AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > March > 12 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHorn has high hopes for Falcons
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
Let’s reflect back to last November in the Georgia Dome, where the Falcons continued their free fall after dropping a second blowout in three months to the New Orleans Saints. I had a striking conversation with Joe Horn, the NFL receiver whose tongue always makes his world more tutti-frutti than vanilla.
My question at the time: Uh, what’s wrong with the Falcons?
Horn’s answer: “They’re not far away from where they should be, but they’re missing a couple of things.”
What things?
After easing into a smile, Horn replied softly, “I know, but I’m not telling.”
He just did. Not with his mouth, but with his feet. He left the Saints after seven years as a noted Falcons killer to become one of those “couple of things” that his previous victims needed. It doesn’t matter that his 35-year-old body has shown its age so much during the past two seasons that he has missed 11 games with groin and hamstring injuries. He nearly is better than what the Falcons have on the field as a wide receiver and in the locker room as a leader.
Thirty-seven receptions. That’s how many a healthy Michael Jenkins had last season to lead the Falcons’ sorry group of wide receivers. Thirty-five receptions. That’s how many a creaky Horn had last season while sharing duties with two of the league’s better wideouts.
Now if the physical that Horn took with the Falcons is accurate, this is a healthy Horn, which means Roddy White, Brian Finneran and Jenkins must become consistently good or risk getting embarrassed by an old man. Not that the old man isn’t into mentoring. Take, for instance, those two Saints victories over the Falcons last season by a composite score of 54-16. Even then, Horn stood on the Saints sideline and contemplated ways to enhance the games someday of White, Finneran, Jenkins and that No. 7 guy with the strong but erratic arm.
“I had caught passes from Michael Vick before in Hawaii [in the Pro Bowl], and I visualized a couple of times in those games last year [against the Falcons] what it would be like for me to be on the other side and to help those young cats and to give them some of my expertise,” Horn said recently from Tupelo, Miss., the hometown of his wife, Lacreshia. He spoke on his cellphone, presumably not the one he used as a prop after scoring a touchdown. “Oh, man. Playing with these guys [on the Falcons] instead of against them? I thought about all of that a few times.”
Those thoughts will turn into action for Horn, which brings us to his role in the locker room. No-nonsense safety Lawyer Milloy was a sufficient leader last season during his first year with the team. It’s just that Horn will expand that role from mono to stereo.
“I have high expectations of myself, and I want the guys around me to have those same high expectations of themselves, and I’m sure they will,” Horn said. “I’m not saying I’m coming in here to try to change everything around. This is a group thing, and everybody’s going to have to put in time and work to make everybody better overall.”
Before we conclude, let’s hear it from the man himself. I mean, you were one of those “couple of things” that you said the Falcons were missing, right?
“I still can’t tell you,” said Horn, chuckling. Then after a little prodding, he confessed. Boldly. “I’m absolutely one of those things,” Horn said. “Any sort of participation I have with this organization, I think I can put them to the next level. I’m going to go in, and I’m going to be Joe Horn. I’m going to talk to guys. I’m going to get into conversations to see what they’re talking about. I’m just going to be me.”
That’s a lot.
Permalink | Comments (46) | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Terence Moore
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By e.b.
March 12, 2007 7:41 PM | Link to this
Geez, T.M., this is what you do when Jim Rome doesn’t invite you to egg it up on his crappy show?
By Dawgs2007
March 12, 2007 7:47 PM | Link to this
Somebody needed to light a fire under those lazy, no good receivers. Somebody will be riding the bench and it will not be Horn. Coach Petrino did not draft those other two stiffs, so he will not feel obligated to play them as much as little Jimmy did.
Just having him on the field will draw attention to him to free up someone else. God, lets hope something good comes of it.
By Jeff
March 12, 2007 7:54 PM | Link to this
Have to agree with E.B. Definitely a slow sports work!! Yet another piece of stellar journalism by the NAACP spokesman himself, TM. Keep up the fine work!
