Sports Columnists

By hitwriter

September 16, 2007 7:55 PM | Link to this

You can say what you want about McKay and you are right… But Bobby “Punt” Petrino is not showing much NFL clock smarts.

Last week with 1:14 in the first half he lays down. Just under 7 minutes and down by 2 scores he punts.

Today with just over 2 minutes and down by a score he punts.

That’s an issue too!

By jeanE

September 16, 2007 7:58 PM | Link to this

Jeff, you are my favorite AJC columnist by far. You’re insightful & funny and always hit the proberbial nail on the head. I myself never understood why we couldn’t continue with Morten inside the 40 kicks & Koenan anything over that. Morten is automatic inside 40…The o-line problem has to be addressed & should’ve been a long time ago but there’s nothing we can do ‘til next offseason. And then nothing will be done again. Joey is Joey, as advertised. He holds the ball too long. He’s a cutie, though but unfortunately, that doesn’t translate into points. Shame. At this point, we’d be better off begging Doug Flutie to come out of retirement, at least he can still move around. There’s always next year, yet another “rebuilding” year. It sucks being a Falcons fan. Except in ‘98 & that was a LONG time ago.

By Cory

September 16, 2007 7:58 PM | Link to this

These guys need to do something. Your right though, they aren’t doing anything. WHERE IS MORT? The man can still kick, much better than a rookie. Who cares if the kid can kick kickoffs further, he can’t score. I thought that is what football was about, scoring more points than the other team. I live and die each week by this team, and it just hurts not too see management do their job well and get beat by teams we should be beating. I just feel really sorry for guys like Alge, Keith, and D-Hall. they deserve better.

By CTim

September 16, 2007 8:00 PM | Link to this

I entered the season thinking the Falcons would be lucky to win 4, maybe 5 games. I’m a 35 yr fan, now living in Jacksonville, and I was at the game today. I now believe that winning one game may be optimistic (Arizona? late in the season). Every other opponent on the schedule has a better quarterback and kicker to start, not to mention other positions. This will be the worst Falcons team since the Marion Campbell era, and that’s saying something. Get ready for a long losing season and the No. 1 Pick next year. First Priority: A franchise QB. But this team will not smell the playoffs for 3 -4 years, minimum.

By Disgusted

September 16, 2007 8:00 PM | Link to this

Get rid of Prater…he’s obviously not up to the task of kicking field goals. For crying out loud, the guy missed a 26 yard FG!!! Get Morten Anderson back! Even at 52 years of age and his eyes closed, he can make the 26 yard FG!

By stendec

September 16, 2007 8:02 PM | Link to this

Winners possess heart and desire. The Falcons lack both! Winners have fire and dignity. The Falcons lack both! Winners do not smile and laugh after defeats. The Falcons do! Winners despise defeat. The Falcons do not! Losers give up mentally and physically. The Falcons do! Winners have courage and enthusiasm. The Falcons lack both. Is a perfect season within grasp? Regrettably, yes. How sad.

By Falcon Tradition

September 16, 2007 8:03 PM | Link to this

PUBLIC SAFETY ALERT There is a killer on the loose in the Atlanta Area. He has been known to kill the careers of NFL Coaches. He appears harmles, is a neat dresser, and speaks well. His latest crime includes poor decisions made in the 2007 NFL Draft. He is notorious for deferring blame and getting coaches fired.

Bobby Petrino…….ESCAPE while you can!!! The serial “coach killer” is looking for you!! His name is RICH MCKAY. Please be careful this man is dangerous FOOTBAL FANS…please be advised to not put your hopes and trust in his decision making processes. He is financed by a local business legend that seems to be suffering from mental illness, because he is enabling this nefarious activity.

This concludes this safety alert. You may now return to your normal…hateful blogging

By Larry

September 16, 2007 8:04 PM | Link to this

How can a team spiral down so quickly?

Right now, this is perhaps one of the worst looking Falcon teams in recent memory, perhpaps worse than some of the middle 80’s teams. I agree, Jeff, McKay is chiefly responsible.

His moves have been horrible: Patrick Kerney and Matt Schaub, gone! One replacement, Anderson, hasn’t come close to the QB in two games. Jason Webster, Michael Jenkins, Roddy White, Lewis Sanders, Chris Crocker and Ed Hartwell?

Dan Reeves put together a Super Bowl team in just two seasons, and, after a couple of years of player turnover and the loss of Jamal Anderson, he was on track again in 2002 until the broken legg. And, after Mora took Reeve’s players to the playoffs in 2004, this team has slowly eroded by poor draft selections, poor trades, and poor management.

You know the worst part, Jeff? I don’t see very much hope for a playoff teams for several season due to such poor management decisions. One must feel really sorry for Petrino.

By They're Just Dogs

September 16, 2007 8:06 PM | Link to this

Schultz, you sound like these other idiots talking about the last 2 years, talk about the last three years when Vick is 26-20 while the team is 26-22 (Schaub’s losing accounts for 2 losses). you have been in Atlanta for a while so you know Atlanta has always sucked. Why act surprised now? When you KEEP players like brooking and Dunn, you won’t ever succeed.

By Dee

September 16, 2007 8:07 PM | Link to this

This nickel-and-dime patchwork stuff has got to stop. It ends with McKay, but it begins with Blank. It was his idea to sign you-know-who to that ludicrous contract that has hamstrung us. McKay is responsible for his share of bad judgments talent-wise. Are Peerless Price and Ed Hartwell even off the books yet?

By Dawgs2007

September 16, 2007 8:08 PM | Link to this

This team appears to be worse than the 1999 and 2000 teams. We are in for a very LONG season. This team is horrible. We need a couple a good drafts to stock up on linemen and build this team.

At least we will be picking early in each round where we can grab guys who drop. Please get Mcfadden and worry about the QB later!

By SavannahDawg

September 16, 2007 8:09 PM | Link to this

I agreen Jean that it does suck to be a Falcons fan, and I am a Braves and Dawg fan too. All 3 are going to end their seasons aroung the same time. Falcons and Dawg fans are already looking forward to next year, and the Braves are ALWAYS looking forward to NEXT year as being THE year. I too am wondering where Mort is, and where all 3 teams hearts are.

