Sports Columnists

By Casey

September 13, 2007 9:58 AM | Link to this

I would love to see Leftwich in there as well, but he can’t deliver a playoff run! He could however, hurt our chances of beating Cleveland out for that #1 draft pick!

By Terrible Truth

September 13, 2007 10:07 AM | Link to this

A gimp with a questionable psyche. Yeah, that’ll work. Then again, anybody know how he treats HIS dogs? The Falcons receivers need to get used to the ball being thrown directly to them and not ten foot away in any direction. After that there should be at least some improvement.

By Ken

September 13, 2007 10:08 AM | Link to this

The Falcons have a bad OL… I guess that’s all I have.

With a bad OL the offense will be no good. Take for example, the savior Jes… oops, Matt Schaub that everyone wishes they had back. Is he that much better in Houston, or is he playing behind a better offensive line with a better running game?

The Falcons problem is personnel in total, not just of the QB position. Signing Leftwich eats into future salary cap space the Falcons don’t have (no way he signs a 1-yr deal for league minimum) and further hampers solving the problems the lose of the roster centerpiece (Vick) has created.

The best move the Falcons can make is to blow the team up and draft every warm body available. That worked out pretty awesome for the Colts and Pats.

By Roswell Ed

September 13, 2007 10:10 AM | Link to this

Leftwich takes more time to wind up then a broken watch.

With that O-line he’d get murdered.

By DW

September 13, 2007 10:12 AM | Link to this

I’m not sure what the Falcons are thinking these days…..are they playing for the #1 draft pick already or what. Lets get Leftwich and make something happen. I’m a season ticket holder in Savannah and will continue to support the Falcons, but it may be from the tailgate lot if we keep Harrington under center. So many dogged out #7 about his playing style, but you don’t miss something until it’s gone.

By Vick's Disciple

September 13, 2007 10:13 AM | Link to this

“I totally agree, they should sign leftwich” but they won’t, it makes too much sense. Hey my neighbor shot his dog last week, but he ate it for dinner, that makes is all good right. I can’t believe PETA didn’t show up to crucify him. My other neighbor stomped on a snake crawling through the yard. I can’t believe no pet snake lover’s didnt report it to the news. WOW!! IM AMAZED.

By smartguy

September 13, 2007 10:18 AM | Link to this

Leftwich is as bad as Culpepper. Neither are good quarterbacks.

You think Joey has mobility problems in the pocket?? Have you seen Leftwich?? He is like a statue in the poket.

Our offensive line needs more work than anything, and the last thing we need is another immobile QB getting sacked six or seven times a game. (Our O Line problems should be directly attributed to that wuss of a GM, who intentionally neglected the Line until this past draft)

By Greg

September 13, 2007 10:18 AM | Link to this

Screw the # 1 pick B.Leftwich can play. We need a verteran QB not some rookie it’s going to take 4 yrs. to develope, then have to build the the rest of the team again. Get Byron, draft a stud RB next draft and get some 350lbs. O-Lineman in the in round 2,3 & 4.

By Singletary

September 13, 2007 10:22 AM | Link to this

I agree with Mark & Greg.

By Dumbing Down

September 13, 2007 10:27 AM | Link to this

BIG MISTAKE! I thought we learned from the Vick debacle! Don’t do it Arthur… you’ll be soooooorrrrrrry!

By samiam

September 13, 2007 10:27 AM | Link to this

Bl can’t move, so why do we need another stiff in the backfield.

P.S. Why not the uproar over the lady that was beaten in WV? A dog is a dog. Should they be beaten and treated like they were, no. Should they be valued over a human, NO!

You guys wanted Vick gone, so be careful for what you ask for. We’re in BIG trouble.

By BJ

September 13, 2007 10:28 AM | Link to this

I disagree. We saw in the Cinci game, Joey can get it done. We obviously saw some first game jitters this past Sunday. Jennings should give us better field position if he doesn’t fair catch at the wrong time or run one back from the four. Laurent Robinson is a pass catching machine. Let’s see a few more Alge ‘sure hands’ Crump passes. The run game is the problem. Dunn is not producing b/t the tackles. Is it the tackles, or is it Dunn? Either way, another number 7 is not the solution.

By PSack

September 13, 2007 10:28 AM | Link to this

AGREE!! put all those emotions aside and at least TRY to save this season. If there is food on da table (and you are starving) eat!! The guy is available and he has a winning record —not to mention he will probably be playing with a chip on his shoulder to prove he can still play in this league. Make him a decent offer that won’t break our cap room. This is a no brainer!

By Black Panther

September 13, 2007 10:31 AM | Link to this

That will NEVER happen. Remember we just ran off one black QB, these racists here don’t want another! The plan is to tank the season and get Brian Brohm from Louisville. It is so obvious that I am surprised you reporters haven’t mentioned it yet. The Braves are having the same problem. Too many white boys!! You can’t win with all those white boys out there. Personally, I enjoyed laughing whole heartedly at the Falcons on Sunday. It serves all these stupid redneck fans good. You wanted a white boy QB and you got it!! 0-16 baby!!!

By James

September 13, 2007 10:32 AM | Link to this

There are many problems facing the falcons. It starts that the falcons do not know or understand to put the right people on the field that will make plays.

1. Although it makes sense but they will not sign Leftwich. They are kidding themselves if they think Joey will make them at least a .500 team this year.

It does not make sense to just work through this season and to hope of getting a high first round pick. This will not solve a thing other than we can look towards the future where the falcons may have a playoff run. It will take time to develop a rookie quarterback.

1. The falcons have not realized they should be starting Norwood. Today Dunn is to small for the defenses around the league. He is great guy but be honest he is not the running back for today or the future.

2. The falcons have first round receivers. It will take some time for these receivers to get it together. It is kind of hard to catch passes when the defense is in a pass protection scheme…which the falcons was having to do majority of the first game.

Yes it makes sense for the falcons to pick up Leftwich, but I do not feel they will make this move.

By Mike

September 13, 2007 10:32 AM | Link to this

Leftwich has made a career off his famous college game where he wouldn’t give up or come out of the game with an injured ankle, in obvious pain. So he can play through the pain - good for him. But as a QB, he’s just not that good. I trust Del Rio’s assessment. If JAX cut him, why in the world would ATL want him? Let me put it this way: Just say no to Byron

By JP

September 13, 2007 10:32 AM | Link to this

draft a stud RB

If they would put the ball in Norwood’s hands 30 times a game instead of Dunn’s, we would have a stud RB.

By sammy miller

September 13, 2007 10:33 AM | Link to this

What about that cat Sammy Miller at qb. Heard he looks like Chewbaca in a football uniform!

By Soryu

September 13, 2007 10:33 AM | Link to this

Vick’s Idiot:

First, I doubt your neighbor shot his dog and then ate him. And if true would probably be an illegal form of animal abuse—so if true, why don’t you call the police and report it?

Second, unless it is a protected species, while stupid, it is not illegal to kill snakes on your own property. It is illegal to fight dogs though.

And third, the reason PETA (which are a bunch of nutjobs and support domestic terrorists) and others put so much attention on Vick was because he was a high profile NFL QB—if Peyton Manning had been fighting dogs be sure PETA would show up to crucify him as well.

By jerry l

September 13, 2007 10:33 AM | Link to this

So much for all the M.Vick haters. He was better than Harrington, Schaub, etc…

FREE MIKE VICK!!!

By Falconian

September 13, 2007 10:38 AM | Link to this

If only to be prepared if the wheels REALLY come off for Joey Harrington. I just have a hunch if we get Leftwich, he’ll have a rapid & steep learning curve… before he takes over.

GO FALCONS!

By Mr. D

September 13, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this

I agree, we need to after Leftwich right now and sign him to a 1 year deal and see how he works out. His arm is 10 times stronger than noodle arm Joey. For the Falcons to let a decent QB sit at home when we are in desperate need of a QuarterBack is them saying they don’t care about the season. No leftwich is not a mobile QB but there isn’t one on the market right now, so at least get one that has a strong arm and is not prone to throw int’s like Joey.

You Mike Vick haters wanted him gone and now we have our old Falcons back. Mike made something out of nothing here in Atlanta. He played behind the same sorry O line with the same sorry WR and we always moved the ball. Now we can’t score more than 3 points or even get into the redzone. And you blamed Mike for not getting us to the superbowl, newsflash we didn’t have a superbowl caliber team. We only got close because we had superman at QB

BUT THIS IS WHAT YOU IDIOTS WANTED

By SC_Bird

September 13, 2007 10:40 AM | Link to this

Sign Leftwich.

By RTB

September 13, 2007 10:42 AM | Link to this

Since David Greene is available after being cut by Seattle, why not give him a chance? After a few weeks backup he couldn’t be worse than Harrington. Plus, the former Bulldawg should be a crowd pleaser and keep some fans coming to the games.

By nativefalcon

September 13, 2007 10:44 AM | Link to this

One little downside Mark, Leftwich has NEVER finished a whole season? Also one of the reasons, the Jags let him go was his attitude sucked. And he’s even less mobile than harrington. I agree we need a backup. Just not him. :)

By Dale

September 13, 2007 10:45 AM | Link to this

The Falcons are holding out for Tampa’s Cris Simms.

By Falcons Quarterback Comparison

September 13, 2007 10:47 AM | Link to this

FALCONS Quarterback Comparison

Joey Harrington: Intelligent, clean-cut, well-mannered, polite, articulate, educated, law-abiding, DRUG-FREE, DISEASE-FREE, non-felonious, gracious, coachable, fan-friendly, playbook-literate, pocket-passing, ability-to-LEAD-having, average ( at best ) NFL quarterback, hated just for the color of his skin by many Falcons so-called “fans” before he even took his first in-game Falcons snap

Mike Vick: Not so much

-

This just in:

Byron Leftwich: Talented & intelligent Quarterback, upgrade over Vick or Harrington… BUT cut by Jacksonville for being disruptive, NON-team player and “team cancer”

Next, please.

By nativefalcon

September 13, 2007 10:50 AM | Link to this

Yes Mr. D we loved 7-9 and 8-8 Vick was so good the past 2 years. And flicking off the fans. Get used to it, hes not going to be playing for the football for awhile and not ever with the falcons again, get over it. It what happens to criminals that dogfight and don’t CARE about their team.

By rdp592000

September 13, 2007 10:53 AM | Link to this

WE SHOULD HAVE SIGNED HIM SOON AS HE WAS CUT. HEY THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE BEST MOVES OF THE OFF SEASON. HELL HE IS BETTER THAN HARRINGTON. WE NEED U #7.(I CAN’T SAY HIS NAME I MIGHT LOOSE MY JOB) DAMNDEMHATERS. KEEP YO HEAD UP.

