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 spoken.

By John B.

September 17, 2007 1:49 AM | Link to this

I really don’t think some of you understand what is going on, including you Schultz. There is a -huge- difference between our current scheme, and the former. We have had ONE off-season, and two regular season games of our current scheme, which isn’t close to being enough to implement it. Our former O-line were small, finesse blockers (this you can thank Alex Gibbs for). Right now, we need big roadgraders in there, which you cannot do in ONE draft/off-season. McKay has been drafting these past few years for our PREVIOUS system, not this one. Whatever idiot said that this past draft was awful, you’re a plain moron. Go read what the actual experts thought of our draft; you’ll find yourself being completely wrong.

By emcee fleshy (atl/sd)

September 17, 2007 2:21 AM | Link to this

The Falcons are working hard to replace their QB with the best long-term option. And that’s the #1 overall pick.

This always works out well, of course. Aundray, meet Mike.

By emcee fleshy (atl/sd)

September 17, 2007 2:21 AM | Link to this

The Falcons are working hard to replace their QB with the best long-term option. And that’s the #1 overall pick.

This always works out well, of course. Aundray, meet Mike.

By bj

September 17, 2007 2:37 AM | Link to this

I’m sure most idiot fans are 20/20 hindsight, saying today “Oh we should have kept Schaub”. Really? We got picks for that guy this year and next year; next year he’d have been free and we’d have gotten jack (remember, we didn’t know that Vick killed dogs yet). Joey can get it done. It’s just that when it’s third and a million, and they bring the blitz, he has got to unload. There’s a play for that in the book somewhere. Screen to Norwood? Sounds nice.

By .bj.

September 17, 2007 2:37 AM | Link to this

I’m sure most idiot fans are 20/20 hindsight, saying today “Oh we should have kept Schaub”. Really? We got picks for that guy this year and next year; next year he’d have been free and we’d have gotten jack (remember, we didn’t know that Vick killed dogs yet). Joey can get it done. It’s just that when it’s third and a million, and they bring the blitz, he has got to unload. There’s a play for that in the book somewhere. Screen to Norwood? Sounds nice.

By Stupid (former) QB, Stupid Owner

September 17, 2007 3:29 AM | Link to this

Actually, the finger, protected by a surgical-grade rubber glove, points at the Herpes-laden, dog-molesting, dog-killing Mike Vick and the buffoon owner who grossly OVERpaid him.

By jane sexton

September 17, 2007 4:12 AM | Link to this

falcons need a quarterback, a field goal kicker, they’ll be lucky to win one game. what a mess

By who are you fooling?

September 17, 2007 5:00 AM | Link to this

we had 3 full years to evaluate Schaub and all we thought he was worth was a 2nd round pick? is that the going price for a franchise QB? knowledgeable football fans realized that Vick was a ringer to sell tickets while Schaub was a real talent. the “snake oil salesman” (Blank) knew he could exploit the ignorant fan base and not have to win with Vick. Schaub showed enough while he was here…somebody needs to be held accountable for letting the franchise walk.

By Randy

September 17, 2007 5:35 AM | Link to this

Bring on the…HAWKS!???

By TCM

September 17, 2007 6:25 AM | Link to this

The FALCONS are what they have been since day 1, a Bad Organization. They haven’t drafted an OLM in the first round since 1993(Lincoln Kennedy), and haven’t even drafted an OLM on the first day of the draft since 2000 until this past draft with BLAYLOCK. RIDICULOUS!!!!

This franchise now has no value on the open market and with VICK gone nobody league-wide even CARES aobut the LAME DUCKS. Arthur Blank did something very dumb back in 2004. Rich Mckkay & staff unimously agreed that LOVIE SMITH should be hired as the next head coach and BLANK overruled that choice and wanted to keep interviewing. Thus he interviewed and HIRED on his own Jim Moron, I mean Mora. LOVIE SMITH has been to a S/B and now Jim Mora is no longer the head coach. What a great decision that was. And now I’m sure BLANK feels really stupid now, the egg is really on his face behind that dumb decision instead of trusting his foorball people he hired to make that choice.

The LAME DUCKS continue to make the worst personnel moves in the NFL in both the draft and free agency. They overpay for duds and washed up players @ the end of their careers, and waste draft picks on players who don’t posess the skill set to properly address the weakness they were drafted for.

Bad organizations continue to make bad choices and the FALCONS are just a bad organization, period!!

Having a top-5 pick in next year’s draft will be good but the QB’s coming out are all pocket passers. There is no Vince Young, Carson Palmer, or Jamarcus Russell to get excited about. There are quite a few QBs but they’re mostly over-rated. In this offense you would get the same production as Harrington. They should go OL and or RB since Darren McFadden is coming out. Both lines need to be addressed and there isn’t a top-5 CB in next year’s draft so they’ll have to get one later.

The best thing for them to do is use those high picks to shore up both lines(especially offensive) & draft Mario Urrutia WR(Louisville) if he comes out b/c I believe he will be a top 10 pick and the best WR in next year’s draft. The O-line has to be properly addressed on day 1. If McFadden is available you have to take him with Warrick Dunn @ the end of his career. The LAME DUCKS are gonna have some pretty high draft picks next year. Let’s just hope they don’t screw it up by winning some fluke games. It sure would be nice if VICK could come back after his suspension when they have addressed some of the holes in this roster. If not, they need to address the QB position per the draft when there are better prospects to chose like in a couple of years when Matthew Stafford and Tim Tebow will be coming out. Even though 2008 will several QBs go in the first round, all of them are pocket passers with little mobility except for Andre Woodson(Kentucky),but I doubt the LAME DUCKS draft him. We’ll see though.

Right now the FALCONS are a joke, a waste of a franchise, a waste of uniforms, a waste of salary cap space , a waste of time…………..

By Choir Boy

September 17, 2007 6:51 AM | Link to this

I finally do not have a reason to rush home to see the game anymore. I finally have no football distractions in my life. I have been a Falcon Fan most of my life and I can finally do something else with my life for those few hours on Sunday.

I’ve always seen the holes in the O and in the D and despite these holes at least number 7 gave the Falcon Fans HOPE. Now because of the front office decisions or lack there of, we are hopeless.

I am gone forever.

By Concerned

September 17, 2007 6:52 AM | Link to this

All Vick’s hater, you are getting just what you wanted. I hope the Falcon don’t win a single game. He would have been better off hurting humans. We are talking about a dam dog. Joey was a great white hope when we had culpepper and Leftwich. Good Luck.

