AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > November > 01 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USPredictions: Falcons not worth watching anyway
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
After weeks of negotiations with various humanitarian organizations, the Falcons on Thursday were given clearance to hold televised public stonings at halftime of their remaining games in the Georgia Dome as an attempt to increase attendance, so long as the first and second halves of games remained blacked out.
The team won’t disclose highlights of Sunday’s halftime festivities. But given the nostalgic feelings created by a 1-6 start, it likely will keep targets within the family. On a related note, Jeff George said this week he would like to return to football.
On Sunday, the day of rest, the Falcons snooze with San Francisco. Two teams with a combined record of 3-11 somehow could not persuade residents to purchase the final 3,000 tickets, even with the lure of free water.
The game is blacked out, and that would be the good news. Team officials delayed the announcement for as long as possible Thursday, apparently forgetting that as marketing problems go, 3,000 unsold tickets isn’t nearly as big as 20,000 unused tickets being swapped for maybe a sandwich outside the gates.
In the first in a series of distractions to avoid discussing football matters over the next nine weeks, officials revealed the Georgia Dome will be given a new color scheme. Bobby Petrino declined to comment on the painting plans, other than to say Rich McKay will be given a tarp and a roll of masking tape, but not the roller.
Which leads me to … You know what? I can’t do this. Falcons-49ers: It’s just too big. So first …
To the second-biggest game of the week! Indianapolis and New England play for possible home-field advantage in the AFC title game and the eventual right to dismember anybody from the NFC. The Colts are the defending Super Bowl champions. And undefeated. And at home. And five-point dogs.
OK, I get the whole New England is Godzilla thing. Tom Brady has 30 touchdowns. Bill Belichick has no soul. A perfect coach-quarterback marriage. But the other team ain’t bad and certainly has a better defense. Going against the grain here (again). Take the 5. And Colts in an upset.
Back To School
(Buy any two picks and win a copy of the “Halloween XII: South Bend.” In the most implausible sequel yet, Notre Dame starts 1-7 and hopes to avoid being beat up some more by Navy, Air Force, Duke and Stanford. Double your laughter: Come early and see highlights of Prairie View starting 5-2.)
Troy at Georgia: The Bulldogs sandwiched “Homecoming” against Troy between Florida and Auburn, which caused one Troy player, Marcus Richardson, to say this week he felt “disrespected,” momentarily forgetting he played for Troy. The good news for Richardson is Georgia scheduled Vanderbilt for “Homecoming” last year and, well, that didn’t turn out so good. So there’s hope. Or not. Dogs cover 16 1/2.
Saban Bowl: Nick-o-cchio faces LSU for the first time since returning to the SEC with a different blinded fan base. Accordingly, 6,000 Tigers fans making the trip to Tuscaloosa will be frisked at the border for weapons. Expect them to pick up rocks on the other side, which is fine because, like, they’ll blend. LSU covers 7.
Vanderbilt at Florida: The Gators are coming off a loss to Georgia. I think I may have typed that sentence once before, but it was in a prior life. Florida actually has lost three out of four since beating Mississippi by, well, only six. Guess somebody rerouted the parade. They’ll win, but they ain’t covering 15 1/2.
Pigs and Poultry: Speaking of faceplants, Steve Spurrier has gone from potential SEC title game to potential Shreveport. Blake Mitchell starts at QB again by default. Spurrier: “He’s looked about the same for three years.” Inspiring. Arkansas covers 41/2.
FSU at Boston College: B.C. officials were hoping the Red Sox parade would be routed through Chestnut Hill, just to get some foot traffic. Eagles over Noles, cover 6 1/2.
Pros, Cons
49ers at Falcons: Free psych evaluations to the first 10,000 fans. Yes, and your rabbit friend, Harvey, too. The teams invite all to picnic in either end zone. You’re safe there. Birds win, 9-3.
Jaguars at Saints: Grady Jackson was having a hard time finding his way around Jacksonville. So the coaching staff left a trail of cheeseburgers. (Thank you. Tip your waitress.) Saints cover 3.