By jcdocpc
March 12, 2007 7:58 PM | Link to this
I still think the core players on our team can play with the best of them. But you can’t ask a litty bitty lineman to block walls for a full season. Also, as good as a reciever may be, you can’t teach experience, so having Horn on the team will be a hugh plus for the team if he teaches and shows some ‘tricks’ of the trade to the young guys. But I hope we figure out the next obstacle: He’s not the one who has to throw them the ball…
By Jeff
March 12, 2007 8:01 PM | Link to this
Terence come on, I happen to like the way you trash the Falcon, however on Horn you don’t dog the Falcon for this senseless and stupid signing. Who wants someone who can talk, ha! sign me. You may dog me for saying this but I would have gone after Randy Moss, got rid of the backup QB, who by the way hasn’t done a flip when Vick was hurt. Matter of fact package both QBs in a deal.
By TW
March 12, 2007 8:03 PM | Link to this
Joe Horn is nothing but Peerless Price with a big mouth. Besides, as good as Jenkins and White are, according to the organization, how’s Horn going to get any snaps? Am trying to overlook the glaring problem at QB and start anew with Patreno, but if this what it’s going to be like - I’ll stick with the Hawks.
By Connie Lingous
March 12, 2007 8:12 PM | Link to this
I like Joe Horn a lot, but if we’re signing anyone for “leadership” we’ve got a problem. We don’t have the luxury of signing guys who are clearly breaking down physically. I will keep my fingers crossed, though.
By Chris
March 12, 2007 8:27 PM | Link to this
Terence, I noticed you didn’t mention the fact that this particular 35-year-old, who missed 11 games the last 2 seasons, is getting $4.75 mil a season for 4 years (that would be when he is 39, in case you don’t have a calculator handy).
That’s over $450k per game (assuming he plays 10.5 games per season, his average the last 2 years, when he was YOUNGER than he is now).
You think Horn’s leadership and creaky wheels are worth that? I have some icy real estate in hell you may be interested in.
By Larry
March 12, 2007 8:32 PM | Link to this
How many more catchers are we going to go through before someone realizes it’s the pitcher?
By Matthew at the SLC
March 12, 2007 8:41 PM | Link to this
Vick should have been the first cut in the off season. We need a real QB. Enough of the run first QB. We need someone who is cool under pressure and can carry the team.
Not someone who is more concerned with his cornrows and his friends on the othwer teams than winning.
By Greg
March 12, 2007 9:06 PM | Link to this
I can’t get too worked up right now about the Horn deal. He’s killed the Falcons in the past, true. He’s been one of the best. But I have four words for you: groin problems; hamstring problems. Do these four words sound at all familiar, Falcons fans? Do we all have to hold our breath all season…again? So far, taking the big picture, I don’t see the kind of upgrading that is going to make the Falcons competitive with the best, even in the division. We’ve improved a bit, sure. But EVERYONE is improving.
By Najeh Davenpoop
March 12, 2007 9:12 PM | Link to this
It’s not Horn’s leadership that’s going to help this team as much as his ability to run routes and catch the ball. The last Falcons’ receiver who could run good routes and catch passes in traffic consistently was Terance Mathis. The Falcons paid him way too much money, but chances are he’ll retire or restructure long before his contract expires. I think ideally, the Falcons will use him in a part-time role (3rd downs, goal line, short yardage, etc.) when they need a reliable possession target. Keeping his injury history in mind, I doubt that he’ll be overworked by this coaching staff. But his ability to get open and catch the ball, and his influence on the younger wide receivers will help this offense considerably.
Also, would this article be getting so much hate on this blog if Mark Bradley or Jeff Schultz had written it? Hate Terence Moore all you want, but there wasn’t anything wrong with this article. Nice to see some comments from the Falcons’ biggest free-agent acquisition.
By Irony
March 13, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this
Is it just me or does joe Horn have a slight resemblance to Peerless Price? I know Peerless is a lot younger, Mike Vick can ruin a receiver in his prime much less one past his prime.