By fatz

September 17, 2007 7:15 AM | Link to this

mike vick and joey have exactly the same problem- they hold the ball too long. in vick’s case, he could turn that into a big play, in harrington’s case he is a deer in the headlights. but neither of them could make this mess work. i second the earlier bloggers feelings about having his Sunday afternoon free, there is a sense of liberation knowing you aren’t tethered to any of this. and that is blank’s / mckay’s biggest problem- they are killing, just killing fan interest. when i see what matt schaub is doing with houston (are they that much better than ATL?)- it just serves as a reminder of how cursed this wretched franchise is. and unfortunately always will be…

By The edge

September 17, 2007 7:51 AM | Link to this

M. Schaub 20/28 227 2TDS/0Ints B. Favre 29/38 286 3TDs/1Ints

And both are 2 - 0. I believe there is a song about thinking about what might have been. Can someone block on the O-Line?

By One

September 17, 2007 7:54 AM | Link to this

All of this hate, over a team that has NEVER been excellent…….at least they were exciting with Vick!!!! Without Vick, there’s NOTHING!!! But look at it this way, who cares? Does the Fakecons being a great team really benefit your life in any way that matters (physically, mentally, spiritually, socially)? HECK NO!!!! And while the haters are hating on Vick……………..hate on that white collar thug, sorry azz excuse of a president Bush!! He’s the biggest joke in America right now………….not Vick or OJ!!!!

And if you want to discuss something worthwhile………How many of you know about Jena 6? I’ll bet close to none. Sad, sad, sad!!

By Sack Master

September 17, 2007 8:14 AM | Link to this

Why is it that everyone in the stadium and watching on TV can see the blitz coming, but our QB cannot? As I watched real teams playing later in the day, they all had plays designed to get the ball out quickly to TE and RB or quick slant patterns to WR. Our QB keeps doing a deep drop and getting killed. Come on coach, coach!

By scott

September 17, 2007 8:43 AM | Link to this

Jeff, I’m disappointed. You had a couple of good articles and now your back to your normal BS. People don’t be idiots. First of all. Noen of us can sit on the sidelines, including you Jeff, and even come close to pretending that we know what’s going on INSIDE this team. Secondly, I will agree that Joey is not our franchise quarterback and yes he needs to learn to release the ball quicker, but Petrino will help him until we get our franchise guy(watch Louisville one weekend. Chances are Brian’s coming to Atlanta and the kid can throw).
Secondly, we’ve had 2 previous coacvhes that came in and won big their first year and then let the bottom fall out. That was very misleading. Look at Lovie Smith in Chicago. He went 1-15, 6-10, Superbowl WITH A BAD QUARTERBACK. Give it time people. Quite complaining. Championship teams do not happen overnight. They are built on solid foundation. McKay is doing a great job building that foundation and Petrino IS the guy to bring us a championship. Don’t let idiots like Terence and Schultz skew the process.

By Al

September 17, 2007 8:45 AM | Link to this

Lewis Sanders as a starting corner in the League? How can a fan take the Falcons seriously? This team is boring to watch. Marginal talent on the field is obvious, but it also seems that the front office doesn’t realize that professional sports is an entertainment business and this team lacks personality and fight. Hell, if you saw high energy, no quit mentality, effort, that would at least make it more fun to watch, but these prissy ballplayers prance around the field as if they are posing for the cameras!

By willdave

September 17, 2007 8:45 AM | Link to this

Jeff Schultz, I have to agree with you. The Falcons’ problems are much more numerous than simply at QB. Of course, we can only blame Vick for his absence from the team because he is the one who took the actions off the field that got him suspended from the NFL. Still, I agree with you that McKay should have taken immediate action to find a viable replacement for Vick as soon as that issue developed. Of course, McKay never should have traded Schaub before he knew whether Vick would be indicted. The Texans are now 2-0 under Schaub, who has been putting up some very impressive numbers for his new team. I also cannot understand how McKay determined that Prater was a better choice than Cundiff. The missed field goals this season from 45, 44 and 26 yards—very reasonable distances for an NFL kicker—killed the team’s morale each time. The Falcons probably would have survived that game against the mediocre Jaguars if Prater had hit those two relatively short field goals. Still, the Falcons’ problems run much deeper than simply at kicker. Except for a few rare moments, the whole team just doesn’t seem to have that “killer instinct” to make the big plays when they’re needed to win any games. Again, you have to put the blame on McKay for his choice of that brand of personnel.

By Palu

September 17, 2007 8:47 AM | Link to this

Prater and long kick-off leg and zero points.

Brilliant decision by Mckay. Isn’t Koenen still here, didn’t he kick-off long last year. Could have kept Cundiff and let Koenen do the kick-off.

That would’ve been logical but logic and Falcons don’t seem to be in the same room.

Harrington, jury is still out on him. The entire offensive line is built around a QB that can run 1000 yards plus, offensive line didn’t have to do much.

You can bring Payton Manning and Tom Brady, two of the best in the business, without protection, they won’t be able to do anything more than Joey either. May throw the ball away, at this stage, throwing the ball away and not taking a sack looks to be trivial.

oh well 1-15 season!

By QUELL CHICKEN

September 17, 2007 9:05 AM | Link to this

I am still laughing at you Vick haters!!! you are getting exactly what you desreves. A big pretty 0!

By quell can bite it

September 17, 2007 9:16 AM | Link to this

Both of Atlanta’s previous QB’s are gone. One is on his way to the playoffs for another team and the other is on the way to the pokey. Looks like us haters just got it wrong.

By laughing2

September 17, 2007 9:25 AM | Link to this

This is so comical! I’m not a football fan but thought it was quite interesting that this kicker guy misses a 26 yd field goal and not make front page news! Wonder why? Mike V made some terribly bad decisions and he’ll have to answer for that. I would like to see him cellmates with George Bush—they can share stories about lying, killing dogs and innocent people.

By SimpleDog

September 17, 2007 9:29 AM | Link to this

We’re close to being a really good football team. We just need to find 5 guys who can pass block, 2 or 3 receivers who can consistently get open and catch the football, some defensive backs who can cover somebody ( that includes you, Me-angelo), anyone who can tackle, and a kicker that can kick a football between the goalpost uprights. And if Norwood would follow his blocking, he may gain a few yards. Joey’s not our problem, he’s just the one who’s paying the painful price. We don’t need Leftwich, he’s an immobile statue. We had a quicker guy sacked 13 times in 2 games. Let’s fix the fundamental problems that are keeping us from winning. We’ll never know if Petrino can coach in the NFL until he has some NFL caliber players to coach. Maybe whoever’s picking these guys is the biggest problem. After all, we’re only 20 or 22 players away from being really good.