By brandon

September 13, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this

I think they should sign David Greene.

By TSPEC

September 13, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this

Talk about an Idiot move, Leftwich would get KILLED with our offensive line, the reason Vick was a successful Pro-Bowl quarter back with the Falcons is because he could get out of the pocket quickly! The Red-Necks in Atlanta have what they want, a white quarterback that will guide the Falcons to a 3-13 record!

By arcisridiculous

September 13, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this

Well done Bradley. I saw Inside the NFL last night too. You are a revolutionary! Stealing Chris Carter’s ideas and getting paid for it? Leftwich is done.

By Manny

September 13, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this

With the O-line this bad, we need a mobile QB. Actually, I thought that DJ Shockley would have been perfect, but he got hurt. See, Shockley’s mobile with a good arm. He lacks experience, but he would have probably taken a start around the 3rd game.

When Shock went down, the season went down…

Now, we need another mobile QB. Leftwich would simply go crazy if he was under center here. And I don’t know any QB that can win games here. Vick’s gone, Shockley’s hurt…

What other mobile QB can we get in here???

By wake up folks

September 13, 2007 10:55 AM | Link to this

Come on people, at this point its not about making a play off run. Its about hoping to squeek out 7 wins, and with Leftwich we may have a chance at 7 wins. With what I saw the other night, we wont win 3. Maybe not 2

Bring in Leftwich now!!!

By Vick is DA MAN !!!!!!!!!!!

September 13, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this

ARTHER BLANK !!!!

If you want us to keep buying your sorry tickets you best get us another quarterback that looks just like us until Vick come back !! No matter if he can play good or NOT!!! Yall haterz that hate Vick aint no real FALCONS FANS!!!!!

VICK IS DA MAN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Dennis Jordan

September 13, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this

Joey’s was a good college QB, but I never thought he was NFL material.We could have gotten D.Culpepper.Oakland will win with him,watch.I’d actually watch an entire game if Leftwich were our QB. But, the powers that be won’t get it done.I am from the dirtybird winner era and suffer through every loss.Trade for a proven leader ASAP

By Lil' Wayne

September 13, 2007 11:00 AM | Link to this

[If we’re too simple, then ya’ll don’t get the basics.] (http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/12/martin/index.html)

By RobertB

September 13, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this

Why get Bryon Leftwich? He isn’t a good quarterback at all. He can’t move and only put up good stats because of the team around him in Jacksonville. There’s a reason he got cut and hasn’t been signed by anyone already… The playcalling was at fault for the loss to the Vikings. How many times does it take to learn that it was ‘impossible’ to run through Kevin and Pat Williams up the middle. Should’ve called screens and swing passes more…It was just unlucky that Williams picked off that first interception. The second wasn’t Harrington’s fault at all.I thought he played pretty well at times. He held onto the ball a few times too long and got sacked for it. Gandy is absolutely the WORST lineman in the NFC South and maybe in the NFC. Better playcalling and execution (o-line)will result in better results. Leftwich is going to do any better than Harrington if the o-line and playcalling remains the same as last week.

By Lady Lookin' On

September 13, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this

Why does PETA and the redneck Falcon fans and the rednecks across the nation care more about how a black guy treats dogs than about how six fellow rednecks brutalized a yong black woman? Simple. A black person is only worth something to these people when they are doing something that either lines the white folks’ pockets or can give them a laugh. So now. You pigs have what you want. A black man kicked down to the ground and then peed on. So Arthur, win with the white boy you have.

By Joey H

September 13, 2007 11:02 AM | Link to this

I know I’ve never had success on any team in the NFL, I know I’ve played in great systems and still couldn’t get the job done. Please Please Please Atlanta, I beg of you, give me at least 5 or 6 years and I promise to give you a .500 Season!

Yours Truly,

Heisman Joey!

By darian hall sr

September 13, 2007 11:03 AM | Link to this

News flash we get Byron and shut the daggone season down. Oh by the way everybody, a hockey player killed a man got probation. Micheal Vick killed some dogs getting 16 months. Priceless.

By Ed

September 13, 2007 11:03 AM | Link to this

One game. Only one game. Please give Mr. Petrino a chance. He wants to win now. Mr. Blank wants to win now. I am confident that things will improve in time. These guys (Petrino and Blank) are proven winners. And lay off the race issue please.

By CC

September 13, 2007 11:03 AM | Link to this

I think everyone just needs to relax and look forward to a better game this Sunday. I’m sure they’ve been watching the film and know what they need to improve on. It was the first game of the season with a new coach and new players. They had to have been nervous with all the controversy surrounding the team and negative feedback surely doesn’t help and with the first two games being played away from home isn’t easy either. Each player knows what they need to do to win a game and since the first game is over, I’m sure they are more relaxed and ready to win.

By Chris

September 13, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this

That’s exactly what we need. A QB with bad wheels that nobody else wants. Dude didn’t go through training camp with the Falcons. Doesn’t know Petrino’s offense. And you expect him to step in here and “win a couple of games for a team that won’t win many?”

That’s a joke, right?

By tspec

September 13, 2007 11:05 AM | Link to this

I guess what you Vick Hating Idiots don’t understand is that there are only two quarterbacks in the league that have a better winning percentage as a starter! Manning/Brady!

D@mn you Bamma’s are DUMB!

By Dave

September 13, 2007 11:06 AM | Link to this

One game and the train of pain is pulling out of the station… I’m not on board yet. This is about 52 other players getting it done. Please get with it… This is the team and let’s play the hand we’re dealt. Petrino’s comments on the game (on the Falcs website) were right on the money. We were in that Minnesota game right up to 7:53 in the fourth… Harrington can and will get the job done if for no other reason than this is the last stop for him if he doesn’t. Big motivator. The team, of their own accord, is already spreading the blame for poor performance and the coach is taking his lumps too… Finally, maturity comes to the Falcons again… Jaguars, look out!!! We will be the suprise team yet.

By Lewis

September 13, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this

YES! When I heard that Leftwich was cut, that was my initial reaction. Why wouldn’t the Falcons get him? There’s absolutely no reason not to give him a shot. This is way too early in the season to start thinking about getting good draft picks, and the NFC appears to be weak enough that anything could happen.

By B

September 13, 2007 11:11 AM | Link to this

Mark Bradley— the great prognosticator!

By falcondeddy

September 13, 2007 11:15 AM | Link to this

You UGA nutjobs never cease to amaze me. David Greene? Shockley? Give me a break. I was at training camp and saw Shock tatoo a guy in the head on the sideline who wasnt even part of the drill. David Greene Probably couldnt even throw it that far. Bottom line is: You wanted Vick gone, and you got it. The problem is, as it has been throughout our teams existence is up front. Vick was able to make you see past that. I like the addition of Blalock. But Gandy just doesn’t seem to have any gas left in the tank. He gave up 3 sacks in the 3rd preseason game and 2 more (plus 2 runs for loss) in the opener. Not the solution I look for at OT. It will take time, but its no coincidence that the top teams have the top offensive lines. Did anyone watch the NYG-DAL sunday nighter? Those guys had DAYS to throw. You can have mediocre players beind great lines and they would be stars. Eli Manning and Tony Romo ARE mediocre players.

By Soryu

September 13, 2007 11:16 AM | Link to this

Black Panther, the rednecks didn’t run Vick off, Vick ran himself off by being a criminal thug.

And people don’t care as much what happened to that woman who was brutalized by white thugs in WV no more than they do about the white couple that were raped and murdered by those black thugs in Knoxville, because neither the white thugs or the black thugs were famous.

You do criminal acts and are famous you are going to get covered. If Joan Sixpack chases someone down in her SUV while drunk few people will care or notice, if her name is Lohan people will—understand?

By wtf

September 13, 2007 11:17 AM | Link to this

The wr’s have to get used to having the ball thrown directly to them? WTF. Are you freaking kidding me terrible truth? I saw plenty of games when the ball was thrown directly to the wr’s by Vick but guess what happened, the sorriest set of wr’s ever dropped pass after pass. Harrington will face the same problems this year. I guess this wr core expects the qb to walk over and gently place the ball in their hands. WHAT A FREAKING JOKE. Joey looked good in the preseason game against the Bengals? WTF ARE YOU TALKIN ABOUT? It is called preseason for a reason. They don’t blitz and most of the regular starters are on the sideline yucking it up. You do realize that falcons beat the Bengals with Vick last year right? At the end of the day the problem with this team has been the problem for almost 10 freaking years. WE HAVE NO OFFENSIVE LINE WHAT SO EVER. Any qb behing this line would be killed . Vick was just fast enough to escape a lot of sacks which is funny considering how many times he was sacked. When this team realizes it needs first round talent on the offensive line maybe this team will be a more consistent winner.

By Juan

September 13, 2007 11:22 AM | Link to this

From the repeated, uninformed, rage-filled, (generally) inarticulate comments posted by Vick Supporters on these blogs, Mike Vick clearly has THE DUMBEST, most UNeducated, most hate-filled fans of any athlete in the history of professional sports.

How did people as clueless as Lady Lookin’ On, rdp592000 and darian hall sr (just for recent examples) even manage to turn on a computer in the first place to post such angry stupidity?

By mcguire1313

September 13, 2007 11:23 AM | Link to this

I am a Marshall University Grad from Atlanta. I started college when Byron came in for Chad Pennington. This guy is awesome, having him on the Falcons would be great. The second I heard he was released from the Jags the thought of him on the Falcons immediately crossed my mind. Arthur Blank please sign this guy all he did in college was win, although Marshall’s receivers were better than the Falcons. Still this guy is like a black Dan Marino, he is a stud. I would actually buy ticket to go see the falcons if he was on the team. BYRON LEFTWITCH THE FALCONS NEW #7

By VIck was great

September 13, 2007 11:23 AM | Link to this

Vick was great for the community. Now you have young black males out walking the neighborhoods and setting dogs on fire as some sort of retaliation for Vicks wrong doing. Yeah, that makes perfect sense.

I guess you just cant expect that much of some animals.

By ann grady

September 13, 2007 11:25 AM | Link to this

yes I AGREE FALCON SHOULD SIGN BRYON LEFTWICH..NOW

By Wes

September 13, 2007 11:26 AM | Link to this

Without reading any of the above comments, I would like to say that Leftwhich along with a backfield of Jerious Norwood and Darren McFadden (should be picking high enough to get him) next season would be tremendous (provided we use some cap room to beef up the o-line to keep Leftwhich from getting sacked). Rich McKay, you listening?

