Sports Columnists

By honest_abe

January 16, 2007 12:01 PM | Link to this

screw the spirit. they are bunch of losers who have no idea how to run a professional franchise. and if they want to change their image, start doing some better pr! or better yet, start spending some damn money!

why should mike vick comment on the new head coach? he runs the team anyway.

marty has the unfairly gotten the credit for his teams failures like bobby cox. it’s not his fault his team didn’t show up to play. in the end it’s the players that ultimatley win or lose the game.

college atheletic recruiting has become a joke. so now you guys at the ajc have an around the clock update on high school kids decisions to attend a university? where and when do u draw the line? how about stats on the local 8th grade star?

By Torrie

January 16, 2007 12:06 PM | Link to this

You should hear from Mike Vick whenever the team meets during OTAs. The Falcons season is over and Vick needs a chance to re-group and re-focus. See, this is another example of damned if you do and damned if you don’t. If he says something he gets bashed for throwing someone under the bus. If he doesn’t say anything then it’s like, hey we(the media) need someone to pick on, where’s Vick? Man, get a life a find something else to write about. I think his family is is WAY more important than football. So ask Vick how’s his family doing and you will more than likely get a straight up answer.

By Magneto

January 16, 2007 12:13 PM | Link to this

Jeff,

1.Firing Shockingwhiner is not a bad move. The Chargers want to do something that your falcons refuse to come close to doing:going to the Super Bowl.

2.Vick is currently taking speech classes so that he can learn how to speak the English language properly and without using his hands. As soon as Snoop Dog is done tutoring him, then he will speak out.

By honest_abe

January 16, 2007 12:15 PM | Link to this

um torrie, he has a 130mil dollar contract with this team. i think with that money comes responsibility. when the team signs a new head coach it’s your responsibility to have an opinion and voice it. that’s what team leaders do, in vick’s case he is the face of the franchise.. don’t give me that family crap. so a 15 minute press conference would interfere with personal time? oooooh booooooo hoooo.. so tell me how many other starting qb’s would seem that disinterested in the signing of a new coach?

By bucko

January 16, 2007 12:23 PM | Link to this

vick says give me the plays and i will make it happen. how long is the falcons going to put up with this bumb. get rid of this parasite

By Tom

January 16, 2007 12:25 PM | Link to this

Jeff,

Wes Durham was interviewed on a Miami sports talk station last night about the Miami job and the 2 finalists (since he works with both), and indicated that Chan told him a couple of YEARS ago that the only NFL jobs he would consider leaving for were (you guessed it) Miami and Pittsburgh.

It simply worked out that both came open at the same time and those organizations sought to interview Gailey.

By Jay

January 16, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this

Tell the Atlanta Spirit they have no right to complain until they actually produce a winning Hawks team and fire the joke of a gm in Billy Knightmare.

By war eagle

January 16, 2007 12:30 PM | Link to this

abe and torrie-first-The spirit have a team in first place called the Thrashers-ever hear of them? They play in the NHL. Spirit LLC should sell the Hawks. The NBA is a losing product, attendance, viewership and interest is down. The product is a non draw. Second, Falcons should have offered the HC position to Frank Beamer, the VT offensive coordinator or their QB coach. They are they only ones that know how to operate a VICK. Still think we should have traded him to Arizona for Leinert and then made Norm Chow the HC. Vick is another Randall Cunningham and he never went to the Superbowl.

By honest_abe

January 16, 2007 12:38 PM | Link to this

lol war eagle. so i guess hockey viewership is up considering they just landed that huge deal on the outdoor channel…HA!

the spirit had nothing to do with the thrashers in 1st place. don waddell was here since the franchise began. and the current team has his fingerprints all over it.

By Najeh Davenpoop

January 16, 2007 12:39 PM | Link to this

I guess Atlanta Spirit can’t handle the truth, huh? They are the reason why the Hawks and Thrashers have sucked (until this year), more than anything else.

Miami’s going after Mora and Chan Gailey for the same reason that the Falcons went after Mora — because they can’t evaluate coaches and they have bad decision makers in the front office. How else do you explain Dave Wannstedt and Nick Saban? I highly doubt the Steelers would be considering Gailey if Bill Cowher hadn’t endorsed him before he left.

And you can say what you want about Schottenheimer’s playoff record, but he wasn’t the reason they lost the game against the Patriots. Their normally good offensive coordinator, Cam Cameron, somehow forgot that they have the MVP of the league at running back in the 2nd half, and only gave him 8 touches. I didn’t think the Chargers would win, because they don’t have enough experience on offense. They should give Rivers a wide receiver and another year of development before they fire Schottenheimer.

Oh yeah one more thing… Reche Caldwell, who royally sucked while at San Diego playing with Drew Brees, goes to New England and becomes a sure-handed, clutch receiver. Does this mean Drew Brees sucks as a QB? Or that New England has better WR coaches?

By mjc

January 16, 2007 12:44 PM | Link to this

Vick has gotten as far in the playoffs as Peyton Manning. Hey, let’s fire Peyton Manning. That’s a good idea. Collecive amnesia. All the Vick haters forget he played in the NFC Champtionship a mere three yeas ago. Of course that was with Jim Mora coaching Dan Reeves’ team. Vicks’ only mistake has been trying to do much with an offense without much talent. Leading rushng team in the NFL? Pullleease. Only in the first half when it never mattered. And why did Norwood spend half the games on the bench? Stooooopid

By Ronny

January 16, 2007 12:47 PM | Link to this

If Chan is hired by Miami, I think Paul Johnson of Navy would have to be a top candidate to replace him. Paul turned Georgia Southern around. And he’s been a success at Navy, where academics are tough. He’s an outstanding coach and a fine man.

By Darth Vader

January 16, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this

mjc,

Three years ago is a long time by NFL standards jacka$$!! Vick made plenty of mistakes such as not throwing to wide open receivers. There’s plenty of talent on the team but you just don’t worship them like you do Vick.

By Russell

January 16, 2007 12:53 PM | Link to this

Vick’s opinion doesn’t count. The only reason he succeeded in Dan Reeves’ offense is because the NFL had never had to deal with a, using the term very loosely, quarterback with such blazing speed. However, the league has adjusted and just made Vick a good bit less than ordinary. At best he is a halfback with the option to pass which he hates to do because he is so undependable. At worst, he is running back who fumbles much of the time because he has no clue how to carry the ball. I pray Petrino has the guts to open up the competition so Schaub can win the starting spot and move Vick to either receiver or running back where he will be the most effective.