By Jim Hill

September 17, 2007 9:34 AM | Link to this

the continued atlanta media’s transparent bias (or fear otherwise) to protect the WORST football owner in the league is disgusting.

ARTHUR BLANK is the man that enabled the “Mike from the Hood” to conintue.

ARTHUR BLANK is the man who couldnt keep his Egotistical mug off the sidelines.

ARTHUR BLANK is the man who decides who gets $100MM and a lifetime franchise committment..

NOT RICH MCKAY.

By JP

September 17, 2007 9:34 AM | Link to this

Like I said last week, the falcons are so egotistic. #13 can’t play and they know it. But they will try to act like they don’t. You can not blame the O-line when the Qb has 3 or 4 seconds i’m sorry. So keep trying to hold up the great white hope. McKay has done a decent job but he needs to put his pride to the side and go get us a qb. I don’t care what it takes.

By garrett

September 17, 2007 9:41 AM | Link to this

Let me get this straight: you went that entire column without mentioning the offensive offensive line??? Bro, Tom fricking Brady couldn’t score behind those chumps! You’re right about McKay though—-he’s the guy who assembled that group.

By NASDAQ

September 17, 2007 9:44 AM | Link to this

While I remain extremely ticked off at MV7 for getting into trouble, I have a new found respect for what he did out there on the field. Everyone can easily see how important that guy was to this offense. The birds are now 0-2, put up a total of 10 points so far this season, I’m pulling my friggin hair out, and my QB is a piece of crap with a helmet on it. It’s so great being a Falcon fan!

By Dave

September 17, 2007 9:48 AM | Link to this

Everyone repeat after me “Mike Vick is never going to play for the Falcons again!” Get of it…

By ho tihs!

September 17, 2007 9:48 AM | Link to this

I get so sick of all this “coulda, woulda, shoulda; Schaub this, Vick that”. Here’s the bottom line..

Let’s deal with today. The haters got what they wanted and THE FALCONS SUCK! Now deal with it!!!!!!!!

By L Mcswain

September 17, 2007 9:50 AM | Link to this

The falcons has always suck, with vick being the qb just made them look better than they were, joey is not to blame here, mckay and blank is to blame for this half put together team. When vick was the qb, the falcons was the same team they are today, mike just made them look good, now that mike is gone, you got your same old sorry a* falcons back.

By McKay = Moron

September 17, 2007 9:55 AM | Link to this

Schultz, Good point but here are 100 other reasons why McKay is to blame:

He won a Super Bowl with Tampa, but had Asst. GM Tim Ruskell. McKay comes over in 2003, Ruskell comes to Atlanta in 2004, year they went to NFC Championship. Falcons stink ever since. Ruskell leaves Atlanta to become GM of Seattle who plays in Super Bowl. As for his draft record and overpriced free agent signings, they are horrible.

Move up to 1st round to draft M. Jenkins and Jimmy Williams from VT - terrible

Give away 1st round picks for Peerless Price and John Abraham – terrible

Let Justin Griffith walk and pay the richest contract in history for fullback Ovie Mughali (who???????) who can’t block and who can’t catch a pass out of the backfield.

Let Patrick Kerney walk and draft Jamaal Anderson who was the weakest player at the NFL combine, which explains why he’s getting manhandled by Pro Offensive Lineman.

Let Matt Schaub go (who will probably end up like Brett Favre) for 2 second round picks, both not contributing at all.

Sign Ed Hartwell to play middle LB. He got cut by the Bengals, who have the worst defense in all of football.

So how do you feel about McKay now?

By regular guy

September 17, 2007 9:59 AM | Link to this

Four areas of Falcons weakness: 1. No offensive line at all. None. Zip. bupkus. 2. A QB who can’t get rid of the ball or find an open receiver. 3. Ed Donatell-like defense. Soft zones that offenses pick apart. Holes so big you could drop the Atlantic Ocean into them. 4. Horrendous play-calling on offense. Bobby Petrino ain’t getting the job done. Could they not see the blitzes on 3rd and long coming? I could. But Joey just took the sack, over and over and over.

By Regular Guy

September 17, 2007 10:04 AM | Link to this

The Falcons would be doing no better with Vick. Stop fooling yourself. He might be able to run out of trouble more than Joey, but he couldn’t make good passing decisions, or find open receivers. And he would still have one of the worst offensive lines in football. And there is nothing he could do about the defense. They would still be 0-2 with Vick and they would have even less integrity than they do now. As for Schaub, who knows how he might have done with the lame offensive line.

By Mr. D

September 17, 2007 10:08 AM | Link to this

“It’s Vicks fault we didn’t make the playoffs the last two seasons”

What a joke, now you Vick naysayers see that Vick was the only reason we were even close to the playoffs. This is the same sub par offensive line that the Falcons have had for the last two years. I agree that Mckay is the blame for the personel up front. However it is amazing that when Vick was the QB half of you idiots didn’t want recognize the fact that the Falcons didn’t have an adequate offensive line nor any playmakers at wide receiver.

With these blaring weaknesses the only reason we were able to compete is because of Vicks athletic ability.

If Vick gets less than a year sentence we need him back

WE NEED VICK, WE NEED VICK, WE NEED VICK

By NASDAQ

September 17, 2007 10:17 AM | Link to this

Mr. D, all I an say is Amen.

By Jim Feely

September 17, 2007 10:19 AM | Link to this

Mc Kay is at fault along with this being Mecca, a total tempting distrction for any black ball player, football or Basketball. Until that is recognized, there will not be a basketball or football championship in this city.

By Submariner683

September 17, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this

This line has been horrible for several years now. The reason being that on draft day and in the off season free agent market, it has been ignored until this year with the pick of Blaylock. The entire line is made up of 7 round picks or undrafted free agents. Weiner was a 2nd round pick and at the time, a good free agent pick up. But he has been less that impressive in my opinion. Wayne Gandy was a 1st round pick, but is one of the oldest players in the league now.

I don’t have direct TV this year so I haven’t seen the Falcons play yet. I can tell you the games I saw over the last 3 years, I saw so many times Vick running for his life. Vick was up there in sacks and say what you want about him, was by far the most elusive quarterback in the game if not ever. I saw defensive lineman come at him without being slowed down because of the chop block scheme that they would just jump over and be in Vick’s grill. We are not talking linebacker or secondary blitzes, d-lineman all over him before he could even think.

Blaylock is the first lineman they’ve drafted in the first few rounds in forever. They drafted Bilba high but he never panned out in Atlanta.

Offensive line has to be a priority in the off season. They need to sign at least one big time free agent and spend 2 high draft picks on lineman. They need more tailbacks and a quarterback.

