without a penalty. As for Michael Vick, he’s spouting off about the entire organization and he’s the most inconsistent person on the team. Falcons will never win with Vick at QB. Arthur Bland fired a dud when he gave Vick that ridiculous contract. Mora and Vick need to go, the sooner the better. How about a new coach that is willing to discipline his players!

By HUCK FROM MARIETTA

December 28, 2006 09:47 AM | Link to this

we enjoy laying eggs as we are birds!!!!

By HUCK FROM MARIETTA

December 28, 2006 09:49 AM | Link to this

as a season ticket holder, at least we’ll all be gouged by artie raising prices like usual on a crappy product! it’s like all of the crappy falcons will be getting me to bend over and taking all of their jail-minded aggressions out on me! oh well, the falcons are just a cursed team, never meant to have a lombardi trophy in our possession. and they still lay eggs just like birds do!!!

By Gene

December 28, 2006 09:50 AM | Link to this

The entire Falcons organization is behaving like a peewee team. There is no leadership anywhere. Mora runs the team like a college fraternity. Vick’s two handed contempt was directed at the whole city—not at an individual in the stands. It has turned into a comedy, and the Falcons are the laughing stock of the league

By Mark

December 28, 2006 10:01 AM | Link to this

How bout Ralph Friedgen?, he has home near Atlanta…maybe he could wake up the offense, certainly an improvement over Knapp.

By fatz

December 28, 2006 10:04 AM | Link to this

interesting idea of buying time keeping mora one more year. arthur can use firing the coordinators as an ultimatum to keep his job. i think the pendulum will swing back to a disciplinarian from mora’s laissez-fare style. i wonder if bill cowher, assuming he takes a year off in NC, might be approachable.

By falcon80

December 28, 2006 10:05 AM | Link to this

Fire Mora, trade Vick (or move him to receiver), insert Schaub… a true quarterback as starter. Hire a good defensive coordinator as Head coach (Rivera or Singletary) to rebuild the defense. There needs to be a new head coach and QB

By fatz

December 28, 2006 10:09 AM | Link to this

ps: all these first year miracle worker coaches are likely to have a sophomore slump. don’t put them in the HOF yet

By Larry

December 28, 2006 10:14 AM | Link to this

Jack Del Rio will probably be available.

By Dixie Normus

December 28, 2006 10:18 AM | Link to this

when your headcoach is french kissing your crappy quarterback prior to a home game, then you know he has lost control of the team. if he wants to be buddies with his players then he can just be the ballboy or squirt gatorade into their mouths between plays. mora does nothing but flap his gums and make excuses for the bad play. yes the coaches are to blame but the players are awful. king arthur has to step up and make the hard decisions. vick has to go and take mora, meangelo, roddy, and leley with him. philly will drive the final nail into the falcons on sunday and i cannot wait to watch the expressions on mora’s face and especially king arthur’s face..they will be priceless!!!

By B. Green in SW ATL

December 28, 2006 10:19 AM | Link to this

* Falcons are very close - just two changes need to be made *

* OFFENSE change * All we need is a change in philosophy. The small offensive linemen need to be replaced with large guys who can make gaps in a power fashion rather than these cute small guys who rely on technique.

* DEFENSE change * Play less of a zone coverage pass coverage and trust the guys to cover and blitz the backers more. Sure this takes a chance but am I the only one watching that zone get picked apart every week??? Could it be any worst???

By Ron

December 28, 2006 10:22 AM | Link to this

“Jimmy Johnson: Not happening, certainly not here as the third wheel below Blank and Rich McKay.”

I keep hearing this on talk radio, too. My question is WHY?? Why is Rich McKay untouchable? What has he done to make himself indispensible? Look at our personnel, especially the receivers. Hasn’t McKay drafted poorly? Mr. Blank, fire Mora AND McKay, and hire Jimmy Johnson. Give him complete control and get out of his way. He is a football expert; you’re not. If you want to win, stop hiring yes men and hire a winner.

By Will

December 28, 2006 10:25 AM | Link to this

Lil’ Jimmy is a mediocre coach just like his dad! He’s always ridden on his dad’s coattail and now it’s showing. Let’s look in some unlikely places for great talent. How about Norm Chow in Tennessee? He’s proven that he can be successful on every level. How about Bill Richardson at the University of West Virginia? Perhaps David Cutcliffe at the University of Tennessee or Bo Polini at LSU? Either would be an upgrade over the current establishment and could provide a winning attitude to the program as a NFL head coach or coordinator.

And if you don’t like breaking new ground in searching for a coaching replacement, there are still some good coaches out there: Whisenhunt (Steelers), Martz (Lions), and Cameron (Chargers) to interview as head coaches.

By Cg

December 28, 2006 10:28 AM | Link to this

June Jones and make him bring Jerry Glanville along as DC.

By Jerry L

December 28, 2006 10:29 AM | Link to this

I really don’t think any coach can win with Leon leading the team.

By Rob

December 28, 2006 10:29 AM | Link to this

I told all of ya’ll before the beginning of the season! This was an 8-8 team that will be third in the Division and wouldn’t make the playoffs. Until the Falcons get an NFL caliber QB, that’s all this team will ever be! I’m not a Vick hater, just a realist.

By Jerry L

December 28, 2006 10:30 AM | Link to this

I really don’t think any coach can win with Leon leading the team.

By mookie blaylock

December 28, 2006 10:30 AM | Link to this

Jeff, what a terrible Can’t Find a Better Man article. Enough with your beaten wife syndrome already, Dutch. Your article sounds like the lyrics of a pearl jam song:

Waitin’, watchin’ the clock It’s four o’clock It’s got to stop Tell him, take no more She practices her speech As he opens the door, she rolls over Pretends to sleep as he looks her over She lies and says she’s in love with him Can’t find a better man She dreams in color, she dreams in red Can’t find a better man Can’t find a better man Can’t find a better man Ohh Talkin’ to herself there’s no one else who needs to know She tells herself, oh Memories back when she was bold and strong And waiting for the world to come along Swears she knew it, now she swears he’s gone She lies and says she’s in love with him Can’t find a better man She dreams in color, she dreams in red Can’t find a better man She lies and says she still loves him Can’t find a better man She dreams in color, she dreams in red Can’t find a better man Can’t find a better man Can’t find a better man Yeah She loved him, yeah She don’t want to leave this way She feeds him, yeah That’s why she’ll be back again Can’t find a better man Can’t find a better man Can’t find a better man Can’t find a better man

KING ARTHUR: IGNORE THIS DUTCH ARTICLE AND FIRE MCKAY! FIRE MORA! FIRE KNAPP! FIRE DONATELL! otherwise Eddie Vedder will be singing Better Man as our theme song next year as we inevitably drop down to 5-11.

By Edward

December 28, 2006 10:31 AM | Link to this

I knew the Falcons were in trouble,for as making the playoffs when they lost to the Detroit Lions. Not only just losing but was dominated in the lost.

By kenny d

December 28, 2006 10:37 AM | Link to this

what about Bill Callahan? He had good success as the OC with the Raiders under Gruden and did wonders late in Rich Gannon’s career making Rich Gannon a very useful mobile QB. Callahan also brought the Raiders to the Super Bowl a few years ago. Granted, his second year was terrible but that team got old fast and Al Davis is an idiot. Callahan has done a decent job turning around the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Not the greatest option but when I look at what Callahan has done offensively with Rich Gannon with the Raiders and Zach Taylor with the Cornhuskers, I am somewhat intrigued about what he may be able to do with the Falcons.

By Make the Change

December 28, 2006 10:44 AM | Link to this

Jeff, if you were buy into your reasoning, why should you ever make a change? There could, should, maybe be someone better next year….or not!! Little Jimmy Mora has a severe case of foot in mouth disease as well as a general inability to lead and motivate. Little Jimmy has lost this team and lost the respect and confidence of the “stakeholders”. Make the change!!

By Richard "Dick" Head

December 28, 2006 10:44 AM | Link to this

Why not hire Larry, Curly, and Moe? Oh wait a minute, we already have the 3 Stooges on the team….Mora, Knapp, and Vick.

By G-Man

December 28, 2006 10:47 AM | Link to this

After Sunday’s lump of coal performance it is evident that the coach staff needs to be changed. I know many of you will disagree with me but I was excited when the Falcons had an opportunity to get Dennis Green out of retirement 3 years ago. Many will point to his current situation with the Cardinals as been an instant disqualifier but look at the success he had with the Vikings, mobile quarterbacks, and developing quality receivers. If you need a list of whom: Warren Moon, Daunte Culpepper,Chris Carter and Randy Moss.

He’s not a buddy-buddy coach and is not afraid to tell the media off. If he gets fired from Arizona he would come cheap and could possible nurture Vick into a real quarterback, build a solid O-line, and at least bench the receivers that drop the balls.

By Michael Scharff

December 28, 2006 10:50 AM | Link to this

Jeff, I just heard you on The Herd on ESPN Radio in Spanning the Globe. That’s my first experience with you outside of the AJC. You did very well!

