Sports Columnists

By BirdMahn

January 10, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this

Amen. Can we get over this flirtation with Carroll and hire a real NFL GM and HC. I’m really starting to question Mr. Blank’s abilities as an owner.

By mv#7

January 10, 2008 10:36 AM | Link to this

Get a Gm first and if Carrol wants to come fine. But I think the coach from the colts would be the best he is a Tony Dungy Man!

By Jimv

January 10, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this

Arthur Blank is beginning to worry me. Too many dollars-not enough sense.

By Concerned

January 10, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this

What if USC is about to go on probation for the Reggie Bush fiasco?

By Ramblin Wrecker

January 10, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this

I’d hardly call Pete Carroll an NFL washout. He had a better than .500 record as a head coach. So in my opinion he’d be better than Spurrier or Saban and definitely better than Petrino. But he was never the head of personnel and I believe that is where the Falcons’ biggest problems lie. The Falcons need a proven personnel man to fix the roster. And just need a competent coach who knows how to work with professional players. So I just don’t see the need for Pete Carroll. Why pay premium and cede so much control to a guy who, while he probably won’t run it further into the ground, isn’t likely to be the second coming of Bill Belichick? I say get a proven personnel man (like the guy who helped build the Philly machine or one of the guys who helped revamp the Green Bay roster) and let him help you find a coach that has pro experience but isn’t a PR move. The Philly guy knows that you build a team to win the line of scrimmage, something the Falcons have never grasped. You win the LOS with OT’s, OG’s and with DT’s and depth on both lines. Making big splashes for star WR’s or QB’s is not how to build a franchise. The Green Bay guys knew that drafting for star quality wasn’t wise and they rebuilt the roster quickly. Forget the big splash (in hiring GM & coach and also in drafting) and go with logic and common sense.

By GW

January 10, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this

Carroll ain’t coming to the south and the NFL is a little tougher than the PAC 10.

By Jim

January 10, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this

Arthur Blank is a loose cannon…this guy has really disappointed me…he obviously knows zip about pro football. Pete Carroll? I don’t think so…poor prior NFL record + these college coaches coming to the NFL don’t realize that the tail(high priced players) wags the dog (the coaches)…college and pro football are entirely different when it comes to controlling the players.

By I'm Blank

January 10, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this

This makes absolutely no sense. Art Blank is again proving he is not adept at anything except at trying to make headlines. He is not a “brilliant” businessman as so many have annointed him. He should be feeding the fish for Bernie and sell this Southern franchise to someone who knows about Southern football. He is a dope who is a star-struck and has no idea what it takes to “build a consistent winning football team” as he claims he will do. He is the Britney Spears of the NFL.

By Jim Mora, Jr.

January 10, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this

What do you mean I was “not quite so nice”!!!???? DeAngelo and all the other guys with “athletic arrogance” liked me. Why you, Bradley, I oughta…!

By Hugh G. Rection

January 10, 2008 10:53 AM | Link to this

“And if money is indeed everything, why did Petrino take a pay cut to go coach Arkansas?”

Mark, it’s about time somebody asked that question.

By the way, I liked your hair better when it was poofy. Any chance you’ll change it back?

By Brian Hunt

January 10, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this

I am really starting to get scared of any move that the Falcons’ brain-trust consider. Pete Carroll is not the answer. If he is, somebody at Flowery Branch is asking the wrong questions. Get a good personnel guy and keep as much of the current coaching staff in place as possible. The team needs a caretaker coach that can come cheap until it is desirable for a talented NFL mind to want to coach in Atlanta. Right now good NFL talent is running from this team like they have the plauge. Nobody wants to waste a couple years of their career waiting for the team to become good. It’s Blank’s money, but he needs to get a lot wiser about how to spend it.

By Disgusted

January 10, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this

Blank had to be in the right place at the right time with the Home Depot thing because since he has taken over the Falcons, his decisions point to only 1 logical conclusion: He’s an IDIOT!