Hind sight is 20/20, if the Vick situation comes out 3 weeks earlier, the Falcons wouldn’t have delt Shaub.

Having not seen the games, I can’t tell how ineffective Harrington is. I know the Falcon’s receivers have never been known to provide much seperation from the defenders. But good QBs find a way to even get those guys the ball.

By Mr. D

September 17, 2007 10:21 AM | Link to this

regular guy,

Actually your the one fooling yourself. With Vick we always started 2-0 with the same O line, and the wideouts were even worse. So there is nothing left to the imagine. With Schaub you’re right we don’t know at all, but the results probably wouldn’t be much different than they are know. The Falcons don’t have the peices in place for a QB to be very successful. He definately wouldn’t have the luxury of making a 5 yard dump off and having his #1 receiver take it 50 yards to end zone. With Vick on our team we always were able to compete. 10 points in the first 2 games. When has that ever happened with Vick under center. = NEVER. So stop fooling yourself

By BooBoo

September 17, 2007 10:22 AM | Link to this

Schultz, you should move to Dallas where stupid sport’s writers and sport’s talk show bozos are in vogue. They always kill the cowboys when they lose any game. However, you seem to know nothing about football. You don’t just get a quarterback, give him the offence and let him go draw plays in the dirt on game day. Idiot. If MIke Vick had no history of dog fighting and had begun the season against Minn. and Jax. he might lost both too. Its a new offense and defense because of the change of head coaches. Why not do articles about how the rookie head coach Joe Gibbs led the Redskins to a 1 - 8 record before finishing 8-8? Why not look at the bright side of a 1- 15 final record and whose available in the draft? If you want to write like you EXPECT the home team to win, so any loss is reason to hang players, coaches and managers, then quit your job and move to Dallas. Idiot.

By Jim Feely

September 17, 2007 10:23 AM | Link to this

Schaub should have been the Falcon’s QB last year, and the thug, the backup. Look what he is doing at Houston.

By SC_Bird

September 17, 2007 10:31 AM | Link to this

Jim Feely,

Guess who was charged with Assault and Battery in 2004? Yes, your golden boy Schaub! I guess Vick isn’t the only thug QB we had..

By SC_Bird

September 17, 2007 10:32 AM | Link to this

Jim Feely,

Guess who was charged with Assault and Battery in 2004? Yes, your golden boy Schaub! I guess Vick wasn’t the only thug QB.

By co

September 17, 2007 10:36 AM | Link to this

McKay and Blank both have to take the heat for the problems on the O-line too. They knew when they hired him they had a line built of light/quick bodies for zone blocking, but could have reasonably forecast the mis-fit with Petrino’s offensive plan. What we signed one bigger body in the off-season? Really, what has McKay done for the Falcons? Dan Reeves’ tenure continues to look better and better…

By Snook

September 17, 2007 10:38 AM | Link to this

What more do you expect from the franchise that traded away Brett Favre?

The Falcons are a JOKE.

Rich McKay will SINK your franchise. If he hasn’t done so already…

By Eric C.

September 17, 2007 10:38 AM | Link to this

Jeff, I agree the Prater experiment was a flop that cost them the game yesterday.

But give Harrington a chance! It’s only 2 games…let the offense gel some before giving up. If he’s still playing that way in Game 9, that’s different. Let’s give him a few more games before making a verdict.

By Lowcountry Bulldawg

September 17, 2007 10:46 AM | Link to this

Brian Brohm or Andre Woodson?

By yellowblood

September 17, 2007 10:48 AM | Link to this

I am not an NFL fan and the Falcons have given me all the reasons I need not to be one. NFL will NEVER rise to the level of fan interest in the south that the college game has. While I am stating the obvious, my question is what was the thinking behind trading Matt Schuab and what did the Falcons get for him ?

By Atlanta Falcons = The HOME DEPOT of the NFL

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

Will Mike Vick give his fellow prison inmates Herpes like he gave it to those dogs in that rape stand at his house? Are you going to blame McKay for those acts of stupidity, too???

If you’ve been in a HOME DEPOT store in the last 15 years and seen how P-A-T-H-E-T-I-C the cleanliness of the stores, the poor layout of the merchandise and the incompetent and uncaring the levels of ‘Customer NON-Service’ by the store associates are, you will easily understand how the FALCONS got to be in this condition ever since a certain egomaniacal, carpet-munching bagel eater took over as owner.

By A-Town_Down

September 17, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this

I agree that McKay has made some questionable decision BUT on the whole I think that McKay has done an excellent job. He only has 3 busts in the draft (Beck, Jenkins, White). His free agent signings are another story! I think the youth movement after Mora’s first season was a huge mistake, as not hiring Lovie Smith.

…OK, McKay has done only an acceptable job. But let’s support him because the Falcons will never be a perrenial winner unless we maintain some level of cohesion… keep McKay and Vick (yes I said his name, just call me Harry Potter).

By red

September 17, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this

In each game the falcons had a chance to win but a momentum changing play brought their downfall. A circus catch by a rookie on third down in minnesota and a missed field goal that would have taken the score to 10-3 yesterday. Falcons came out dejected after the second miss. GET A NEW KICKER!!!!!

By Jim Duncan

September 17, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this

Hey, just when I thought Blank had abandoned the true football fans in favor of the hip hop crowd we are back to the good ole days of the Rankin Smith era style of Falcon play…sloppy play, no sense of direction, a “wait til next year” atmosphere…this is deja vu…ain’t it great! I’m comfortable again; I know this drill by heart.

By GottaGitPAID

September 17, 2007 11:27 AM | Link to this

RICK MCKAY MADE VICK FIGHT THEM DOGS FOR MONEY TO SET VICK UP!!!! THEY NEED TO THROW MCKAYS REAR IS JALE INSTEAD OF VICK !!!! FREE MIKE VICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Thrasher Ryan

September 17, 2007 11:34 AM | Link to this

Dump Prater, re-sign Cundiff, and let Koenen do kickoffs and punts. Problems should be solved. I would feel a little more confident if Redman was our starter, but again, that is not saying much. Sign Byron Leftwich.

By Nolan School

September 17, 2007 11:41 AM | Link to this

Leftwich as QB?

Just what the Falcons need…another stiff at QB…human punching bags for perhaps the most inept line I’ve seen so far this year.

Schultz speaks with straight tongue…besides…without the phsyco-pugilistic mutts this was Vick’s last year. It’ foolish to even try to build a SYSTEM around a fairly fragile athlete.