By I'm done

September 16, 2007 8:14 PM | Link to this

Welcome to the party, Schultz. It took you four years to figure out what most of us knew in year two. McKay is just another bad decision made by current ownership. When was the last time we had a decent draft pick? What about a reasonable freeagent pickup? Did we actually trade Schaub(who is 2-0 with Houston!) for a 2nd round pick? How about a decent coaching hire? This team is a complete mess and has been for quite some time. McKay falls on his sword regarding the current kicker experiment but remember it was just 2 years ago that he tried another hairbrained move with a kicker that backfired resulting in signing Morten Anderson. If ownership was halfway tuned in, McKay would have been shipped out with Mora. McKay has brought NOTHING to this franchise and it’s obvious to everyone but the owner that the Peter Principle is in full effect. What a joke this team is!

By Greg

September 16, 2007 8:17 PM | Link to this

There are more than a few enormous personnel mistakes of judgment down to Mckay/Mora, and now a couple more (at least) down to McKay/Petrino. Are they misjudging talent, or are they working within financial constraints that we simply cannot know about? The bottom line seems to be the unwillingness of the team to go into the free agency market and spend the dollars. Whatever the reason for this, and we are unlikely ever to learn the particulars, the Falcons are sub-standard on talent, on both sides of the ball. Period. All of us wish Petrino could consistently coach such a team to victories, but it just isn’t going to happen. He might get a couple victories from teams that take us for granted. That’s it. Maybe he was a fool to take the job. But keep in mind that he probably stayed awake in bed imagining what he could do with the double-threat of Vick…how he could make him a more accurate short-passer, for example, and how he could coach him up on defensive reads. The whole thing is a tragedy even bigger than most of us thought when Vick was indicted.

By bulletbob

September 16, 2007 8:23 PM | Link to this

I hope Schaub passes for 6 TDs in the dome. Then McKay is fired and Blank places a full page apology in the AJC for his incompetence in the industry.

Dan Reeves and I will be the happiest men in Georgia.

By Rawhide

September 16, 2007 8:31 PM | Link to this

The Falcons offence is Soooo bad,…(how bad are they?),…

They are so bad, they have scored less points then ANY other team in the NFL after 2 games.

Thare are SOOOoooo bad, that the Vikings DEFENCE has outscored them 21 to 10.

They are SOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooo bad, that the BROWNS scored FIVE times more points then the Falcons TODAY then the Falcons have in the first 2 games combined.

That is how bad the Falcons offence is.

By Tommy Maddox

September 16, 2007 8:35 PM | Link to this

Well swell.

When it rains, it does pour.

By Cannon Ball Butler

September 16, 2007 8:39 PM | Link to this

Being a Falcon fan is a nightmare. Tonight I watched Brett Farve set another record, the only thing worse was it was preceded by Schaub taking the Texan to 2-0 in the history of the franchise. Indeed, the more things change, the more they stay the same

By BUM

September 16, 2007 8:44 PM | Link to this

FIRE RICH McKAY!!!

He’s responsible for this mess, plain and simple.

Let’s look at a FEW of the HIGHLIGHTS of GM Rich McKay’s tenure, and what Arthur Blank should do as a direct result thereof.

Here we go….

Fired Dan Reeves without having a clue who would replace him. Did not hire interim head coach Wade Phillips (2-0 with the Cowboys) who had NFL head coaching experience AND wanted the job. Hired Jimmy Mora who may not have wanted the job but certainly did not have any head coaching experience. FIRE HIM!!!

Did not “know” how franchise QB spent his free time? FIRE HIM!!!

Hatched salary cap scheme to convert franchise QB’s signing bonuses into roster bonus (thereby making them UNCOLLECTIBLE). FIRE HIM!!!

Used first round pick on Roddy White. FIRE HIM!!!

Traded TJ Duckett and draft picks for a one year rental on Ashley Lelei. FIRE HIM!!!

Fired Jim Mora with no idea who the Falcons would hire to be the next coach (subjecting franchise to humiliating scramble to find someone, anyone, to fill the job). FIRE HIM!!!

Traded away Matt Schaub (2-0 with the Texans). FIRE HIM!!!

Signed Joey Harrington to a TWO YEAR SIX MILLION DOLLAR contract. That’s right. 2 years. 6 million dollars. You do the math. FIRE HIM!!!

Signed Matt Prater and placed him on the opening day roster without EVER seeing him kick in a Falcons uniform. Did I mention EVER?!?! FIRE HIM!!!

You know what would happen at my job if I compiled a resume like this? Every employee of the company — and every one of the customers — would scream as loud as they could: “FIRE HIM!!!”