By T
March 13, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this
I’m tired of hearing the negative talk about Vick as a QB. If anyone pays attention to the game and knows anything about football, they know that Atlanta’s previous offensive system was doomed from the beginning.
Vick runs because of the inability of an undersized offensive line to hold blocks long enough to get a pass off. Vick has one of the strongest arms in the league, but when you have receivers that can’t get separation, isn’t willing to fight for the ball and opposing defenses know that the best receiver is your tight end…you get what you get.
Trust that Matt Shaub can’t do any better with the same situation. Any quarterback at that level is expected to make accurate throws but do it under the pressure of Vick and see what happens. Put Brady or Manning back there with the same situation and see what happens.
The Falcons could have easily emloyed a two back or two tight end system to provide added protection, but an archaic offensive coordinator couldn’t or wouldn’t employ such an idea.
By DbleD25
March 13, 2007 11:30 AM | Link to this
People keep complaining about the Falcons getting this ‘old’ WR. He is an OLD LEADER. Something the Falcons locker room does not have. Some people don’t seem to understand that the Falcons leaders are too young (Vick) or incapable of leading because they are crappy players (Brooking, Dunn). Keith Brooking is the longest tenured player on this team but I’m willing to bet you he isn’t very respected on the team. look at the way the clown plays on Sundays, what some of his ‘apologists’ look at as playing hard and all that is really buffoonery at its highest point. This team needs a Joe Horn, a real leader, because crap like Brooiking is taking a team nowhere. What players has Brooking made better? What player can say they learned from him, wait, I rescind that statement because having a bottom quandrant of the league defense year in, year out says he is teaching them something… its just not what Ray, Brian, and the good LBs of the league are teaching their guys. Warrick Dunn is a fraud, he is a midget T.O., one of the most selfish PLAYERS, (MEANING ON THE FIELD) in the league, he wants the ball, win, lose, or draw. Back to the subject though, the Falcons have never had a real leader since mathins and Tuggle were here and they wasted years of time and money on people like Brooking and Kerney to get no real value in return. Until VIck came, this team was NOTHING! we couldn’t even watch them in our home market, thats pathetic, but carring a horrible franchise is too much for a young man like that to have to do when your supporting cast has junk on it like Jason Webster, Brian Finneran, and Ed Hartwell. And then to think, your fanbase is too stupid to realize the Falcons push infereior product on them every year and they think its your fault. Maybe Joe can get in these young guys head and make them better and McKay can finally take out the trash (Brooking, Dunn, Finneran) and the cost of that trach and get some REAL TALENT in here for Vick, Crumpler, Norwood, D. Fall, and Horn to have a real chance to succeed.
By DbleD25
March 13, 2007 11:30 AM | Link to this
People keep complaining about the Falcons getting this ‘old’ WR. He is an OLD LEADER. Something the Falcons locker room does not have. Some people don’t seem to understand that the Falcons leaders are too young (Vick) or incapable of leading because they are crappy players (Brooking, Dunn). Keith Brooking is the longest tenured player on this team but I’m willing to bet you he isn’t very respected on the team. look at the way the clown plays on Sundays, what some of his ‘apologists’ look at as playing hard and all that is really buffoonery at its highest point. This team needs a Joe Horn, a real leader, because crap like Brooiking is taking a team nowhere. What players has Brooking made better? What player can say they learned from him, wait, I rescind that statement because having a bottom quandrant of the league defense year in, year out says he is teaching them something… its just not what Ray, Brian, and the good LBs of the league are teaching their guys. Warrick Dunn is a fraud, he is a midget T.O., one of the most selfish PLAYERS, (MEANING ON THE FIELD) in the league, he wants the ball, win, lose, or draw. Back to the subject though, the Falcons have never had a real leader since mathins and Tuggle were here and they wasted years of time and money on people like Brooking and Kerney to get no real value in return. Until VIck came, this team was NOTHING! we couldn’t even watch them in our home market, thats pathetic, but carring a horrible franchise is too much for a young man like that to have to do when your supporting cast has junk on it like Jason Webster, Brian Finneran, and Ed Hartwell. And then to think, your fanbase is too stupid to realize the Falcons push infereior product on them every year and they think its your fault. Maybe Joe can get in these young guys head and make them better and McKay can finally take out the trash (Brooking, Dunn, Finneran) and the cost of that trash and get some REAL TALENT in here for Vick, Crumpler, Norwood, D. Fall, and Horn to have a real chance to succeed.