By **NATIVE SON**

December 28, 2006 10:51 AM | Link to this

I’m not going to monologue,but I have a quick assessment,as most of you have. Blank: New owner.So excited,he has to be down on the sidelines.It’s a distraction,and downright embarrassing. McKay: Vetoed on the most important thing;the coach!! He’s not done too bad with whom he’s brought in,but at least extensively check their physical ailments.And,if a team is willing to give up a J.Abraham,”sumpm’s” up. Mora: The ol’ notebook portfolio scam.Nothing tangible,though.Brought his friends with him for the ride,and put too much trust in them. Knapp: Zone blocking,small o-line,cut blocks,not creative,no adjustments. Donatell: Bend ,but don’t break;ZONE!!!!If you play 10 freaking yards off a receiver you’ll get slanted on every time,and this is on third down!!EVERY TEAM,picks up our blitz package,runs right thru the middle of our secondary for long gains,EVEN on 3rd and 30.There’s a Gibbs in here somewhere,don’t know what the heck he does. DeCamillis: Can’t really blame him for blocked 3’s,and punts,O-line too small.(And the refs need to re-evaluate this block in the back thing,especially if the runner is ten yds away.)The Team: Execution is paramount!!!Given the fragile schemes we’re working with.You have lots of talent. The Fans:What fans?

By Jeff

December 28, 2006 10:51 AM | Link to this

JEFF FISHER come on & bring in a proven winner as coach!

By G-Man

December 28, 2006 10:53 AM | Link to this

Oh by the way…at the game with 1:09 left on the clock the defense was sucking down gatorade after the Vick interception. What F@#! is that all about? You knew Carolina was going to take a knee for the final downs. That right there is just shameful.

By Twilli33

December 28, 2006 10:53 AM | Link to this

I agree that we need an offensive minded coach with high regards for discipline. This team has basically turned on the assistant coaches in my opinion. I still think they support Mora, but he is just a bone head. I really think Blank should give Norm Chow a chance. He is offensive minded and look at his track record with quarterbacks; Carson Palmer, Matt Lineart, Vince Young, Phillip Rivers, need I say more? I think with Chow as head coach and young strong defensive coordinator the Falcons can finally become one of the NFL’s elite teams.

By Coach

December 28, 2006 10:58 AM | Link to this

I like the Mike Reiley idea.
But another name is more interesting to me. Bring back June Jones to Atlanta. His offense has been the #1 ranked offense about every year he has been at Hawaii. He would bring back Mouse Davis (father of run-and-shoot) and Jerry Glanville as his DC. Wow, what a combo. It would be great.

By genius3

December 28, 2006 11:03 AM | Link to this

The best choice would be Michael Vick. There is no way on God’s earth that you can bring another coach or any coach in here and tell Vick what to do. The money is on him, he puts the people in the stadium and sells all of the overpriced junk; and he controls what goes on. If you don’t believe it, wait until Sunday when the falcons will already be out of the playoffs and he will still play even though Shockley and Schaub should be playing. This is all a lost cause with no way out of this mess. It is a classic example of what happens when the tail wags the dog. We are all products and recepients of the culture that we have created. The genius has spoken.

By kenny d

December 28, 2006 11:05 AM | Link to this

G-MAN:

at least when the falcons stink it up, with dennis green we will not get the whole ridiculous optimism. We may get the whole “They are exactly what we thought they were!!!!!” when he speaks about how much his players stink. I would rather that than Jim Moron telling us how much he loves these guys and how much they love them and how much he loves having his back to the door. Green did have alot of success with the Vikes but the Cardinal thing has pretty much been a mess to this point. I think it would be a mistake for him to get fired over there because he just may be about to turn that thing around over there.

By kingfish

December 28, 2006 11:12 AM | Link to this

Wes - I like your idea. Frank Beamer at Virginia Tech may be the answer. In fact, we could bring some more thugs to the falcons. VT is known for their ability to groom those kinds of players. In fact, every time you pick up a Virginia newspaper, at least one or two of the Tech players are in jail or on the way to jail or being investigated. They have surpassed Miami for the competition in that field. I think it is the top of line recruiting that VT does. Tune in for the Chick Filet Bowl on Saturday night, if VT is winning they can probably be civil but if they get pounded, you’ll see the true spirit come to light. BUT Beamer could probably handle Vick, that might be a good move.

By chris

December 28, 2006 11:14 AM | Link to this

Why not Bill Cowher? If he becomes available.

By mike

December 28, 2006 11:27 AM | Link to this

Bill Cowher’s not going back to Pittsburg next year, he’s our new head coach.

By Steve

December 28, 2006 11:31 AM | Link to this

let’s first start by getting rid of Vick, his attitude has not been helping. As for Mora, Arthur Blank should cut his loses now, the writing is on the wall. I think the gene pool on the falcons is so tainted that there needs to be a complete rebuilding. Let’s do the following; reduce ticket prices, get a new coach and quarterback who are respected and win some games.

By G-Man

December 28, 2006 11:34 AM | Link to this

Kenny D:

We may not get my wish in Denny Green. I was just reading the AZ Central and their blog is filled with people saying let him finish the final year of his contract. Unlike this blog Cardinal fans want to keep their coach. I know Mora wished he had the same support here in ATL.

By willjay

December 28, 2006 11:40 AM | Link to this

hi fowlcon fans, i’m back again from my EAGLES PERCH looking DOWN at you all and having one hell of laugh. please do me one favor, stop with all this “we’ve got great talent” talk. YOU DON’T!!!. please see my post from 12/26 on jeff schultz column and enlighten yourselves. btw, its going to be cold in philly sunday evening, slim thug 7 doesn’t do to well in the cold.(see last years bears game).also he has to be home by midnight to bring in the new year with the rest of the hip hop atl thugs, great leader you guys have got there,really dedicated to the cause! gotta go falling out laughing.

By Cowher....not

December 28, 2006 11:45 AM | Link to this

Cowher won’t come here. He’s not a “consensus” coach (he speaks his mind, Arthur’s problem was that he wanted a “consensus” coach) and damn sure wouldn’t put up with Arthur on the sidelines.

By Jim P.

December 28, 2006 11:46 AM | Link to this

Keep Mora, Trade Vick.

Sounds Crazy, but we can get more draft picks, better WR’s with a decent coach. Have we all forgotten years past? A good year here and there, but more bad years than good? I know I have watched the Falcons lose more games than I will ever see them win in my life time. Mora is a good coach, a very good coach. Mike Vick has been very very very inconsistent. He is not worth what we are paying him. Trade Vick, Keep Mora.

By Phat Phalcon

December 28, 2006 11:49 AM | Link to this

I know that Whisenhunt is an Atlanta product and would be a solid hire based on qualifications and PR. I truly believe, however, that Russ Grimm is the better candidate. He’s 47 yrs. old, meaning that he’s mature yet still has time left and he’s been mentioned as a top HC candidate for a few years. I’ve said before that we don’t have time to groom a young one. The other main reason to hire Grimm: he was a perennial pro bowler as a member of THE HOGS!! He went to Pitt as the O-line coach and built a current version of the Hogs. Imagine Vick with that type of line. Grimm brings a toughness, a certain nasty streak. Watch how his line plays hard. I’d love Whisenhunt, but would prefer Grimm. Frankly I don’t know why you’d need to look elsewhere.

By Ryder

December 28, 2006 11:53 AM | Link to this

You know it’s funny, everyone says how awful Vick is, yet all I hear is how coaches would salivate at the chance to coach a young multi-talented QB with a rifle arm and the ability to run a 4.2 in a heartbeat. I hear how Gruden said he would even scrap his entire offense for the “Mike Vick offense”, and he would be the PERFECT coach for this team (too bad that won’t happen thanks to McKay). I believe anyone would jump at the chance to utilize ALL of Vick’s talents because when utilized properly Vick is a nightmare for any opposing defense. When you think about it the only person (other than Derrick Brooks) who has shut down Vick these past three years is his own offensive coordinator.

Deion Sanders as a coach? Wow could you imagine him sleeping in an office until 3am and sitting in meetings? I can’t either lol.

Ok, here is what the Falcons need:

Discipline, leadership and maximizing of talent. Regardless of who the new coach is, he must be able to provide that off the start, no questions asked.

Also, for all of Mike Vick’s frustration, the next coach is going to have to allow him to take charge on the field. That means being able to call audibles when he sees eight or nine guys in the box. On the field, this team is going to need protection from the O-line. Other than Leile, I don’t let any other receivers go (and NO T.O!) and allow them to grow together. We mentioned this last summer that this team needs a fire lit under their behinds and Mora is incapable of doing so.

However, if for any asinine reason Blank just has to keep him, other than there are no one else available, note to Arthur: YOU MUST FIRE KNAPP!!!! No questions asked. I have no problem with Donatell, as this defense is really good when healthy. As for Knapp he is the worst OC I have seen in years. Here’s a novel concept: let’s take the most talented QB to ever come into the league in history and put him in an offense that negates his greatest strength, which is throwing the ball downfield. I’m just mindboggled when I hear the stat that Vick hasn’t thrown a 4th quarter TD when under Reeves the Falcons were NEVER out of a game as long as #7 was behind center. Similar to the way Vince Young is to the Titans, Vick was to the Falcons. Why? Because he had an OC who allowed him to take over when the time called for it. Knapp is awful and if Blank/McKay really care that much for Vick then do what is best and get rid of the hindrance. I promise you all that if no other changes take place other than firing Knapp then the Falcons will have made significant progress!