By JACK

September 16, 2007 8:50 PM | Link to this

I DONT CARE WHAT ANY ONE HAS TO SAY ALL OF THE FALCONS PROBLEMS CAN BE LAID AT THE FEET OF THE OWNER MR. ARTHER BLANK,IT IS NOT AND HAS NEVER BEEN A RACE ISSUE!REMEMBER WAY BACK WHEN MR. BLANK WAS BEGGING PEOPLE TO JUST PLEASE COME TO THE DOME AND FILL IT UP? WELL EVERY YEAR SINCE THEN HE HAS GONE UP ON TICKET PRICES,AND THE FALCONS HAVE JUST GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT THEY ARE THE BIGGEST JOKE OF THE WHOLE N.F.L. HE HIRED A G.M. WHO NOT ONLY PROVED THAT HE WAS JUST A LIKE HIS FATHER A BIG TIME LOSER AND DID NOT KNOW A DAMN THING ABOUT PRO FOOTBALL,BUT HE THOUGHT HE COULD USE THE FALCONS TO GET A BETTER JOB IN THE OFFICES OF THE N.F.L.MR. BLANK HAS LISTENED TO THIS JERK AS IF WHAT HE SAID WAS WRITTEN IN STONE, REMEMBER THE LAST HEAD-COACH,TRADING AWAY THE BACK-UP Q.B.(WHOS NOW 2AND0) AND ALL OF THE STUPID FRIGGING MOVES McCAY HAS MADE NOT ONLY IN THE DRAFT, BUT THINKING HEY I’LL BRING SOME BIG NAME FREE AGENT’S WHO ARE OVER THE HILL AND THIS WILL SATIFY,ALL OF THESE DUMB FANS.NOW LOOK AT THE COACH OF THE 49ers,THE COACH WE COULD HAVE HAD ALSO 2 AND 0, BUT THE BIG LOSER G.M.JUST COULD NOT STAND FOR SOME ONE TO LOOK BETTER THAN HIM MR. BLANK ASKED NOT JUST THE FANS IN ATLANTA BUT ALL OF THE FALCON FANS WHO HAS SUFFERED,WITH THIS TEAM FROM THE TIME IT CAME TO ATLANTA,AND HAS FROM THE FIRST DAY, NEVER REALLY BEEN GIVEN A CHANCE TO REALLY WIN.TO COME OUT AND FILL THE SEATS,IN THE DOME, AND TO WATCH, HIS TEAM ON T-V, AND SUPPORT HIS TEAM,JUST TO PLEASE GIVE HIM A CHANCE TO PROVE THAT HE WAS INDEED,COMMITED TO WINNING,WELL MR. BLANK THE FANS GAVE YOU YOUR CHANCE, AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH IT? YOU HAVE WENT UP NOT ONLY ON TICKET PRICES, EVERY YEAR, BUT ALSO ON EVERYTHING ELSE.YOU SIR.ALSO PROVED TO THE FANS,THAT YOU ARE NO DIFFRENT,THAN THE FORMER OWNERS OF THE TEAM, MILK THE FANS FOR ALL YOU CAN GET OUT OF THEM AND STILL PUT AT BEST ONE OF THE N.F.L.’S MOST LOSING TEAMS ON THE FIELD.YEAR AFTER YEAR WITH THE EMPTY PROMICES OF DOING WHAT YOU CAN TO TURN THINGS AROUND,BUT JUST SOMEHOW THAT NEVER HAPPENS? MR. BLANK UNTIL YOU BRING PROVEN WINNERS INTO YOUR FRONT OFFICE,AND LISTEN TO THEM AND PLAYERS WHO REALLY WANT NOT ONLY PLAY FOR A WINNER,BUT ALSO BE PROUD TO BE CALLED AN ATLANTA FALCON, AND NOT JUST GET THEIR MONEY AND RUN OFF THEIR BIG MOUTHS,ABOUT WHAT WENT WRONG, OR SUPPORTING A EX- TEAMMATE. YOU SIR BLEW YOUR CHANCE WITH ME AND I’M SURE WITH A LOT OF OTHER LONG TIME FALCONS FANS

By Falcon Tradition

September 16, 2007 8:52 PM | Link to this

AMEN… Bum….AMEN

Your comments are right on target!!!!

By falconclaws

September 16, 2007 8:54 PM | Link to this

this is a turning point for all…. of football……..patriots cheating——-falcons stripped—of their future—-the SS comish—-relaying his verdicts—-all the while—the fans are being told——f-uuu and here we sit …..for what—-more commercials—-oh boy—-what imagination—-are you tired yet of this administration?

By Steve

September 16, 2007 8:54 PM | Link to this

Now that the Prater experiment has failed and we missed on trying out Rayner or Carney, could McKay swallow his pride and invite Billy Cundiff back? If so how much more of a hit will it take on the salary cap if we had just kept him like we should of in the first place?

By Wade

September 16, 2007 8:54 PM | Link to this

I agree with BUM.

By T

September 16, 2007 8:55 PM | Link to this

I have a finger for Rich. Wanna guess which one?

By wybears

September 16, 2007 8:59 PM | Link to this

“The Falcons problem is personnel in total, not just of the QB position.” ….”Harrington isn’t the team’s only problem. He just isn’t the solution.”

HA HA HA….GOOD LUCK!!!! WE HEARD THESE SAME COMMENTS IN DETROIT FOR YEARS!!!!!!!!
JH IS A LOSER……..

By falconch3

September 16, 2007 9:03 PM | Link to this

Atlanta was just a halfway house for McKay. He just needed some place to be when he landed that commisioner job. Now he’s just a lame duck.

By Najeh Davenpoop

September 16, 2007 9:07 PM | Link to this

Jeff Schultz, as usual you couldn’t be more wrong. Number one, the personnel problems on this team don’t start with McKay, they start with Jim Mora. Compare McKay’s tenure with the Bucs, when he managed to find Pro Bowler after Pro Bowler in the draft, to his tenure with the Falcons, where he was forced to modify his draft strategy to select players fitting Mora and his staff’s hare-brained schemes. Would draft picks be wasted on the likes of undersized linemen Jonathan Babineaux, Quinn Ojinnaka, and Frank Omiyale if McKay wasn’t hamstrung by the ill-advised cut-blocking schemes of Alex Gibbs? Would we have reached for Michael Jenkins and Roddy White if we didn’t have to pick big receivers who allegedly fit Greg Knapp’s idiotic pseudo-West Coast offense? McKay hasn’t been perfect with his personnel decisions — some of his trades have been questionable at best, but his draft record is more a result of Mora’s stupidity than his own.

Number two, your feeble attempt to minimize the absence of #7 is BS and you know it. Vick may not have had this team in the Super Bowl the last two seasons, but let’s not forget that he had to work with the same lackluster personnel that is now plaguing this team, plus he had a worse coaching staff in place as well. He may have been under .500 (by ONE GAME) the last two seasons, but it took an above average QB to even have this team in contention for the playoffs the last two seasons. Vick, in his own words, overcame coaching and lack of talent on the roster to at least have this team sniffing the playoffs the last two years. That is the difference between him and Harrington. With Harrington (who is not bad, only average), this substandard team is going to be contending for a #1 pick. With Vick, this substandard team at least was in playoff contention the last two seasons. I don’t hold Harrington responsible for the team’s current failures because he has very little help — at the same time, Vick with the same amount of help had this team contending, which is what made him extraordinary. If anything, the Falcons’ current failures only make it more obvious how much Vick positively impacted this team on the field.