Cowboys at Eagles: Dallas just gave Tony Romo, who has never won a playoff game, a six-year, $67.5 million contract. Methinks somebody tugged a little too hard during Jerry Jones’ last facelift. Upset watch: Take the gift three and Eagles straight up.
Packers at Chiefs: Brett Favre must be back on Vicodin because there’s no other explanation for the Packers being 6-1 behind that offensive line. Market correction: Chiefs over Cheese (and 2 is covered).
Broncos at Lions: Jon Kitna was criticized for dressing up as a naked man for Halloween, mimicking assistant coach Joe Cullen, who misinterpreted the whole Value Menu thing and once drove naked through Wendy’s. But Kitna figured it was a more believable costume than his first choice, which was to dress up as a starting quarterback. Take Broncos (and 3) in a road upset.
TOTEBOARD
Last week: 6-4 straight up, 4-6 against the line.
Bottom line: 56-36 straight up, 41-46-5 against the line.
Comeback: Just around the bend.
Permalink | Comments (61) | Post your comment | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Jeff Schultz
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By Mik
November 1, 2007 10:02 PM | Link to this
Around August, I was saying, well at least Football is right around the corner. Now, I’m thinkin’, only 5 more months till baseball season!!
Schultz is somewhat crazy- Eagles over the ‘Boys? Chiefs over Packers? I think he just wants some feedback.
By Herschel Talker
November 1, 2007 10:20 PM | Link to this
Where all the white women at?
By mikefresh
November 1, 2007 10:30 PM | Link to this
well schultz you hit it on the head nobody cares about the falcons tickets for the game sunday are going for $14 bucks wow you can take the whole family to the dome to watch atleat one good player on the field frank gore lol… the hawks are lookin like are only chance at havin a decent winter if not wow its gonna suck
By PlusSizeModel
November 1, 2007 10:51 PM | Link to this
Bobby Cox must go.
By michaelgee
November 1, 2007 10:52 PM | Link to this
Your comments and the Falcons have much in common, your same old repeated Falcon bashing act isn’t worth reading.
Schultz, why not grow some ‘nads and write something with content, er uh, perhaps your suggestions of where do the Falcons go to find future success, or are you bankrupt of football knowledge as well?
By michaelgee
November 1, 2007 11:00 PM | Link to this
Jeff, are you related to Kornheiser? You guys look like twins.
By tj
November 1, 2007 11:46 PM | Link to this
King Petrino went on and on in preseason about yards after catch. Now it’s all about throwing the ball down field. Sounds like excuses for a college offense that does not work in the NFL to me. But hey, if you want to throw the ball down field why not Jeff George. Few can do it better than he can.
By Fahim
November 1, 2007 11:47 PM | Link to this
Ignore the haters Jeff, I laughed-my-a*-off reading this. Good work!
By Submariner683
November 2, 2007 12:09 AM | Link to this
Been awhile since I lived in Atlanta. Guess the fans have been spoiled with actually being able to see home games. I remember when I lived there from 81 to 88 when maybe 5 home games were shown in that period of time. And that is not an exageration.
By Big Papi
November 2, 2007 12:23 AM | Link to this
With Vick going to prison, who will pay to take care of all his illegitimate, little b******* kidz, yo?
By Big Papi
November 2, 2007 12:28 AM | Link to this
astard
By Nothingw/oVick
November 2, 2007 12:38 AM | Link to this
HAHAHA!!! This FRANCHISE is nothing without Vick… just like it was before he arrived here. Where was PeTA to buy those remaining tickets?
By Moore Was Right
November 2, 2007 2:03 AM | Link to this
Wonder if all the Vick fans are down at the soup kitchen feeding the homeless black men and giving them the money in their wallets…or they just care about Vick because he was a superstar athlete?
Hmmmm, it’s truly a mystery.