By Wings of Victory

January 16, 2007 01:00 PM | Link to this

Please do not mention Vicks name (ron mexico) in the same text as payton manning. I, arthur, petrino, the state of ga, any football team from pop warner up, and donald duck would choose payton manning over this “rent a qb” for $13 million. For that said, I would take any of the QB’s in the playoffs last weekend over vick. Each one of those men are leaders.

lets hope arthur/petrino sit vick down and tell him its time to drop the bong and step up to the plate. “bad attitude / thug image is out, leading / being aman is in”

By Wings of Victory

January 16, 2007 01:00 PM | Link to this

Please do not mention Vicks name (ron mexico) in the same text as payton manning. I, arthur, petrino, the state of ga, any football team from pop warner up, and donald duck would choose payton manning over this “rent a qb” for $13 million. For that said, I would take any of the QB’s in the playoffs last weekend over vick. Each one of those men are leaders.

lets hope arthur/petrino sit vick down and tell him its time to drop the bong and step up to the plate. “bad attitude / thug image is out, leading / being a man is in”

By billy g

January 16, 2007 01:04 PM | Link to this

Since when is the Miami Dolphins considered a premier coaching job? The dolphins are media darlings, but they have not been relevant for decades.

Their fans are the definition of front runners. If they had a team nearly as futile as the Falcons, they would have moved long ago.

Their owner spends freely but has established a weak management scheme. The DC has already been signed, as well as several assistants. The HC that signs on with them will be nothing more than a figure head. I wish him all the luck in the world.

By mountain_jim

January 16, 2007 01:09 PM | Link to this

I predict folks like Russell who think Schaub is going to beat out Vick will be shocked at how much better Vick plays in an offense crafted to his strengths, rather than a no-imagination,takeaKnapp offense where they tried to force a square peg in a round hole and called plays such that the other team always knew exactly what was coming and sat there waiting on it.

But if Vick doesn’t study hard this offseason and learn the new O you might be proved right.

Time will tell

By Keeping it real !!!

January 16, 2007 01:10 PM | Link to this

Why should Vick say any thing. he is a player.He does what he is told like most of us on a job.If he did the meida and the fans would dogged him out like they have been doing. Vick you are doing the right thing keep a tight lip. If you must talk ,talk to your new coach and the owner only. The meida and some fan mean you no good . Read the paper and and Falcons blog. That tells it all!

By e.b.

January 16, 2007 01:13 PM | Link to this

Hey magneto, nice racist comment. Good to see IDIOTS like you are keeping racism alive and well in America. Kudos, YOU J*******.

P.S. —-We did hear from Mike Vick, it’s actually in one of the featured stories on AJC. Isn’t that who you write for Steve?

By Najeh Davenpoop-shoot

January 16, 2007 01:15 PM | Link to this

Hey bucko, when you learn to spell a simple word like “bum” properly, then I will take your post seriously. Until then, you’re the parasite.

By matt

January 16, 2007 01:16 PM | Link to this

You make a living off of Mike Vick opening his mouth, so don’t get upset when he simply doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t owe you anything. What could he say anyway? Hey I’m excited yada yada yada. What do you think he is going to say? Do you think it will be first page material or just words his PR folks wrote for him? Please tell me you know the answer!

By e.b.

January 16, 2007 01:20 PM | Link to this

Russell, that’s not true. Teams haven’t adjusted to Vick, not in the least. He still burns defenses 9 times out of 10, and opposing teams still fear him. You’re way off base here. The reason he hasn’t succeeded recently are two things; The system w/ Mora & Knapp stunk, and his O-Line is horrible. Half the time, he’s running because he has no other choice.

By e.b.

January 16, 2007 01:22 PM | Link to this

Hey “Wings of Victory”, if you’re not a Falcons fan, then why are you on this message board? makes no sense. And if Vick had an O-Line like Peyon Manning does, I don’t ven think we’d be having this conversation.

By Joe

January 16, 2007 01:22 PM | Link to this

I’ll commment for Vick…”they pay me a 130 million, I’m the Superman of this team, just get me one or two players and I’ll carry us to the Lombardi Trophy, fashizzle my brizzle”….or some such arrogant BS.

By e.b.

January 16, 2007 01:24 PM | Link to this

hey Wings, you’d take Rex Grossman over Vick? You are a schmuck, aren’t you. Ha-ha-ha…what-a-joke!

By Vick Fan

January 16, 2007 01:26 PM | Link to this

It is so upsetting that everyone says that Vick is a thug…I know that the general public thinks that anyone that has their hair braided is questionable, but let me explain, that is just the culture of that generation. Vick is a product of his environment, he was not raised in an upper middle class family, but he is not the thug that everyone tries to lable him as. Every event I have seen Vick attend he has been polite, mannerable and especially available to the children that speak to him…do you have any idea how many athletes do not speak to their fans. He is actually very soft spoken and can converse extremely well, we all have our moments where we may split a verb or not use the best pronunciation. But stop saying he is a thug! It has become insulting.

Next, first we complain “he doesn’t throw the ball enough” then “he throws the ball to hard” back to “he doesn’t throw the ball enough”—please give me a break—Vick is the truth, stop your whining and moaning.

By Jim

January 16, 2007 01:27 PM | Link to this

Did Marty muff a punt, headbutt another player after forcing a turnouver, drop ~6 passes, or fumble an interception? The answer to that would be NO! It’s easy to pile on a coach, but the bottom line to that game was the SD players blew it. I’m sure none of them got any sleep that night. They have an entire offseason to think about how many stupid plays they made.

By Magneto

January 16, 2007 01:29 PM | Link to this

e.b,

Cant’t we discuss this like men over a plate of fried chicken?

By Joe

January 16, 2007 01:35 PM | Link to this

I don’t see Vick as a thug, I see him as an immature young man and as a college QB, I don’t hate Vick, I hate the Falcons with Vick, I hate the unbalanced attack, and I hate the knowledge that a top tier defense will stop Vick and only a so-so team in September or October will lose to his style of play but not top notch teams…that’s what I hate.