And finally, can we please stop talking about the Schaub trade. Obviously McKay wouldn’t have made the trade if the team already knew that Vick would be suspended. Yes, Schaub is pretty good, and is definitely better than Harrington. But would he be rescuing this team from the depths if he was here? Probably not. The Falcons got three guys who will all be starting by next week in exchange for Schaub. If we continue sucking for the rest of the year, we will probably end up with a better QB in the draft (or if the Lord shows mercy on our souls, maybe Vick’s sentence will be minimal, he’ll be reinstated by both this team and the league, and we’ll all forgive him and welcome him back). Can we please stop sweating Schaub? He is a less injury prone Chad Pennington, which is not a bad thing, but it certainly ain’t enough to get our collective panties in a bunch over trading him.

McKay is average at his job — not terrible, not great. Unfortunately on this team, still reeking from the stench of Jim Mora, that makes him more qualified for his job than most of the other employees.

By NotKidding

September 16, 2007 9:09 PM | Link to this

Everybody please know this: Almost ANY NFL quarterback (starter or backup) can do pretty well with PROTECTION!!! The MAIN issue is with the offensive line. Although there are a couple of others - they would easily be masked by a very good offensive line. In the past (it was th eother way around), the extent to which the o-line TRULY sucked was masked by the scrambling ability of M. Vick; due to him running for his life the team managed to HIDE the fact that this o-line is the worst in the league. As a fan, I can say that he defensive side of the ball has received an upgrade from Zimmer. This defense has not looked all that bad (or at least improved from last season) this year; I think the resistence to the run will improve once Coleman is back (and in football shape) and Grady is in football shape (right now, he is NOT in shape due to holding out). I think Abraham did a pretty good job today and that will force teams to double him and (hopefully) allow some room for Anderson to make some plays (once he improves past rookie status). As the season goes on Jimmy Williams will (hopefully) get a better understanding of what he should be doing (right now, he LOOKS like he is unsure and a bit unaware = like a 1st year starter that was never developed). If Houston can come along and become the man-2-man cover corner that Zimmer wants in order to apply more pressure to the QB, this defense could be halfway dominant and really contribute to this team winning some games (as long as they are close). Look at teams like Baltimore, Chicago who merely ask their offenses to “manage games” - it CAN BE DONE. With all of that said, however, with a fix to the offensive line (easier said than done), you will see a TREMENDOUS improvement in this team’s ability to put some sort of meaningful points on the board.

To be honest one of the worst mistake smade by McKay/Blank was the hiring of Mora. Petrino is a good coach and he has a good staff. Mora did not know how to develop players and had coordinators that believed too much in their systems and not enough in the need to adjust to a team’s scheme or to the openings (offense or defense) that a team would allow in order to put themselves in a better position to succeed. Granted, there have been issues at corner and other places on the field, but injury up front hanpered the defense (to a great degree) last year. Not only that, but, I am certain that had Mora had ANY sort of general philosophy of how to build a team and have payers succeed and take advantage of (no matter how small) the individual talents of the players that you DO (currently) have, then this franchose would be in much better shape and he MIGHT still be here. What is clear is that Mora did a great sales job on Blank and McKay - probably more Blank. Remember: Blank had a choice (Lovie Smith or Jim Mora, Jr.) and he chose Mora, who NEVER exhibited ANY ability to manage a team or build upon a “Football Philosophy”. Petrino has a philosophy, so does Lovie, SO DID Dan Reeves. Their philosophy happens to be the same: Your team’s success is based on what it is made out of “UP FRONT IN THE TRENCHES” (on both sides of the ball). I am uncertain as to why Blank let Reeves go, but I suspect that his philosophy around developing QBs did not mesh with Arthur Blank’s desire to immediately begin making money off of Vick. I know that Reeves thought Vick should sit for a couple of years, learn and then be a factor as a starter with the running game as the main component to the offense backed by a strong defense. Blank wanted to make sure that Vick was a starter in order to start filling seat (don’t be fooled he always had a strategy that revolved around lowering ticket prices in order to raise them - and keep them HIGH - later in order to “suck fans in”). The two were in such contrast with each other that Blank decided he needed Reeves gone - much like the GM of San Diego won out in the long battle with Marty Schotteneimer. Blank wants no parts of anyone being too strong willed when it comes to his business - he is not the “nice owner” the public beleives him to be He is a shrewd (and SMART) businessman - it just so happens that he doesn’t know football! I think that he has probably been in McKay’s way, to some degree and imposes his own will behind the scenes. McKay HAS been doing his part in making bad moves, but I am certain that part of his willingness (in the past) for the quick fix at linebacker (Hartwell) or corner (Webster), etc. has been the lack of knowledge and probably unrealistic demands that Blank places on the organization as someone who doesn’t really know much at all about this game and how it is played, let alone won. Think about it - how different is Blank from Snyder up in DC??? Not different at all. Blank has been throwing money around and thinking that the most expensive items in the store are the best ones - NOT SO. Much like Dan Snyder - Blank doesn’t know w thing about football and is too arrogant to allow someone else who does to do the job of running the franchise’s operations (like Robert Kraft, who pretty much just OWNS the team and signs the checks as long as they agree with his general thoughts on what the budget for those expenditures should be). Blank thinks that his experience in building and making Home Depot successful translates to the Falcons when it is actually a hindrance b/c football just doesn’t work that way; it is not something in which being a good businessman makes you good at running a football team. His experience makes him good at (possibly) running the business of football, but not football itself. He will need to learn this, although right now his EGO is getting in the way.

By Rod

September 16, 2007 9:16 PM | Link to this

Get well soon DJ SHOCKLEY! Your teammates need you! If Mora was still here DJ would have been named the starter. Mora would have picked Shockley but Patrino picked Joey. We would not be 0 and 2 with Shockley and that is a FACT. Get off McKays back people.