I thing Shaub is one of the most savvy and poised QB’s in the NFL. I’m glad he has been offered a chance to shine. I just wish he was still here. I was more excited when Atlanta got Shaub than when they got Vick.

Mckay takes some heat for sure.

But Leftwich as solution? Don’t think so. I admire his as person, was such an inspiring athlete at Marshall.

I’d hate to see Leftwich get hurt by Atlanta’s muddled blocking scheme.

Guess it takes two years or so to get the cut-block out of your system.

By think about it

September 17, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this

You freakin idiots who called for MV7 head. You got your sorry team back enjoy. Anyone who has played sports no what a difference one player can make. It’s called energy. Without MV7 we have no idenity and no one to rally around. You idiots. Enjoy your team no more national games. Ha Ha

By fatz

September 17, 2007 11:53 AM | Link to this

December/January scenario: Lloyd Carr out at Michigan; Les Miles leaves LSU to coach at alma mater Michigan; and taking the trail blazed by Nick Saban - Bob Petrino, after much soul-searching discussions with his agent…takes over the reins at LSU for $4-5MM/yr….and Falcon Nation munches on another turd burger. but Chan Gailey can be had with no moving expenses required..

By Tee

September 17, 2007 12:21 PM | Link to this

FIRE RICH McKAY!!! FIRE RICH McKAY!!! FIRE RICH McKAY!!!

Mr Blank you need to do something now. I am a suite holder with my family and also got 10 more families to do the same. If we continue this way ur suites will be empty.

By Dee

September 17, 2007 12:24 PM | Link to this

LOL! @ GottaGitPAID

By Mike

September 17, 2007 12:30 PM | Link to this

Ya’ll crack me up.

First, the Falcons are in this position because of MV’s stupidity, plan and simple. That is the bottom line. He has set this Franchise back at least three maybe four years. This didn’t only hurt the franchise this season but seasons to come with salary cap issues and rebuilding at the QB position. Those that think JH can get it done, I applaud you, you are very optimistic, but he isn’t the answer or the short term fix.

Second, McKay has made some questionable decisions during his tenure, however, as some have stated above, he was filling the holes the previous Moron, I mean Mora, requested. I don’t put the blame on him completely though. From the front office to the lowest guy in the organization, it is a complete team effort. Just as with any organization. If the low people don’t perform, the organization suffers. I do, however, blame McKay for the Shaub trade. They say history repeats itself, only I thought it was several lifetimes between repeats. This is a Brett Farve de ja vu. I truely hope that Shaub wins and wins alot. What a slap in the face it would be. I wan’t a MV hater until his plea. Now I hope he never suits up for an NFL team again.

Third, Mr. Blank is to be blamed as well. His blind loyalty to his players cast him dearly. He should have conducted a thorough background investigation on MV before investing $130 Million. I am sure when he was helping build Home Depot he would never have made such a costly investment so blindly.

Fourth, I don’t blame BP for this chaos. He came in thinking he was going to coach one of the greatest talents the NFL has ever seen. he came in very optimistic. Then to see this talent go in the pits, has to be disheartening. Fans need to give him a chance. He has five years on his contract and because of the actions of one player, he will need all of them.

Those of you that don’t think the actions of one person can devastate an organization, think again. Without naming the organization, here’s an example. Said organization is a major company. They are international. They had ONE individual that was selling things to outsiders that they were not authorized to sell or deal with. This cost said organiztion billions of dollars of business because of the actions of one person.

The fix to this: Stay strong Falcons Fans, let BP do his thing and judge him now based on future potential not on two games of his rookie coaching year. That isn’t quite fair. Wanna blame someone, blame MV, after all he is the one that put this organization in the Doghouse and Drowned our chances for a possible successful season, and Slammed our hopes into the ground, and took the Electicity out of the fan base for other purposes.

Good luck Falcons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Soryu

September 17, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this

Concerned:

English not your first language, no?

And for all the idiots using the term “Vick hater,” you put up a false choice. People that long ago understood Vick was not an NFL QB (and Jeff neither is Jake Plummer) never supported him being replaced by Joey, but by a real NFL QB and for those that told how bad Schaub would do at Houston just like Carr, he is 2-0.

To be fair, Vick was a millstone around the Falcon’s neck. They didn’t know when they traded Schaub about the dogfighting. The Falcons for the time being were wedded to Vick and if they kept Schaub, he’d be gone next year and the Falcons would get nothing.

Jena Six..yes read about it—and what does that have to do with the Falcons?

By darrell

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

yeah what a difference a qb makes …..the falcons were garbage all a long but they believed they could win as long as they had vick now they have lost there heart …god knows they never had much talent

By ole-ball-coach

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

I don’t excuse Vick for what he did,although people have done far worse things to human beings and gotten less time than Vick might get. But Vick was not Atlanta’s problem as far as winning went last year. He was the scapegoat as I think people are starting to realize just what a bad team this really is. Vick could have made a winner out of this team this year even with all their flaws. Something they will be lucky to do more than 3-5 times this year.look at the sacks already,I said all along last year it was the o-lines fault. Things haven’t changed and for any QB with less escape artist talents of a Vick ,it promises to be a very long year for Falcon fans.

By master

September 17, 2007 1:21 PM | Link to this

Now that Mikes gone. Who will you have to step on? Now that you have your new quarter back why dont you rejoice and thank God your prayers were answered.

By Cadman

September 17, 2007 1:29 PM | Link to this

First of all, without question, management and coaching needs to admit they made a mistake about Prater and axe him. 3 missed field goals in two games with one but a mere extra point distance chip shot is unacceptable. Admit the mistake, correct it, and move on. Secondly, obviously, the O-line needs a shake up. I can’t find specific stats as to who has been charged with the 13 sacks that we have given up, but changes definitely need to be made. I for one thought Renardo Foster did a decent job inplace of Gandy except for the holding call late in the fourth quarter that negated the first down. Third, Harrington definitely has been holding the ball too long. He could have thrown it away more than once to avoid the sack, but didn’t. There was one play were Joey shook off the probably sack in the pocket and escaped only to scramble outside and get sacked when he could have thrown the ball away. You gotta get the ball out quicker Joey. Fourth, Our running game has yet to show up though I thought each RB did better than last week. I have a problem with the fact that on 3rd on short, we’re lining up and handing the ball off in a shot gun formation and trying to pull gaurds on other short yardage plays. Line up and smash it in there. Oh and don’t bring some RB (Pinner) that nobody knows to come in and try to convert on third and one anyway. Ovie needs to fill that role without question. Fifth, The defense laid down after the second missed field goal by Prater. CB Sanders reminds me of Webster getting beat time and time again last year. Find another body. DeAngelo going for the strip instead of the tackle shows me he is more concerned with being a show boat than a rounded player. And our safties lack the size and physical play to be successful. I mean to have Milloy ran over when trying to make the tackle on the running back and slammed to the ground and then dragged Jimmy Williams half way down the field is not gonna cut it. Safties should be cracking RB heads and laying somebody out. And finally, Adam Jennings averaging 1.3 yards per punt return is not gonna cut it. Was he really the better choice over Rossum?