By Elmo
November 2, 2007 2:48 AM | Link to this
Jeff-College Football is a business and if the chance comes along to make the money -what the hell guy. Saban is worth the money. Are you ? Appreciate the Colts-Patriots pick.
By hop
November 2, 2007 4:20 AM | Link to this
lets see… how many playoff games did vick win the last few years???????? the aws a BIG ZEDRO!!!!!!!!
THIS SEASON IS OVER FOR THE FALCONS!
IT IS TIME TO PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR AND THAT MEANS GET ONE OF THE TOP THREE PICKS IN THE DRAFT AND GET A REAL QB FOR ONCE!!!!
OLE YES, WE DID HAVE ONE GREAT QB,BUT WE TRADED HIM TO GREEN BAY.
By Nikki
November 2, 2007 4:43 AM | Link to this
Yeah, yeah. The falcons will win sunday. Thanks for screwing up the draft order. We don’t need a top 5 pick. We need a top 3 pick. don’t win, guys.
By Reggie
November 2, 2007 5:52 AM | Link to this
Be careful what you ask for!
By Observer
November 2, 2007 7:22 AM | Link to this
Hey Big Papi, since you are obviously so educated, self rightous, and such a fine example of a MAN you can just add them to the little b* that YOU already have and take care of the whole brood, cuz.
By Observer
November 2, 2007 7:23 AM | Link to this
Hey Big Papi, since you are obviously so educated, self rightous, and such a fine example of a MAN you can just add them to the little b* that YOU already have and take care of the whole brood, cuz.
By DOG LOVER
November 2, 2007 7:54 AM | Link to this
MAY THE FALCONS LOOSE ON SUNDAY WE NEED A BETTER DRSFT PICK
PLEASE LOOSE PUT BROOKING AT QB WE WILL LOOSE
By Myrtle Beach
November 2, 2007 8:11 AM | Link to this
I still say you’re the only thing in Atlanta worth reading.
By Ron Mexico
November 2, 2007 8:43 AM | Link to this
I tried to get a loan to buy the rest of the tickets for my dog fighting buddies, but the bank would not give me the money. They said something about me being sued by 3 other banks for not paying their money back. Man..everybody is hating on me! It used to be great to be Michael Vick!!
By GS
November 2, 2007 8:58 AM | Link to this
Still got mad love for MIKE VICK. I guess this is his fault too, huh?
By Scott
November 2, 2007 10:00 AM | Link to this
The Falcons are a heartless bunch of loosers!!! THey gave up on this season in AUgust!!! Vick, Hall, Crumpler, Dunn you guys all suck and if you don’t want to be here then hit the road. 1-6… NOBODY IS SAFE!!!
By sirreal
November 2, 2007 10:16 AM | Link to this
I see a team with no heart. I see a coah who was brought into a messed up situation and a general manager who is highly overated. The season was over when Leftwich went down. The sad part is that I now see the same team we had before Vick arrived. No identity at all. Even the Browns have proven to be a better ORGANIZATION (it’s about everyone) than us. Sad day for the A.
By T
November 2, 2007 10:17 AM | Link to this
Norwood has to start getting the ball more, hes a threat to score everytime he gets the ball! At this point what do we have to lose, he is entertaining and we need to start treating him like what he is, and that is an elite back!
By The Vick Trinity
November 2, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this
Boy, the VICK SUPPORTERS on here are Inarticulate, Foul-Mouthed AND Rage-Filled!
What a TRIFECTA !
By Darrin "The Vent King"
November 2, 2007 10:31 AM | Link to this
Never expected anything less from the ajc, kick dirt in the face of this franchise and their fans every chance they get. You hacks write bad when things are good trying to bring it down and when it goes down, you all celebrate with bum articles like this one. Way to keep up the terrible work!
By PETA PETA Falcon Beater
November 2, 2007 10:32 AM | Link to this
Blank doesn’t have a list of the PETA supporters? Isn’t that who should be sitting in these empty seats on Sunday?