By ruppert

September 16, 2007 9:18 PM | Link to this

There is nobody to blame but ARTHUR BLANK. He has overruled Mckay on several occasions on personel matters that got us to where we are today.

By Birdy

September 16, 2007 9:21 PM | Link to this

It is the same OLine that the team deemed not just ‘good enough’ but in fact “MVP’S” when they were letting guys loose on Mike Vick every play. Only now, however, can the media, fans and I guess finally the team see that their “protection” is absolutely sub-par.

McKay felt that Gibbs strategy of acquiring and starting reject linemen was fine before. No sense changing things now. Let’s set some records.

And remember, as pitiful as the offense looks, all the local shock-jocks were saying this was make-or-break year for Michael Vick here anyway — as if he had to take this sqad to the Super bowl or be deemed a complete bust. But now we hear the team is very short on talent and poorly designed.

Well, well, well…the chickens are coming home to roost. Deliberately design a team that has poor talent on the OLine and what do you expect? Let’s just all take solace in the fact that this is all a part of the team’s master plan.

It’s great, isn’t it?

(And to think, there was a time Randy Moss and T.O. wanted to come here to Atlanta. I doubt top players want to come here now that our one player is now gone.Shame, shame shame.)

By Buddy

September 16, 2007 9:25 PM | Link to this

An owner who is far more interested in being on TV and having everyone worship him…A GM who has been known for his arrogant ways from his days as the son of a true legend…and a fan whose family has wasted its money on the Falcons since 1966. What else can I say…Blank and his stuck up crew actually make me wish for the days of the Smith family.

By Buddy

September 16, 2007 9:26 PM | Link to this

An owner who is far more interested in being on TV and having everyone worship him…A GM who has been known for his arrogant ways from his days as the son of a true legend…and a fan whose family has wasted its money on the Falcons since 1966. What else can I say…Blank and his stuck up crew actually make me wish for the days of the Smith family.

By terrell barron

September 16, 2007 9:30 PM | Link to this

Mckay is a joke! One positive from the game: The offensive line played well. Harrington had plenty of time to get rid of the ball. Petrino,Please Keep Gandy on the sideline.

By Rod

September 16, 2007 9:30 PM | Link to this

STOP saying Patrino is a good coach. He hasnt won anything in the NFL. Yall said Joey was a good Quarterback he just played on sorry teams in Detroit and Miami and Patrino said Joey was his starter before camp and Shockley a kid with talent never got snaps with first or second string. You need to stop assuming Patrino is a great coach because he is the one who annointed Joey #1. Joey just stands there holding the ball all day. The o-line might not be great but their not as bad as Joey makes them look either.

By The Grinch

September 16, 2007 9:31 PM | Link to this

You guys really don’t understand the concept of a rebuilding process, do you?

Petrino’s scheme is essentially the opposite of Mora’s (thank god) which means it takes different players. The o-line isn’t breaking down now because of Foster and Blalock, it’s because of the cut-blocking midgets everywhere else who no longer have Vick to mask their inability to even do an average job of protecting the quarterback. You can’t have a power running game with an undersized cutback runner (Dunn). So forth and so on. McKay drafted the type of players Mora asked for. Now that Petrino’s here, he did the best he could to draft HIS kind of players this last draft. It’s gonna take another draft or two at least to replace the dead weight. You douchebags are already calling for everyone’s head before they can even start the rebuilding process, and when you manage to run Petrino off right after he finally gets “his” players in place, the next regime will have to do the same thing over again.

This would have been a tie game on the road at the end of regulation if we had a kicker; this team is only a few pieces and some jelling time away. Chill out and let it happen.

By Jeff

September 16, 2007 9:40 PM | Link to this

Anybody have the strange sense that Vick is getting the last laugh?

By morris

September 16, 2007 9:45 PM | Link to this

Davenpoop, Your dead wrong about mcKay in tampa. I told everbody who would listen when mckay was hired by the falcons that it was Tim Ruskell who was the personnel genuis during the bucs glory years. Mckay took all the credit for ruskell’s great draft finds. It was blank who said that He wanted an administrator type GM instead of a guy with a strong personnel background. Well that is exactly what he got in mcKay. When you people finally wake up you will realize that blank is a horrible owner. We are now officially the same old sorry falcons that we have always been. LOSERVILLE USA!

By Jeff

September 16, 2007 9:46 PM | Link to this

Fine-if it is a rebuilding process, then let the youngsters play. I am so sick of seeing Warrick Dunn run up the middle for 1 yard or less while Norwood sits (or “lost in the mix” as Petrino said). Likewise, let Houston get burned as the starting CB.

By Rod

September 16, 2007 9:51 PM | Link to this

Is Vick getting the last laugh? Ask me after the judge sentences him in December.

By johnb

September 16, 2007 9:52 PM | Link to this

Joey Harrington has been one of the LEAST sacked QB’s in the NFL over the past few years. What does that tell you about this O-Line? John Madden said it on Monday Night, “IT all starts up front”. Of course the idiots and racists will always blame Harrington again, and every single loss this season…

Jeff Schultz you think old guys like Brunell, Culpepper, or the statue Leftwich, would fare any better than Harrington? Man you are dreaming. Leftwich would have 30 sacks by now, behind this O-Line.

By iDash

September 16, 2007 9:52 PM | Link to this

With MV the Falcons would be 2-0, heading into a the dome to blow out Carolina, your right, its Rich’s fault!

One man doesnt make a difference, NOT!

Just ask Dan “the legend” Reeves!

Rich has brought in more talent than any GM for the Falcons, ever!

Rich makes good decisions,

Prater or Mort, I would still pick Prater for the future, he is a rookie afterall, look at Practice squad Medlock in KC!

Joey or Redman, I would make Joey go watch Peyton Manning tapes all week, then let him play a half vs Carolina, and get Redman ready for the 2nd half!

Vick or Cut Vick,

2-0 vs 0-2; What would Dan Reeves Do?