By ctc

September 17, 2007 1:33 PM | Link to this

Let’s face it, with all the turmoil of the offseason/preseason with the Mike Vick situation, there really was only a small glimmer of hope that something miraculous would occur to transform the Falcons into a playoff contender this season. And, it would seem, that glimmer has all but faded 2 games into this young season.

Honestly, a kicker who has tried out for as many teams as Prater has and never stuck is a bit suspicious. Maybe the Falcons should of seen the writing on the wall about that one.

Does Mr Harrington have a death grip on that football? Well, all I can say to that is he is going to learn the hard way with this offensive line to get rid of the ball quicker!

Once again, the glimmer is not out, but quick and drastic changes must be made to turn this ship around. It obvious the Falcons are having trouble finding the end zone in this young season, so unfortunately to Mr Prater’s demise this means a new, more reliable kicker needs to be brought in at all costs as early indications are that points are going to be precious and few.

Getting a new QB up and running into an NFL system quickly is never an easy task. Instead, the Falcons need to do some O-line changes and instruction ASAP to keep what we have alive, and perhaps, bring in a “veteran” QB as a backup insurance policy. Joey deserves at least a game or two more to find his groove in the wake of a Swiss cheese O-line.

Just remember, the glimmer shining at the other end of the tunnel is the fact that there does seem to be a veritable cornucopia of excellent college QBs coming out in this year’s NFL draft.

By Max

September 17, 2007 1:33 PM | Link to this

The Falcons Have Always Been Sorry & Will Continue To Be Sorry For The Fourseeable Future!

The NFL As Whole: Average: 1/3 Of The Games Sunday Were Decided By 3 Points Or Less..Attendance Down By 23% League Wide..Lets All Get A Life & Move On!

The Falcons Suck In Several Areas.. D/B’s Cannot Cover Man To Man..Watch Any Given Pass Play..Our Guys Are 5-10 Yards Removed From The Player They Are Suppose To Be Covering!!

D’Hall, You Are As Guilty As Any..I See You “Burned” AS Often As Any Out There..You Are The Most OVER RATED & OVER HYPED Player? On The Team!!!

Sorry Dunn, You Are A Nice Guy, But OVER THE HILL!! Alge, You Are Too Big & Slow!! Malloy, You Are DONE!! Horn, You Havent Been Heard From Since Your Days With The Saints!!

Abraham, Youve Lost A Step, “Rookie” When Are You Going To Stand Up & Be Counted? Gandy, You Are A Joke! Brooking, Time To Retire! Joey H, GET RID OF THE DAM BALL!!!!

All You Dreamers That Think Vick Coulda,Woulda,Shoulda??? Get Over It..HE”S GONE & WANT EVER BE BACK!!!!!

Had Shaub Been Given A Fair Shot Here, No Telling What Might Have Happened..Im Pulling For Him In Houston.

Patrino, When Are YOU Going To Give Redman His Shot??? I Thought A GREAT COACH Played His Best Players At All Times!!!!!! Nothing Against Harrington, But MAYBE, Just MAYBE, Redmond Has A Quicker Release!?

By Roger

September 17, 2007 1:43 PM | Link to this

OK it has been 24 hours has Prater been fired yet?

What are you waiting for?

By dirty

September 17, 2007 1:44 PM | Link to this

CAN U SAY MICHAEL VICK, now that he is gone maybe the falcon fans can see how much we really need him, u never miss vick until harrington is your QB. now we see how important a mobile QB is behind our O line, so now we need another mobile QB, let me see who is left out there, maybe we could trade a low round pick to Oakland and get Culepepper he looked good in the pre-season, or do we want another in the pocket QB? you make the call

By GW

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

Why do u think the bears are staying the course with Grossman. They along with the Ravens gave genuine interest in this extraordinay player and can’t wait until Vick is released if jailed. They could care less about PETA and a few dead pits. Look out next season Falcon fans. Here comes Vick wearing a Bears uniform marching towards the first of possibly three Superbowl rings.

By Hannbird

September 17, 2007 2:01 PM | Link to this

Hold on to your hats folks because it’s gonna be a while before this team is ready to make any kind of run to the playoffs. If the Falcon’s Organization is smart (and I’m talking about everybody from Mr. Blankhead down to the waterboy) they will heed this advice. Draft some quality players. Sign some quality players. Take a lesson from some of the other teams out there. When they have a need, they fill it with quality players, not just someone who can breathe and fill out a uniform. If you are going to keep Petrino as the coach here is what you need to do:

1. Draft, trade picks, beg, or steal but Atlanta needs Brian Brohm from Louisville. He has an awesome arm and he knows Petrino’s system so the transition should be minimal. I know there are other QB’s out there and Hawaii’s Colt Brennan should be a strong consideration but he is a product of the system that June Jones employs there. Definitely the second choice if Brohm falls through the cracks somehow (with ATL, anything is possible).

2. For the sake of all Atlanta fans everywhere, GET AN ACCURATE KICKER!!! I will repeat myself, GET AN ACCURATE KICKER!!!!!!! It doesn’t matter if the guy can kick it 95 yds. out of the end zone or can have 15 seconds of hang time on a kickoff. Just get someone who can put it through the 2 posts with the crossbar in between at the back of the endzone. That’s all you need. I would be happy if they brought back Andersen until they can draft one and let Andersen take him under his wing. Last year Andersen only missed 2 FG attempts inside of 50 yds and that’s because 1 was blocked. That should count for something. Also at 47 years old the guy is in great physical shape, for a kicker. For all you people on the AF.com message boards that want Mike Vanderjerk (oooops!) this guy missed 2 kicks inside the 40 and couldn’t hit anything from 40-49 yds. Not a wise choice. Just ask the SUPERBOWL CHAMPION INDIANAPOLIS COLTS how valuable a kicker is.

3. Get Norwood the ball!!! You’ve got the fastest RB out of last years draft and he only touches the ball 7 times the whole game? Even the coach said he was a playmaker who is able to take it to the house every time he touches the ball. DUH!!! Come on people let’s think a little here. I thought the idea in Petrino’s system was to get the ball to the playmakers. Well, let’s do it then.