By Ricky c/o 1988 PVAMU
November 2, 2007 10:40 AM | Link to this
schultz(lower case for lack of respect ;-), obviously you’re stuck on insipid. lol And, obviously, you’ve never ever been an athlete in your entire “geek” life. lol U R laughable and a joke, at best. Tell us, oh einsteinless one lol, what is “laughable” about a 5-2 start? Eh? Can’t hear ya’… I’m in Dallas/Houston, Texas so feel free to contact and give your thwarted logic if you’re not afraid. How ANYONE could ever listen to the diatriabe towards sports from someone who was NEVER EVER even CLOSE to being an athlete is beyond me and rather insipid. lol We can’t take people like you seriously because you are a joke. :-) (smile)
By tyshone
November 2, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this
yah u got what this HICK town daserve when u RUN mike outa town he done NOTHING wrong it done rigt if u LOOSE rest of games!!!!! its the MAN u cant stnad it let peta run your lifes
By KiddingRight?
November 2, 2007 11:07 AM | Link to this
Hillarious, “VICK SUPPORTERS” labelled as rage-filled. Lol. Lol. Guess that’s why self-righteous Vick Bashers can’t help but bring his name up, sell his dog-chewed jerseys, equate him to those that kill humans, refuse to accept his apology, etc. Guess it’s true that people w/ certain issues project them onto others to make themselves feel better. Rage-filled…hillarious!
By BUSHWACKER
November 2, 2007 11:22 AM | Link to this
Nothingw/oVick your an idiot, The Falcons went to the Super Bowl WITHOUT VICK in 1998, WITH VICK they have gone down the toilet and that’s not counting this years mess he left us in.
By tyshone
November 2, 2007 11:33 AM | Link to this
your jelous bcause VICK is all this town will ever have he SAVE this town and falcs now u have NOTHING your a idiot if u dont see the TRUTH that mikewas ALL u had now u got EMPTY staduim and EMPTY heads NO tv no grady soon no deangelo no more LEADERS hope your HAPPY.
By PlaneGoBoom
November 2, 2007 11:52 AM | Link to this
They ain’t NOBODY more racist than VIC SUPPORTERS! NOBODY!!!!!!!
By Bulldog
November 2, 2007 12:35 PM | Link to this
Atlanta fans are a joke. It’s embarrassing that any professional sports teams call Georgia home. Did the term “jump on the bandwagon” come from Atlanta sports? We’re winning, let’s go to the game. What a joke!
By KiddingRight?
November 2, 2007 12:48 PM | Link to this
quote of the day: “They ain’t NOBODY more racist than VIC SUPPORTERS! NOBODY!!!!!!!” Hillarious…lol. As I said earlier: Guess it’s true that people w/ certain issues project them onto others to make themselves feel better. Oh yeah…the all caps & tons of exclamation marks show that you might have a few anger issues to work out there buddy.
By BayouFalFan
November 2, 2007 12:56 PM | Link to this
Some of you just kill me. You act as though the Falcons never were winners before MV. (I admit there are not many proud moments in Falcon history, but) Do you remember the SB and we had no Vick. Reeves picked MV to be a Falcon not the whole team. Mora screwed this team up by making MV the whole team.
MV tried to tell everyone last year that the Falcons were not a good team. Remember in PC he stated that he was not Superman and could not do everything by himself. Lost to 3rd string eagles.
Give BP a chance. A lot of teams use this spread, poer run offense so it is not a “college” offense. The defensive coordinator has been in the league around 14 years so it is not a college defense. Get a grip or drink some coffee and wake up this team has no talent. So who is to blame…
Mora not McKay!! Mora asked for Hurtwell aka Hartwell and Webster, and a 7th round or never been drafted inferior OL, and a old fat Grady who did not make the plays that some believe he did. Infact he gave up more big plays than he made. Don’t forget about another VT corner, no FS, no nickel he can’t play any position I guess that was a wasted 2nd round pick from Mora too. Mc Kay gave them the ingredients, now Mora and company are gone and everyone wants to hang McKay out to dry.