He would let him deal with the Judge and then, he would suit him back up the day Vick is avail to come back!

First Offender, I heard anybody else, other than Vick, would get no time in this case!

What if he gets only get probation,

I Blame the losing, not on McKay, but on Blank’s little Filter; TO, Moss, Culpepper, Leftwich, Etc.

The filter isnt just about bad guys, either, just ask Lovie the best candiate for the Job back in the day that McKay wanted!(0)(0)

By Matt the Brave

September 16, 2007 9:53 PM | Link to this

Jeff, did you channel the spirit of Lewis Grizzard when you wrote this?! I mean, this is the most honest, biting piece that’s been written by an AJC sports writer since 1992! Man…cold! But true!

By They're Just Dogs

September 16, 2007 9:53 PM | Link to this

And to any of you idiots who think this is Vick’s fault, be real! These guys are HIGHLY OVERPAID PROFESSIONS! When one players goes down,another steps in and the show goes on. Thats why you have leaders like Dunn and Brooking… haha…ok… i’m tickling myself now. With leaders like those two no wonder the FAlcons look HORRIBLE!

But seriously, these guys got a job to do. THEY CAN’T DO IT. They should have just been men and said they can’t win without Vick.

By 0-16

September 16, 2007 9:55 PM | Link to this

I cannot believe I am saying this, but…….

We are better off in the long run if we go 0-16 this year. We will be free of the ridiculus Vick salary and be able to draft high in all 7 rounds. We need a starting QB and several quality Offensive linemen. By the way, I am more impressed with the Boston College QB (Matt Ryan) than I am with the Louisville QB (Brohm). Petrino will be able to draft players which fit his system and the current players will have one year in the new offensive and defensive schemes.

I have been a die hard Falcons Fan for many years!

By dannycardwell

September 16, 2007 9:57 PM | Link to this

i dread all the night games this year. last year it took an hour or better to get out of the tailgating lot A. and that was with 75% of the fans leaving at halftime. this year it will take 2 hours because all will be gone at half time. arthur blank took all the fun out of tail gating 2 years ago when he had all the games and giveaways by the radio stations removed to try to force the fans into the dome faster so he could soak them for over priced food and the junk he sells at the 365 stores. he gets rid of a hall of fame coach because his over paid quarter back threw him under the bus and has the nerve to keep raising ticket prices. there is no longer an advantage to being a season ticket holder. now you can get good tickets on the street at half price.arthur, you and mckay are a class act. low class and no class. the only good team mora had was with reeves players. now the dome will be empty and not because of vick. he was only as good as the defense. this will be the last year for many in south ga. thank god you didnt buy the braves as well. they learned their lesson years ago when they let aramark talk them into stopping all food and drink from being brought into the stadium. we boycotted them for 3 years and they are just now recovering. now its time to do the same with the birds. i wonder how long it will take you to recover. thanks arthur, for nothing.

By Don

September 16, 2007 10:00 PM | Link to this

The incompetence of the Falcons starts at the top with Arthur Blank. He is truly one of the luckiest men in history to have ridden on the coattails of Bernie Marcus at Home Depot. After Bernie retired, Blank was so incompetent as CEO that a Board of loyalists ran him off within a couple of years.

The fish rots from the head. There’s no reason to think Blank can make a good hire if he fires McKay. No competent GM is going to put up with giving Blank weekly briefings like he’s a football guy and having him hang around the sidelines.

By Sick and Tired

September 16, 2007 10:11 PM | Link to this

Jeff, I made the same comment about Vick watching the game and laughing. because this team sucks… joey harrington has got to be the worst qb i have seen in a long time. He has plenty of time to throw the ball but yet and still he holds on to it instead of throwing it away. he doesn’t know how to take a hit. one think I can say about vick is that if the team wasn’t trying to win the game he would take it upon himself to try and do something. but enough about vick because he is not with us anymore. I’m just sad that I payed all that money for season tickets and have to go and watch this mess of a team.

By Sal Licata

September 16, 2007 10:18 PM | Link to this

This team is a joke and Im sick of it. It starts at the top-yes you Mr. Blank and then the “great” Rich Mckay. Who ever decided on Pratter should have been fired after last weeks game. They trade Rossum for a guy who fair catches punts inside the 5. Demorio Williams and the rest of the “D” for that matter can’t tackle, the o-line cant block and NO ONE ON THIS TEAM MAKES PLAYS-NO-ONE- Deangelo Hall is all talk, Harrington is terrible, and the peice of crap kicker has more tatoos than fg’s made. Petrino needs to show me some more emotion and frustration….where is Jim Mora when you need him…sy what you will about him but he talk losses harded than anyone…like us fans do.

By Braves Fan 79

September 16, 2007 10:24 PM | Link to this

i knew before the season started us going with a “youth movment” at kicker was a BIG mistake! owell at this point im kinda glad, and hope we dont bring back mort because he would probably be the difference bt the #1 draft pick and the # 7 or 8 draft pick. Plus wed have better 2nd and 3rd round picks.
So unless we win the next 2 games…NO MORTEN ANDERSON! hes just 2 good at filedgoals inside 45 yards…and would mess up the whole point of the season…which is clearly to get a better draft pick! This sucks…i was hoping with the Braves sucking harrington would step it up….but with no O line its gonna be a struggle.

By Najeh Davenpoop

September 16, 2007 10:25 PM | Link to this

Morris, I don’t know about whether McKay was overrated in Tampa or not, but I’ll take your word for it. But even if he wasn’t responsible for drafting Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, John Lynch, etc., it doesn’t change the fact that Mora’s idiotic schemes were just as responsible, if not more so, for the drafting of Jenkins, White, Babineaux, etc. and the signing of the likes of Todd Weiner and Matt Lehr.

By Falcon7

September 16, 2007 10:29 PM | Link to this

Mckay should be fired!

By Najeh Davenpoop

September 16, 2007 10:38 PM | Link to this

Oh yeah, also, when is the last time the Falcons used a draft pick on a kicker? Seems to me we could have used one of our 8,000 6th-round picks this year on Mason Crosby, who is so far perfect for Green Bay.