4. Get an offensive line. If a 5’9” 180 lb. back can’t find a hole or a crease it’s because there isn’t any. If there isn’t an offensive line then Brohm, Brennan, Harrington, or whoever is back there is going to get crushed.

5. Get some proven, BIG, Wide Receivers. Atlanta didn’t pursue T.O., they didn’t want Moss to “Disrupt” the chemistry in the lockerroom. HAHAHA!!! There never was any to start with. By the way, the stats for Moss and T.O are as follows: Moss-17 REC./288 YDS. 3TDs. T.O.-8 REC./184 YDS. 3 TDs. Doesn’t look like they’re having any chemistry problems with these teams. They also didn’t get Calvin Johnson in this year’s draft. 8 REC./ 131 YDS. 2 TDs. Not bad for a rookie.

Lastly: Get rid of the overpaid dead weight on the defensive side of the ball, particularly Brooking, Milloy, and Crocker. Get some run stuffers in the middle, some LBs who can tackle someone before they get 15 yds, and some DBs who can play Man-to-Man.

So in conclusion: Mr Blank. Do not hire any more incompetent losers. You already have the best staff you can possibly get: THE FALCON FANS!! Listen to them. The results will surprise you and Guaranteed it will be the smartest move you could ever make.

Hannbird

By To Max

September 17, 2007 2:06 PM | Link to this

Isn’t that nice, Max, they are letting you play on the computer at Central State Hospital again. How them meds treating you? The delusions aren’t under control, I see.

By FalconMan

September 17, 2007 2:14 PM | Link to this

Ha Ha Ha! Everybody wants to know “whats wrong with the falcons?” That’s easy to answer, No Mike Vick LOL! Vick was everything that this team had. Lets see……….Vick rushed for 1000 yds and threw for 2000+ yds along with 20 TDs behind the same line that Joey gets crushed a total of 13 times behind. Now everybody wants to finally complain about the o-line! You fools, Vick was the Atlanta Falcons! The dome will be empty by week 5. LOL!

By NASDAQ

September 17, 2007 2:21 PM | Link to this

By One

September 17, 2007 7:54 AM | Link to this

All of this hate, over a team that has NEVER been excellent…….at least they were exciting with Vick!!!! Without Vick, there’s NOTHING!!! But look at it this way, who cares? Does the Fakecons being a great team really benefit your life in any way that matters (physically, mentally, spiritually, socially)? HECK NO!!!! And while the haters are hating on Vick……………..hate on that white collar thug, sorry azz excuse of a president Bush!! He’s the biggest joke in America right now………….not Vick or OJ!!!!

And if you want to discuss something worthwhile………How many of you know about Jena 6? I’ll bet close to none. Sad,

Dude I’m very familiar with the Jena 6. In fact I will be on 1 of the 3 busses from my city that will be heading down there to protest. Keep spreading the word!

By Falcon Real Man

September 17, 2007 2:26 PM | Link to this

I don’t understand Vick apologists. Vick was widely supported by Falcons fans when they thought he was a good player and a good guy. However, when he started acting like a knucklehead, a prima donna and finally was exposed as a sick, twisted, sadistic felon, well, not surprisingly a lot of people fled the bandwagon.

Few people would argue the Falcons would have a better chance to win with him. The few flaws in his game may have been fixed by Petrino. We’ll never know.

But to sit back now and laugh and delight in the team struggling shows that maybe the apologists’ character mirrors that of their sick, twisted sadistic hero.

I’m just saying.

By Faceless Fan

September 17, 2007 2:40 PM | Link to this

How short everyone’s memory is. The Falcons have had a history of bucking the system. Remember Jerry Glanville? The cut block o line was a product of Alex Gibbs under Dan Reeves. Gibbs continued under Mora. As far as the offense goes they had the #1 running attack the last two years. It all starts up front followed by capable, talented Qb’s, RB’s abd rec.

The Falcons goal the last few years has not been to win or even be competitive. There goal was to build a team around Vick. They even ran plays from the VT play book. They just forgot to bring the college defense with them. They hired the new coach to make Vick a better player.

Now maybe they can make a goal of becoming a winning team that plays in the NFl and not the NCAA. Blank has demonstrated that he knows how to build a Home Improvement business but not a serious NFL team. The only hope the falcons will ever have is to do as Ted Turner did quite meddling in things you know nothing about and hire professionals that do. Also be a owner and not a fan.

By Big Reem

September 17, 2007 3:05 PM | Link to this

People talked bad about Vick as QB but at least we were winning some games.

By Edgar

September 17, 2007 3:11 PM | Link to this

Look at what has happened. We all thought the 03 season was just a big mistake because Reeves allowed Vick to play into the 2nd quarter of a preseason game and had an injury take him out for 10 games. Reeves got fired. Bring in McKay and Ruskell from Tampa. Instead of taking Ruskell’s advice and hiring Lovie Smith Blank listens to McKay and here comes Little Jimmy Mora. They take Reeves’ team to the Conference title game and lose because the QB said he was too cold. There goes the Super Bowl. The owner signed off on that crap by giving the QB the biggest salary ever in the NFL to a player. Now we have fallen to a point where we are beat down by two lousy teams because we signed a kicker because he could kick off and couldn’t kick a field goal from an angle. Wow. And it’s going to get worse. But look at Cleveland. It’s only taken them 7 years to get to where they can win one of their first two.

By Soryu

September 17, 2007 3:12 PM | Link to this

GW:

Vick won’t even be out of prison until after next season and then there is at least another year before the NFL thinks about letting him back in. 2010—if ever.

By Brady

September 17, 2007 3:12 PM | Link to this

Jeff, the three (3) plays that Joey held the ball to long, EACH one of the receivers were covered up. This is called a coverage sack.

By jl26

September 17, 2007 3:31 PM | Link to this

Vick haters(as you call us)didn’t get what we wanted either. We didn’t want Joey anymore than you did. They traded the guy we wanted. Now get that through your thick head convict lovers.

By Iwill

September 17, 2007 3:32 PM | Link to this

Worst of all Harrington is white. What a bunch of racists. The racism has bled over into the team. Maybe Atlanta would play harder for a black QB. Shame on Atlanta.

By Iwill

September 17, 2007 3:32 PM | Link to this

Worst of all Harrington is white. What a bunch of racists. The racism has bled over into the team. Maybe Atlanta would play harder for a black QB. Shame on Atlanta.

By KB

September 17, 2007 3:52 PM | Link to this

Gang,

I will say this; the Falcons are going 3-13. You people are now seeing what I have said been saying along. This team needs to be rebuilt.