BP and McKay will build a real team and their will be alot of egg on a lot of faces. It won’t happen this weekend or this season, but we will get respect again in the NFL.
By The Realist
November 2, 2007 12:58 PM | Link to this
Hey Bushwacker, I’m assuming you’re not counting the playoff victory in Green Bay. You also forgot to mention that Vick’s dogfighting mess has nothing to do w/ the horrible offensive playcalling, horrible offensive line, & horrible pass defense. In case you forgot, he didn’t call the plays, play o-line, or play d-back…but you want to blame someone, so go ahead & take the easy route.
By KrisG
November 2, 2007 12:59 PM | Link to this
You people are so all or nothing. The Super Bowl was by far our best team, true, with a Reeves, a healthy Jamal Anderson and Chuck Smith. But our team was good, with Mike Vick, starting its decline post Reeves. Reeves was good but inconsistent, Vick was instant money- sellouts and victories. We’re pretty much the same team we always were sans Reeves or Vick. Forgettable. Which is why you don’t remember how bad we were in between the Super Bowl Year and Vick, or before Reeves got here at all.
By KrisG
November 2, 2007 1:05 PM | Link to this
Oh, yeah, all you rich guys who can afford to pay a hundred bucks or so to get depressed by the worst franchise in all of sports, go for it. Keep lording it over the rest of us. Why don’t you take the really high road, and buy the extra 3000 tickets? That poor destitute Arthur Blank and the Falcons should be Atlanta’s top priority!
By Mike
November 2, 2007 1:05 PM | Link to this
Thank you Arthur Blank and Rich McKay. You built a winner and ruined a franchise at the same time. Why didn’t McKay actually get a decent offensive line?
McKay and Blank, you guys suck.
By fan from carolina
November 2, 2007 1:19 PM | Link to this
Win or lose we’ll still be going to the games and supporting our team.
By Lenny
November 2, 2007 1:40 PM | Link to this
People lets calm down. This year is a bust. Deal. Work on inproving the O line and then draft a young QB. Then with the improved O line give MAGIC JOEY HARRINGTON a chance. Then midway through next season you will start the new kid.
This is my beginning of a three year plan to rebuild the Falcons.
By rlinaug
November 2, 2007 1:46 PM | Link to this
Somebody should write another column about why Spurrier is a prick. He runs his players in the ground they lose, and he denigrates his opponent when they win. Here’s hoping SC loses out.
By bali
November 2, 2007 2:04 PM | Link to this
jeff great article , very inforative and funny keep upthe good work
By the ritz blitz
November 2, 2007 2:38 PM | Link to this
Carnac the Magnificent, You are the only reason to read the Friday paper…
By lexnekst
November 2, 2007 3:00 PM | Link to this
The Falcons need Mike Vick. They went 7-9 last year WITH him, and I now see that we would’ve been 2-14 without Vick last season. You crackers got what you wanted, the whole time he was here it was ” Put in Schaub, he’s a pocket passer.” Now you see that Vick was worth every penny he was paid for making this half-a* franchise look average for 5 years.
By #7
November 2, 2007 4:03 PM | Link to this
The #7 star power is showing up black outs. More to come, Necks and peta blank wheres your fans!
By Jeff Schulz
November 2, 2007 4:08 PM | Link to this
I am gay. And, mon frere stole Charlie Brown from me.
By Sports Fan
November 2, 2007 4:23 PM | Link to this
Dog Fighting: The Sport of Cowards
By CDS
November 2, 2007 4:30 PM | Link to this
I’m shocked. Halfway through the season, and there are still people talking about “running Vick out of town”. Will all you ever wake up and realize that Vick did this to himself? He broke the law, not Arthur Blank or McKay. The team sucks, but was there anyone who truly thought they would be any good?
Anyways, screw this team. It’s Hawks season, and that’s where my attention is going to. Go Hawks!
By Jim P.