By JB

January 16, 2007 01:37 PM | Link to this

After watching the playoffs this weekend and looking at REAL NFL QB’s, I have to laugh at Vick running in circles, running for his life and just plain confusion. I hope some of that was the old Falcon staff or the OL. What I saw this weekend VS. The Falcons all year is two different things.

By Joe

January 16, 2007 01:38 PM | Link to this

If Vick had an O line like Peyton Manning, he’d have more time to use his mental faculties.

By Darth Vader

January 16, 2007 01:39 PM | Link to this

Vick Fan,

You gave a very warm and heartfelt explanation concerning Vick’s hairstyle expect for one small detail: He didn’t have braids when he came to the Falcons and throughout college and growing up. His hair has nothing to do with his family background(at least not economic background). Vick has given himself away to the gangsta hippety hoppety culture which is a sign that he is easily influenced by the wrong people. And yes, he does need to throw better and be more timely with his passes.

By magman

January 16, 2007 01:44 PM | Link to this

For all you people complaining about Mike Vick. Just to let you know your opinion isn’t worth crap, because he isn’t going anywhere and he could buy half of you poor sons of b** out anyway. If he has a good game you dog him, if he has a bad game you dog him. Get a life. He hasn’t even hasn’t been on the field for the past couple of weeks and you still talk about him. Just because a man has his hair braided and uses slang when he talks why does the man have to be a thug? Funny thing is that so called thug will make more money in one year than you will every be worth your entire life that’s what it’s all about anyway right? Also, don’t sit here and say that it has nothing to do with race because it does. As horrible as all the previous white Falcons quarterbacks were I bet you guys didn’t bash them as much. So to all you corporate jackasses, hillbillies, and rednecks Vick is here to stay, and there is nothing you can do about it….. Get over it and get a damn life.

By Famuan

January 16, 2007 01:46 PM | Link to this

Sorry VickFan, there are way too many Jim Crow loving people on these blogs. You will never convince these good ole boys that the Falcons have the QB they need in Vick, they would prefer whatever Aryan-looking boy that can be found over #7. Why? Because they’re stupid.

By manudo

January 16, 2007 01:49 PM | Link to this

Reason 100 Matt “throw to flat” Schuab couldn’t win the starting QB spot. You must be able to throw the football greater than forty yards in a down the field passing attack.

By CQ

January 16, 2007 01:51 PM | Link to this

You guys come on these blogs everyday just to bash Vick.

Get a life!!!!!!!!!!

By manudo

January 16, 2007 01:57 PM | Link to this

For all you black culture historians out here, black men wearing their hair in braids has been around a lot longer than Vick and the so called thug look that intimidates non blacks.

By REVEREND RUN

January 16, 2007 01:59 PM | Link to this

The falcons are 40-30-1 with mike vick as the starting QB – including the playoffs (38-28-1 with vick as starter during the regular season). Their record without vick since he was drafted is 9-20. their record without vick starting since 2002 is 3-12.

In the falcon’s 40 wins and one tie with vick as a starter, mike vick has completed 540 passes on 953 attempts for a 57% completion percentage. He has thrown for 6866 yards during those 40 wins and one tie at a 7.2 yards per attempt rate. Mike vick has thrown 51 touchdowns in the 40 starts he has won. MV7 has thrown only 26 interceptions in the 40 starts he has won. Mike Vick’s passer rating in those 40 wins is 85.8. In the falcons’ 40 wins with mv7 as the starter, mv7’s average passing stat line has been 13.2 completions, 23.2 attempts, 168 yards, 1.2 touchdowns, and 0.6 interceptions. Over a 16 game season, vick’s passing performance during those 40 falcons victories would average out to 211 completions, 372 attempts, 2679 yards, 20 touchdowns, 10 interceptions.

In the falcons 40 wins with MV7 as the starting QB, Vick has run 339 times for 2419 yards. In those 40 wins, Vick has averaged 8.3 rushes for 59 yards. In those 40 wins, Vick has scored 17 touchdowns rushing. In those 40 wins, Vick has only lost 11 fumbles. Over a 16 game season, vick’s running performance during those 40 games would equate to 132 rushes for 944 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 4 fumbles lost. So, yes, they are better off when vic runs.

In those 40 falcons wins, vick has been sacked 107 times for a total yards lost of 467 yards. That averages out to 2.6 sacks per victory for vick and 11.4 yards lost per game. Over a 16 game season, that would average out to 42 sacks for 182 yards lost. DARN OFFENSIVE LINE!

During the falcons 30 losses with Vick as the starter, Vick has completed 406 passes for 798 attempts. During those falcons 30 losses, Vick has thrown for 4611 yards. During those 30 losses, Vick has only thrown for 23 touchdowns. During those 30 losses, Vick has thrown 26 interceptions. During those falcons 30 losses, Vick has only completed 51% of his passes. During those falcons 30 losses, Vick has averaged 13.5 completions for 26.6 attempts for 154 yards. Averaging out vick’s passing performance during those 30 losses and figuring out average performance over a 16 game season shows that vick would average 217 completions on 426 attempts for 2459 yards for 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Vick’s average passer rating during those 30 losses is 64.59. Vick’s yards per attempt is 5.78 during those 30 losses. Not very good performance by vick. A lot of fault goes to vick but if you look at all the stats a lot of that goes directly to that DARN OFFENSIVE LINE!

During those falcons 30 losses, Vick has run 190 times for 1354 yards. During those 30 losses, Vick has only run for 3 touchdowns. During those 30 losses, Vick has lost 15 fumbles. Vick’s performance during those 30 losses averages out to 6.2 rushes per game for 45.1 yards per game. You see, when vick runs less, the falcons win a whole lot less. HMMMM. Averaging out Vick’s running performance during those 30 losses over a 16 game season would average out to 101 rushes for 722 yards, 2 rushing touchdowns, 8 fumbles lost.

During the Falcons 30 losses with Vick as the starting QB, Vick has been sacked 105 times for a total lost yardage of 684 yards. That is an average of 3.5 sacks for 22.8 yards lost during the falcons 30 losses. Over a 16 game season, that would average itself out to be 56 sacks for 365 yards lost. DARN DARN DARN OFFENSIVE LINE! The falcons o-line gives up an average of a full sack and 11 yards more in yards lost due to sacks in the 30 losses as opposed to the 40 wins.