By Bird Backer

January 10, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this

He’s put plenty of talent together at USC - I think he’s got a pretty good chance of doing the same in the NFL

By Anthony

January 10, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this

I like Carroll. What we forget is that he has a winning record as a NFL coach. Most people who failed came from college to the NFL. He is coming to the NFL from college from the NFL. In the NFL he will not have to deal with NCAA violations (see Reggie Bush). And let us remember Bill Belecheck was not always a genious. He was once fired too.

By philip

January 10, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this

Mr.Blank get a GM first.Then hire a coach………..Pete Carroll is not the answer he will jump ship like the other coward coach Petrino……………

By Stallwart

January 10, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this

The first issue that should be addressed is why Rich McKay is still involved with mission critical team decisions. It makes no sense that a major part of the problem is involved in building the future. If I was a GM or coaching candidate, this would scare the heck out of me. As a fan, it scares me plenty.

Carroll will not come to Atlanta and if he does, he will be gone within 2 years. They can promise full control but history says Blank/McKay will still drive decisions. Until this changes, it will be difficult to attract any name talent to Atlanta.

Blank is trying to manage his fortune through a Charles Schwab account. Time to release control and turn it over to a professional.

By Matilda Sletchenhorse

January 10, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this

I think we should go of the grid and higher a black woman… how about Shirley Franklin

By Ryder

January 10, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this

At first I was one of the many who spoke out against the Falcons even thinking about Pete Carroll, especially given the situation with Petrino still fresh in the teams’ minds. Then I did some research (I know, rare for a Falcons fan since we like to base things on instant reaction) and I figured out some things that really stuck out in my mind:

1) Carroll, unlike Petrino, is used to being an NFL coach, so he already knows how to deal with the salary cap and the draft process, two things Petrino admitted he wasn’t used to doing.

2) Carroll is another in the long line of defensive minded coaches that Blank has interviewed. Petrino was a gimmick coach who relied on gimmick offensive schemes, which as we all know never work in the NFL. He knows how to build great defenses. That’s why I hope Jason Garrett doesn’t take the job. He hasn’t looked like much of a genius with TO out hasn’t he?

3) Carroll is a player-friendly coach, which is what this team needs right now. I think with the right QB (please be Matt Ryan) I believe he can rally the troops should they hire him.

4) One thing to remember is that this whole thing about Carroll having complete control doesn’t mean that he will also be GM. Take Andy Reid for instance, who has final say on all personnel matters according to Chris Mortensen on ESPN this morning. The team will still have to get a GM to negotiate the deals.

By HIGHPOWEREDOFFENSE

January 10, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this

WTF! ART IS NOT THAT SMART! FIRST OF ALL RICH MCKAY HAS GOT TO GO! I DONT EVEN WANT HIM BLOWING LEAVES AT FLOWERY BRANCH! THEY ARE TRICKING MR. BLANK IS LIKE A BIG WALLET WITH LEGS , WITH CATCH ME UFCK ME WRITTEN ON IT!

By ndadome

January 10, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this

The thing I hate most about this latest drama with the Falcons is that I thought our defense looked better than it has in a number of years. It’s a shame that Coach Zimmer can’t stay with the team. I truly believe that man knows what he’s doing. But then, what do I know? I only pay the bills. .my opinion obviously doesn’t count.

By Trojan Horse

January 10, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this

This is the ultimate Trojan Horse and it has Rich McKay’s fingerprints all over it. Where did Daddy coach? You got it, USC! And now, in the ultimate testament to nepotism, his son Richie, who is clueless, is going back to his USC roots to ask one of their own to join him. This is the ultimate Trojan Horse - let Carroll into the dome and he will bring the place down. A catastophy in the making.

By JP

January 10, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this

Pete is not the man for the job. Why would he leave a good thing at USC where he’s beloved and constantly in the chase for the championship?

Sure he will listen, but it will take probably 7-9 million per year to lure him away from LA.

A better option would be making a run at Pioli from the Pats as a GM and maybe Singletary for a coach.

By newt258

January 10, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this

Amen. Why is Blank even spending time talking to this guy? Haven’t we seen enough these college guys. First of all we need some stability. We need a coach who is in it for the long haul, because this will not be a quick fix.