By ReevesAgain

December 28, 2006 11:54 AM | Link to this

Ok, so here it is. We all were calling for Reeves to be fired 3 years ago. Now we understand, he should have stayed. Ok, bring him back, give him another shot. Get BLANK off the sidelines playing baby sitter to Vick. Vick needs to grow up too. He is one of the biggest problems. I would rather have a quarterback that can’t run, but can throw for 3,500 yards with consistency, than a 1,000 yard rusher at quarterback. We have blamed the Offensive Coodinator, the line, the receivers, but what about Vick? Could he be the real problem? So, let’s bring back Reeves, give him a couple of years, and if the quarterback is still as poor as he is today, then what? Maybe we should have kept the pick that San Diego used on Brees and let them have Vick.

By Jeff Schultz

December 28, 2006 12:05 PM | Link to this

Hello everybody. I’m interactive today. Just so you know, I read the blogs most days but don’t always post. I’ll try to do better but can’t promise I’ll leave up the standards sets by Notorious DOB (O’Brien). A few comebacks to some blogs:

Thanks all. Back soon. JS

By Da Coach

December 28, 2006 12:14 PM | Link to this

OFFER MIKE DITKA DA JOB! I think he is the perfect coach for this situation. He will definitely challenge his players to play with some heart and not take any sh—. I also think he could be THE COACH to get some consistency out of MV. He seems to have an understanding and appreciation for his unique skillset. He also gives me the idea that he might know how to bring out the best in him. He is a player’s coach, yet he is old school. As a Chicagoan I enjoyed having him when he coached Da Bears. I’ll never forget as a teenager the Monsters of The Midway! and our Super Bowl annilhilation of New England in New Orleans.

And he had some personalities on that team!

By JB

December 28, 2006 12:17 PM | Link to this

How taking a run at Jeff Fisher? Is he still unsigned? And if so also hire Norm Chow as offensive coordinator. That would take care of both sides of the ball. And Chow has shown and continues to show an aptitude in developing young QB’s. Make Chow an assistant head coach and pay him a boatload of money the day after you hire Fisher.

By ICEMAN

December 28, 2006 12:26 PM | Link to this

Jimmy Johnson may actually take the job. Mike Holmgren has proven that its better to just be a coach rather than coach and GM. Jimmy may look at the fact that the Seahawks didn’t go to the Super Bowl until that adjustment was made.You never know.

By tdogg

December 28, 2006 12:58 PM | Link to this

HOW ABOUT PHIL FULMER…

By JM

December 28, 2006 12:58 PM | Link to this

If I were a betting man, I’d say Whisenhunt is most likely to be our next head coach. If Cowher (who’s not coming to Atlanta, by the way) does step down in Pittsburgh, most insiders I’ve heard believe Grimm will get the head coaching job there over Whisenhunt, even though both are very qualified for the job. And since Whisenhunt presumably wants to be a head coach somewhere instead of returning to the Steelers as an offensive coordinator, that means he’ll be available.

Considering the fact that he’s a Georgia Tech alum and played for the Falcons, as someone already mentioned, it’s not a stretch to think the Falcons job would at least pique his interest.

By Falcons Stink

December 28, 2006 12:59 PM | Link to this

I’m not a Mora fan by any stretch of the imagination but I remember when he was hired. He was hired to bring in Knapp the darling offensive coordinator of everyone in the NFL to install the west coast offensive that Mr. Pee Wee quarterback could excel in, and to bring in Alex Gibbs who had designed the best running game in the NFL in Denver. These were seen as coups at the time. Now Gibbs and Knapp are bums and the players whine about the coaching, the AJC writers whine about the coaches, the fans whine about the coaching. What happened to these supposed geniuses. Hmm, they ran into a bunch of spoiled whining little brats who play for the Falcons. Whiners and criers that won’t put forth the effort to win. Until some of these players are gone it won’t matter what coach is brought in to replace the current regime, nothing will change because the same whining, losing athlete’s more concerned about stats, money and image will be in the locker room. Some of these players have to go. Bold: You can’t have the inmates running the asylum!

By DHD

December 28, 2006 01:00 PM | Link to this

Wade Phillips should have been named the coach instead of Mora. Let’s give him his shot.

By Reggie Ball

December 28, 2006 01:06 PM | Link to this

**Please, please, pleeeeeaase hire Coach Chan Gailey! He so smart, made me the 3 year starter…I mean 4. Anyway…Tech don’t deserve him. And maybe he draft me and trade Vick. I da man!

By Falcons Stink

December 28, 2006 01:14 PM | Link to this

Bottom line with the Falcons is that the players are weak and won’t put forth the effort to win a SuperBowl,i.e. Mike Vick! So in the end Atlanta you get to root for mediocrity and the same under achieving crap until Vick retires! Why is it that most self proclaimed NFL experts are afraid to criticize Mike Vick but they’ll crucify Reggie Ball, Rex Grossman, Eli Manning and others? Face it, Mike Vick plays worse then Reggie Ball on Saturday and even worse again on Sunday!

By Falcons Stink

December 28, 2006 01:17 PM | Link to this

Yeah right, Hire Chan Gailey. OMG he’d be worse then Mora!

By Chillymutt

December 28, 2006 01:32 PM | Link to this

Lack of quality candidates may help Mora - huh? And Mora is a quality coach – inferior quality.

Showing no composure, Mora falls to his knees, buries his face in hands as if to give up during a tough game as his team struggles to shake a losing streak.

States if he had a choice, he would pick Michael Vick as his quarterback over all other quarterbacks - ever. Over Bradshaw, Montana, S. Young, Brady, Farve …. REALLY ???

Begs for the University of Washington coaching job on public radio. Sure he was joking with his college buddy/interviewer. So why did Mora make such a strong argument of why he wanted the job that he shocked the interviewer/old friend compelling an awkward pause followed by “Wow”.

He says this week that he is “proud” of this team. So he is proud of this group of under achieving, finger pointing and lazy athletes. Well his eyes must be brown, ‘cause he is full of manure.

The team is not responding to his positive reinforcement at all cost style. Mora is a clown. Granted he is a sad clown but his team doesn’t respect him just the same. The only way I see Mr Blank keeping Mora is if the Falcons somehow make the playoffs and win at least one game and even that might not be enough.

By Tom

December 28, 2006 01:38 PM | Link to this

I didn’t see Mora drop one pass, miss one tackle or fall down throwing a block so how can it be his fault? And why is it that if this were every players last contract year the Falcons would probably win the Super Bowl. Isn’t that the year players play well?

By Sam

December 28, 2006 01:41 PM | Link to this

I could care less what happens to Mora. I don’t think he’s the worst head coach out there I just think he’s made some mistakes that any first time head coach would and they have really hurt his ability to field a good team. First and fore most, hiring friends as coordinators. He’s so close to Knapp that he can’t bring himself to fire him when anyone with half a brain can see he’s as bad an O-coordinator as there is. I’ve see my younger cousins put together better offensive schemes in a Madden game. If he had fired Knapp midseason (and Donatell too) then we all might be willing to give him another year. We could sit back and blame the coordinators for the struggles and they do deserve much of the blame. Mora, however, deserves the blame too. He’s the reason they’re still there. He’s put his own neck one the line for them and his head will likely roll for it.

This said, at least we can be comfortable in knowing that since Blank signs the checks, he can cut Mora completely out of the process and fire Knapp and Donatell on his own. So even if Blank does decide to keep Mora, hopefully he’ll stop listening to his pleas for his friends’ jobs and sack them on his own. Bringing in brighter coordinators will improve the team as greatly as anything else you could do.

Mora will make a good coach one day. He’ll learn from his mistakes and shape up. If we keep Mora and cut his coordinators I’ll be fine with that. If we get rid of all three I’ll be fine with it too. But if Knapp and Donatell are still bumbling on the sidelines next year in any capacity greater than a water boy, I’ll be done with the Falcons until they are.

All this said, if we can get Ken Whisenhunt then we need to see Mora at the Flowery Branch unemployment office as quickly as possible.

By Gt fan

December 28, 2006 01:47 PM | Link to this

JS….why did u not talk about what u thought about bringing Reeves back? hes the one who built this team and the only coach to ever take us to the Superbowl!! I think calvin johnson is the next michael irvin and the falcons should trade up in the draft to get him! Get a power back to complement either dunn or norwood and with some disipline well be a great team next year like we should of been this year!! Oyea and no more of that soft zone defense bs!