In the 40 victories and one tie, Vick’s total yardage (including passing, running, sacks) has been 8818 yards for an average of 215 yards per game and 3441 yards per 16 games. In the 30 losses, the total yardage for Vick has been 5281 yards for an average of 176 yards per game and 2817 yards per 16 games.

In the 40 victories: The Falcons have averaged 63.5 plays. In those 40 victories, Vick has thrown an average of 23.2 times, Vick has been sacked 2.6 times, Vick has run 8.3 times, and the falcons running backs have run 29.4 times.

In the 30 losses: The Falcons have averaged 57.6 plays per game. In the falcons 30 losses, Vick has thrown an average of 26.6 times per games, has been sacked an average of 3.5 times per game, has only run 6.3 times per game, and the falcons RBS have only run 21.2 times.

Mike Vick is clearly not without fault in all of this inconsistency but the O-Line is the biggest problem.

In the 40 victories with Vick, the Falcons RBs (excluding Vick’s rushing stats) have averaged 29.4 rushes per game for 136.1 yards per game. In those 40 victories, the RBs have rushed for 46 touchdowns. In those 40 victories, the RBs have averaged 4.6 yards per carry. Based upon the performance of the running backs during those 40 wins, the running backs would average during the course of a 16 game season, 470 carries for 2178 yards, 18 touchdowns and 6 fumbles lost.

In the 30 losses however, the Falcons RBs (excluding Vick’s rushing stats) have averaged 21.2 rushes per game for 86 yards per game at 4.0 yards per rush. The Falcons RBs have only scored 11 touchdowns in those 30 losses. Based upon the performance of the RBs during those 30 losses, the RBs would average 339 rushes for 1368 yards and 6 touchdowns during the course of a 16 game season.

Vick is clearly far from perfect but the wild discrepancies between the performance of the running backs and Vick when you compare the performance during the 40 wins and 30 losses points directly to the inconsistency of the offensive line. A QB with time in 40 wins completes 57% of his passes. A QB with no time in the 30 losses only completes 51% of his passes. A QB with time only throws 26 INTS in 40 Wins. A QB with no time throws 26 interceptions in 30 losses. A QB with time throws 51 touchdowns in 40 wins. A QB with no time throws only 23 touchdowns in 30 losses. A QB with time has an 85.8 passer rating in 40 victories. A QB with no time has a passer rating of 64.6 in 30 losses. A QB with time fumbles only 11 times in 40 wins. A QB with no time fumbles 15 times in 30 losses. A QB in 40 wins get sacked a pretty awful 2.6 times per game in those 40 wins. A QB with a horribly inconsistent offensive line gets sacked a horrific 3.5 times per game in the 30 losses. In the 40 wins, the QB loses 11.4 yards per game due to sacks. In the 30 losses, the QB loses 22.8 yards per game due to sacks allowed by the horribly inconsistent offensive line. Obviously, the increased number yards being lost due to sacks are caused by QB running for his life trying to make something happen behind the horrible O-Line. In the 40 wins, the RBs run 29.4 times per game for 136 yards per game on 4.6 yards per carry and they rush for 46 touchdowns. In the 30 losses however the RBs running behind an inconsistent offensive line only run 21 times a game for 86 yards a game for 4 yards per carry and they only run for 11 touchdowns in 30 games. Are Vick and the RBs that inconsistent? NO! IT’S THE INCONSISTENT OFFENSIVE LINE STUPID! DARN OFFENSIVE LINE!

The average NFL team in 2006 only ran an average of 62.5 plays a game. The Packers had he most plays per game with 68.2 plays per game. The Saints were next with 67.5. The Falcons had 62.6 plays per game in 2006. The Buffalo Bills had only 55.6 plays per game.

The average NFL team gained 322.5 yards per game in 2006. The Saints were the highest with 391.5 yards per game. The Eagles had 381.4 and the Colts had 379.4. The Falcons averaged 331.9 yards per game in 2006. The Raiders were the pits with an absolutely horrific 246.2 yards per game.

The average NFL team averaged 5.2 yards per play in 2006. Philly gained 6.2 yards per play. The Colts averaged 6.0 and the Saints averaged 5.8 with the chargers and cowboys next at 5.7. The Falcons averaged 5.3 yards per play in 2006. the raiders of course were the worst at 4.2 yards per play.

The average NFL team scored 33.5 offensive touchdowns per game in 2006. The Falcons scored 30 offensive touchdowns in 2006. The Chargers of course led the league with 56 touchdowns. The raiders only scored an absolutely horrific 12 offensive touchdowns this season.

NEEDS FOR 2006: 40 OFFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS. 5.5 YARDS PER PLAY. 65 PLAYS PER GAME. 25 PASS ATTEMPTS A GAME FOR 175 YARDS PER GAME. 8 RUSHES PER GAME BY VICK FOR 63 YARDS PER GAME. 2 SACKS PER GAME FOR ONLY 8 YARDS LOST PER GAME. 30 RUSHES PER GAME BY THE RBS FOR 140 YARDS PER GAME. THAT SHOULD GET THE FALCONS TO 370 YARDS PER GAME. 22 PASSING TOUCHDOWNS BY VICK. 18 RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS BY THE RBS. THAT SHOULD FIX THE OFFENSE.

BUT THE OFFENSIVE LINE WILL BE THE KEY TO IT ALL AS IT IS FOR EVERY TEAM!

By Joe

January 16, 2007 01:59 PM | Link to this

Yeah, you rednecks, you vote Republican and you want a 6’ 5” white QB like Peyton Manning or Tom Brady….guess what…Vick can beat ‘em both in a foot race. Who cares about Super Bowls and passing effeiciency…this is Atlanta, the politically correct capital of the universe…Ludacris, MLK, and Michael Vick…vote Republican in the suburbs but shut up downtown with your common sense.