November 2, 2007 5:26 PM | Link to this
I will take the Falcons, Saints, Cowboys, Packers and Lions.
By MV7 fan
November 2, 2007 6:49 PM | Link to this
Jeff, We really appreciate the article especially the part about the Falcon’s not worth watching.
To all you Vick Basher’s: MV7 is not playing with the Falcon’s and has apparently moved on, (his house is for sale).
Vick was guilty of dog fighting and the Falcons threw him under the bus. Now the Falcons’s must pay. They will need all 20 mil to get what they have lost in the one MV7. The haters can say what they want, if it was some many Falcon Fans, there would be no black out would there? Actually the fans were all Vick fans. LOL
Good luck to you Mike Vick, I got money on it, the Falcon won’t be successful ever again, every season, they will be 4-16 for the way they treated you!
They have to sell the team to get any better….
By MV7 fan
November 2, 2007 7:08 PM | Link to this
By the Way, all you Falcon’s fans.
Petrino didn’t conquer Louisville.
Why is he in Atlanta coaching the Pros anyway? If the Falcons were looking for a college coach, Arthur Blank would have been better off getting USC, BC, VT, LSU, UGA’s coach.
They brought a little puppy to the BIG Dawgs! That’s what you should be complaining about if you looking for good change.
By Eric C.
November 2, 2007 7:18 PM | Link to this
Jeff Schultz and spurrier for that matter
In response to “Why Let the Dawgs Out.” What if the Nazis had dropped the atomic bomb first? It didn’t happen and the rest is history. The last thing UF players wanted to do was get kicked out of the biggest rivalry game of the year.
Hmmmm J.S.…and I’m sure they had time to ponder that decision in the 30 seconds it took for the celebration. “Hey Goofy…why don’t you go over there and throw a few punches at Marcus Washington so that we can start a brawl and get our heads mashed in by the entire UGA team. Yeah Mickey! That’s a great idea! Is it ok with Urban? I’m sure Spurrier would approve!”
“The “good” guys won last Saturday and most are glad for a hard-fought victory…the others can go kiss Spurrier’s a$$.”
By Rastus Mombika
November 2, 2007 11:43 PM | Link to this
I needs me some white woman.
By In midst of Idiots
November 2, 2007 11:48 PM | Link to this
You idiots talking about what “you people did to poor Vick” are truly pathetic and are borderline retarded. But i guess we all knew that before.
By Keep It Legal 4 Less
November 3, 2007 2:53 AM | Link to this
Mike Vick is getting what he deserves, and so will all you other ghetto trash Vick Lovers when you all break the law, too!
You are better than Mike Vick.
Act like it.
Peace.
By KrisG
November 3, 2007 3:39 AM | Link to this
I am not better than Mike Vick, or anybody.
I am, however, a whole hell of a lot smarter and more appreciative of good fortune than Mike Vick.
I try to keep it in perspective, there are active players and coaches who have done worse. Beating your wife, to me, is worse than killing a dog. Drunk driving is worse, especially after you’ve already killed a human before. But these things spring from everday situations that a common man can at least relate to.
Thing about Mike Vick, what will live in infamy, is how far beyond the scope of normal human behavior he went to screw up.
I mean, dogfighting. Dogfighting. I still can’t believe it.
7 months later, Mike Vick’s broke, waiting for possibly decades in jail, Falcons are 1-6, Mark Richt went Glanville (I can’t help but think it ties in somehow) and the Falcons have two of the most useless highly drafted QB’s I’ve ever seen.
I mean, dogfighting. Could only happen with the Falcons.
By KrisG
November 3, 2007 3:48 AM | Link to this
By the way, keep it legal, are you sure you are using the name right in the phrase “ghetto trash Vick Lovers?” You sure you didn’t want to use another word there, starts with an “N?”
And I really wish we could keep some of these anti-Vick bloggers a bit more honest… suddenly, everyone’s camouflaging the “hate-itude” in the dogfighting scandal, pretending they never asked for Doug Johnson to start over Vick…