By Jeff

September 16, 2007 10:45 PM | Link to this

No, you should never waste draft picks on kickers-good ones are too easy to find and how much impact do they really have on games?

By Dick

September 16, 2007 10:46 PM | Link to this

What the hell is Mckay thinking? Prater sucks a*. He is nothing but a butthole surfer. That white trash wants a kicking job when he can’t even perform a quality rim job…HOLLA!!!!!

By Hazel

September 16, 2007 10:48 PM | Link to this

Billy Knight should be fired!!!! Whoops-wrong column, right city.

By kg

September 16, 2007 10:48 PM | Link to this

I agree with 0-16, Matt Ryan might turn out to be a better nfl qb than Brohm. He’s got a good strong arm and is a real leader. We’ve only got 7 more months before the draft.

By geff

September 16, 2007 11:00 PM | Link to this

You racist rednecks, you wanted Vick out, now you got what you asked for, a white qb who doesent know a slant route from a quick curl route.I hope the Falcons loose every game it ever plays again. Go Jags

By eric

September 16, 2007 11:09 PM | Link to this

Why is no one talking about the (admittedly few) bright spots of this team? SUre the offense as a whole is dreadful. And the ST’s are the worst I’ve ever seen a Falcon’s franchise have. But the defense has been pretty good so far. The line is holding well against the run and the secondary seems much improved. Abraham has pulled a groin yet, Brooking has gotten better at covering people and Milloy and company are flying to the ball. I’m not saying that this team has ANY chance of winning more than 4-5 games this year, but come on, give credit where credit is due!

By rick

September 16, 2007 11:16 PM | Link to this

QB: Go get David Greene. He’ll fit in with Petrino’s offensive scheme.

McKay: Fire him yesterday.

Prater: Dump him yesterday.

Draft: Get some OL.

2007 season: 2 wins at the most.

Blank: You’re an idiot!

By Tim

September 16, 2007 11:19 PM | Link to this

I was at the game today and couldn’t believe those 2 missed field goals, especially the short one. Prater is unproven and obviously has a confidence problem with his kicks. At least when Morten Anderson lined up I was confident the kick was going to be made, now I am scared to death when this guy kicks. The team played hard today and if either field goal was made we could have changed the momentum of the game and give the team a morale boost and the defense a long needed rest. If this guy isn’t let go something is seriously wrong.

By Steve

September 16, 2007 11:25 PM | Link to this

By Jeff

September 16, 2007 10:45 PM | Link to this

No, you should never waste draft picks on kickers-good ones are too easy to find and how much impact do they really have on games?

Jeff, add 6 points for the 2 fg Prater missed and whats the score? Kickers matter more than most players, especially in tight games. Bring back Cundiff, he had a great preseason.

By Bearsfan

September 16, 2007 11:31 PM | Link to this

The worst mistake that was made by this franchise within the last 4 years was the non-hiring of Lovie Smith. Lovie Smith would have brought that tough love and defensive philosophy that would had gotten the falcons over the hump. Lovie Smith did something that Dick Jauron could not do in Chicago, that is make them into consistent winners, and that is with REX/WRECK as quarterback. If the bears had Mike Vick last year, they would have been super bowl champs. Then again, bears could have won with Matt Schaub too. But if the Falcons had Lovie Smith for a coach, maybe the falcons would have kept focus the last two seasons and avoided the second half swoon that had them sitting out of the playoffs for consecutive years.

By bk hawk

September 16, 2007 11:39 PM | Link to this

PRAY< PRAY< PRAY

By CAL

September 16, 2007 11:46 PM | Link to this

In my mind, if the Falcons don’t go out and get a QB - THIS WEEK - then they are just surrendering the entire season.

By Chip

September 16, 2007 11:46 PM | Link to this

I feel sorry for Blank. He got sc@#$% by his so called friends that he let run the show. Maybe he will clean house and bring Dan Reese back as GM.

By Joe

September 16, 2007 11:51 PM | Link to this

Isn’t this just peachy!!! Falcon filter….HA!!!!!! Did anyone see Randy Moss today??? I digress, This team almost won today, but almost is just what it means, almost. I wonder how the dome is going to look after the Texans leave town. I’m wondering if the rumors are true, that Blank and McKay knew the indictment was coming and asked the authorities to hold off on announcing it until after the season ticket deadline passed. Did you guys realize that he used the season ticket sellout as a bullet point in the press conference speech he made? Saying that season ticket holders are still supporting the team, as there was a 98% renewal this year. Yea right we all know why there was a 98% renewal rate, if it was that high… This franchise is now back on the bottom of the totum poll…

By Joe

September 16, 2007 11:52 PM | Link to this

Isn’t this just peachy!!! Falcon filter….HA!!!!!! Did anyone see Randy Moss today??? I digress, This team almost won today, but almost is just what it means, almost. I wonder how the dome is going to look after the Texans leave town. I’m wondering if the rumors are true, that Blank and McKay knew the indictment was coming and asked the authorities to hold off on announcing it until after the season ticket deadline passed. Did you guys realize that he used the season ticket sellout as a bullet point in the press conference speech he made? Saying that season ticket holders are still supporting the team, as there was a 98% renewal this year. Yea right we all know why there was a 98% renewal rate, if it was that high… This franchise is now back on the bottom of the totum poll…

By southerner

September 17, 2007 12:16 AM | Link to this

What the falcon did’nt do for mike vick and the NFL player association,I could care less what the falcon or the NFL does,I’m back with college football.FOREVER,AND EVER,AND EVER…………………………

By Braves Fan 79

September 17, 2007 12:18 AM | Link to this

Just Dogs: Dunn is more of a man than youll ever be. Hes a example of what young black kids should strive to be…in other words hes the anti vick.

Vick carried himself and his appearance like black trash just like we see white trash on cops. No one respects a wife beater on cops regardless of color, why would anyone respect someone who can barely speak english…much less lead a team!??