By chichi

December 28, 2006 01:52 PM | Link to this

I agree if anything new coordinators will be hired

By kg

December 28, 2006 01:53 PM | Link to this

Forget Bill Cowher, he’s under contract with the Steelers for another year. To get Gruden from Oakland, Tampa gave up a first round pick. Not going to happen. Forget Martz, he does not like Vick as qb. Forget Reeves, he’s not healthy. Forget Mike Ditka, he was coach of New Orleans and traded 7 picks to draft Ricky Williams. Forget June Jones, he would never leave Hawaii. He’s been a pro head coach for two teams and likes college ball better. Besides Jones thought Jeff George was the answer to all of his prayers, giving up among other things a first round pick for the guy. Otherwise agree with all the others, you can’t keep Mora just because you don’t think there’s anyone better. Blank has already said that 8-8 is not acceptable. How do you keep the coach after saying that? Cameron, Wisenhunt, Grimm, all would be a better choice than keeping Mora. And anyone who comes in and says that its going to take 3 years for a qb to learn his system is an idiot. Change your damn system.

By Hilton Head Falcon Fan

December 28, 2006 01:55 PM | Link to this

These players make a lot of money to play football. If they can’t throw, catch,block, or tackle, then just maybe we need to think about getting rid of some of these over-paid prima donnas and getting some players in who WANT to play and actually CAN play. And, let’s start with Vick- he’s in his sixth year and he’s not getting better. He’s not an NFL caliber passer. And, his attitude is not that of a team leader. It’s “me, me, me.” Read his quotes and see how many times he refers to himself. Trade him for a package, like the Cowboys did a while back with H. Walker.

By The J & J Show

December 28, 2006 02:08 PM | Link to this

I think June Jones and Jerry Glanville out there in Hawaii are now ready to do it right in the NFL - the first time they were here they were just warming up - i think they are really ready for prime time now and I know they would jump at the chance

By Ironfeet

December 28, 2006 02:12 PM | Link to this

For all of the posters who still lament the fact the the Falcons should have picked Tomlinson and Brees. Who knows who this team would have drafted with those picks. Remember, Dan Reeves was still running the draft for this team. Who know who the Falcons had on their draft board at the time. Hell, it could have been more tight ends for christ’s sake. Even if the Falcons would have, they still have not drafted top flight players on the OL to protect them. Drew Brees might be worse off than Vick is behind this current OL. LT would probably be two bad knees like Jamal Anderson. Nobody could have projected whether this team would be sucessful if this trade would have never happened. However, the root cause of this and last years debacle is the fact that they invested a lot of money in the stars but not their protectors. If this problem area were addressed this team would not have some of the offensive issues that currently plagues this team. Other than Knapp’s pedestrian playcalling that is.

By bird man

December 28, 2006 02:14 PM | Link to this

I’m a season ticket holder and I have a lot of friends that are also. We do not plan to purchase tickets next year unless there is some kind of change next year. I wasted a lot of money and very valuable time watching this group on none performers this year.

By PATRICK B

December 28, 2006 02:17 PM | Link to this

wah, wah, wah…it’s the falcons get over it ha ah ha.

By MK

December 28, 2006 02:30 PM | Link to this

Keep Mora…get rid of Vick and all the other panty-waist players.

By dirrtybird

December 28, 2006 02:31 PM | Link to this

Tom,

You did see Mora leave those players in after they dropped passes, missed tackles, and missed blocks. Those are preparation issues, and it’s a coach’s job to have his team prepared to play on Sunday. When one player plays bad, you replace the player. When an entire team plays bad, you replace the coaches. Simple.

By bird

December 28, 2006 02:40 PM | Link to this

Mr. Vick, I been a fan of yours every since you entered the league, but brother you will never reach your full potential unless you restructure your contract. The reason I say this is because the o-line is not pass blockers that don’t give you enough time to do your second and third read. Also, the defensive line has not lived up to their potential due to so many second stringers that are none performers. The team needs quality backups but there’s no money to make that happen. Brother if you really want to win think about this. My point is the money will come when you win championships. I know you feel you deserve the money you received but the fans are getting impatient and you maybe on the sideline next year watching instead doing what you do.

Additionally, Hurtwell please tell this organization they made a mistake and you ready to stop robbing Mr. Blank and the fans of Atlanta

By Arthur please.....

December 28, 2006 02:41 PM | Link to this

You should have fired him Sunday on the sideline. That game was embarassing.

By James Allen

December 28, 2006 02:47 PM | Link to this

First off Jeff you are confusing me here..So by default we should just accept the fact no one better than Mora at this time for the coaching position…but under Mora the Falcons are soft and unwatchable?

Second to all those that say Vick must has some explaining to do. It is obvious that Vick does not have the supporting cast to be an effective quarterback. First and foremost Atlanta is not a running team, stat wise and on paper yes it show they can run. But you cannot win being one-dimensional. Second for any team to have any success you must have recivers that will catch with some consistancy.Not this every other game crap.

When it comes to the run Atlanta is inconsitant as well, no one wants to admit but Dunn is to small to running up the middle with the big lines and linebackers. Duckett will be missed. Good idea with the one-two punch of running backs, but seriously Norwood should have been the bulk of the carries, and Justin Griffin in short yardage.

People the problem is that this coaching stafff does not know how to use Vick. Vick do not need to be involved in every play. The threat that he touches the ball on every play is what gives Defensive Coordintaters problems. Vick has to the general on the field. He should have a consistant runner to give the ball to in long and short yardage and have the recievers to pass to to loosen the defense up. And just when you think you have figured the falcons out then you surprise with the dimision of Vick in an offense can do for you. It has been proven, Vick as the strongest arm than any of todays NFL quarterbacks. He can throw on the run, as well as run it himself. You do not have to cute to get this guy on a role, just need him to be a quarterback and utilize his skills when think they have you figured out.

Vick is an outstanding quarterback. He has regressed under a coach that did not know how to progress a quarterback. Fancy plays does not get the job done.

James

By pistoffalconsfan

December 28, 2006 02:54 PM | Link to this

Firt thing I want to say and get off my chest is….. Learn what a “THUG” is before you start calling people that. These “THUGS” have given to communities, spoken too school, and if I have read correctly have not gotten into any type of trouble with the law. If you look at thuggish behaviour look at cincy and chicago they have arrests going on throughout the year. If you equate “THUGS” as a person with cornrows in their hair as a “THUG” then it just shows what some people are scared of. You know who these people are that I am referring too.

Now to football, Get rid of the O.C. His plays are below elementary, Madame cleo can predist what his play calling will be. A majority of the falcons first play from scrimmage is run left. Dunn is an undersized quick back. He is most effective when he can hide behind some bigger linemen. Hence why we should draft linemen that he can run behind not dance behind because they, the linemen, haven’t been blown off the ball. Next we need a wide receivers coach not an ex-offensive lineman who was converted into one. Try going after Jerry rice and see if he would be interested in the position. A Lineman never ever touches the ball nor does he understand the nuances of catching the ball. Rice would be a great pick up cause he could teach technique.

Get rid of the D.C. since it seems that the one we have can’t make gametime adjustments. This flex nickle defense we play is killing us. Playing ten yards off allows slants and hitches. A five yard completion is just to easy. Depending on the closing speed of your DB’s is not working. Can anyone remember when anyone in our secondary has jumped a route for a pick? You can’t do that when you are playing that far off the ball. Also not playing Jimmy Williams this late in the season shows how bad someone’s evaluation of talent is.

As far as our linebacking core is, it’s just about time for Brooking to do what Tuggle did for him. Prepare a younger back and prepare to sit down. I love brooking but time is beginning to show. We have speedsters at that position but they can’t get any consistent playing time. I’m not saying sit brooking down completely but reality is what it is.

Finally Vick has to become a leader. Sitting on the bench and sulking is not the definition of a leader. Look at the premier quarterbacks. When things are good they are talking with their teammates. When things are bad they are in their faces or even cussing themselves. Vick just sits there with Knapp. Not even looking at him or seeing what he is writing down. That validates what he thinks of his play calling. If your Quarterback and O.C. can’t work on the same page rather if your quarterback doesn’t trust his playcalling then what do you expect what will happen?

Finally the most important thing they need as a team is heart. There are just somethings that shouldn’t happen. You just don’t stink it up at home. Pride should have you place the best product on the field and there has not been any. Where is the gumption in this team? Someone has to step and and demand that people respect you and the falcons will get the calls that other teams get

By 74 DAWG

December 28, 2006 03:03 PM | Link to this

the primary problems with this team are the personel at a couple of positions and lack of depth. you can’t have depth when you pay 3 or 4 players more than they are worth.especially when u pay an un proven qb $130,000,000, or about what peyton manning makes. IDIOTS.

By Wise Man

December 28, 2006 03:04 PM | Link to this

How about fire Vick!

By 2 Can Play That Game

December 28, 2006 03:06 PM | Link to this

Bobby Ross!

By Fire Mora

December 28, 2006 03:13 PM | Link to this

For the bloggers down on Vick, outside of Brady and McNabb what QB has done as much as he in the last 4 years post season wise. He is on par with Manning, Hassleback and has done more than all the other beloved classic dropback QB’s. He has tried to run this screwed up system to his and the teams detriment. Vick will flourish as history has proven under a traditional attack and can alib when need be. Not a system based on adlibing after the first read. Mora just was not ready need more grooming as a proven coordinator. This team needs a established coach with proven credentials.