By londonfalcon

September 13, 2007 11:26 AM | Link to this

to the genius who said “The age of the Typical White Pocket Passer QB is Dead The more Mobile play making QBs are The Now” - I can only assume you have a postscript for why the Pats and Colts are the class of the league as, unless you do, you are just as much an ignorant racist as those you presumably sought to insult. Leave racist nonsense out of this - skill is skill, success is success, and skin tone is irrelevant. Harrington may not be the answer, but he was never intended to be. He’s a decent stopgap and let’s give him a shot before we make him out to be Charlie Frey

By Traceman

September 13, 2007 11:33 AM | Link to this

I’m willing to give Joey one more game but if he is as horrible against Jax as he was in Minny, what can it possibly hurt to give Leftwich a shot?

Leftwich was a very solid, WINNING QB when he had good receivers to throw to (Smith/McCardell). It is not his fault that Jax’s management replaced Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell with first round picks Reggie Williams and Matt Jones. Those two guys make Roddy White and Michael Jenkins look like HOFers!

Bottom line for me is that Leftwich is a proven winner. If Harrington doesn’t get it done this week, I think the Falcons should make the call to Leftwich’s agent.

By KOOL FREE

September 13, 2007 11:35 AM | Link to this

Everybody talking offense Harrington sucks i don’t even want to watch him play sign Leftwich this afternoon and cut Harrington this evening along with Babineaux he sucks the defensive tackles hs been the team problem for years “soft up the gut” giving up 3rd and 15 on a running play is enough to kill any teams momentum its not the offense its terrible defense and it has been for years. Lets Trey Davis play they need someone hungry up front!!!

By B.

September 13, 2007 11:36 AM | Link to this

Lose for the draft pick? You know, that’s why I like the English Premier League style — if you come in last, you get relegated to the minor leagues. So even if your team is lousy, you still have to compete — and a “relegation battle” has a lot more interest than the Browns playing the Falcons, each trying to stink more than the other guy. If the Falcons were “facing relegation” rather than just facing a miserable slog of a season, I bet they’d bring in Leftwich in a heartbeat.

By Ken Strickland

September 13, 2007 11:36 AM | Link to this

I can see why most outsiders consider Falcons fans among the NFL’s least knowledgable(dumbest). These fans are being influenced by some of the most narrowminded sports writers in the industry. QUESTION: Why would anyone with an ounce of common sense recommend replacing Harrington with Leftwich(an injury prone, immobile QB with a slow windup delivery) after only one gm? Are you blaming Harrington for the 6 sacks and our ineffective rushing attack? Do you think Leftwich is going to improve the poor OL blocking, or the missed assignments by the DEF?

MARK BRADLEY, I can see why you and Terrence(Clarence)Moore(Thomas)focused so much of your time and energy on MVick issues. You two clowns are clueless when it comes to actual football issues. When the OL starts doing a better job of moving people off the ball in run blocking, our rushing attack will improve. When they start doing a better job of picking up the bliz and holding their blocks, the sacks will be reduced and the passing OFF will improve.

The DEF held the Vikings to 10 fouth quarter points, and the TD was a result of a missed assignment by LB Boley on the swing pass. Remember, the Vikings led the NFL in rushing DEF last yr by only allowing an average of 61yds per gm. The Falcons had 64yds at halftime. This team is going to get better as the season progresses. We can only hope MARK BRADLEY and the rest of AJC’s sportswriting staff can follow suit.

By DJ Supporter

September 13, 2007 11:37 AM | Link to this

If Shockley wouldn’t have gotten hurt he wouldn’t be on the team. Petrino had no intentions of giving Shockley a chance. Why do you think he brought in Redmon (Deadman). Deadman hasn’t played for TWO years and he looked like it.

God is punishing Atlanta and its selfish players for not standing by Vick. The team actually hated Vick.

Vick is the last black QB in Atlanta for the next fifteen years. I love DJ but he’s done here as well.

Leftwich don’t take the call you’ll be sorry.

By Jobees

September 13, 2007 11:38 AM | Link to this

What tha F**ck says:

“The age of the Typical White Pocket Passer QB is Dead”

2007 SB winning QB: Peyton Manning 2006 SB winning QB: Ben Rothlisburger 2005 SB winning QB: Tom Brady 2004 SB winning QB: Tom Brady 2003 SB winning QB: Brad Johnson 2002 SB winning QB: Tom Brady 2001 SB winning QB: Trent Dilfer

Man, the days of the pocket passer (I don’t care what color, I’d take Leftwhich any day) are really dead aren’t they? Those mobile qb’s are racking up the superbowls.

Moron

By Don't take the call

September 13, 2007 11:44 AM | Link to this

Brian don’t take the call. They eat their young here. No support; go elsewhere. Try Tampa or Miami. Closed minds abound.

By WeWantVick

September 13, 2007 11:44 AM | Link to this

The Falcons can scout and find whoever they want…………..and they’ll still lose and lose badly!!!!!!!!!!!! No way will they be better without Vick, NO WAY!!!! So for all the Vick haters………HAHAHA!!!!! The dome will go back to being empty as the stadium was before.

FREE MIKE VICK!!

As long as it is legal to hunt and kill animals, this “witch-hunt” will not be jusitified!!!!!!

By Michael Jordan

September 13, 2007 11:44 AM | Link to this

Dear Mr. Blank, Would you please sign Byron Leftwich, I have been an atlanta fan for the last 35 yrs even in the late 70’s when the seahawks 1st came into the league and drubbed the falcons. If something doesnt change within your organazation Im going to have to seriously consider job offers in Indianapolis. Michael

By Joe

September 13, 2007 11:44 AM | Link to this

Lady Looking On:

The 6 rednecks torturing the black women will go to jail for years, as they should, because that is the law. It didn’t get as much coverage because those 6 backwoods rednecks are not the face of a franchise in the NFL. As you are capable of using the internet, you are not retarded and thus understand the difference. Mr. Vick did terrible things and will get punished for those things. If Peyton Manning had been fighting dogs around the country and pleaded guilty to taking part in the execution of dogs, the same thing would have happened. You shouldn’t hide behind race.

By To Juan:

September 13, 2007 11:44 AM | Link to this

Juan, shut the hell up before I call immigration on you boy.

Love GA RedNecks!

By GW

September 13, 2007 11:46 AM | Link to this

Leave Byron where he is. I don’t want him to spoil the misery these racist falcon fans will go through the remainder of the season. It’s gonna be nice drafting Pat White. Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha

By Jobees

September 13, 2007 11:52 AM | Link to this

Good Point, the days of the pocket passer is far from Dead! If the Falcons ever get an offensive line we could use a pocket passer, until then………… Run for your life!

By Now Joe

September 13, 2007 11:57 AM | Link to this

I agreed with your post until you brought Peyton Manning into it. We still live in the United States and had it been Manning, all would have been forgiven of the Golden Boy for “associating with the wrong people, a public apology, a goodwill animal rights tour, and back on the football field”. What Vick did was wrong but at the same time there is a double standard!

By The painful Truth

September 13, 2007 11:58 AM | Link to this

I hope Arthur Blank (a true gentleman ) reads this:

Tell Mark Bradley to stick it where the sun don’t shine.

The reason that some franchises fall on hard times is the same reason some poor people will always be poor: making stupid,short term decisions based on the advice of people that are not accountable for their advice (Like…Mark Bradley)

It’s easy for a columnist to call for this and demand that,because he won’t have to answer for the results.(In fact,he wins both ways-If it bombs,he has more to write about and sell more papers and if Leftwich hooks on with another team and succeeds,he can say “told ya so”)

I love the phrase “If I’m the Falcons”. Mark ,you’re not the Falcons. You are a gasbag that works for a (fast fading) newspaper.The only reason that the team puts up with you is because they have to.If you had any special insight into NFL talent,there would be a limo outside right now to pick you up and whisk you to team headquarters. I hope that the Falcons don’t make a personnel move just to quiet some noisy critic on a slow sports day.

By Sam@Salem

September 13, 2007 11:58 AM | Link to this

Bradley, you twit! If you want to spend more money, try buying some new offensive line players instead of another Quarterback. Or, maybe we should suit you up and see how well you do given the lack of protection now given Harrington. You have a world class college Quarterback in Harrington who only needs his first world class offensive line in front of him in order to produce phenomenal wins and memories for the Falcons and fans. Believe me that buying Leftwich instead of additional line personnel will allow the current mediocrity to continue unabated. When will you understand that one world class player does not make a team? If you want to win an NFL title, you need a fistful of them and that means ownership has to go out and find them and then pony-up the additional cash to get them. How soon you forget, you had a so-called world class Quarterback without a line who NEVER HAD A WINNING SEASON !! Think about it my man!

By CDS

September 13, 2007 12:00 PM | Link to this

Byron Leftwich? Behind that awful line? There’s some big reasons not to bring in Leftwich.

1. He takes forever to throw the ball. The guy has a windup like a major league pitcher. Behind that awful O-line, he’ll get killed more than Joey would.

2. He’s not mobile. Byron Leftwich is a statue back there. The last guy who couldn’t move around back there that started for a team was Drew Bledsoe, and he got benched.

3. He’s injury-prone. The guy cannot finish a season healthy. If it’s not his ankle, it’s his knees. If it’s not his knees, it’s his shoulder.

Either tank the season and pick that QB from Kentucky or maybe Colt McCoy from Hawaii.

And enough with the racists crap. Vick is gone. It’s in the past. Deal with it and move on like 99% of the population has already done.

By JP

September 13, 2007 12:05 PM | Link to this

The falcons won’t sign leftwich because the egomaniacs that run the falcons won’t put ego aside. I hate professional sports for that reason. These general managers don’t want it to seem as if they made a bad decision. Leftwich is the best qb available and you go out and sign casey bramlett. Give me a break. To me he’s a major upgrade compared to the two qb’s we have. He’s injury prone but so what. Give him a 1 year deal ad go from there.

By southern hope

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

I’m asking this as a genuine question. (framing this as a person who enjoys football but doesn’t know much about it).

We had the pre-season and we won 3 of 4 games, right? Then we had the season opener & it was terrible and we lost. Got it. But why is that one loss being interpreted in such a way that we’re the “worst team ever.” I mean, can’t a team lose an opener, and look incredibly sloppy, and have a horrible day on the field….but still go onto a great season?

By SilentLucidity

September 13, 2007 12:25 PM | Link to this

Atlanta fans are more neurotic than Jet fans. Sheesh.

By Vick-girl

September 13, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this

Wait a minute Dale - Harrington: CAN’T RUN, CAN’T THROW, FOUL MOUTH, GETS UP SLOW, ACTS LIKE A LIL BOY, LOSER TIME AFTER TIME, SCARED, HAS A TINY ONE, PITIFUL.
Vick: CAN RUN, CAN THROW, FAST, EDUCATED, FRIENDLY (those fans deserved the finger), HANDSOME, CAN HANG TOUGH WITH THE BIG GUYS, NOT AFRAID AND HAS A SEXY SWAG.