Getting rid of Schaub for draftpicks is a smart idea. If Schaub was still here, this team would have won maybe 6 or 7 games. The problem with that, he would only masked the true problems of the team. I am happy for Schaub. He would have just gotten destroyed in this offensive line.

People listen, Mr. Blank is going to wake up and smell the coffee. McKay is on the clock. I thought along that this season is in the can, a wrap. I think deep in his mind, Petrino knew this team would need at least three years make a legit team. I am just glad that you fans see that M. Vick was not the main reason this team underperformed. This team just like very little talent to compete. We as fans need to see that a house built on sand is doomed to sink. It just took the storms of the NFL for everyone to see it. It just going to take time to rebuiled the house’s fondation.

By Adam

September 17, 2007 3:52 PM | Link to this

Bottom line: It doesn’t matter whether you loved Vick or hated him. We are all seeing the end result of his absence. Against bad teams, Vick was able to mask the Falcons’ offensive deficiency. Against the better teams, Vick couldn’t carry the team anymore. Without him, fans are forced to come face to face with a startling realization- The Falcons aren’t that good. The problems that were glaringly obvious when Vick was here are still alive and well. The offensive line is just that- offensive! The receivers still stink! I don’t know about the accusations of sadism. However, I’m glad that fans are seeing the same problems I saw for the last 4 years. Rich McKay should be fired for his sheer incompetence.

By Adam

September 17, 2007 3:56 PM | Link to this

Falcons, stay away from McFadden! You need a QUARTERBACK! It doesn’t matter who’s playing running back if you don’t have a QB. Hello, Barry Sanders anyone?

By when

September 17, 2007 4:19 PM | Link to this

Edgar you cant be that dumb. You might be the only person who heard Vick said it was too cold that confrence game because I never heard him say it. If i remeber correctly the Eagles was just a flat out better team. Im so sick of people saying we were hampered by Vick’s contract. Well if we were how was it possible to sign all of these free agent bust that we have and had? EXACTLY. This team had the money but chose to ignore the problems on the offensive line because they figured Vick’s speed would overshadow how bad the line is. Well they were correct but the problem is Vick is not here anymore.. I like Schaub, always have but I doubt the Texans even sniff the playoffs. They win 8 or 9 games but miss the playoffs. Give them about 2 years and they will be better than this sorry Falcons team.

By KB

September 17, 2007 4:24 PM | Link to this

To Adam,

Amen!!!!! This team must be rebuilt. I am just sorry that the season ticket holders got hood-winked. But hey, the smart football fan saw this season coming a mile away…..

Call it the day the bill came due….

By Realist

September 17, 2007 4:31 PM | Link to this

It is about time Falcons fan started recognizing the McKay isn’t what you thought. He strapped the team with an unmanagable 130 million contract on a mediocre QB. Only by Vicks own doing might McKay get out of that one. He’s made very questionable trades for players that tend to be on the trainers table more then the field. He picks the coaches not because they are the “right fit” or “up and comers” but more because he can’t handle an established coach with a strong personality-(Gruden).

By Realist X2

September 17, 2007 4:40 PM | Link to this

McKay left Tampa Bay in a horrible Cap-strapped position. Bruce Allen was able to fix that with smart money contracts. Honestly how can McKay pay Ovie Mughelli the money he did when the Falcons were the ONLY team interested in him? Kearney beat it out of town and Hall will leave next year as well. McKay will leave eventually and the Falcons will be a mess for years. Somebody tie McKay up before he puts a call in to Steve Bartkowski. McKay must have some incriminating photos of Blank otherwise he’d have been gone awhile ago.

By JD

September 17, 2007 4:40 PM | Link to this

Take it from a Jacksonville fan….take Brunell over Leftwich anyday…he’s a statue in the pocket and will play 3 games before he’s hurt (look at his track record..he’s been injured EVERY season). Also, the Falcons and Jags WR’s are very similar. There’s a reason Byron’s still unemployed… take it from one of his biggest supporters (that was until he lied to the coach about an injury last season and cried to the media). At least Brunell is mobile and will understand when the Falcons draft a QB.

By 74 Dawg

September 17, 2007 5:00 PM | Link to this

Jeff, it is opinions like yours that have gotten us where we are. Trying to put patches on a broke down Ford Pinto because the owner is delusional and thinks they really are good enough to “win now” with just a few tweaks. Baloney. Any idiot could see by the end of last season , the Falcons are not very good. They don’t have the pieces to compete , and the ones they do have are getting old. WHY did we sign Joe Horn, an over the hill WR to a multi year contract. He’s got what, 2 catches? Horn was always more mouth than ballgame anyway. This team needs a complete overhaul, and anyone who thinks tying up more cap space w/ another has been QB is going to move them toward long term success is delusional. I have come to the conclusion that McKay is either grossly over rated or is afraid to tell King Arthur the plain truth. If so it is sad to see someone w/ McKay’s reputation become a rich clown’s lap puppy.

By 74 Dawg

September 17, 2007 5:09 PM | Link to this

and one more thing- what the Falcons need to do is continue to accumulate and develope young talent at A LOT of positions and keep their cap space CLEAR .Then when they really are ‘close ’ they will have the money available to fix the remaining holes. If you fire all your bullets when the target is too far away , you’ll have none left when it’s finally in sight. and finally, have you seen Brunell play? He might be an improvement over Redman, but I’m not sure he would beat Harrington out anyway.

By JD

September 17, 2007 5:16 PM | Link to this

You Falcons fans are learning what a lot of people in Tampa already found out. McKay is a lousy GM who’s still living off the glory of being in the room while Sam Wyche drafted Derrick Brooks and Warren Sapp back in 1995.

He can’t draft. He doesn’t know how to identify talent on offense. (Reidel Anthony, Jacquez Green, and Kenyatta Walker - all first-round picks.) And it took the Bucs three years to dig out of the salary cap disaster he created while he was busy figuring out how to slip out of town.

By the way, the reason he said he left Tampa was because of ownership interference (he wanted to hire Marvin Lewis in 2002, but the Glazers overruled him). If he had any honor, he would have quit the minute Arthur Blank saddled him with that massive Vick contract. He’s a weasel, an absolute weasel. Right now he’s probably trying to grease the tracks for his next Houdini job.

By KB

September 17, 2007 5:24 PM | Link to this

The last thing this team needs is a broken down, past their prime qb by Brunnell. He would be dismembered with this team.

Let Petrino work the draft in the needs of a qb, rb, left and right tackle, middle linebacker, defensive end, and backup tight end. There are no quick fixes here….

By 74 Dawg

September 17, 2007 5:49 PM | Link to this

second everything KB just said.