By dwy30344

January 16, 2007 02:03 PM | Link to this

First off it was 2 years ago when Vick and the falcons played in the NFC championship game. Mike Vick has started four seasons for the Falcons (didn’t start as a rookie, missed a year due to injury), and we made the playoffs 2 out of 4 years. Not to mention under Dan Reeves Vick was the quaterback to give Green Bay their first home playoff loss. You people kill me blaming Vick for the falcons missing the playoffs. Have you checked the Stats, WE WERE RANKED # 22 ON DEFENSE. How many teams make the playoffs with a defense that bad? That’s right NONE. Football is a game of adjustments. If what you are doing is working in the first half of a season but not in the second half, then you are not adjusting. For 2 years straight Mora and his staff did a terrible job adjusting in th second half of the season. That’s exatly what lost his job. And someone mentioned Vick missing wide open receivers, correction the falcon receivers don’t get open. That’s a combination of terrible route running, and a poor passing scheme

By Drez

January 16, 2007 02:10 PM | Link to this

Why do people continue to call Vick a thug? What criminal act has this guy committed? Is he a thug because he’s black and wear his hair in cornrolls? If I’m not mistaken, Schaub is the one who was arrested for assault charges for his part in a bar room brawl. Who’s really the THUG??

By Keeping it real !!!

January 16, 2007 02:12 PM | Link to this

Jeff Schultz. let’s hear from the 11 player on defense that went 22nd in the NFL. you are in on the Vick bashing . Don’t be part of the problem!

By Anakin Joe

January 16, 2007 02:17 PM | Link to this

Thank You for getting the attention of the Atlanta Spirt(less) owners. I’d be okay if you talk about their mothers, anything that gets them to show a pulse is fine by me. You were spot on about their financial impotence and inability to agree on a future direction (or leader). Likewise, who would want to work under the divorce cloud that has rained on this franchise for almost 2 years. They have gotten a pass for the past few months, I wish you media types would schedule a weekly public beating on the Atlanta Spirit until such time that they do something to actually improve this team. Youth and injuries are no excuse for lack of effort and maintaining the status quo in terms of the talent on this roster. Keep agitating.

By Wings of Victory

January 16, 2007 02:26 PM | Link to this

Ron Mexico looks and acts like a Thug to ME

Now get over it. I am a black male, middle age with kids, grew up in the ghettos of chicago and worked hard to educate myself and make a respectable life for my family. Now why in the world do my so called people cry out loud when they call vick a thug or at that use the word thug in general?
thug is not the “n” word, which is so loosely used among yourselfs. it is a persons opinion on the way a person allows himself to be in public. Is there anything wrong with someone using this word to describe mr vick as such… Why are YOU so sensitive to anyone of other races to call one of us a thug?? It is a word, and this is not the 60’s nor the 70’s, it is 2007 so PLEASE get over it. it is no wonder why people of all races laugh at us and continue to look at us a secondary race, its because we explode at such litte words Let’s see, if I or billy bob or anyone called manning a “punk” or “loser”, everyone says ok, that is your opinion and lets move on. People do not get all caught up in a word as an attack on a race, so get over yourselfs and please for the rest of us, MOVE FORWARD and thus be treated as an equal which you are. Let me see, in my opinion a thug is a gangster rap artist type who does not believe in rules or laws and drives around town blasting music (ear pollution) to be appear cool. He is also a person who dresses different than others such as wearing his pants down to his knees, having his ballcap hanging sideways, wearing chains of jewerly (junk) around his neck, baggy shirts of bob marley or malcom X, or Vick, and braids. This person tells society they are nothing to them and will not obey their rules.

I do not allow my kids to dress as such and look up such people. If they do think they are exciting, flashy or “cool” because they have $$ for being an athlete or movie star or rap singer, I explain this very society that they laugh at, has allowed them to be rich with having no education or morals and looks down on them as people, and yes, has the right to call them thugs.

Its 2007, so keep us moving forward please.

By Joe

January 16, 2007 02:42 PM | Link to this

Wings of Victory You make too much sense for this board…does it make me a racist if I don’t care for Cynthia McKinney either?

Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton are both real white and I can’t think of many people of any race I despise more.

By DMC

January 16, 2007 02:42 PM | Link to this

REVEREND RUN, take a breath dude…holy cow.

By Madden King

January 16, 2007 02:46 PM | Link to this

These people on this blog are some of the most racists individuals i’ve ever read on this blog. People say the South has changed, it hasn’t changed it’s still the good ole South that my parents and grandparents including myself was raised in. For one most of these people who don’t like Vick are racists because they always bring up how he dresses and how they assume he acts because they have that perception for all BLACK MEN. They can’t relate becuase these white people weren’t raised this way so they call the BAGGY PANTS, EARRINGS, BLING BLING, AND BRAIDS, AS IGNORANT AND CHILDISH INSTEAD OF CULTURAL. I myself dress the same way as Vick, does that make me a thug? I never killed or robbed anybody in my life. Another reason Vick gets bashed is because he is playing a position in football that is still dominated by white athletes. Of the top 10 QB’s of all time not one of them is black, only one black QB, Doug Williams has won a Super Bowl, by the end of the 2006 season only 4 out of 32 teams in the NFL had a black QB starting, and in the playoffs there was only one black QB still standing, Steve McNair. These white people look up to Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Carson Palmer, Drew Brees, Dan Marino, John Elway, Jim Kelly, Bart Starr, Troy Aikman, Brett Favre etc, and they have a cultural understanding because they were all raised in a similar form. Since the position of QB has been played by slow a$$ white men who could throw the ball and cannot get out of the pocket for so long that is what this country, “WHICH IS BY THE WAY 70% WHITE,” is used to and is reluctant to adjust. So within the last 10 years we are seeing alot of Black NFL QB’s with a different cultural upbringing with their style of dress and how they think to go along with the mobility that they bring to the QB position that has never been seen with them running 4.3’s and 4.4’s and in Vick’s case a 4.27 and it is changing the game and alot of white people don’t like. I’m sorry to tell you this white people, DEAL WITH IT, the game is changing and there is nothing that you can do about it. Oh and another thing, I don’t hear any white people talking about how receivers and running backs, WHICH IS BLACK DOMINATED, ABOUT THEIR STYLE OF DRESS AND THE JEWELRY THAT THEY WHERE. I haven’t heard any white person call Chad Johnson or Edgerrin James a thug. It seems to me that if a black man plays any other position except for QB, he can do or dress how ever he wants to, but if he plays Qb, he has to start acting white by dressing the way Tom Brady dresses or standing in the pocket and not running the way Peyton Manning does. HMMMM INTERESTING, I GUESS IT IS A WHITE COUNTRY AFTER ALL. HOLLA! GO FALCONS! GO VICK!