By pistoffalconsfan

December 28, 2006 03:18 PM | Link to this

everyone harps on vick’s 130 million dollar contract. Look it’s a high number but, when you are gtting beat up like because of your line’s inability too block why not. Besides Do you not realize how much money he has made the Falcons organization as a whole? It’s bigger than what’s on the field. Yeah, we as fans may not see it but from an economic stand point Blank had to lock down one of the most popular athletes in todays sports world. Look at the NBA and the high contracts those players receive. The falcons get a piece of every endorsement, shoe sale, jersey sale that Vick makes. So hell yeah pay him the money. If we were putting A-1 product on the field they would make more money off of hime than that contract would ever pay. Keep in mind that’s 130 mil over ten years. Blank is a buisness man and he knows that Vicks noteriety will pay part of that.Yeah we as fans are the stake holders. but there are a lot of silent partners. Our reward come in wins. There’s come in money. Remember it’s always about the money, and that’s the bottom line.

By Ronni Meh-hi-ko

December 28, 2006 03:27 PM | Link to this

Vick has herpes and passed it along to his girlfriend. This makes him a degenerate. he has stated that he wants to get that PHL game over & done with so he can get back to hippity-hopping on new year’s eve in ATL. THUG!

By Dove Bar

December 28, 2006 03:32 PM | Link to this

All you racist blacks want Fattie Green, Ro-mio Crenel, Mikey Singletery, Lovey Smith et al for head coach candidates. You won’t be happy until Falky is 100% blackie.

Hey, what about Art shell? He’ll be available on Monday.

By Ronny

December 28, 2006 03:34 PM | Link to this

Another blogger mentioned Ralph Friedgen at Maryland. Could work. Ralph was offensive coordinator under Bobby Ross at Tech. Just a super offensive mind. Ralph followed Bobby to San Diego. They went to the Super Bowl, didn’t win though. Ralph’s at his Alma Mater, however, and might not want to leave. He’s turned Maryland completely around. One possible issue—Ralph has had a serious weight problem for years, and has gotten even heavier in recent years. He must be up to 375 now. The weight issue has plagued Charlie Weis for years, and it’s been rough for him personally and physically. But he seems to be doing just fine now. One idea— maybe Ralph and Grady Jackson could have a weight-loss contest. That would lead to lots of attention! Grady’s done pretty well this year. But can you imagine how good he’d be if he shed about 50 lbs! I just think it’s tough to make players get in shape if you, as a coach, are out of shape yourself.

By Ty pryor

December 28, 2006 03:42 PM | Link to this

Ken Whisenhunt will be the next coach of the Falcons or the Steelers. If Mr. Blank makes it clear they want a “yes man”, then he will coach the steelers. Football coaches need to be dictators, not “consensus” guys.

By Titothebear

December 28, 2006 03:52 PM | Link to this

I don’t have a problem with Mike Vick taking a salary he’s not worth. I would have signed that contract myself, without any hesitation. The real issue is whether he deserves to be a quarterback in the NFL at all. He’s proved to my satisfaction that he does not! It is time to make a change. Anyone who saw last week’s game against the Panthers has to attribute that loss to his poor play. People often talk of Vick’s shouldering the team and carrying them but I don’t see it. The Foulcons were lucky to finish at five hundred last season and they won’t be able to do that well this season. Vick is an albatross and he must be jettisoned in order for the team to improve. It all comes down to winning and Vick is a loser!

By 1618

December 28, 2006 03:54 PM | Link to this

The Falcons have only a few problems that need to be tweaked. They are: an Offence that can’t offend, a Defence that can’t defend, Special teams that can’t be special, General Manager that can’t manage, and Coaches who can’t coach. Aside from that, they have nice looking uniforms…

By Tee

December 28, 2006 03:55 PM | Link to this

Stop Stop Stop!!! Sometimes you have to look at yourself in the mirror and say hey it’s not the coach it’s me! I don’t blame the coaches for everything that has gone wrong with the football team. I blame the players! They are on the field getting ran the @#$$ over on defense, they are the ones who can’t catch a !@#$^&* cold when a ball is thrown to them, they are the ones that the ownership has signed and only played four &^%$#@! games once they have signed those big contract deals. Or they are the ones that giving us the finger once they are p** off! Then there is the coaching staff which says hey i would rather be somewhere else. What kind of crap is that. Then there is the fans(US) Who pay to see our beloved falcons or watch them on tv. We deserve better than this! I have been a Hawks, Braves, thrashers,Falcons, and bulldog all of my life. But at this point I am ashamed to say that am from GA by the way our teams have played. So Falcon players i hope you are reading! Get your #@$%^&* heads out of your four points of contact and win a damn game. Stop pointing the finger and look at yourself and just win the game. You Say that you are better than 7-8 or 8-8 well damn it show me!!!!!!!!!

By Kerry

December 28, 2006 04:12 PM | Link to this

Anyone watching the Falcons who can still come on here and post that the problem is vick needs to officially hang up their football card. Anyone watching these guys run the same ridiculous plays over and over again and still say Vick is the problem, needs a lobotomy(sp?). Anyone watching and not able to deduce that our offensive line Sucks just doesn’t get it. It’s not Vick, folks. Sorry. I know you hate him and his cornrows and his hip-hop speech and his do-rag and his herpes, but even with all that, it’s not him. find someone else to malign, like, hmmm Knapp and Mora maybe? Please catch a clue and wipe the drool off the side of your mouth…

By martin

December 28, 2006 04:15 PM | Link to this

when will people in Atlanta realize that the falcons are a .500 team at best on a yearly basis. Coach Mora is doing all he can with that roster. Vick is the most overpaied and rated player in the league.

Art Blank needs to decide if making money off Vick or winning competing for a title is more important. They cannot do both.

By JeffD

December 28, 2006 04:16 PM | Link to this

**What are the Falcons doing?

Why did they sign McClure to a 5 year extension? Does this really mean they are sticking with the cut blocking scheme? This is just ridiculous!! I guess we can forget about getting any big offensive linemen to protect Vick.

I am losing all faith in Arthur Blank.**

By Mad Dawg

December 28, 2006 04:16 PM | Link to this

Donald Igwebuike

You are nothing but a racist pig. You should really grow up and take your racists antics somewhere else. It is very uncalled for and even more unwanted.

Your parents wouldn’t be proud of you if they saw you using this type of verbage, would they?

Stop It! It’s unnecessary!!!!!!!!!!

By CK

December 28, 2006 04:25 PM | Link to this

I bet Marion Campbell would love another shot at coaching the Falcons…. or how about Jerry Glanville… the run an shoot just might work for Vick.

By Just Bob

December 28, 2006 04:29 PM | Link to this

*Coaches don’t drop passes. Coaches don’t miss blocks. Coaches don’t make bad split-second decisions on the field. Coaches don’t exhibit a lethargic attitude. Coaches don’t often whine that their players caused the team to lose. Coaches can’t force or intimidate players into performing well. Coaches don’t do their jobs with blatantly selfish motivation or to pad their stats.

But hey, when you’re frustrated you better fire the coach because you can’t fire the players. Too bad.

By No Bill

December 28, 2006 04:32 PM | Link to this

Cowher will not come to the Falcons, where the owner is a league joke. He’s going to sit out a year and take $10 million from the boy billionaire to take the reins of the Redfaces, after old man Gibbs dies or retires. DC is not far from Raleigh, and that is major consideration number 2. Atlanta is 356 air miles from Cowher’s mansion, and he wants to spend nights at home with wife and daughter #3.

By pistoffalconsfan

December 28, 2006 04:34 PM | Link to this

dove bar get a grip. YOu are the main one with a young jeezy cd in your cd player. You love it secretly. Remember envy is the greatest form of flattery so from a “racist blackie” thanks Now on to better subjects I do agree with you tithobear in regards to Vick’s leadership. it is awful. That’s why he has to have a strong coach to keep a foot in his a*. This is his third year in this afflicted system. I believe we can all agree that this system sucks egg. This quarterback is a phenom you can’t put him in a regimented system. It takes from his talent. In the pro-set you can adlib as necessary. This offense is built on timing. If your qb has no time then everything will be off. Football is a thinking mans game and you have to be free os mental distractions. You think manning, brady, Rivers, Mcnair, hell even Garcia , are wondering as to whether or not their line will protect them. No. Not even Romo has that problem. Football is a complex yet simple game and you complicate the situation when you have your quarterback over thinking what has to be done

By CK

December 28, 2006 04:36 PM | Link to this

Go to Hawaii and get June Jones Back…

By rodney

December 28, 2006 04:36 PM | Link to this

It takes a lot of patience to be a Falcon fan. I know, I’ve been one since the early years as a child. It’s so frustrating. Can’t figure them out. The Falcons looked like a playoff team at the beginning of the season…now they look confused. It has got to be coaching. Mora must go. There have been many Falcon coaches who were better than him. Dan Reeves, Leeman Bennet, and yes Norm Van Brocklin. The confusion and lack of discipline I see now reminds me of the days of Jerry Glanville, but without the flash.