By sammy miller
March 13, 2007 11:38 AM | Link to this
i love roddys hair man!
By Loafer
March 13, 2007 11:40 AM | Link to this
Najeh, Great post. Terrance was the man!! If Horn can do anything close to him and Vick gets time to throw like (I can’t believe I’m saying this) Chandler, then we might have something. I’m just afraid that our line won’t hold up.
By ron
March 13, 2007 11:42 AM | Link to this
The failure with this team and Vick was clearly the leaders fault. We have never had a head coach that was a winner. Mora just steamed failure. You could almost see it rising off of him at games. Patrino is a winner and his team will win.
Follow a leader worth following.
By rob
March 13, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this
you guys are pathetic. Joe Horn will be an excellent addition, and his experience will be a lot of help for Jenkins and White.
By Datruth
March 13, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this
The Falcons are a team whose quarterbacks’ strenght is running, their RB’s strength is philanthropy, their two #1 wide receivers strengts are blocking and a fan base who thought if the world were turned upside down then Vick would be a great QB. Get Vick a new O line, get Vick a new wide receiver, get Vick a big back, get Vick a new coach, get Vick a new hairdo, get Vick Brady’s O line, Mannings receivers, get Vick Chicagos defense, get Vick all these things and miraculously Vick will not take off and run anymore but He’ll be a perfect NFL QB. I say instead of getting Vick something why dont’ we just give him away and “get” us a real QB.
By Chris
March 13, 2007 11:59 AM | Link to this
Finally a good article from TM but you still suck as an AJC reporter.
By David
March 13, 2007 12:05 PM | Link to this
Y’all are idiots. Joe Horn will just tell you what you want to hear. If you really think he was thinking on the Monday night game that he wanted to be a Falcon, I’ve got a bridge to sell you. Also, Horn grew up as a man the past two years. Before that he was a loud-mouthed wide receiver that dropped big catches. Sure he made big plays, but he dropped tons of 3rd down balls. Two years later, he’s not nearly the wide receiver he was and Atlanta is giving him #1 money. As far as the locker room goes, he’s also the guy that ran Willie Roaf outta town as well as the guy that LeCharles Bentley said needed to shut his mouth and play. If y’all are banking your season on a 35 year old Joe Horn, well, good luck on that one. See you at the top of the draft in 08.
By KB
March 13, 2007 12:13 PM | Link to this
I am glad that got Horn. He has two things going for him that our need more than anything else: He is a true No. 1 receiver (which means he will make a play in crunch time) and he will catch the ball.
Yes, he has been hurt the past two seasons and yes, he was cut by the New Orleans. But please don’t read more into that than the Saints making a unwise move going with the youth movement over the experience old hands (which tends to blow up in teams’ faces instead.)
As good as getting J. Horn from the Saints in free agency, it will be a moot point it the Falcons don’t staighten out the offensive line, finding some defensive ends and a coverage safety through the draft.
By T
March 13, 2007 12:14 PM | Link to this
Vick is human and all humans have flaws….Vick has flaws. Football is a team sport and takes a team effort to be successful. Atlanta’s problem is that the team is flawed. Atlanta has a history of flawed coaches and flawed systems. Take your pick, Mora, Reeves, etc.
There have been bright spots with certain players, but players are only as successful as the system and the team collectively allows. Every player relies upon the other and the ultimate success relies upon the effort of the team. Atlanta has lost a lot of great players that have gone on to better teams and have had great success.
