AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > September > 19 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USLeftwich at least provides more hope than Harrington
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
Flowery Branch — How can you not like Byron Leftwich?
I mean, really?
He has that infectious smile of Magic Johnson. He acquired a fearless reputation when he broke his shin during a college game, was carried down the field on the shoulders of teammates and overcame a 17-point deficit. Courtesy of his strikingly quick wit, he could take his act on the road.
He just can’t play as efficiently anymore. He gets hurt too much. He also has a goofy throwing motion. And did we mention his mobility is slightly better than that of a goalpost?
Even so, the Falcons signed Leftwich to become another backup statue to the one that starts at quarterback. There also is this matter of the Falcons’ invisible offensive line. As a result, defenders have toppled that starting statue with blitzes from everywhere for 13 sacks to drop the Falcons to 0-2.
So, in an effort to improve their plight, the Falcons just got another immobile quarterback to go with Joey Harrington and Chris Redman, who hasn’t thrown an NFL pass in four years courtesy of back and shoulder problems.
Yeah, this makes sense.
But Leftwich does have more of an upside than the Falcons’ starting statue. While Leftwich’s career record as a starter is 24-20, the other guy is 23-45. Plus, Leftwich always has been the people’s choice in his locker room. He is something like a Chris Tucker at 6 feet 5 and 250 pounds, but he has an arm just shy of Brett Favre velocity.
Speaking of Favre, when he played for the Falcons 15 years ago before getting traded with his Hall of Fame gifts to the Green Bay Packers, he also wore his famous No. 4. Now Leftwich will do so with the Falcons after four years in Jacksonville wearing No. 7.
“I mean, we all know that No. 7 is Mike’s number,” Leftwich said Wednesday, referring to Michael Vick, the former Falcons starting quarterback who will have a longer set of numbers on his new uniform as a convicted felon for illegal dogfighting.
Added Leftwich, at his stall in the Falcons locker room, “I figured that I was just going to pick a number, and No. 17 didn’t look good on me.”
Leftwich laughed, saying, “I’m trying to look as slim as possible, so I figured I’d pick No. 4.”
As for that statue thing, which contributed to defenders crushing Leftwich enough in the Jacksonville backfield to miss 15 of his past 21 starts in the regular season due to injuries, he laughed again. Then he said, “Like I’ve always joked and mentioned since the day I got released [by the Jaguars two weeks ago], I’m not the slowest quarterback. I’m just the slowest black one.
“That’s just the truth. I might surprise some people. I’m not that slow, y’all. I just look slow. I’ve got like a Randy Moss stride.”
Still, there were more than a few reasons the Falcons joined their 31 peers in ignoring Leftwich during all that time he was available. In addition to that statue thing, there was that injury thing. Two years ago, Leftwich missed the Jaguars’ last five weeks before the playoffs with a fractured left ankle. He later started well in their playoff game against the New England Patriots (11 straight completions), but he stumbled toward an 18-for-31 day in passing for 179 yards, no touchdowns and an interception.
The Leftwich slide was on, with the former Marshall star becoming inactive for the final four games of last season courtesy of that same ankle. Then he was released before this season and replaced by David Garrard.
How’s the ankle now?
“I haven’t felt this good, and that’s the thing, because my ankle has been bad [since that 17-point comeback he generated over Akron], and I was naive or not smart enough to know that my ankle was really that bad,” said Leftwich, suggesting that everything is now eternally fine with his health.
The Falcons can only hope. Otherwise, they’ll be more of the punch line than the ones for Leftwich’s jokes.
Permalink | Comments (25) | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Terence Moore
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By HIGHPOWEREDOFFENSE
September 19, 2007 7:32 PM | Link to this
WHEN THE FALCONS HAD A MOBILE QB YOU WANTED A POCKET PASSER, NOW ALL WE HAVE IS POCKET PASSERS AND NOW YOU ARE SAYING THEY ARE NOT MOBILE! MAKE UP YOUR MINDS PEOPLE. IM JUST GLAD THE FALCONS ARE WILLING TO TRY SOMETHING TO FIX IT! GO FALCONS!
By kennyb
September 19, 2007 7:41 PM | Link to this
Terence, I assume that you are targeting the Atlanta sports fan is NOT a football fan. My 9 year old son (a football fan) could have written this piece on B.Leftwich. ANYONE that is a football fan could have written this as it lacks any insight and only states the obvious. Wait… DID YOUR 9 year old write this??? Please try to do better in the future and give us something worth reading!!!!