By Chris

September 13, 2007 12:30 PM | Link to this

Well the black people stand out in all these comments. The hate for all white people is very clear from the black community. Blame the white man for all the problems blacks bring on to themselves. Vick wasn’t going to take this team to the Super Bowl this season and probably not any season, he’s too unpredictable and the gangster that lives inside him would come out and just get him in trouble. Also, Schaub was always the better QB (FACT)! The white qb will always be better because they don’t kill dogs for fun and their more educated, which will give them a better understanding of the position and how to present themselves in public and on the field. Final statement to the black community…you are NOT African, you will never get a check from the gov’t for slavery, so get a job, have some human dignity and stop blaming whites for all your problems. You have no one to blame but yourselfs for all your problems. I also look forward to seeing Vick in his prison uniform…awesome!

By Casey

September 13, 2007 12:30 PM | Link to this

Patrick White out of West Virginia would be a good draft pick next year. Left handed mobile QB that can actually pass

By George

September 13, 2007 12:32 PM | Link to this

Are you crazy. Why would we want another teams reject QB. Stick with what we have or play bramlet and try and get him to be out Future.

By BCR

September 13, 2007 12:34 PM | Link to this

Southern hope, that is true. There is one thing that is different in Atlanta, we have the Falcons. Period.

By Soryu

September 13, 2007 12:37 PM | Link to this

The comparison between Vick and the Thrasher’s player aren’t similar at all. He killed his friend by accident and Vick killed his dogs on purpose. Now if Vick was speeding and wrapped his car around a telephone pole and killed one of his dogs, then you’d have a comparison.

So Vick is Da Thug, not going to buy tickets until you get a QB that is black?

All I can say to that is I am glad I am a Bronco fan instead of a Falcon fan—you people have some serious problems.

By Jay Black

September 13, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this

Oh c’mon now JOE, you know as well as I do that Peyton Manning wouldn’t have gone through the same thing as Vick. You know his management, owner and endorsements wouldn’t have turned their backs on golden boy before all the facts were out. Media wouldn’t have been all over the issue like that, and he would still go to the Hall of Fame. You know it’s true. Can you tell me why?

By JJ

September 13, 2007 12:41 PM | Link to this

Leftwich don’t even consider coming to Atlanta, retire first. You would wear number 7 and you already know the hate. In case you don’t know, they’ve already started on Dunn.

By love

September 13, 2007 12:41 PM | Link to this

Juan - It’ll be ok. Just get off the computer and take your medication before you bust an artery.

By Joe

September 13, 2007 12:44 PM | Link to this

Lady Looking On / Now Joe:

Understand what you are saying and there may be a double standard sometimes, but I think you underestimate how much Americans as a whole love their dogs, and how much they would want anyone punished for that.

We’ll have to agree to disagree, because, for this particular crime, I think any quarterback in the NFL would have gone through the same ordeal.

By Brenda

September 13, 2007 12:44 PM | Link to this

If the Falcons are going to employ the use of a QB that doesn’t have a winning record, why not go with a QB that has been sitting on the bench in Seatle and would be the best thing that could happen for all the Atlanta Falcon Fans— Sign DAVID GREEN. Buy out his contract, do whatever but get a QB that the fans in Georgia can be proud to say is our QB.

By Fulton Co Falcons

September 13, 2007 12:44 PM | Link to this

Screw Byron and Joey. Lets trade for Senaca Wallace or Anthony Wright, a couple of guys with wins and potential

By strong

September 13, 2007 12:46 PM | Link to this

This blog should have ended after the DJ SUPPORTER’s comment. It makes more sense than any other comments about the Falcons than I’ve ever read before. (Go back & read it again). And even if you don’t believe it, it doesn’t matter because IT IS THE TRUTH.

By kris in alpharetta

September 13, 2007 12:47 PM | Link to this

If the Falcons admin. had half a brain, they would have been calling Byron at halftime during last Sunday’s massacre-oops!-I meant game. Joey Harrington has no on-field credibility. Fans know it, the Falcons organization knows it, and every team the falcons will lose to-oops, I did it again!- I mean play against this year, knows it as well. Its no mystery-Harrington really sucks. Get him out of there ASAP. The last thing we need is a sporadic quarterback averaging six sacks per game as the front man for our ‘rebuilt’ team.

By South Georgia Fan

September 13, 2007 12:48 PM | Link to this

The Joey the Falcons really need at quarterback is a few miles south down I-85. Joey Hamilton would provide the leadership,talent and mobility the Falcons still truly require.

By Fulton Co Falcons

September 13, 2007 12:49 PM | Link to this

Lets get Senaca Wallace or Anthony Wright. Theses are a couple of guys with wins and potential. Byron is OK.

By Jay Black

September 13, 2007 12:58 PM | Link to this

David Greene?! LMAO! I’m a Georgia fan, but what exactly gives you the idea that he will win here? Nobody cares that he will be fan friendly. Can he win? If he was a winner, why is he buried so deep on Seattle’s depth chart? Ya’ll need to think, man. We might as well keep Harrington for that idea.

By cantheywin

September 13, 2007 1:00 PM | Link to this

OFFENSIVE LINE I said it with you and I will say it again. The run game wasn’t impressive either but I’m sure that was because Herrington was handing the ball off. Give it up, the quick fix for the line was Vick, without Vick the same problem is back.

why go after Leftwich? considering he was released and the jags didn’t even try to get anything out of him? why? is he unable to pass a physical? is he a locker room attitude? why didn’t they go after something from another team?

By yonizzle

September 13, 2007 1:07 PM | Link to this

i like byron but rightnow with the OL and bryon’s slow release hell endup next to Dj in some hospital

forget playoffs think draft baby # 1pick …….even though i hate watching the falcons lose, i’ll watch the games

bring vick back pleassssssssse

By Soryu

September 13, 2007 1:10 PM | Link to this

You are right Manning wouldn’t have been turned on so quickly and you know why? Because Manning didn’t have a “Ron Mexico” incident nor did he appear on the Internet holding what appeared to be illegal drugs, he didn’t have some of “his crew” (Do any of the Mannings even have a crew?) steal a watch as they were going through airport security, he didn’t flip off his fans after a loss, he didn’t blow off the US Congress and the list goes on and on.

When you act like a punk, people will consider you a punk when something goes south (like being linked to dog fights), but if you have a clean record like Manning people will give you the benefit of the doubt—Vick didn’t get that because of his prior actions, not because of his color.

Oh and tell me the last time a non-pocket passer won the Super Bowl. I can’t think of any.

By BCR

September 13, 2007 1:11 PM | Link to this

Let me say this first, I could care less if Mike Vick came back to the Falcons or not, I am a Falcons fan, not a Vick fan, but I think we can all see now that Vick was not the only problem with this team. With the O line and the receivers that we have, Peyton Manning would look like trash here. So as people have said, let’s stop focusing on a QB until we can get those issues addressed. If we have receivers who can’t catch the ball and an O line who couldn’t stop Mini Me, then any QB we get would look like they suck. That is the bottom line.

By JACK

September 13, 2007 1:12 PM | Link to this

If you think it’s a good ideal then the Falcon want do it.

By Wanda

September 13, 2007 1:17 PM | Link to this

Problem solved.!! Leftwich for a one year contract. If it works, keep him, if not let him go!!

By Peter

September 13, 2007 1:18 PM | Link to this

Hey MIKE D……..

I wanted Schwab, NOT VICK……..too bad Mike Vick was a hater in his own right, cruel and without much between the ears…….if he had any sense he would have NOT gotten HIMSELF in soooooo much trouble.

Personally I think Joey is a Joke after game one…… maybe I will be proven wrong…. but the best ???? Worst is yet to come!!!! with him.

Leftwich may be slow, and slow to deliver, but I gotta believe he is better than Joey !!!!!

My Aunt Polly might be better than Joey, who seems slow to pull the trigger, and slow to make decisions !!!!!

By Joe

September 13, 2007 1:18 PM | Link to this

Jay Black:

Pete Rose went to jail, was banned from baseball and the hall of fame for committing a federal crime. If Peyton Manning was killing dogs, his punishment would have been just as severe. To think otherwise is blind to what is going on around you.

You really think Direct TV would want a dog killer promoting their new satellite deal? Really? Have you not seen the outrage over dog fighting the past 6 months?

It isn’t a racial thing, its a criminal thing.

On another note, I agree with you completely about David Greene. People around here really need to get over the UGA qb connections.

By Soryu

September 13, 2007 1:21 PM | Link to this

Let’s make it clear to all the idiots out there. MV is gone from the Falcons FOREVER. He is going to go to prison, probably from between 12 and 18 months, but animal rights groups have motioned the court to give him 57 months (3 less than the maximum).

When he gets out sometime in 2009, the NFL will continue the suspension for at least a year after. Don’t expect Vick to play in the NFL again until 2010-2011 season (if then) and when that happens he will not be playing QB for anyone and not playing for the Falcons ever.

But yes forget the playoffs and play for Brian Brohm.

By DC

September 13, 2007 1:21 PM | Link to this

I have said the same thing from day one. What would it hurt to have Byron Leftwich on the team. We no longer have Vick, nor D.J.Shockley. So, I feel by us getting Leftwich it could increase our chance of at least having a .500 season. You need someone who knows he’s a winner, and that is something that Harrington has not shown as of yet. I take nothing away from Harrington. Personally, I would like to see Joey do well, and possibly be the backup to Leftwich, but starting every game.
Look, we already let Daunte Culpepper get away to the Oakland Raiders, so why not pick up a quality starter as Leftwich. WE HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE, BUT PLENTY TO GAIN.

By E

September 13, 2007 1:24 PM | Link to this

How about forfeit the season, save the fans some heartache

By falcon30901

September 13, 2007 1:26 PM | Link to this

If you look at what Seatle is doing with their Quarterback situation. You wil see that the 2 McKay disciples ,Gm’s in Seatle (Ruskel) and Cleveland (Salvage), made a trade to sure up Seattle’s number 2 QB situation. Mckay is looking at bringing in Senaca Wallace we now have the picks and cap space to afford the trade. Wallace is like Scaub was for us last year. He has Starter “potential” and will command big bucks in the open market.

By Say No

September 13, 2007 1:27 PM | Link to this

No, No, No - No Leftwich.

Give Harrington a decent chance. To even be discussing this after one game sends the wrong signal - NO CONFIDENCE.

If we’re going to be bad, let’s be so bad we get some decent draft picks.

Sorry, season ticket holders.

By Peter

September 13, 2007 1:28 PM | Link to this

Hey Truth…….