By pistoffalconsfan

December 28, 2006 04:39 PM | Link to this

you had to go there with the herpes thing

By keeping it real

December 28, 2006 04:42 PM | Link to this

Norm Chow!

By dirrtybird

December 28, 2006 04:44 PM | Link to this

How can you be mad at Mike Vick for accepting that contract? Who on this board would not accept money being thrown their way? Management is who you need to address. Vick or any other player would be absolutely stupid to turn down $130 million. Sounds like a bunch of people are just jealous more than anything else. In a few years, his contract won’t seem that big anyways. Just wait and see what kind of contract Vince Young or the next big thing gets. Trust me, if I could offer you that kind of money, you would take it and laugh at all of the jealous people who tried to poke at you. Vick is the only QB who can play behind this O-Line. Schaub is a good QB but would get destroyed in this system that provides no protection.

Did you know that Schaub is a Thug? Been arrested for fighting.

Trust me, you want Vick playing QB because he might go race cars next. Then you people would probably set the city on fire.

By sugarlee

December 28, 2006 04:48 PM | Link to this

How about hiring Dan Reeves as OC then that way Mora and Donatell can learn a few more tricks from an old dog. The offence was the biggest problem of all.

By Duv Bah

December 28, 2006 04:51 PM | Link to this

“YOu are the main one with a young jeezy cd in your cd player. You love it secretly.”

What the fudge are you talking about, Racist Blackie? Imitation, not envy (as you said), is the most sincere form of flattery, but you have to know what you are copying. And, since I don’t have the foggiest what you are ebonically referring to, I couldn’t possibly be imitating it.

How bout dis? Vicki, she be bettah sooted fa kote jestah dan kotter bak. Keeepin’ it reel, bro.

Goan git back to da ATL from da PHL soon ta hip-hop da niteaway.

By The Pittsburgh Stealer

December 28, 2006 04:55 PM | Link to this

I have a question for the pathetic jock sniffers who worship at Vick’s throne:

What is your savior’s record in his last 18 games?

Answer: 7-11.

Bonus question:

How many playoff games has your savior won since 2004?

Answer: Zero.

Conclusion: Most Falcon fans are losers who try to forget the emptiness of their own pitiful existences by living vicariously through Vick. This is why they give their savior ALL of the credit for the team’s wins, but NONE of the blame for the team’s losses.

Unfortuately for these tragic human beings, Vick, too, is a loser.

However, since ATLiens value style over substance, Vick is the perfect mascot for a city in which most of the citizens drive around town with $2,000 rims on their 1987 Ford Escorts.

Enjoy those rims, y’all, because that’s as close to a Super Bowl ring as the Falcons will ever get.

By JSC

December 28, 2006 05:00 PM | Link to this

I am a season ticket holder and it’s already hard enough to come up with more and more $$$ each year to keep my seats. Do they honestly think keeping Mora and Co. for another year of THIS makes me want to come back? When they’re back to 30,000 in the seats on a good day then what?

By Kerry

December 28, 2006 05:00 PM | Link to this

No, coaches don’t drop passes and exhibit lacksadaisical attitudes. However, they do set the tone. If they are always trying to be the friend of the player, it sets a different tone on the field and on the sidelines. The discipline is just not there on this team and it starts at the top. These guys are a joke and it was a joke to bring them here. I am living for the day when a decent coaching staff is installed in Atlanta and each and every one of these no brain football fans have to eat their words that Vick is the second coming of the devil. So sad and sick. and I have to echo the thought that Schaub would be on life support by now playing behind this O-line. God, buy a brain!!!

By Dennis

December 28, 2006 05:01 PM | Link to this

Recipe for future success:

1. Fire Mora and staff. Guy is emotionally immature at best and has lost control of team. Can’t be buddies w/players first (see: Parcells, Belichek, etc) & expect to win.
2. Trade Mike Vick. Mike’s a great player, best athelete in the league by far, but team leans on him too heavily to make plays which is more than he can do week in and week out. He wins games and puts his heart and soul and body out there but long term, it’s not sustainable. Trade him while you can (Oakland?), get a couple or 3 first rounders and put Schaub in there. When Belicheck had Bledsoe coming back after injury, he chose to keep Brady at QB, he said because otherwise, guys would have been looking to Bledsoe to make plays and would have let up. With Brady in (and he’s matured greatly since then), guys knew they had to step up. Our guys know that intellectually but not in practice.
3. Arthur, we love you, best thing to happen to Falcon’s football ever, but get off the sidelines. It’s a distraction. You are the owner, not the coach or players. Do what you do well, which is bring people into the stands and empower your GM & coach.
4. Hire a proven NFL winner or a top-line assistant coach. Yes, assistant coaches can be a crapshoot, but look at Mangini with Jets, Lovie Smith, etc? Find the best one and hire them. ‘Nuff said there.
5. Fans, get used to the fact this MAY not be a one-year turn around but may take a couple of years.

Borrowing from North Carolina basketball: Matt Doherty recruited all of the players that won the championship a few years ago but lost control of the team. They had to bring in a better leader, which was Roy Williams. SAME EXACT players, different leader and different results. Can’t get there from here. FIRE MORA!!

By dirrtybird

December 28, 2006 05:03 PM | Link to this

Dove Bar,

It’s really a shame that you never left the county lines and that your view on life is so narrow. In the end, you only hold yourself back. The rest of us scratch our heads at your posts and then move on in the much bigger world that we live in. Those of us outside of the south, view the south kinda of like the Falcons. A whole lot of talent that just can’t see the big picture and move on from the past. It seems to me like the South needs a new coach. All this time, and yet so many people haven’t adjusted their game plan. Really sad, and really a waste of talent. Oh well, drink one up for ignorance. It’s everywhere, on both sides of the ball. Black and White. Tall and Short. Fat and Skinny. It’s really a shame that after all of this time, people still can’t see past something so unimportant. Skin Color. Here’s to hoping the South gets a new coach as well.

By Billy

December 28, 2006 05:09 PM | Link to this

Terminate Mora and McKay, bring in Jimmy Johnson as our head coach & general manager! Ten year season ticket holders, Hville, AL

By Luv Ma-sheen

December 28, 2006 05:22 PM | Link to this

“Trust me, you want Vick playing QB because he might go race cars next. Then you people would probably set the city on fire.”

Who talkin’ bout “you people”? Yoo meen dos chalky fokes? Dem ol’ ‘necks’?

Well, I sure would like to see Ronny “hurpies’ Mexico in a stock car, runnin’ roun’ dat track at 180 mph. Just hopin he finds spot without those new-fangled “safer barriers.”

By TIM DAWG

December 28, 2006 05:24 PM | Link to this

12th in overall offense

21st in points scored by offense

Where is TJ Duckett or any big running back who can bash the ball in short yardage or red zone? A big back would take a tremendous amount of pressure off of vick, dunn, norwood, and the receivers by getting the defense and the linebackers and safeties sucked into the middle of the field, thereby opening things up for the receivers downfield and allowing Vick and Dunn and Norwood to be even more explosive on the edges than they already are. THAT IS A COACHING PROBLEM!! THIS IS ALSO A PERSONNEL/GM/OWNER PROBLEM BY NOT PROVIDING THE TEAM WITH A POUNDER IN THE MIDDLE AND BY ALSO TRADING TJ AS A WAY FOR BLANK TO AVENGE A 2002 DRAFT DAY GRUDGE WITH REEVES ABOUT THE DRAFTING OF DUCKETT AFTER BLANK HAD OVERSPENT FOR DUNN. that is why a big back in this offense would be so essential especially if the coaches were smart enough to get the defense sucked in and then use vick runs to the outside, dunn & norwood runs and screens to the outside, and deep play action tosses to the receivers. THis offensive group is being set up to fail by their owner/GM/coaches. Think back to 1998. The offensive attack of that team was entirely predicated upon the awesome Jamal pounding all day up the middle thereby opening up alot of things for chandler and his receivers. it is kind of funny isn’t it that as soon as jamal went down, all the offensive guys who looked good the year before looked terrible the next year. isn’t also kind of funny that an offensive line which was great in 1998 by opening things up for jamal looked like dogs the next few years and get chandler knocked all over the field because things were no longer getting opened up for the offensive by the awesome jamal. BLANK GO GET YOURSELF A GM WHO KNOWS YOU NEED TO HAVE AN OFFENSE PREDICATED UPON A STRONG BIG BACK AND THEN GET COACHES WHO WILL BASE THE ENTIRE TEAM UPON A TRUE RUNNING ATTACK THAT IS FIRST BASED UPON POUNDING THE BALL. THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU GET RID OF DUNN OR NORWOOD. THEY CAN BE VERY USEFUL WHEN PARTNERED UP WITH A BIG BACK. DUNN, UNFORTUNATELY WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO BE LET GO THIS OFFSEASON BECAUSE NORWOOD IS THE NEW YOUNGER CHEAPER GUY WHO CAN DO THE SAME THINGS DUNN CAN DO. BUT THEY NEED TO GET THEMSELVES A BIG BOPPER. IF THEY DO THAT AND THE COACHES ARE SMART ENOUGH TO USE THEM, THEN THINGS WILL DEFINITELY CHANGE IN OUR OUTLOOK OF AND THE FORTUNES OF VICK, NORWOOD, THE RECEIVERS AND THE O-LINE.

and for all the ignorant folks who act like vick is just a turnover machine, the falcons have only committed 19 turnovers all season which ranks the falcons fifth for fewest turnovers in the league.