By Keeping it real !!!

January 16, 2007 02:54 PM | Link to this

Joe get a life . this is foot ball

By Joe

January 16, 2007 03:05 PM | Link to this

Madden King, I’ve just been reprimanded by some Madden (run with Vick 20 times a game Maddenholic), It works on Madden when you run Vick with your “thug” friends but it don’t work in real life, this racist stuff is old, It doesn’t matter if a QB runs a 4.1 40, the most important thing will always be throwing and accuracy. Vick didn’t revolutionize anything, he just has people who thinks he’s good, and he is a good athlete but below average QB, Hitler convinced people he’s good too, real people voted for him….REAL WHITE PEOPLE…there, I gave you your response for you.

By dwy30344

January 16, 2007 03:18 PM | Link to this

Wings of Victory = idiot

Since you don’t know the definition of Thug I’ll help you out. It has nothing to do with hair style, or music preference. Thug = 1. a cruel or vicious ruffian, robber, or murderer.
2. (sometimes initial capital letter) one of a former group of professional robbers and murderers in India who strangled their victims.

You just displayed you ingnorance. Go pick up a dictionary you idiot. How does Vick fit in this category

By Rawhide

January 16, 2007 03:23 PM | Link to this

Uh,…Magnito,,,,were you in a coma in January 1999?

By Eli

January 16, 2007 03:31 PM | Link to this

Nice post “wings”. Thank you for saying what so many are afraid of because they will be called a racist if they (i.e politicians, fans, media, schools, police, joe smith, etc) say or even come close to anything negative about a person of color. It is sad that there are so many so called reverse racist living right here in ATL where a great person such as MLK is from. I am a person of color nor white and have lived in various cities. ATL is now home and is full of hate because there are so many reverse raceist who get so offended when anyone says they may not agree or like a person of color. I happen to think vick is an avg at best QB. He may have some nice stats but he also has many flaws as a QB which includes acting as a leader to a team. Do i want or care to have a white QB, no… i want the best man for the job who will lead MY Team to the superbowl. All those so called sports experts in the media must all have it wrong by finally now being able to come out and say vick is avg and you get what you get after 6 long years. It is sad that society has not allowed them to speak the truth years ago or give their true opinion. We all have to walk a tight rope because a reverse raceist may call us bad!!

To me it shows a persons character by those that one looks up to and calls a hero. Such as those who scream to defend vick at the hint that somemone may actually think vick is not the leader for this team.

I will take a thousand Mcnabbs over vick anyday for my team….

By Famuan

January 16, 2007 03:32 PM | Link to this

Wings of Victory = completely ignorant

What a complete moron…..wings of victory???? wings of utter stupidity more like it.

By Famuan

January 16, 2007 03:35 PM | Link to this

Thanks Schultz, once again the ajc columnists use Vick to inspire the legion of scums to crawl out from under their rocks to just hurl insults. I hope Vick doesn’t utter a syllable to the media until training camp.

By m

January 16, 2007 03:38 PM | Link to this

Chan Gailey could suck a football through a garden hose. He is the worst college football coach I have ever seen in my life. He should be fired today.

By j.powell

January 16, 2007 03:41 PM | Link to this

it is no wonder why people of all races laugh at us and continue to look at us as a secondary race, its because we explode at such litte words

enuff said….. This says it all Wings… good job.

oh btw: I do not vote repluclican, live in the surburbs, love b-ball and think MLK was a great man. And I happen to think TO is a joke, OJ was guilty, that Mckinney person was a disgrace to all, and vick is an avg at best QB. Thug….maybe not, but he does present that “image” to the public so if so, they (we) have the right to call him that. oh.. I also happen to think carter was a bad president, bush is worst, brintney is a joke, rosie is a bigger joke and v-ice is a thug!

By Joe

January 16, 2007 03:44 PM | Link to this

I’d love to have the black QB from LSU over Vick..I’d like to have the black QB from Washington over Vick, McNair over Vick, McNabb over Vick, Byron Leftwich over Vick….IT’S NOT RACISM….IT’S VICK.

By REVEREND RUN

January 16, 2007 03:44 PM | Link to this

tom brady of course is 83-25 combined regular season and playoffs.

in brady’s 83 wins, brady has completed 1649 passes in 2610 attempts for 18999 yards, 137 touchdowns and 42 interceptions.

in an average brady win, brady would complete 19.9 passes on 31.4 attempts for a 63% rate for 229 yards.

over a 16 game season based upon his performance in his 83 wins, brady would throw 503 times, complete 318 passes for 36622 yards, 26 touchdowns, 8.1 interceptions. his QB rating in those 83 wins is a great 95.86.

in tom brady’s 24 losses, however, tom brady has completed 501 passes in 870 attempts for 5209 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 42 interceptions.

averaging tom brady’s performance in his 24 losses per game, brady averages 20.0 completions in 34.8 attempts for 208.4 yards per game.

over a 16 games season based solely upon his performance in the 24 losses, brady would average 321 completions in 557 attempts, 3334 yards, 18 touchdowns and 27 interceptions.

tom brady’s passer rating in those 24 losses is a horrific 65.63. (very similar to vick’s passer rating in his 30 losses).

In tom brady’s wins and losses, he averages roughly the same amount of sacks: 2 per game in lossses, 33 per season. He averages about 1.9 sacks per game, 30 sacks per season in his victories for an average loss of 11.5 in his wins.

Thus, it seems pretty clear that when the Pats do bad, the Pats do bad because brady has a pretty awful game only about 20% of the time. It does not seem like it is the offensive line’s fault from a statistical standpoint. The offensive line seems pretty consistent in wins and losses. They do not really give up more sacks in losses than they do in wins. The fact that they give up 0.1 more sacks per game in the losses is more attributable to the fact that they have to throw it 3.5 times more a game when they are losing. The offensive line therefore seems pretty consistent and thus tom brady is for the most part very consistent. In those few games where brady is god awful, it seems like it is tom brady’s fault in those games and not the O-Line. If you look at the Vick and O-Line statistical breakdown above, you can not say the same for Mike Vick and his woefully inconsistent and all too often outmanned offensive line.