Common if it was a white guy with nappy dreads wearing FUBU…and saying…..yo shawty what it iz….would u want that to be your leader? haha…..is that what it would take to make u see how ignorant that s** is?? Your a great example of why to me…mexicans have passed blacks on the social chart. Your thought process is really messed up man…

By roger goodell

September 17, 2007 12:36 AM | Link to this

mv let the whole nfl down not just his falcon teamates.. we would still be 0-2 w/him joeys more talented still let rae carruth run routes for mv

By rlynn

September 17, 2007 12:41 AM | Link to this

Vick was a bust at QB. It’s painful moving on but it will be a lot easier now that they can escape the cap sooner. Blank and McKay have no clue, Vick should have been moved while he had some value and obviously Schaub should have been kept. Schaub’s QB rating is stratopheric compared to Bozo’s.

By #7

September 17, 2007 12:47 AM | Link to this

Just got back from jacksonville Fla. Vick we miss the hell out of you. We must find a QB. no way I am going to be a season ticket holder unless Vick come back or we get a great QB. The field goal kicker should be cut tonite. This game was winable. who is out there to help. Bobby petrino boy at louisville is not the answer don’t go down that road. This product called the falcons is a joke. No way I pay 1700 dollars to see this BS. If you are not bring Vick in the next two years I am out of here. Blank your move.Joey need to learn to throw the ball away before he get sacked. mCKAY THEY PAY YOU GUYS TO DO THIS. SOMETHING IS REAL BIG TIME WRONG IN ATLANTA PRO SPORTS. tHEY SAID vICK COULD NOT READ DEFENSES AND THAT WAS PURE BULL WE NEVER HAS A OFFENSE AND THEY DID UP GRADE THIS YEAR AND IT STILL LOOK BAD. vICK MUST BE CRACKING UP HE WAS THIS TEAM HEART. iF YOU CAN’T SEE THAT YOU JUST DON’T WANT TO SEE IT. THIS FRANCHISE IS IN DEEP DODO. tHEY ARE IN MORE TROBLE THAT VICK. THIS IS THE LAST OF THE SELL OUTS IN THE DOME THIS YEAR. iF YOU CAN GET VICK BACK IF YOU WANT TO MAKE DOLLARS, NO YOU WILL LISTEN TO THE HATERS WHO DON’T BUT TICKETS. BLANK YOUR MOVE!

By Befuddled

September 17, 2007 1:07 AM | Link to this

Okay, I finally got it, no more excuses for Joey Harrington-a supposedly veteran qb who consistently fails to get rid of the ball on time. FOR PERE’S SAKE MAN THIS IS YOUR THIRD TEAM. CAN YOU FRIGGIN GET THAT CONCEPT IN YOUR HEAD!!!! Now for a calmer assessment. I think the Falcons showed a little more adapt for the Petrino offense looking a bit sharper than the Vikings game. That being said there were a lot of times the defense let us down. Is it me or is KEITH BROOKINGS

By Bob

September 17, 2007 1:09 AM | Link to this

The Falcons in a nutshell: Inept,un-disciplined,Pathetic,in total confusion, and that`s the FRONT OFFICE. The team—what abunch of losers.

By Befuddled

September 17, 2007 1:16 AM | Link to this

Okay, I finally got it, no more excuses for Joey Harrington-a supposedly veteran qb who consistently fails to get rid of the ball on time. FOR PERE’S SAKE MAN THIS IS YOUR THIRD TEAM. CAN YOU FRIGGIN GET THAT CONCEPT IN YOUR HEAD!!!! Now for a calmer assessment. I think the Falcons showed a little more adapt for the Petrino offense looking a bit sharper than the Vikings game. That being said there were a lot of times the defense let us down. Is it me or is KEITH BROOKINGS looking a LOT SLOWER. If you notice a number of critical third downs went his way that 1) He couldn’t catch the receiver or 2) He was in the wrong place during the throw (or you can chalk it to Jacksonville for setting up the mismatch.
I agree with the other bloggers the [Peyton Manning made famous] “idiot kicker” has got to go. Not only does he annoy me with his tattoos but two weeks in a row!! What the hell else is this man doing on the sidelines, deducing Einstein’s theory of relativity? Finally for all you Schaub “we should have kept him” bandwagoners yes he is leading Houston to a 2-0 record but that’s before teams get smart to him. Normally most good starts have a “honeymoon” period before opponents get smart…Harrington not so much. This team is in serious need of senior leadership infusion. It’s time to put up or shut up. The Falcons of old that knew how to produce when badly needed had better step up or this may be a 1-15 season. Don’t ask me where that “1” will come from.

By goodell 2 standard

September 17, 2007 1:17 AM | Link to this

The black standard and the white standard. player get game off and finded pat’s coach slap on the hand. Goodell has been a hard @ss when it comes to black players The golden boy does wrong really nothing he anit going to pay. he want to show white folk he can be hard on black player no more no less!

By Dirty Sanchez

September 17, 2007 1:35 AM | Link to this

Mr.Schultz,

For once in your life, your article is ON POINT!!!! It’s about damn time somebody question McKay’s role in why this team is so damn bad right now…

In his time here he’s REFUSED to address the units that needs it most (O-line), (Special Teams), or bring in the things we need (power running back),(quality DB/S to go along side D.Hall)……I’m really starting to think/wonder exactly what is better here in the time he’s been here with this team than when he came in and took over for Reeves…..

I also just got back from Jacksonville, if I were Mr.Blank right now, I’d be putting a suitcase full of money at the judges doorstep to make this disappear, b/c it is clear that with Harrington we won’t win 3 games!! He’s absolutely horrid!!!

By riiiii

September 17, 2007 1:47 AM | Link to this

dannycardwell the hell are you talking about? Vick did not throw Dan Reeves under the bus, Arthur Blank did. Vick was not healthy enough to come back that seson. The season was a wash and he didn’t need to risk another setback trying to come back and win a few games. I guess when he was healthy enough and got sick of his team losing he came back to play and the Falcons actually looked good those last few games. At the end of the day, people got what they wished for. A pocket qb who is very well