By jean

December 28, 2006 05:27 PM | Link to this

I see you point but I don’t agree with it. I cannot stand another season “As the MOron Turns”. What about Ralph Friedgen?? He seems like a good candidate to me, offensively anyway. Mora is full of you-know-what & he sold Arthur a bill of goods. Doesn’t mean he’s not a nice guy, albeit an arrogrant dunderhead. Fans will not pay to see this team next year, intact. Firing Elmo the offensive coordinator will not be enough to put butts in the seats. Everyone on this team deserves a share of the blame for what happened this wasted season. But everyone can’t be fired, unfortunately. We will never be rid of Mike Vick because of the ridiculous contract given to him. Who would want to take him off of our hands?? No one. Vick is just as much to blame, he is as inconsistent as they come & for him to say to the PHilly media that he did his best week in & week out is assinine. Take a hard look in the mirror Mike. You made alot of bad decisions this year, yes, the receivers had alot of drops but you threw your fair share of interceptions, my man! The playcalling was atrocious, the o-line also inconsistent…don’t even get me started on the defense! If Abe could play every game opposite Kearney, we’d be fine but that ain’t happenin’, obviously. Linebacker needs an upgrade as does the secondary. But to stay pat with Jimbo b/c there isn’t anyone else is not true. I would rather go backwards a little bit than continue to slug through the crap as we are. At least if we lost playing hard, I would take that but this is disgusting. I’m waiting to see, Arthur, don’t disappoint us, please!!!!!

By tilecon

December 28, 2006 05:34 PM | Link to this

Why not Jimmie Johnson? Give him full control and get Blank off the sidelines. He would certaintly control the prima-donnas.

By fansince66

December 28, 2006 05:39 PM | Link to this

Jeff, Nice article, but I take issue with one point. I don’t see how you can can say Singletary is Mora three years ago. Maybe on paper they are, but one is a coach’s kid who grew up in the film room. The other is Mike Singletary one of the most clutch players in NFL history. Whether he can translate that drive into head coaching is anyone’s guess, but I sure wouldn’t say he was Jim Mora.

By harry

December 28, 2006 05:41 PM | Link to this

what they need to do is go get bill parcells and randy moss! problem solved…

By dirrtybird

December 28, 2006 05:43 PM | Link to this

If Jimmie Johnson wanted to Coach instead of playing golf and being a TV analyst he would be doing it. I seriously doubt that anyone can pull Jimmy Johnson out of retirement. The dolphins couldn’t do it, and he lives in Miami doesn’t he? Jimmy Johnson bashes Vick on TV all the time anyways. Why would he coach him? I don’t see it happening.

By deecee

December 28, 2006 05:45 PM | Link to this

I keep seeing the name of Cam Cameron coming up as a possible choice. PLEASE DONT HIRE HIM!! Living in Indiana, he was the head coach at Indiana University. Without Antwaan Randle El, he had nothing going for him here as a head coach, and the team’s record was lousy every year. Cameron’s success lies with the likes of LaDanian Tomlinson and Schottenheimer, not his own abilities.

So go get Whisenhunt from Pittsburgh or Martz from Detroit, but leave Cameron in San Diego please.

By The Baron

December 28, 2006 05:54 PM | Link to this

BRING BACK THE MAN IN BLACK!!!!! Hire Glanville to coach the DEFENSE and June to coach the OFFENSE with Dan Reeves as Head Coach - I guarantee the sissy defense will make the Dome the House of PAIN it once was and the players won’t get away with all the crap that has gone on - June Jones knows how to score points and will rev up the offense and WE NEED BIGGER OFFENSIVE LINEMEN - who can open real holes so everything doesn’t have to be a cut back - THE MAN IN BLACK won’t stand for B.S. and missed assignments and Hartwell’s lame hitting (Did he hit anybody since he’s been here?) These coaches know the city & team and should have pressure put on them to win - all the glad handing of Mora makes me puke! He lost this team 10 games ago & should have been fired when we lost to Detroit & Cleveland back to back - he is a child in a man’s game and we are wasting our short time with a real superstar named Vick.

By BP

December 28, 2006 06:31 PM | Link to this

I say Blank screwed up by removing Reeves. Reeves had an injured Mick Vick and losing season and got fired. Replacing Reeves set back Michael Vick when he was moving forward. I respect Blank and his dedication, but he doesn’t need to be in the immediate presence of players or coaches during games. I say if Dan Reeves is healthy enough, beg him back and let him collaberate with Rich McKay concerning acquisition of players. Reeves worst downfall was his sometimes poor assessment of talent (i.e., Tommy Maddox) and refusal to let it go.

I’d even say bring in June Jones and Jerry Glanville. June Jones with a Michael Vick wouldn’t have an offense dropping balls and Jerry has taken one of the worst defenses in D-1 NCAA and moved them into the top 50 in just two years. Those two would be doing a much better job than the current staff.

I’d also look at Wade Phillips who is at San Diego….what a job they are doing there.

By j bird

December 28, 2006 06:36 PM | Link to this

Can the reporters tell the players and coaches how we feel. The 12th man should also be heard because we do pay these guys salary.

By Roger David

December 28, 2006 06:41 PM | Link to this

How about Dion ‘Prime Time’ Sanders?

Just kidding.

By chuck e

December 28, 2006 06:43 PM | Link to this

Dirtybird is right. Jimmy Johnson thinks Vick is a freak that’s fun to watch but can’t stand him as an NFL QB. He’s always saying that Vick can’t be a consistent passing QB, and you have to be able to pass in this league to win the big enchilada! Best hope is for Whisenhunt. Arthur make the offer.

By No Hoper

December 28, 2006 06:48 PM | Link to this

Vick is an idiot who said all he remembers about the NFC championship game in 2004 was that it was cold and he wishes he had taken it more “seriously.”

Huh?

What does it mean when the so-called quarterback admits he wasn’t taking “seriously” the game that gets you to the Big One?

By Roy

December 28, 2006 07:01 PM | Link to this

The truth is its not the coach it Mike Vick, Yes the coach killer! You can’t coach someone who can’t read defences or has no accuracy. He seems to be following the same path his cousin did. I don’t know why people can’t see this, first it was P. Price,than the young recivers,than it was the Off.line, than it was a couple of coachs they fired, than it was Gregg Knapp, then it was Jim Mora, than it was we don’t know what we are a running team or a passing team. Does anyone see a pattern here, everyone’s fault but Mike Vick! I have one question for A. Blank would you fire Ron Mexico for giving a customer the finger at the Home Depot? He’s a nice Image for your team Mr.Blank!

By Len

December 28, 2006 07:03 PM | Link to this

How can you overlook the performance of Hawaii this past year , especially after last weekend? I think Michael Vick would be the perfect QB for the run and shoot. Plus, Jerry Glanville would straighten out our defence.

But seriously, how can you have a discussion regard Falcon coaches without even bring up the Swamp Fox?

By Tyger

December 28, 2006 07:03 PM | Link to this

Falcons need a coaching change in the worst way, Mora hasnt added anything to this team in 3 yrs. These were Dan Reeves’ players and they were successful.

Mora inherited those players and a healthy Vick, changed the system to a speedier and softer gimmicky brand of Broncos football that doesnt work in the black and blue NFC.

By Carroll

December 28, 2006 07:20 PM | Link to this

Larry: unless you’re talking about hiring Del Rio as a D coordinator, I hope you’re joking. Living in Jax and following the Jaguars, I can tell you that the guy is every bit the idiot that Mora is, just not quite so immature perhaps.

By Local Yokel

December 28, 2006 07:29 PM | Link to this

Jeff, are you meshugenah? Jim Mora has brought back the ghosts of Falcons’ teams past. This group of underachieving, un-disciplined players need some adult supervision, not an immature “player’s coach”. Mark my words, Arthur Blank will fire Jim Mora by the end of next week. There are numerous candidates to conisder, who will be better than Jim Mora.

By gg

December 28, 2006 07:34 PM | Link to this

why not keep mora as head coach, get rid of knapp and donatell and get some decent coordinators here. i mean for me i’m not crazy about mora, but the players seem to like him. i don’t know, i mean everyone seems to think a new head coach is going to turn things around, but three years later we may be here saying the same things.

By luke

December 28, 2006 07:43 PM | Link to this

Jimmy Johnson thinks Vick is a freak that’s fun to watch but can’t stand him as an NFL QB.

Arthur,

Hire Jimmy tomorrow. He’s the only potential who sees thru the homer fog.