You can also look at Tom Brady’s fumbles per game and notice that it is not an offensive line problem. In Brady’s 25 losses, he has lost 8 fumbles for an average of 5 per 16 game season. In Brady’s 83 victories, Brady has lost 19 fumbles for an average of about 4 per season. The consistency in his fumbles lost rate is directly correlated to the consistency of his offensive line in allowing him to be sacked only 2 times per game in wins and in losses as well. Compare that to the wild discrepancy in the amount of times vick is sacked in wins and losses and how often that causes him to lose fumbles and how wildly different the fumbles lost rate is for vick in wins and losses due to the wild differences between the number of sacks per game in the wins and losses.

You can also see the absolute consistency of the patriots offensive line in wins and losses by comparing the stats of the running backs. In Brady’s 25 losses, the Pat RBs have run on average 22 times for an average of 86 yards per game. The running backs have averaged 3.9 yards per rush in the 25 losses.

In Brady’s 83 victories, the Pats RBs have run on average about 32 times a game for an average between 115 yards and 120 yards per game. the patriot running backs have averaged about 3.7 yards per rush in those 83 victories.

The average per rush is the telling stat. the patriots average 3.9 yards per rush in their losses with brady as the QB. The patriots average 3.7 yards per rush in the wins. The o-line are actually only slightly better run blockers in the defeats. The fact that less rushes are made and less yards are gained is directly attributable to the fact that they are behind and not because the O-Line performance is any worse than it is in victories. In fact, the reason usually it seems from the stats that the pats are so far behind is because brady is having one of the 4 or so dreadful games he has every season where he sets up easy scores for the other team, thereby putting the pats behind early and forcing them into pass happy panic mode which kills the run game and forces brady to force things even more and which forces brady to throw more ints and make poor decisions trying to make things happen.

It just seems that when you break down the performance of Brady and his running backs, that the losses can not be blamed at all on the offensive line of the pats. The losses seem to occur when Brady is having a bad day. The yards per rush, sacks given up, and fumbles lost all remain consistent in wins and losses which tells you that the offensive line for the Pats is very consistent.

The same can not be said for the Falcons. See up above. In the 30 falcons losses with Vick as a starter, the yards per rush drops 13%, the sacks per game go up 33%, the yards lost due to sacks goes up 100% when compared to the performance of the offensive line in the 40 victories. That is inconsistency within the offensive line, my friends. Vick and the RBs are clearly not without fault. But that offensive line is woefully and wildly inconsistent.

And please do not take anything I said as a knock on Brady. That man is an all time great. I actually never really appreciated the guy until I broke down these stats today. I always thought he was just a system guy. His system is great and somehow incredibly consistent despite the revolving door up there and provides him a chance to succeed every game. Whether they win or lose seems however to be entirely dependent upon Brady himself. When he is great, they usually win which is about 80% of the time and 14 wins per season. When he is awful, they lose 4 games a year. So, my opinion of Brady has changed incredibly today now that I have educated myself. That guy is a great QB, if not the greatest. 12-1 in the playoffs? Are you kidding me?

Brady = All time great consistent QB with a great coaching system and a consistent offensive line

Vick = merely good with flashes of greatness, a ton of potential, but too inconsistent because of his terribly inconsistent offensive line. It would be really nice to see Vick play behind a consistent offensive line. That way he could be like Brady and have 14 great games a year and 4 awful games per year and we could clearly put the blame for those 4 awful games on the shoulders of vick and stop scapegoating the line and the receivers. Until the line steps up though, we are never going to see mike vick truly realize the potential he shows in his 40 victories. Instead, we will continue to be subjected to watching 2 weeks of great QB play followed by two weeks of terrible QB play because what we are really watching is an oline play decent for two weeks and then dreadful for two weeks.

I will stop boring all of you now. DMC wants me to take a deep breath. He is right. I am going to go do that now before I suffocate myself with these silly stats. I will check you all out next season. Hopefully, all this racial silliness will not still be around next season. PLEASE! It will though. So, oh well. You can not change people’s opinions no matter how much facts you hit them with. It is always funnier and easier I guess to be lazy and merely say Vick is a dumb thug you can not win with rather than dig a little deeper to figure out what the heck is really going on with this team and this QB and these coaches. Why think and express an intellectually honest opinion based upon fact when you can get a reaction out of others with good ole fashioned race baiting? I am sorry my posts have been so long but do the rest of you ever get real tired of your incessant fighting and miscommunications with one another. There would be a helluva lot less racial garbage if people would start dedicating themselves to thinking deeper about the performance and lack thereof of this team if they began expressing themselves more fully instead of doing their typical shallow and superficial drive by shooting from the hip blogging that provides zero support for their shallow opinions. If you think vick is garbage or great, then you are too stupid to post on here. If you think vick is merely good, above average, average, or below average, that is more than fine. But when say that he is good or somewhere above, below or at average, then provide us with some justification and explanation for your opinion. If you do, this racial silliness will go away. I will stop wasting my breath now and go take the deep breath DMC rightfully wants me to take.

By honest_abe

January 16, 2007 03:53 PM | Link to this

rev run = bulldawg

do you guys really think anybody takes time to read those ridiculously long posts?

By Tee

January 16, 2007 03:57 PM | Link to this

Torrie, I agree with you 100%. If Vick does make a comment these IDIOTS would condemn him for that, when he doesn’t they still find fault.

The bottom line is most of the trailer trash on this blog hate Mike Vick because of the way he looks and they lay awake at night dreaming about his $100 million contract…lol

Mike Vick enjoy your vacation, you ONLY have to answer to Arthur and Petrino!!

By REVEREND RUN

January 16, 2007 03:58 PM | Link to this

before i leave until next september, i have to respond to one moron on here: JOE.

Joe, you are a first class halfway functioning retard.

Joe, did you just compare Mike Vick to Hitler? My lord! You have no sense.

Joe, I have to give it you. There have been alot of idiots and race baiting fools from both sides of the race equation but you have officially won the grand prize for being the biggest friggin moron to ever post on the AJC!

Hitler and Mike Vick?!?!?!?! WOW! we usually hear the one moron on here who posts once a week and says over and over that blank and vick love each other because blank is a jew and becauese vick is black. we all think he is an idiot but none of us did for the reasons you apparently do. hell, none of us knew that blank and vick could never get along because vick is the modern day hitler.