Vick was under .500 since signing his BIG DEAL…….find the facts then read them !!!!!!!!

The Patrick Kearney thing if you cannot read…….. had zero to do with him, as much as it did with a girl picking up guys and bringing them to his house!!!

He was asleep if you don’t recall !!!!

Duhhhhhhhhhhh

I guess the Black folk here are all about hate and prejudice, that is why we have so much crime in this town……. and most of it is Black on Black !!!!!!!

Mike Vick was an idiot for what he did and an Animal hater……

Now he found Jesus…… go figure !!!!

By Jimbo Beaneater

September 13, 2007 1:36 PM | Link to this

S GA Fan: are you high? Joey Hamilton?! Yeah, we need a guy who’s 5 foot nothin’, a hundred and nothin’, and who sucked at the college level. Excellent idea nimrod!

Leftwich would be a decent sign as a backup, but I’d rather see Joey H starting. Either way, we’re pretty much guaranteed a season consisting of less than 5 wins.

I say Rich Mckay is the spawn of Satan and is doing everything in his power to sabotage the Falcons. Our O Line has sucked since I was a little kid, yet we continue to take stupid first round picks.. Tight Ends, Roddy White, etc. Give a QB some protection and even a goofyasswhiteboy like Harrington could have a decent year.

I took a dump this morning, and it was shaped like a Falcon. Coincidence? I think not…

By Unbiased_Blogger

September 13, 2007 1:36 PM | Link to this

Terrible truth you are a typical dumb redneck who knows nothing about football - stick to whitesheets.

By Paul

September 13, 2007 1:37 PM | Link to this

Looking for quick fix has always been the problem with the “Know-it-All” sports writers. If Leftwich that good, why did Jacksonville cut him? Why is he still sitting at home?

Very familiar age old problem. People used to say same thing about Bartkowski.

Based on all the circumstances, Mr. Blank, Mr. McKay and Coach Petrino is and will build a winning organization. How in the hell Leftwich going to learn a complicated offense like Coach Petrino’s.

Give them a chance, it’s been only one game and the season is not won or lost in the first week.

By Speller

September 13, 2007 1:40 PM | Link to this

Chris, if you’re going to go off on a racist tirade about how much more educated white QB’s and/or whites in general are, you might want to work on figuring out the difference between their, there, and they’re. Just a thought.

As for the Falcons situation - I’m not sure Leftwich is the solution. I’m not sure Joey is either, but what is that line about abandoning the horse midstream…? Give the guy more than a game in a Falcons jersey to see what can happen.

And the David Green option is actually an interesting one—can’t hurt to have the guy on the sidelines holding a clipboard, and the fans would show up to see him…

By Soryu

September 13, 2007 1:52 PM | Link to this

DC:

The only thing you have to gain is maybe 2 or 3 more games and lose Brohm (or some other high quality QB) to the Browns. If Leftwich is so good why was he cut from the Jags and why hasn’t he been picked up by some other team as a backup?

With the Atlanta OL as slow as he is to release the ball, he spend most of the game looking at the sky or the ceiling in the dome—if not the ceiling of a hospital exam room.

By die hard TO fan

September 13, 2007 1:52 PM | Link to this

HOW BOUT EM COWBOYS!!!!!!!!!!!

As for Joey - just dont bet on the Falcons this year… they’re going to lose and go 0-15-1!

Tie game will occur against the Seattle and will gone down in history as The battle of the Kickers.

I got five on it!

Hollatcha boy!

WOOFFFFFFFFFFF!

By crs

September 13, 2007 1:52 PM | Link to this

If we were going to go Leftwich, should have done it as soon as he was released. Bringing him in now is somewhat pointless. This team will really struggle to win twice, can’t win when the defense most weeks will give up 21 and the offense at most will manage 14. This is just a BAD team, I’ll be honest I had no idea how much Vick did for the offense, its basically the same offense this year as last minus Vick. This team is in the toilet for atleast two or three years. Only way things work out sooner is if we get McFadden in the draft and Vick squeals like a pig and Blank realizes how bad we stink without him. Face it, the NFL is not the debate team, you don’t have the smartest and most sophisticated people, they have the fastest and strongest. Vick killed some dogs, I’ve run over some squirrels through the years, all is forgiven!

By e-on

September 13, 2007 1:52 PM | Link to this

It is interesting that you guys talk about the o-line being out of wack when joey is taken snaps but when vick was back there it was vicks fault. Dam..now that joey cannot perform we must bring in another black qb to clean up this mess…shame shame shame

By LIpski

September 13, 2007 1:52 PM | Link to this

The Tech basketball team could go all the way.

The Braves could go all the way.

Just a couple of recent slices of Mark Bradley’s amazing insight.

Why should we take any of his opinions seriously?

By Lucius

September 13, 2007 4:46 PM | Link to this

We don’t want Leftwich. The people want Michael Vick on the field and PETA members in prison for killing 14,000 dogs,

By Malted Falcon

September 13, 2007 4:49 PM | Link to this

I’d take Joey Harrington over David Garrard. That says it all. Don’t waste money on Leftwich, he’s a nobody.

By Bearsfan

September 13, 2007 4:50 PM | Link to this

I have read this blog all day. Someone mention what Leftwich might do to his dogs while others question his leadership ability. In reality, he cannot be any worse than Harrington. Harrington is a proven loser (check his resume 23 wins 44 loses). While Leftwich is not the savior of the franchise, he can’t be any worse. Okay, Matt Mullen did draft some poor recievers, but Harringtion did have one stud (Roy Williams) in Detroit. He had a stout defense and Chris Chambers in Miami to make him look almost decent. Yet, he does not have what it takes to be a quarterback. The man has not even sniffed the playoffs. Yes, Jacksonville did cut Leftwich, but Harrington was also cut from Detroit, and for good reason. If Harrington was a good leader, he would still be in Detroit. And Harrignton was playing in the pitiful NFC North division. One idiot even mention how well he played in preseason. That was preseason!!! I don’t understand the rational for defending Harrington, or the rational that the falcons should build around him. Go 2-14, get the first round draft pick, and start over. Maybe in five years there might be a decent football team in Atlanta other than Georgia Tech.

Go Jackets!!!

By Huey Newton

September 13, 2007 4:55 PM | Link to this

Give it a break, panther.

By AFRO-DAWG

September 13, 2007 4:56 PM | Link to this

The “Dirty Bird” hierarchy doesn’t have enough guts to bring in another African American QB. The “Traditionalists” have spoken loud and clear, Leftwich would be aligned with a perceived Hip Hop image, whether real or imagined. I know Vick made his own bed, but if he was as close to Blank as Blank tried to make it appear, then Blank should’ve stood up for him, what would it have cost him to do so?

By edith

September 13, 2007 5:02 PM | Link to this

Terrible Truth shut your funky pie hole u fudge hole licker

By Dan the Man

September 13, 2007 5:06 PM | Link to this

MB - Leftwich is a terrible idea. Don’t give up the season after 1 or 2 games with a new coaching staff. Falcons have a chance to win 6 to 10 games this year if they steadily improve.

Next year? COLT BRENNAN Any fool here gonna tell me he can’t pass?

By Steve

September 13, 2007 5:07 PM | Link to this

Talking about the worst article ever thought up.

Why in the world would we want Leftwich?? A completely immobile QB who cannot read defenses worth a crap.

Don’t give me any nonsense about his record. The Jaguars won due to their defense and somewhat reliable running game, IN SPITE of Leftwich. Had he played in Detroit or Miami, his record would likely be just as bad as Harrington’s.

Worse yet, there is no way he picks up the offense fast enough to help at all.

We just need to ride this year out, suck it up as a season obliterate by the immaturity of one QB who’s apparent culture and upbringing is ok with many people, but not to anyone with a brain. Speaking of which, these people who say this is part of their culture need to understand this is why they still have to EARN respect instead of it just being given.

Harrington will be the scapegoat of another season with a wretched offensive line. Vick would have done better due to his pure athletic ability, but he would never get us over the hump against a truly good defensive team. The Falcons and their fans need to stop jumping the gun on rash decisions and learn that quick fixes just don’t work in the NFL. One quick fix was to get rid of a QB with more potential to succeed against good defenses than the one we kept, and now we are really paying for that. I still don’t blame Harrington for last week though, the rest of the offense was AWOL.

By BOBO

September 13, 2007 5:10 PM | Link to this

REGAURDLESS OF WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON!

I JUST WANT VICK BACK! FALCON FOOTBALL JUST ISNT THE SAME. DONT CUT VICK-LET HIM DO HIS TIME. HE SHOULD BE GIVEN ANOTHER CHANCE. DEPPENDING ON BEHAVIOR OVER WHATEVER TIME HE SERVES. FALCONS LOOK REALY BAD ON THE FIELD. THEY SEEM LITTLE LOST.IM SURE THEY WOULD LIKE VICK BACK ALSO. IM NOT APPROVING DOG KILLING,JUST SAYING HE DIDNT KILL HUMANS.DOG KILLING /FIGHTING ISNT GOOD,BUT HESE NOT A MURDERER. LET HIM DO HIS TIME. WE ALL HAVE SOMETHING IN LIFE THAT WE DID WRONG /IMMORAL/.PEOPLE LIVE AND LEARN FROM MISTAKES,REGAURDLESS OF WHO YOU ARE OR WHERE YOU COME FROM. LET HIM REDEEME HIMSELF. LIFE IS SO UNFAIR! GO VICK BLANK DONT CUT HIM.

By Big Keith

September 13, 2007 5:11 PM | Link to this

PLEASE READ THIS When asked by an NFL reporter what his team nicknamed him Byron Leftwich responded and I Quote “MICHAEL BRICK”!!!! Do not bring this MF in here or the only record we will improve on is the number of sacks taken by an NFL quarterback in a season!!

By Ian

September 13, 2007 5:19 PM | Link to this

One Thing needs to be said. We have as problem, our QB is not, and has never beeen proven the same same goes with Matt S. Mike messed up pretty bad but he heled us win, before him I never remember Atlanta being anything more than a highlight for another team. I love the falcons when the where bad good and the worst, I want to see this city win. I live up north right now with die-hard fans we need to stop all the B/S and just be there like every other city that is lucky enough to have pro teams. We have four Pro teams we need to back these teams always and the players Atlanta is lucky but most people don’t see it. Stop before it is gone. It does not matter where I live I love my teams PLEASE support what you have.

I Do Miss Home, Military Member Middle East, Base X

By BOBO

September 13, 2007 5:21 PM | Link to this

NO LEFTWITCH NEEDED.

WE WANT VICK PLEASE.

THANKS HAVE A GOOD DAY!