By William

December 28, 2006 07:50 PM | Link to this

If they do fire Jimmy boy (which they more than likely will) I think Mike Singletary would be an interesting pick as head coach. Could you imagine him as head coach and Rob Ryan (if the raiders decide to clean house) as defensive coordinator. You’d have proteges of the bears 46 defense in Atlanta leading this team in the right direction. Then hire an offensive coordinator who’ll devise a balanced attack and help Vick and the offense put some points on the board consistently. It doesn’t have to be pretty just effective, a.k.a Baltimore Ravens. If not Singletary, then Ron Rivera, Ken Whisenhunt, Russ Grimm, Jeff Fisher (if available), Wade Phillips, Rex Ryan, or Josh McDaniels and Dean Pees from New England would make fine coaches. Anything is better than the staff we have now.

By KC

December 28, 2006 07:56 PM | Link to this

Hey, don’t be mad at Blank he’s just a Corporate Dumb@$$. He hired Mora because he brought “BOOKS”.

Thanks Arty, you moron.

By LETS JOIN REALITY

December 28, 2006 08:15 PM | Link to this

All this talk about Jimmy Johnson, Steve Spurrier, etc. is CRAZY. We might as well be talking about hiring Jesus Himself to coach the Falcons - that’s as likely as even Cowher coming to Atlanta.

Mora isn’t a quality NFL coach, nor is a known herpes carrier (Mike Vick) a quality NFL quarterback.

NFL quarterbacks are NOT SUPPOSED to run the ball (all that much). About the most an NFL quarterback should run the ball is MAYBE up to 600 yards a season, 700 TOPS. Anything more than that proves they guy can’t read defenses - meaning he’s dumb, and all he has is his feet. Despite being called “foot”ball, the game is not necessarily won with the feet, but with the brain.

This team is lacking brains.

By L.D.

December 28, 2006 08:21 PM | Link to this

Hand raised Ummmm….just a quick suggestion, but why not give Charlie Weis a call…..and then maybe an offer…..and then maybe a BIG, can’t-turn-it-down offer?

I mean, Dan Reeves was here, lost 3 Super Bowls prior to getting here, and gave this team the only measureable success it’s ever had, why not get a guy that has won 3 Super Bowls?

Just a thought.

By Voice of Reason

December 28, 2006 08:21 PM | Link to this

People….puhlease. Please stop talking about how Mike Vick is the problem. Puhlease. First, let’s talk about the contract….we’re not cash strapped because of the cap, nor is his contract exorbitant in the early years. His cap hit hits 12.4 mil next year and you can expect him to restructure after that. Anybody who knows football money, knows that you give long contracts to prorate the signing bonus. Stop crying about the 130 mil cuz Vick’s not going to see all of that just like P. Manning won’t see all 98 mil over 7 years that he signed 3 years ago. Bottom line is, if you feel like he’s the problem because he takes up too much of the cap and we can’t sign other free agents…say so and back it up with some money data; if you say he’s the problem because he doesn’t play hard, well, or both…say so, and then back it up by talking about how we have solid players around him, solid coaching, and a solid scheme that compliments his strengths. Problem is, no one does that. I hear thug, i hear how he doesn’t play up to his contract. Where is the info to back this up? It’s all conjecture. Will anybody who defends Mora step up and say that the team seems prepared week end and week out. Will they also say that the team plays with discipline. At the end of the day, the probability that Mora is a Super Bowl coach is less that the probability that Vick is a Super Bowl qb. Bothered by the last part of that, go check SB history for QB’s that’ve won it all and you’ll see that they don’t have to be great, just good. Vick is here to stay till at least 08/09. That’s when the 22.5 mil roster bonus will start to wear off and he could be cut. If we’ve got three years of him left, let’s try and find lightning in a bottle with either an up and coming O-coordinator and top ten D former coordinator HC or vice versa. Lastly….here’s something to chew on. Isn’t it funny how you can pick out something special about each super bowl coach or their coordinators. Belichick, Cowher, Billick-Marvin Lewis, Gruden-Kiffin, Dick Vermeil-Mike Martz. Does Mora fit that bill….a little bit?

By Keith Helms

December 28, 2006 08:30 PM | Link to this

To solve a problem, you must identify the problem first. The Falcon’s coaching problem is named Mike Vick. His right hand man is named Arther Blank. Vick is the Falcon’s T.O. He must be the top star or he will destroy the team, just as he is doing now. Vick is a fine athlete with the ability tobe a good quarterback, but not with his selfish “Me or no one attitude”.

By gg

December 28, 2006 08:30 PM | Link to this

Why not give Mark Richt a chance? He has consistently won at UGA with the exception of this past season and he runs a pro-style offense.

By Jay Black

December 28, 2006 08:42 PM | Link to this

Frank Beamer! He knows half the freaking team! And he know how to win with Vick! And Hall! and Jimmy Williams!

By Voltamp315

December 28, 2006 09:03 PM | Link to this

Too many responses to read at this point. Just one thing to be said. Once a player coach, always a player coach. The players with their gripes surely don’t have the respect of the coaches. Does anyone honestly think Mora can start cracking the whip now? PLEASE! Damage already done. Time for a change! Remeber, Blank has deep pockets and money always talk to all prospects!

By larry orange

December 28, 2006 09:10 PM | Link to this

Jimmy Johnson would be great coaching the Falcons. That way if they screwed up, he would get in his stock car and threaten to run them over. zoom zoom

By larry orange

December 28, 2006 09:12 PM | Link to this

Jimmy Johnson would be great coaching the Falcons. That way , if they flubbed up, he would just run them over.

By coach

December 28, 2006 10:09 PM | Link to this

Dawgone! The Falcon have two player chosen by their peers to play in the pro bowl - can I assume you have a better feel for the talent, than those players and coaches who spend all week studying tape and then 60 minutes Sunday afternoon competing man to man against the players they have selected as the very best.

Let me name for you some game dominators, Mean Joe Green, Randy White, Lawrence Talor, Claude Humphrey, LaDainian Tomlinson, Shawne Merriman, Chad Johnson or a Drew Brees 96.1 Passing ratings (87.5 career rating).

All of the above because of performance on the field required special attention each and every down if you wanted a chance to be competitive. Respect every player. With exception of Michael, I don’t think the 2006 Falcons put any more or any less game dominating players on the field than the average NFL football team. I repect all of our players for the most part they have given us a good effort, but I don’t buy the arguement we are a talented underperforming football team. Add 15 full games with Abraham and Kearney, than I would say we had above average talent and probably 2,3 or 4 more wins.

Average talent average coaching. Our Falcons are 15th in the league on scoring defense and 23rd in scoring offenses - those numbers look pretty average to me in a 32 team league.

By ron mexico

December 28, 2006 10:16 PM | Link to this

ya’ll done let the cat out of the bag & no coach would touch boildaddy with a ten foot pole,especially coach richt.

By emcee fleshy (atl/sd)

December 28, 2006 11:42 PM | Link to this

SINGLETARY.

By bsd987

December 28, 2006 11:58 PM | Link to this

Mora has to go. I said a month ago that if Mora returns, I will find a new team. For 41 years, this franchise has never tried to put a championship team together. I thought that maybe Arthur Blank would change that, but if he keeps Mora, it shows that he has no plans to do that.

Now, in 2003, I campaigned for Dave McGinnis to become the new head coach and I’m still campaigning just the same. McGinnis failed at Arizona, but other than Don Coryell 30 years ago, who has succeeded with the Cardinals? Nobody.

So let us disect McGinnis’s career.

He was arguably one of the top 3 or 4 assistants in terms of hype before getting the Arizona job. He was passed over in Chicago in favor of Dick Jauron in 2000.

During the 2000 season, Vince Tobin was dismissed, leading to McGinnis getting promoted to head coach. He would acrew a 17-40 record over about 3 1/2 seasons. However, he would go 14-12 in games decided by 8 points or less. Additionally, he had one of the worst teams in the NFL each season. In 2003, his last year, his team was arguably one of the worst teams on paper in NFL history. Jeff Blake started half the games for the team and Josh McCown the rest. Other than pro bowler Anquan Boldin, there wasn’t a single player on either offense or defense that did anything nor was excepted to do anything. The team even had kicking woes, waiving Tim Duncan and Bill Gramatica before finally settling on Neil Rackers. Yet the team competed for half a season, starting 3-5 and being in the thick of the wild card race.

McGinnis is now the linebackers coach on the resurgent Titans. It is sad that that’s where he is and not at least a coordinator.

It isn’t his fault that he failed at Arizona; Dennis Green is failing too. I can tell you this much, McGinnis is much more qualified than Mora.

Fire Jim Mora. Hire Dave McGinnis.

By K-man

December 29, 2006 03:04 AM | Link to this

Mora’s toast - there is no way Arthur Blank brings him, Knapp and the rest back for another year - at the first sign of trouble in the 2008 season the frustrated fans would hang him (Blank) in effigy. As for a replacement - Singletary…hands down. These players need a kick in the a* and some intensity on the field, and I would hate to screw up and come back to see that wild stare dressing me down. He’ll be a good NFL head coach somewhere, so why not here??