By Mr. Gilley
September 19, 2007 7:42 PM | Link to this
Mr. Moore. Leave it you to take indirect shots at Mr. Vick. I just wont you to admit the Falcons were a much better team with Number 7 and regardless of the record, he gave the Falcons the best chance to win at the QB position. Just be honest about it and put aside your hatred for Vick for one second. Also, Like I predicted, the running game sucks without Vick..Go figures But something interesting Leftwich said, he isn’t a slow quarterback, but a slow Black quarterback. The stereotype of athletic black quarterbacks never fails, except in this case.
By HIGHPOWEREDOFFENSE
September 19, 2007 7:48 PM | Link to this
TERENCE YOU ARE LIKE MOST POLICE OFFICERS. WAS VERY LAME IN HIGH SCHOOL,DID’NT PLAY ANY SPORTS AND HAD ZERO GIRLS! BUT NOW YOU HAVE A LITTLE POWER AND A SMALL PLATFORM TO SHOW YO AS! YOU TRY TO TAKEN DOWN EVERYBODY WHO REMINDS U OF THAT BULLY IN SCHOOL WHO WHIPPED THAT AS! GO FALCONS!
By D-Cider
September 19, 2007 8:01 PM | Link to this
Terrie, Like HPO says, what exactly do you want? a pocket passer? guess not. a running QB? guess not. still hoping for that espn job? I’m still waiting on your obituary.
By JUSTICE
September 19, 2007 8:06 PM | Link to this
Terrance the same people that praised you when you were piling on Mike Vick are turning on you now. When will you all learn (black people)that whitie cannot be trusted.
By Red and Black
September 19, 2007 8:10 PM | Link to this
Think long and hard, when was the last positive thing said by Terence Moore about any Atlanta team, player or coach. I can’t think of anything this decade. Leave it to Mr. Sunshine Terence Moore to rip a guy before he has even taken the practice field.
By ROD
September 19, 2007 8:13 PM | Link to this
Terence new—idiot i man newman is definitely a FALCON HATER, he has nothing better esle to do but criticize everything the Falcons do is there really any mobile quaterback no..besides vince young is the closet thing to vick now we have a regular quaterback and he wants to run his freakin mouth still eat a fat one…Go Falcons and Good luck Byron lets prove em wrong…
By Concerned
September 19, 2007 8:16 PM | Link to this
Terence, you make me sick, you did the same thing to D. Sanders. Do you or should I say you have a problem with black men’s making money. Okay we all know about Vick why you keep speaking on that. Not once did you write P. Kerney when that girl got rape in his house. If it had been Vick or anyother black player you would have called them al everything in the book. You are just another black man who has nothing to say good about another black men. By the way my name is Ruby.
By Dale
September 19, 2007 8:28 PM | Link to this
I think that U really need to make up your mind Terrance, do you want a running quarterback or a pocket passer? Other than showing everyone how you constantly contradict yourself this really is a useless piece of garbage disguised as an article.
By Larry
September 19, 2007 8:34 PM | Link to this
As you were!
We went out and got us a Black QB for this Black City with a Black Mayor to get the Black folks to come to the game on Sunday!
And all the brothers said Amen!
Seriously, Black Folks, don’t you get it? Don’t you know that when you scream for Black this and Black that you are actually devaluing your those in your own race that actually deserve what they have like Tiger Woods? Aren’t you tired of being simple entertainment pawns?
Does anyone here really believe that Leftwich was signed for any other reason than to appease Atlanta’s dumb Black population enough to get them to stop mourning the loss of the thug Vick, just enough to get you to come to the dome on Sunday? Do you really think the Falcons signed Leftwich, when he’s been available for weeks, because they think he can get us to the playoffs when here on September 17th, he’s taking his very first snap?
Are you a fool?
By gdg73
September 19, 2007 8:40 PM | Link to this
Leave it to Uncle Tom. Your *ish is getting old. You give this race a bad name with your idiotic columns. You, like others in Atlanta, will never be satisfied with the QB, whomever it might be. I guess your next column will be about McNabb and how his comments were so off-base. Go get ready for the O.J. trial with your adopted brethren and pray for a guilty verdict this time.
By Dennis
September 19, 2007 8:48 PM | Link to this
Coach said o-line not getting it done.
Bring in new o-linemen? No.
Coach said RBs not hitting the holes fast enough.
Bring in new RBs? No.
Coach said QB not getting it done.
Bring in new QB? BINGO! All problems are now solved.
Brilliant.
By Singletary
September 19, 2007 8:48 PM | Link to this
Oh come on. I don’t normally read TMoore, but I thought he actually stepped out on this one. His analysis (though not high on stats) was different than I was expecting.
Leftwich has had some great games. We needed someone else with experience. We have him. Let’s see who masters the Petrino offense the best.