By pain

September 13, 2007 5:24 PM | Link to this

Arthur Blank you need to stop listening to all that mess and help Vick out of his mess so that we can see some real football and you can remind rich because no one else will be able to bring that kind of money to the table but him. You have faith in him before, you don’t leavepeople when they are down. The falcons look bad and they are feeling the lose also if you can get him back watch the tem change they may have dislked him before but boy do they wish they had him now!!!!!!!!!!

By jeanE

September 13, 2007 5:28 PM | Link to this

No offense to Joey, but I totally agree!!! What do we have to lose? Nothing & Joey is already starting to get that “deer in the headlights” shades of Doug Johnson look, ahhhh! Mr. Blank, why not go for it? Let’s do it!!

By BUSHWACKER

September 13, 2007 5:33 PM | Link to this

JUST WHAT WE NEED ANOTHER OUT OF WORK QB

By BOBO

September 13, 2007 5:35 PM | Link to this

DEEP DOWN INSIDE WE ALL MISS AND WANT VICK BACK!YOU KNOW IT I KNOW IT!

MR.BLANK WE WANT VICK BACK….

HE NEEDS HELP.HESE STILL A KID. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERNCE IN HIS LIFE. ATLANTA SPEAK UP. LET HIM DO HIS TIME. HIS TEAM NEEDS/WANTS HIM WE WANT HIM. HESE A BAD BOY FOR DOIN WHAT HE DID,BUT WE HAVE ALL BEENN BAD BOYS AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. IM SURE HE WILL BE A CHANGED PERSON. LIFE IS A HARD LESSON TO LEARN. SAVE HIM MR.BLANK IF YOU CAN. DONT LISTEN TO THE VICK HATERS. SOME OF THOSE FOLKS DONT EVEN LIKE THEM SELVES. KEEP YOUR HEAD UP VICK.LOTS OF US ARE STILL PULLING FOR YOU! YOU BAD BOY.NOW STRAIGHTEN UP!

OK THANKS FOR YOUR TIME HAVE A NICE DAY!

By tony

September 13, 2007 5:36 PM | Link to this

All you Mike Vick haterS

IF HE COMES BACK TO ANY TEAM YOU WILL EITHER BE IN FRONT OF THE TV OR AT THE GAME SO SHUT UP YOU KNOW YOU’LL MISS HIM BECAUSE WE SUCK AND IT IS NOT GOING TO GET ANY BETTER THE QB SUCKS AND THE DA* KICKER CAN’T KICK STOP TALKING ABOUT MIKE I HOPE HE GOES TO ANOTHER TEAM AND PLAY THE FALCONS AND BEAT THE S** OUT OF THEM

By BOBO

September 13, 2007 5:38 PM | Link to this

VICK NEEDS A TIME MACHINE! REWIND THEN FAST FORWARD.

By Mike Dubrey

September 13, 2007 5:39 PM | Link to this

I’m a big Falcons fans and I live in Orange Park Fla, outside of Jacksonville Fla, I watched the Jags for the past few years with leftwich at QB, and he’s not as good as you think. He slow, he can’t move if he gets in trouble, and did I say he’s slow. why do you think the Jags let him go.

By jeanE

September 13, 2007 5:45 PM | Link to this

After reading all of the comments, I take back my previous post, it’s true & basic football, without a decent o-line, it doesn’t matter who the quarterback is, you’re going nowhere. I knew it would be an adjustment from the pathetic alex gibbs cut-block scheme but we still desparately need some behemoths to block!! This part of the team was sorely neglected while we drafted receivers who act like the ball is a hot potato! Rich McKay wouldn’t know a good WR if it bit him in the face. Just like Dan Reeves was overly enamored with tight ends (no pun intended!). Just draft o-line or d-line from no on & we’ll be fine. And it’s not a given that Brian Brohm will come here, people! Maybe Petrino being his coach in college was quite enough for him, who knows?

By BOBO

September 13, 2007 5:47 PM | Link to this

TONY YOU PUNK! WATCH YOR MANNERS SON.

IM JUST PULLING FOR MY FAVORIT QB MIKE VICK.

I SLAPP YOUR FACE TONY ! YOU BAD BOY . WONDER WHAT YOU DID?

By Da Cheerleada

September 13, 2007 5:55 PM | Link to this

Let me start of by saying…. I am a football fan-actic… I truly love the game. Let me also say.. I am a season ticket holder.. and I saw my chances at a decent season go down the drain with the Vick situation..

However, the Falcons issues are multifold: a GM who can’t make good draft picks worth a squat, a QB who will never be any better than he is now.. an Offense line that can’t hold their breath let alone a defense, receivers (and I am the biggest Buckeye fan ever…Jenkins you are garbage)that can’t catch a cold, and finally a defense that can’t hold a Pop Warner defense.

There are major issues with the Falcons not just one and one person (Leftwich) or anyone else will not be able to save this team this year. The Falcons will be at least 3 years from having a decent team.. provided they stop changing coaches and offensive coordinators like they change their mind.

Vick could have been more successful, however, he had 3 offense coordinators and 2 different head coaches. That is a lot to adjust to.. Vicks current issues are his issues..

I am not blaming black or white.. and the color of skin doesnt even matter… I do know there are some ignorant people in this blog: White and Black…its easy to show your true colors behind a blog..neither side would ever waltz into a bar and spew the hate that is spewed in this blog. People are amazing.. and most are really cowards…

Arthur.. make something.. anything happen.. or I will not be a season ticket holder next year.

By Bearsfan

September 13, 2007 5:57 PM | Link to this

How come Harrington is getting a pass for his poor play? The Minnesota defense is no where near an elite defense, especially in the secondary. Harrington should have torched them. I really starting to believe that people want Harrington just because of his race. In his years as a professional football player he has not proven anything, and he was given years to do so. If the man sucks, he just suck. When the falcons are 0-8 will the people still say its not Harrington’s fault? Harrington has EARN his reputation. Hell, I rather see Redman play than Harrington. Truth be told, if Rex keeps messing up, I wouldn’t mind to see Leftwich in a Bears uniform, at least they have an offensive line to give him some protection. All Mr. Bradley is saying is what do the falcons have to lose? Yes, it is only one game the schedule does not get any easier for the Birds. And, if they get leftwich now, in about 4 weeks when they are 0-5, maybe leftwich may have learned enough of the offense to start and maybe salvage a respectable season. Either way, the falcons going to need to draft a franchise quarterback.

By tonyd

September 13, 2007 5:58 PM | Link to this

If the Falcons know what is good for them they wil leave Leftwich alone. Take it from someone who is a long time Falcons fan and lives in Jacksonville area now. He is a team cancer. Not all of the reasons the Jags got rid of him were becasue Garrard was that much better. He ran his mouth and did what Byron wanted to do when he wanted to do it. So I say good riddance and let him stay unemployed. Wait for someone better to come along.

By GENE

September 13, 2007 6:07 PM | Link to this

SORRY TO BREAK THIS TO FELLOW FALCONS FANS AND BLACK PANTHER, THE FALCONS WITH VICK WERE AT BEST A FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF TEAM. VICK COULD NOT CLOSE THE DEAL IN BIG GAMES, PERIOD! POCKET PASSERS AND A GOOD OFFENSIVE LINES WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS. ALSO BLACK PANTHER HOW MANY TIMES IN NFL HISTORY HAS A BLACK QB LEAD A TEAM TO THE SUPER BOWL? I THOUGHT SO….

By Darnell Jenkins

September 13, 2007 6:18 PM | Link to this

Michael Vick: The FAILURE of Affirmative Action at the NFL Quarterback Position

Someone as UNQUALIFIED as Vick at QB makes me truly appreciate brothers who EARNED their positions like McNabb, Young, Campbell and now Russell. If I was white, I would be disgusted with how Vick conducted himself, both ON and OFF the field, too. What a simpleton.

If Vick could not “RUN GOOD,” Arthur Blank would not have even hired someone that stupid, corrupt and inarticulate minimum wage to clean the restrooms at a ghetto HOME DEPOT location.

Recognize.

By GA native in Jax

September 13, 2007 6:22 PM | Link to this

I’m a Georgia native living in Jacksonville and I can’t disagree with Mark Bradley more. There is a reason that the Jaguars let Leftwich go and there is a reason why (unlike the analysts on ESPN) were never impressed with Leftwich. He is a DOG. He is still living on the hype of his teammates carrying him down the field in a Marshall uniform. His wins in Jacksonville are more attributable to a couple good running backs and a great defense over the years. Sure he has thrown OK, but he has NO mobility. When the game requires a QB to step up and lead the team, which is what the Falcons and Jaguars both want(ed), he isn’t up to the task.

Leftwich was drafted too high, given too much time as a starter, and given too many chances to succeed—to the effect that he never impressed anyone who saw him week-to-week.

Atlanta, DO NOT waste you money or time on Leftwich.

By GA native in Jax

September 13, 2007 6:22 PM | Link to this

I’m a Georgia native living in Jacksonville and I can’t disagree with Mark Bradley more. There is a reason that the Jaguars let Leftwich go and there is a reason why (unlike the analysts on ESPN) were never impressed with Leftwich. He is a DOG. He is still living on the hype of his teammates carrying him down the field in a Marshall uniform. His wins in Jacksonville are more attributable to a couple good running backs and a great defense over the years. Sure he has thrown OK, but he has NO mobility. When the game requires a QB to step up and lead the team, which is what the Falcons and Jaguars both want(ed), he isn’t up to the task.

Leftwich was drafted too high, given too much time as a starter, and given too many chances to succeed—to the effect that he never impressed anyone who saw him week-to-week.

Atlanta, DO NOT waste your money or time on Leftwich.

By GA native in Jax

September 13, 2007 6:22 PM | Link to this

I’m a Georgia native living in Jacksonville and I can’t disagree with Mark Bradley more. There is a reason that the Jaguars let Leftwich go and there is a reason why (unlike the analysts on ESPN) were never impressed with Leftwich. He is a DOG. He is still living on the hype of his teammates carrying him down the field in a Marshall uniform. His wins in Jacksonville are more attributable to a couple good running backs and a great defense over the years. Sure he has thrown OK, but he has NO mobility. When the game requires a QB to step up and lead the team, which is what the Falcons and Jaguars both want(ed), he isn’t up to the task.

Leftwich was drafted too high, given too much time as a starter, and given too many chances to succeed—to the effect that he never impressed anyone who saw him week-to-week.

Atlanta, DO NOT waste your money or time on Leftwich.