WOW! Talk about the most inappropriate remark of the new year! JACKA$$!

Joe, before you dare say another word on here, please explain to us how Mike Vick can have a QB rating over 85 on average in his 40 victories and one tie if he is just a glorified RB? Is the NFL really that bad to you that a little glorified RB could tear the league up in 40 games? Once you come up with some halfwitted retarded response for that question, then tell me why Vick’s performance and the RB’s performance has been demonstrably worse in the 30 losses and look at the sacks given up, the drop in yards per rush, and the number of fumbles lost by vick because of the increased number of sacks by the O-Line in those 30 losses, and explain to me how even with all of vick’s faults, the blame for the drop in performance in Vick and the RBS is not directly caused by a terribly inconsistent offensive line. You can’t do it and to be honest i am deeply afraid you are too retarded to even make a legitimate intelligent attempt at trying to respond.

By just call me mr.

January 16, 2007 04:08 PM | Link to this

wing of a loser go back to chicago you uncle tom .you have no clue what your talking about every thing negative these people say has a racist overtone.basically what you’re saying is you kiss a$$ to get where you are so leave the white people alone.i bet you cant wait until you get enough money so you can bleach yourself like that jackson “girl”.the fact of the matter is the complaints these people can make has to racial because this guy wins games with no talent around him.how come all the ex qbs from the league seem to think the same?i think i will take there opinion over any of these idiots anyday.oh,by the way i grew up in the ghetto too and now am very succesful i have braids.am i a thug?

By REVEREND RUN

January 16, 2007 04:13 PM | Link to this

honest abe, i know it is too long and that i am wasting my breath with it. i’m sorry about that.

who would want to read it? certainly not the majority of unintelligent people with unintelligent blogs and unintelligent posts who post all over these AJC blogs. i am not trying to appeal to the majority of people on here. i know going in that they will not read it. but there are generally only a few people on here who i respect and who will dig or disagree with what i have to say in an intellectually honest manner.

honest abe, even though you do not like my long posts and i often disagree and sometimes fight with you under a different name, i actually do respect you because i have read your stuff and fought with you before and respect your thoughts alot of the time even if i do not agree with you alot of the time.

but the rest of these fools, jeesh.

i try to make them long winded and detailed and well reasoned to expose the fools who post their lazy little shots at the team and usually the QB for the simple minded morons they are.

it is much easier to attack each other and to post glib little shallow and superficial responses that add nothing to the discussion and continue to perpetuate the racial nonsense on here.

why read substance and talk substance when you can just talk racial junk with each other all day about mike vick?

everyone talks about the problems with this team but no one ever really talks about it.

they just talk about their man crush and or their hatred for vick and that is it.

Do I sound self important or what?

Peace out, boys!

By genius3

January 16, 2007 04:24 PM | Link to this

Mike Vick cannot speak up because there is nothing there to speak. 2007 will bring us more of the same; Petrino is not the answer and will accomplish absolutely nothing. Until the right changes are made, it is all down hill. Get us some good defensive players and a real QB and off to the races we shall go.

By Elijah thompson

January 16, 2007 04:31 PM | Link to this

I hate you racists bastards. Now you have to pick on the way Mike Vick talks? You punks have nothing better to do with your on f*** up lives. He’s been talking the same way when everyone was in love with him and nobody said anything, now he’s to “hood”. For all you f*** racist b*** on this page, eat a dick. Let the man be who he is, KKK members.

By Trey

January 16, 2007 04:51 PM | Link to this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrAIL9MlWJY

By kingfish

January 16, 2007 04:51 PM | Link to this

You bloggers just don’t get it. Everything is not about racist comments; wake up, grow up and be real. Just because people criticize M Vick, they are racist? Give me a break. The man is paid too much for what he produces (not how many jerseys he sells or how fast he can run) He is not winning and is not getting us to the playoffs. We have a right to criticize him whether we are black or white; we pay for the seats and we are not getting what we’re paying for. Stop being offended and writing all of those nasty responses. It is time to trade Vick and move this team to the next level. We’ve had 6 years and apart from the Green Bay game many moons ago, not much to shout about. The NFL teams have figured Vick out and there are no surprises anymore. 2007 will bring about the same ending. Be real and admit it.

By Ellen

January 16, 2007 04:56 PM | Link to this

Great post Wings…. The blacks down south (especially Atlanta) cannot handle the truth!!

They forget that there is a “silent majority” who runs the country which consist of blacks, hispanics and whites. We are the ones who set up the laws to protect the innocent from them and increase the police force to keep their irrogant racist black a%$$ in the dark hole they will live all their life (i.e. “thugs”)

By Wings of Defeat

January 16, 2007 04:59 PM | Link to this

Hey, Wings of Victory: I think you are a stupid, uneducated boob. I hope you aren’t offended by me calling you a stupid, uneducated boob, it is just based on how you presented yourself on this blog. So, if you are upset about it, please get over it because it is my right to call you one.

This is 2007, you should get over how people dress or wear their hair. This ain’t the 50’s. And don’t be so quick to pass judgement on how a person dresses. It is amazing the stupidity that is posted on this blog. I hope your kids go get a good education, I wouldn’t want this type of ignorance and stupidity passed to the next generation.

By 911

January 16, 2007 04:59 PM | Link to this

first of all did you see how many interceptions peyton threw in this years playoffs? The Colts did not win because of him. 2nd I wear a suit and tie to work and I have a low haircut and White women clutch their purses when I get on the elevator with them so it does’nt matter how you dress,they may not call you a thug but they call you the n- ord behind your back. Did some of you people forget how you looked and dresses when you were Vick’s age and younger? I remember when I wore an afro and bell bottoms in the 70’s and that was frowned upon by society! but that was the style at the time,but you eventually grow out of it in your 30’s and start having a family. Just like some of ya’ll had long hair and listed to the rolling stones back in the 60’s and your parents did’nt like that either.Just like Marvin Gaye said in the 70’s “who are they to judge us just because are hair is long?” stop judging Vick and other youngsters about the way they dress or their hairstyles they will eventually grow up and out grow it like you did>

By Wings of Victory

January 16, 2007 05:02 PM | Link to this

Hmmm.. the truth hurts