By Falcons Stink
September 19, 2007 8:58 PM | Link to this
I wasn’t positive before; but now I am! A branch of the Clampett clan has to be running this team! Thats the only thing that can explain yet another bonehead move by the group of imbeciles that run the Falcons. Oh my gosh! I am laughing so hard my sides hurt! Can you brainless Falcons fans say 0 and 16? Even if this ghastly excuse for a team manages to win a couple of more games with Leftwich; the dimwitted Falcons brass has cost this team the first pick in next years draft and a chance at a real quarterback and a bonafide chance to win in the future. Anyone with half a brain knows they won’t win anything this year or next! And all this so Jed, oops, I mean King Arthur can fill a few seats and satisfy the idiots who purchase tickets to watch this sorry collection of losers play on Sunday. Of course the Falcon fans are losers as well so I guess y’all deserve each other. Ha! The Falcons and they’re fans losers forever and always! Go Texans!!
By SMack
September 19, 2007 9:08 PM | Link to this
Why show the continued dislike for MV7? That kind of hatred is not good for the soul. The whole world knows what he did, we don’t need a recap from you. I agree with HPO. Were you abused as a child?
By Lady T
September 19, 2007 9:09 PM | Link to this
Larry,you need prayer and a little help.I will pray that you get the help you need.
By Chris
September 19, 2007 9:10 PM | Link to this
YOU DONT HAVE AN EARTHLY CLUE WHAT YOU WANT… YOU DIDN’T LIKE THE RUNNING QB (VICK), COMPLAINED ABOUT JOEY AND NOW YOUR COMPLAINING ABOUT BRIAN. YOU JUST LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ANY ATLANTA TEAM.
By Rocket
September 19, 2007 9:15 PM | Link to this
I cannot believe how people are reacting to Mr Blank and his decisions, either directlt or indirectly.
If I was Blank I would take this to a city where fans would appreicate it.
The man has made it affordable for fans of all economic sectors to attend a pro football game and all he gets is fans selling off their tickets like the world is ending.
And the worse part is, they defend and support the bad guy, yes number 7; when it is Mr Blank they should be thanksful for and supporting.
He does not have to be here, there is a city that would take this team in a heart beat.
You folks had better let that love affair with an overrated RB playing QB and get behind this man that makes it possible for you to have pro football in this town.
By Rocket
September 19, 2007 9:16 PM | Link to this
I cannot believe how people are reacting to Mr Blank and his decisions, either directlt or indirectly.
If I was Blank I would take this to a city where fans would appreicate it.
The man has made it affordable for fans of all economic sectors to attend a pro football game and all he gets is fans selling off their tickets like the world is ending.
And the worse part is, they defend and support the bad guy, yes number 7; when it is Mr Blank they should be thanksful for and supporting.
He does not have to be here, there is a city that would take this team in a heart beat.
You folks had better let that love affair with an overrated RB playing QB and get behind this man that makes it possible for you to have pro football in this town.
By Russ
September 19, 2007 9:17 PM | Link to this
No,Larry You’re the FOOL!!! I’ts Dumb White trash like you who still think guys like Tiger Woods and Byron Leftwich are beneath you no matter what their accomplishments are. Just like you guys couldn’t rest for thirteen years after seeing O.J. Simpson being acquitted by a jury of his peers because he presumably killed two white people,Yet you all have Raped ,killed,lynched,robbed,murdered and stole from us dumb blacks but we still seem to be superior in all phases of athletics,Lucky Arthur Blank realizes it,Thats why he signed Leftwich. I know it burns you and yours up to see dumb blacks take over all the games you created after you forced us to come to your country ,to See us as mayors and politicians and doctors and the greatest golfers and football players who ever lived ,hey Larry you tell me who the dummies are!!!
By Vick Girl
September 19, 2007 9:19 PM | Link to this
Terrance, you are a joke. You talk about Vick not being pocket passer. Now you talk about Leftwich not being mobile. Way to FLIP-FLOP.
By TAB
September 19, 2007 9:34 PM | Link to this
Hey Terrence, I was hoping to get thru the entire article without you mentioning Mike Vick!! I guess you had to take a cheap shot!!
By candlerpark
September 19, 2007 9:40 PM | Link to this
Wow Terence, I hope you’re getting paid well to have to put up a column to this kind of ridicule. But after reading the posts, I can see that no intelligent residents have chosen to respond…save a few.
Right on, Larry.
By trottinghometudd
September 19, 2007 9:41 PM | Link to this
Hey someone is deleting some of the earlier posting. Especially the two that call Terence an egg suxing, boot licking Uncle Tom Terence Moore. Probably saved them for his article tomorrow. Your a peterhead Moore