By Non-racist white-guy

September 13, 2007 6:28 PM | Link to this

Leftwich is just another Vick ~ He can throw a little better but not run as good. We don’t need another Vick in Atlanta. We need a real quarterback. Go with Harrington this season and draft a QB number one at the end of the season. This time get one that can half-way speak, has sense enought to call audibles ~ black or white ~ and that looks like a professional athlete. Not a hip-hop weird0 ! I have not watched the Falcons since the Vick finger incident. I have vowed not to ever watch them as long at that trash was on the team. Now I can at least watch my favorite team with him gone. I hope he gets 10 years.

By Najeh Davenpoop

September 13, 2007 6:34 PM | Link to this

Leftwich, like Harrington, is an average QB who will not be successful with the current below-average roster. The quarterback is not the problem right now — the entire roster is. Signing a new QB right now accomplishes nothing. If the Falcons really wanted to compete this season, they should have signed Daunte Culpepper in training camp when he was released by Miami. Wait this season out and look forward to the high draft pick.

By falconsforever

September 13, 2007 6:43 PM | Link to this

Whats up with all the talk about a mobile QB. A great offensive line is what is needed. With that an average QB (Harrington) can win a superbowl.

Also, as much as I love Dunn it is time for Norwood to start.

By Madden King

September 13, 2007 6:51 PM | Link to this

You white people got to be f&^king nuts if you think Byron Leftwich or any any other black quarterback is going to sign with the falcons after what Vick went through, not only this year but years before that when he went 8-8 and 7-9. I remember before Vick, Falcons fans like myself and others were praying for a 8-8 or a 7-9 season because the Falcons along with the Saints were the toilet bowl of the NFL only winning 3 to 5 games a season. You white people got to realize that alot of black celebrities and black athletes live in Atlanta, “THATS WHY THEY CALL ATLANTA BLACK HOLLYWOOD” and Atlanta is a black city and we stick together unlike yall race who turn on each other at the drop of a hat and we are not going to tolerate you white people embarassing us and making young black men like myself who is 25 years old from the HIP HOP GENERATION look like terrorists in our own country, so guess what you got a white boy to run the ship so go 0-16 proudly while another black man goes to prison for bullsh!t and his life is ruined like countless others because yall don’t like us. I can bet my bottom dollar that all of the black players in the NFL and the College level are secretly boycotting the Falcons where no black free agent will sign with the falcons and a college player in the draft will refuse to play for the Falcons, nice going white people. Oh and another thing I like HOW YOU WHITE PEOPLE MADE DEER HUNTING, RABBIT HUNTING, AND BEAR HUNTING LEGAL, BUT MADE DOGFIGHTING ILLEGAL, I guess when you think your race is above GOD, you can make all the crazy laws you want and us black people have to abide by that, WELL MASSA I’D DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU TELL TO MASSA. F^&k that sh!t. FREE MIKE VICK AND ALL THE BLACK MEN IN PRISON OVER BULLSH!T.

By Madden King

September 13, 2007 7:02 PM | Link to this

GENE, how many oppurtunies has a black quarterbacks had to start in the NFL and not be moved to running back or wide reciever “because they mobile” to have a chance to make to the Superbowl. It’s 2007 and you can still count on two hands how many black quarterbacks had a chance to be the man for 5 years or more in a sport that has been around for more than 75 years. Sad, So sad.

By Me

September 13, 2007 7:07 PM | Link to this

Sign George Blanda.

By Madden King

September 13, 2007 7:16 PM | Link to this

I bet that the black quarterbacks from West Virginia and Oregan when they enroll in the NFL draft will hear from all the white coaches to change positions “BECAUSE THEY ARE MOBILE” and because they have a better chance to make it in the NFL at WIDE RECEIVER OR RUNNING BACK. funny!

By The Cure for Atlanta

September 13, 2007 7:21 PM | Link to this

Here’s an idea. Let’s cut all the white Falcons and have an all black team. The Thrashers can be all white. The Braves can be all cuban and hispanic. The Hawks? Send them to Gwinnett, trade for Yao and go all Asian.

Thank God nobody needs water fountains anymore.

By trufalcon

September 13, 2007 7:34 PM | Link to this

you know i have read all these comments today and i really hate to dissappoint those so called football fans who think / thought the NFL has never had a black SB POCKET PASSER QB well what was DOUG WILLIAMS when HE led the washington redskins to a SB. Oh maybe you dont know football history before MANNING & BRADY if the falcons had not UPSET the vikings in 98 Randall cunningham would have no doubt WON the SB hands down minn. had the BEST TEAM that year. so it doesnt matter about having a white qb its about having the best PLAYERS on your TEAM! Mike Vick was the best player on that team. now we are predictable just blitz the whole game. with VICK teams wouldnt dare to blitz because VICK was a playmaker period. joey you are not the answer but you are all we have right now. GO FALCONS GO BRAVES GO YELLOW JACKETS!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Suds

September 13, 2007 7:35 PM | Link to this

Bradley: You are a freakin’ idiot! Go stick your head in a hole somewhere. Oh, I forget, you’ve had your head in a hole - your own - for years now. Start packin’, will ya.

By tom chapman

September 13, 2007 7:41 PM | Link to this

Look what Michael Vick has done for race relations! The best thing he will be remembered for is getting the focus on stopping dog fighting.

By Tigersfan

September 13, 2007 7:58 PM | Link to this

Now there’s a new one…Jamarcus Russell as a “qualified” quarterback. The only significant win for the program during his tenure at QB was won by Matt Flynn. The Raiders bought the media hype on him and will be paying the price for the next ten years…similar to the Falcons’ mistake.

By warlock

September 13, 2007 8:01 PM | Link to this

From reading this it is very clear that the only people on earth that is racist is white. It is so g******* sickening!!! All you f*** southern black people do is play the race card. Its very clear you hate white people and are by far more racist towards them. What you need to do is man up and accept the facts. When a black person kills another black its not the white races fault!! You cry and whine about everything. Anytime blacks dont get their way or dont get away with the CRIME THEY JUST COMITTED its the white boys fault and 99.9% of the time it is black on black crime. Its only in the south that black people act this way. Here up north we dont tolerate it. Black people like you give the rest of us a bad name. I dont care what race your from a thug is a thug and deserves to be treated as such. Men should be held accountable for their actions no matter what race they are. Real men, Black or white, know and accept this.

By Jmann

September 13, 2007 8:04 PM | Link to this

Wow, I have never in the history of Atlanta Sports seen so much hate.What happen to the City too busy to hate.I am not a Vick fan, and I am Black, but to call a person the names he was called and not call yourselve a racist shows the true level of hate in this City. And Black people, if someone commits a crime, he has to pay, don’t worry about Vick , he’ll have more money than most of us, but what about this city. This city will be judged, not for the actions of one person but, for the hate of Blacks and Whites, don’t cry when a Tornadoe, or some other disaster hit this city,God will remove his loving protection when we choose to hate, remember this ststement. Don’t light candles, hold hands and all of that fake stuff, remember whats in your heart, then what will you do get mad at God and call him names, remember God is not doing this, you are.

By jeff

September 13, 2007 8:05 PM | Link to this

From reading this it is very clear that the only people on earth that is racist is white. It is so g******* sickening!!! All you f*** southern black people do is play the race card. Its very clear you hate white people and are by far more racist towards them. What you need to do is man up and accept the facts. When a black person kills another black its not the white races fault!! You cry and whine about everything. Anytime blacks dont get their way or dont get away with the CRIME THEY JUST COMITTED its the white boys fault and 99.9% of the time it is black on black crime. Its only in the south that black people act this way. Here up north we dont tolerate it. Black people like you give the rest of us a bad name. I dont care what race your from a thug is a thug and deserves to be treated as such. Men should be held accountable for their actions no matter what race they are. Real men, Black or white, know and accept this.

By mtraininjax

September 13, 2007 8:05 PM | Link to this

There is a reason the Jags dumped Sandwich. Do you really want to invite the QB with all that baggage to your team?

By warlock

September 13, 2007 8:10 PM | Link to this

From reading this it is very clear that the only people on earth that is racist is white. It is so g******* sickening!!! All you f*** southern black people do is play the race card. Its very clear you hate white people and are by far more racist towards them. What you need to do is man up and accept the facts. When a black person kills another black its not the white races fault!! You cry and whine about everything. Anytime blacks dont get their way or dont get away with the CRIME THEY JUST COMITTED its the white boys fault and 99.9% of the time it is black on black crime. Its only in the south that black people act this way. Here up north we dont tolerate it. Black people like you give the rest of us a bad name. I dont care what race your from a thug is a thug and deserves to be treated as such. Men should be held accountable for their actions no matter what race they are. Real men, Black or white, know and accept this.

By Navigator

September 13, 2007 8:26 PM | Link to this

Leftwich couldn’t even beat out an unknown in Jacksonville. Why would you bring him here after the season starts. Take your hit, and go for a higher draft pick next year.

By trufalcon

September 13, 2007 8:29 PM | Link to this

I have been a falcons,braves,yellow jackets fan all my life and the city of atlanta has NEVER been true die-hard fans. why idont know that answer but i do know most people only watch or attend events if we are doing well and i know the hawks are on the way back up also. the falcons are in turmoil right now. i hate we dont have VICK but we have to move on and be very supportive of OUR TEAM and of VICK. and to throw harrington under the bus after one game is not gonna bring VICK back any sooner i have faith although it is very little faith in harrington that he will make some plays and get us a couple of wins as a city we need to support OUR TEAM no matter who is under center. GO FALCONS

By tj

September 13, 2007 8:35 PM | Link to this

Ever since Petrino was hired I’ve read and heard over and over what a great coach he is, what a great hire this was. Now after one game all I read is people wanting to tell him what to do. Give the man a chance now that he’s here. I have a feeling he knows more about his system and his personnel than most sportswriters and bloggers on here. And by the way, there’s probably a reason Leftwich is still available. Good Quarterbacks don’t stay out of work long.

By johnb

September 13, 2007 8:39 PM | Link to this

Mark Bradley proves again he is an IDIOT when it comes to Football. Hey Mark, this aint Tennis and 23-44 was not Joey Harrington’s record it was the TEAMs he played on… Get a clue about team sports? Put Leftwich on the 2002 Detroit Lions he would have played worse than Harrington. We need work but Joey moved the ball and got us 12 First Downs passing, despite getting sacked 6 times dumbazz. Leftwich is NOT the answer.

Give Petrino, Jackson, and Harrington a few weeks at least, before using your bully pulpit to call for changes? Now go change your diapers and write about Golf.

By bk hawk

September 13, 2007 8:51 PM | Link to this

If DEl RIO don’t want him after he started everyone of their preseason games then why in hell would the Falcons want him. Del Rio is no Idiot. Mr D you are. Vick didn’t win for the Falcons and he will never be back. Its not the fans fault he’s going to jail, get over it.

By BOB

September 13, 2007 8:56 PM | Link to this

Good Call johnb. 100% agree.