I think Petrino is going to bring an accountability and leadership that the Falcons have never had. 2007 will be a season of building a foundation of accountability and leadership. That’s why Petrino is here, Horn is here and you will see those that are not accountable for themselves on and off the field, their health and their play leaving very quickly. Unfortunately, the Falcons do not have the cap space to get better, younger players in here. Unfortunately, you roll the dice on older veterans and unproven draft picks. Success will not be immediate but a necessary foundation is being built.
By Target Zero
March 13, 2007 12:21 PM | Link to this
Datruth vick is the best you will have in atlanta for a long time. There are 31 other team with great QB pick one. Vick will never be right for you guys. Get use to it Vick being our QB. love him hate him #7 QB in the A.T.L. SUPER 7. If you have tickets I will buy them. you sound like a sorry dawg fan watch them!
By Grakas
March 13, 2007 12:24 PM | Link to this
Terrance Moore is a typical Atlantan. Bash the looser that way they always seem to be right. A fan pulls for a team in good times and bad. They may not agree with the status quo but they are fans. Cub fans, Redskin fans, Red Sox fans simply are. They are there in good and bad years. I think Mike can do better as well as the coaches, the receivers, and the rest of the team but they are my team. Mine! I am proud that I am a Falcon fan.
By Peerless' Mama.
March 13, 2007 12:31 PM | Link to this
Stop comparing Mr. Horn to my son!!!!
I just hate Saints. Even Peyton’s Daddy.
By Williams
March 13, 2007 12:53 PM | Link to this
Y do you blame Vick? If there is no O-line to block for you and no w/o to catch the football. What else can you do being under pressure. And Schaub hasn’t won a game to this day. What would you being in Vick’s position? Blame our old coaching staff who wouldn’t give Vick what he needed as a QB.
By DbleD25
March 13, 2007 12:54 PM | Link to this
datruth, you and anyone who thinks like you are very slow. Having a QB that can do two things is better than a traditional QB. RUNNING IS NOT A BAD THING FOR VICK TO DO!! Do you people not realize that you don’t have to be a robot? You have the freedom to be different? Maybe thats why you fall down when the bad guy is chasing you or why it is possible for one person to kill two of you at the same time or crash a plane into a building while you sit there and watch. Whats wrong with you people? Its ok to be different.. A real QB you say? Like who, Miller, Chandler, Millen, Bartkowski, Hebert, Favre, Doug Johnson, like who, because NONE OF THEM won a ring in Atlanta. Favre and Miller had to go to real franchises to get theirs… a franchise without crappy players like Brooking, Dunn, and Finneran……….
By Saintsfan
March 13, 2007 12:56 PM | Link to this
you falcon fan just suck. Even if healthy joe won’t make a difference against us.
By TrueFAlconFAn
March 13, 2007 1:11 PM | Link to this
I think Joe Horn is a great contributionm to our team becuase one our recievers are 2 young and horn will help them mature and sure if horn doesnt get hurt he will help out in the passing department but he is 35 and has been injured the past two seasons..but before those injuries here is how he faired 2000 - 94 catches for 1340 yrds 2001 - 83 catches for 1265 yrds 2002 - 88 catches for 1312 yrds 2003 - 78 catches for 978 (missed a game) 2004 - 94 catches 1394 yrds
Those are quality stats and if healthy he mjite not put up those numbers but prettyy close…and the guy that says warrick dunn sucks ur an idiot he is a leader as well as keith brooking and the team wud be no where with out them,…D hall is fast thats it…falcons will go to the playoffs this yr
By your daddy
March 13, 2007 1:28 PM | Link to this
I agree with the Vick bashers, let’s start Schaub, he has only won zero games when Vick is not in. That does seem smarter (to back woods people with anteanna’s on thier T.V).