By Gilly

September 13, 2007 9:09 PM | Link to this

I Hope falcons keep the same players for aleast half the season, so they came make the right adjustments for the future.Falcons need to get a high draft pick.I wouldn’t get rid of Vick even though he made some terrible decisions.I would let him play for one more season with a good line and couple of good backs,just to see if he was worth the time and money.The receivers and the whole defense got to be aggressive and have some heart or the falcons will never contend for playoffs or the Superbowl.

By Dan

September 13, 2007 10:13 PM | Link to this

Get Andrew Walter from Oakland.

Trade Terence Moore and a box of peanuts.

And bring back Jerry Glanville while you are at it!

Glanville is God.

By ATLChick4Lyfe

September 13, 2007 10:35 PM | Link to this

Who is this Mike Vick person you all are talking about?

By Don

September 13, 2007 10:39 PM | Link to this

Who cares what the Falcons do? In protest of the dog killing, soon to be prison bi*ch, punk joke of a QB Michael Vick and the pathetic owner who coddled him, I refuse to watch a snap of this pathetic team. I hope they go 0-16 and use the top draft pick on yet another wide receiver who can’t play.

By anotherdamnjack

September 13, 2007 11:15 PM | Link to this

At least one GM thinks the Atlanta Falcons could try to acquire quarterback Andrew Walter who, it seems, would be expendable with the addition of JaMarcus Russell. Walter started eight games for the Raiders last year and has a big arm, but he has no future in Oakland. “Plus,” said the GM, “he reminds me a little of Matt Schaub.” Schaub, of course, is the quarterback the Falcons would like to have back now that Michael Vick is going to jail.

By A-ville Ranger

September 13, 2007 11:22 PM | Link to this

Leftwick has the slowest setup and release of any pro qb.I don’t think Petrino would consider him for the position.

By Steve

September 13, 2007 11:46 PM | Link to this

Madden King - you have it so completely wrong you have no clue.

“You white people got to be f&^king nuts if you think Byron Leftwich or any any other black quarterback is going to sign with the falcons after what Vick went through, not only this year but years before that when he went 8-8 and 7-9. I remember before Vick, Falcons fans like myself and others were praying for a 8-8 or a 7-9 season because the Falcons along with the Saints were the toilet bowl of the NFL only winning 3 to 5 games a season.”

What the hell are you talking about? We were in the Super Bowl just one season (1999) before we drafted Vick prior to the 2001 season. Do you not even remember that, or are you too black to admit that we did as much without him as we did with him.

We won just as many playoff games in 1999 as we have since Vick was brought on board in 2001.

We anointed Vick far and above what his on the field talents should have gotten him. He was a highlight film, and THAT is ALL. Vick was able to win some games against mediocre defenses that other Falcons teams had a penchant for losing, but overall, he did NOT improve the Falcons. In fact, he got us stuck with the most grossly overpaid QB in NFL history next to Ryan Leak.

For the Falcons, all he did make them money by putting stands in the seats, but his contract all but killed the Falcons ability to sign more than one free agent a year, or pay to keep good young talent here. The Falcons attendance two years prior to his arrival was lights out also, and Vick had nothing to do with that. In fact, Jamal Anderson was MUCH more important to the Falcons than Michael Vick ever will be.

No, the city did not mistreat or disrespect Michael Vick. The reality is, we gave him far too much love and credit because he was fun to watch and got our hopes up. Sadly, the only thing he delivered on was a knack for coming up injured in every big game against a good defense and leaving his teammates out to dry.

Vick didn’t deserve half the respect he got. To say that he was mistreated just shows how racist you are, as you are completely looking over the facts just because Vick was black. You … are pathetic, and this is why the race card is an absolute joke in todays world.

By Dan R.

September 13, 2007 11:55 PM | Link to this

Give me a break! I’ve never heard so many pessimistic, fair weather fans and writers in my life. The Falcons lose one game, and you guys are writing off the whole season. Check out these numbers, 0 and 20. That’s the collective record over the first five games of the first season for a few coaches named Bill Walsh, Joe Gibbs, Tony Dungy, and Jimmy Johnson. I could name a number of great coaches who had terrible first seasons. The Falcons’ problems are correctable. The two interceptions were flukes. The running game was non-existent (In Dunn’s defense, the guy missed almost the entire preseason). We had terrible field position throughout most of the game. Despite recording no sacks, the defense allowed only one touchdown. Three of the Vikings’ sacks occurred late in the game when they had their ears pinned back because they knew we had to throw. Speaking of sacks, Michael Vick, for all his Houdini escape acts, was one of the most oft sacked quarterbacks in the NFL. Why, because he rarely stayed in the pocket, and he held onto the ball way too long. Vick was a great athlete, but only a decent quarterback. He was inconsistent, too quick to take off, rarely spread the ball around, not a leader, and then there’s those little off the field matters. Oh, and by the way, I could care less what color his skin is. Personally, I hope Petrino turns a deaf ear to all the cries for Harrington’s head and lets him play through what could be a long season for everyone. As long as Harrington steps up, takes the blame for his mistakes (whether he deserves it or not), improves a little bit each week, and has a short memory, he’ll be fine. And if the Falcons finish the season with the worst record, I say “Hallelujah”. Forget Brian Brohm – next years draft if full of quality quarterbacks. Draft Darren McFadden, the best back to come out of the college ranks since Tomlinson.

By GottaGitPAID

September 14, 2007 12:28 AM | Link to this

When Vick come back to NFL after all that gay boy prison sex he gonna have EVERY NIGHT and LOVE EVER MINUTE OF to redeem hisself, will all you brothas and sistas still “LOVE” VICK DA MAN, “The First Gay Quarterback to Win DA SUPER BOWL?”

By Madden King

September 14, 2007 12:41 AM | Link to this

“Steve” your whole justification of what I said was the 1998 season not 1999 when we went to the Super Bowl, get your years right brotha, lets see, the Falcons franchise came into existance in 1966, so from 1966 to 2002, “thats when Vick became the QB” the Falcons only have 2 MEMORBLE SEASONS, and those seasons are 1980 and 1998. So in 36 years, 2 seasons of worth remembering the other 34 seasons, flush them down the toilet, they are not worth remembering. So all of a sudden a black quarterback who can run comes to Atlanta to be the man and white folks say hell naw, put Doug Johnson, Kurt Kittner, Joey Harrington in at QB, anybody in except for that HIP HOP THUG THAT LISTENS TO RAP MUSIC, AND DRESSES ALL GANGSTA, let him play running back. And what does this BLACK THUG DO, 2002, 10-6-1, 2004, 12-5, 2005, 8-7,”Matt Schaub started that New England game that yall love so much” and 2006, 7-9, his only losing season and yall still wanted him gone. So don’t tell me that I don’t have a clue, i’m a black man born and raised in the South whose GRANDFATHER AND UNCLE GOT BEAT UP BY THE KKK IN SOUTH GEORGIA BACK IN 1976, so I know whats going on and from what I see aint a damn thing change. Yall wanted Vick gone and here was the reason to tell Arthur to get him out of here when he wasn’t listening to you in the beginning. So go out and celebrate, get your shotguns and go out and kill those deer, rabbit, and bear chop their heads off mantle it put it on a wall and pretend its Vick heads, BECAUSE IN AMERICA WHITE FOLKS MADE LEGAL TO KILL ANIMALS BUT ILLEGAL FOR DOGFIGHTING BECAUSE DOGS ARE HUMAN BEINGS JUST LIKE US SO WHITE FOLKS SAY.

By Who do you love

September 14, 2007 12:47 AM | Link to this

Hel-lo…

By BAD NEWS!

September 14, 2007 12:55 AM | Link to this

Folks!

Da ship is sinking. No one can save the Falcons from a 2-14 season. Without Vick, this team will be exposed from QB, RB, WR, OL to Defense. We all know this team has not been a very good team over the past 2 years. Now, we will ALL witness it this season without Vick. God, please bless us with the 1st Pick next season.

By keith brooking

September 14, 2007 1:25 AM | Link to this

no more black qb’s..that experiment has failed throughout the whole nfl gimme a kyle boller or david greene anyday over mcnabb,vick,young etc…

By DaNice1

September 14, 2007 1:26 AM | Link to this

You know I couldn’t get through all the comments cause I got tired of reading them. Let me start by saying Byron Leftwich is not the answer for the Falcons, but neither is Joey Herrington. Let’s go back to the receiver core he had in Detroit and he couldn’t pull a winning season out there. You know it kills me how all these white boys will get on here and defend him talking about it’s the first game. He is not a rookie and he is garbage, that’s why he was cut from Detroit. Hold on, I gotta respond to the comment above mine, you point out all the problems that Vick had and his numbers, let me quote him:

hree of the Vikings’ sacks occurred late in the game when they had their ears pinned back because they knew we had to throw. Speaking of sacks, Michael Vick, for all his Houdini escape acts, was one of the most oft sacked quarterbacks in the NFL. Why, because he rarely stayed in the pocket, and he held onto the ball way too long. Vick was a great athlete, but only a decent quarterback. He was inconsistent, too quick to take off, rarely spread the ball around, not a leader, and then there’s those little off the field matters.

Now, let’s break this down, Vick was one of the most sacked quarterbacks, well you genius he had one of the worst offensive lines. He took off because he had no time, but yet he managed to win games. Rarely spread the ball around? To who? His primary receiver was the tight end. The other receivers dropped balls thrown right into they’re chest. Not a leader? Well, I guess him winning all those games himself that the rest of the team didn’t help with doesn’t count. Bottom line is he won games.

Now let’s get to the off the field fiasco, yeah he fought dogs and maybe killed a few. But why in this same town did a hockey player kill another fellow human being because he was driving drunk and wrapped a car around a pole only get probation? Now what’s fair? He shouldn’t have went to jail, when he took someone else’s life? Let that had been a black football or basketball player, they would have had them strung from a tree. Truth is, this incident has shown just how racist these United States of America still are. I’m not saying to condemn Vick for what he did and not give him time in jail, but it’s the way that it’s being played out. Vick has been thrown under the bus since he’s been in Atlanta for the mistakes that he’s made on the field. Why don’t Eli Manning get drug through the mud, cause america feels sympathy for him cause his big brother will always overshadow him, let’s get real. The rednecks have wanted to see Vick fail from day one, and well guess what they got exactly what they wanted. The same sorry a* falcons team of the past. Vick did more for that team than anyone else ever has, and he had heart. The falcons will go back to being a mediocre team and Arthur Blank will soon put them up for sale because he’s not going to make any money. Joey Herrington will not fill the seats believe that. They will go back to loosing like before and you rednecks got your team back. Congratulations!!!!