By El Caganer
March 13, 2007 1:28 PM | Link to this
Maybe he and John Abaraham can hang out rehabbing their injured groins next season. It really doesn’t matter much that Horn passed the team physical and claims to be 100% since that is exactly the same we heard about Abraham.
At least Horn has shown he can actually catch a pass which is a step up from what the Falcons have had.
By Swerengen
March 13, 2007 1:39 PM | Link to this
Joe Horn is 35, but he is still a solid receiver. If he can stay healthy, he’s still one of the best route runners in the NFL - and get this Roddy White - he can catch! Granted, Vick still won’t air it out enough for any wide receiver to have over 50 catches, but get the ball near him and he will bring it in.
This signing certainly can’t hurt the Falcons.
By Swerengen
March 13, 2007 1:40 PM | Link to this
Joe Horn is 35, but he is still a solid receiver. If he can stay healthy, he’s still one of the best route runners in the NFL - and get this Roddy White - he can catch! Granted, Vick still won’t air it out enough for any wide receiver to have over 50 catches, but get the ball near him and he will bring it in.
This signing certainly can’t hurt the Falcons.
By Big Dude
March 13, 2007 1:47 PM | Link to this
Amen! T (11:21 am)
By ridiculous
March 13, 2007 2:31 PM | Link to this
People who keep bringing up Peerless Price let it go. What has he done since he left Atlanta? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
By DbleD25
March 13, 2007 3:10 PM | Link to this
By TrueFAlconFAn, …and the guy that says warrick dunn sucks ur an idiot he is a leader as well as keith brooking and the team wud be no where with out them,…
your the idiot son. This team is N.O.W.H.E.R.E. BECAUSE of them. No team in the league has two players less talented than these two in major roles on the team. If they were good leaders, why would the organization need to go acquire, and brag about having a lockerroom leader. Brooking has did nothing but led one of the worst defenses in the last 8 years. He doesn’t make plays or inspire others too. Dunn, he is a product of the system. Horn is a LEADER. Thats why he is here. Now there is a REAL DEFENSIVE LEADER, Milloy, and a REAL OFFENSIVE LEADER, Horn. Brooking and Dunn? You are used to losing and losers, thats why you cheer for them……….
By Psack
March 13, 2007 3:24 PM | Link to this
Say what you want but Joe Horn doesn’t drop passes Let’s see how he performs before we criticize him. If he does not perform we treat him like Hartwell. I am convinced that he can help our receivers. He is a former pro bowler he knows how to play the position. Give him a chance and STOP HATING ON VICK!
By Pop
March 13, 2007 3:32 PM | Link to this
If Peerless was so GREAT and it was all Mike Vick’s fault, WHY HASN’T PEERLESS DONE A THING SINCE LEAVING ATLANTA??
YOU MIKE VICK HATERS ARE NIT-WITS!!
By AFinPC
March 13, 2007 4:24 PM | Link to this
I think the addition of Horn will help some but I think the bigger difference maker will be our new Offensive Coordinator. Am I the only one that saw what he did for Cincinatti’s receiving corps? Chad Johnson, TJ Houszman.. and Chris Henry all benefited greatly from his teaching…
By Fans with $hit for brains and sport writers
March 13, 2007 4:29 PM | Link to this
We need defense in the draft and Vick is our QB.
By Datruth
March 13, 2007 4:55 PM | Link to this
Peerless Price and Joe Horn look a lot alike? Are they brothers….I mean blood brothers? Fashizzle my brizzle?
By Soso
March 13, 2007 4:58 PM | Link to this
Datruth- Vick is gonna be here…do I think he’s a good QB? NO I don’t but one thing I do know is that unfortunately he is gonna be here….live with it, I’ve accepted it.
By Chris
March 13, 2007 5:24 PM | Link to this
I don’t doubt that Horn will help, but is it really in the best interest of the Falcons to pay a WR $4.75 mil a year through the time he is 39? Who is the last reciever anyone remembers making an impact at that age?
Horn is a good addition, but at that cost? That money could have been better spent on DE, LB or S.