By jc

January 10, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this

why are we even looking at another college coach did we not learn from the last one

By ga_tech_92

January 10, 2008 12:10 PM | Link to this

The reason they are talking to Carroll is simple. No proven NFL GM or Coach WANTS to come to the Falcons, period. You cannot “make” them do it. I would love nothing more than a proven guy at the correct position, but who is there? There is no one who has an NFL GM or HC gig that would rather come to the Falcons, so we have to find someone who would be getting a move up. A move up implies someone who isn’t already proven at the position in question. Thus, we have no one to pick from but NFL assistance, second guys, retreads, and in this case hot college coaches. If this was a job an established guy wanted, then we would have Parcells now, because you know Blank made him an offer he shouldn’t refuse. It’s the same story with Cowart. The fact that the fans don’t see this very obvious fact…the fact that our media slams the Falcons for pursuing the only options they have, after courting options they dreamed of…the fact that I have to even explain this simple reality…is why the Falcons job is not desirable. Blank does what he can to win, he is a blank check and available to do anything it takes…that’s all anyone can ask of him. However, our ‘fans’ and ‘media’ are so negative about race, excitement, disillusion, etc, means the Falcons are cursed by it’s citizens. Look in the mirror if want to see the problem the Falcons have attracting an established guy.

By Tom

January 10, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this

Truly there must be someone better quailified to coach the Falcon. I, too, don’t understand Blank’s need to hire a college coach after the last college coach. He really needs to step away and let someone else decide the matters.

By atlskinsfan

January 10, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this

Blank is starting to act more like Dan Snyder. Learn from the redskins mistakes and hire a solid personnel/salary cap person as gm first! Then let him hire a coach. Otherwise, they will keep making the same draft/player/coaching mistakes over and over.Just like the redskins have done over and over since Snyder bought the team.

By Richard

January 10, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this

First, I can’t understand why Blank would ever look at a college coach again. Second, if Carrol is stupid enough to leave USC for the Falcons, he’s not smart enough to be an NFL coach.

Carrol failed in the NFL for the exact same reasons as Mora Jr. Carrol staying in USC is best for everyone, most of all him.

By ga_tech_92

January 10, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this

OH, and if I hear Singletary again, I’ll puke. Is he tough? Yes! Would he have instant respect from the players? Yes! Has the defense he is the coach of impressed? NO! Is he a ‘proven guy’? NO! Would he appease about half the fans, for all the wrong reasons? YES! Is he a master of the chess board at game time to counter every move quickly and brilliantly? UNKNOWN!! We need someone who has at least been an HC on some level with success…and ideally who has done it with some success at the NFL level. Carroll answers all the questions above with a YES. That is another reason the Falcons are talking to him. Will he come? Probably not, would you? Our fans are the worst ever. Half of them are too stupid to know you win by building the OLine and DLine, instead they will scream ‘we need a QB or RB or other ‘flashy’ players’. Look at the teams who consistently win, they all have dominate OLines and DLines…however….drafting OLinemen is not a glamorous pick and so many fans will complain because it’s not gasp Exciting enough. Well the Falcons have almost never understood the expression “too much sizzle, not enough steak”. Steak is boring and takes a couple years of blind support. Build an OLine and DLine for two years, then draft K.Moreno…oh…we would never dream of doing that.

By Stillwagon

January 10, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this

Carroll is an NFL man with a winning NFL record. He’s not a college-bred coach trying to make it in the pros. He happens to be one of the few NFL coaches who’s transitioned well to the college ranks (an understatement to say the least). If Carroll wants to give the Falcons a shot, I say great.

By Flappin' Falcon

January 10, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this

Anybody who is stupid enough to think Carroll’s coming to the Falcons or that the Falcon’s front office really wants him is nuts. He’s not even number one on the list of HCs. The media is blowing this way out of proportion and the “no-life” bloggers fall right in line as usual. Get off Blank’s back. Blank is not only interviewing tons of people, he’s getting boatloads of free advice and ideas for this franchise. He is finally doing the job as he should have done post Reeves. In the end the Falcon’s will have a GM with present day NFL experience and a Head Coach who is currently a DC. The only wildcard is Marty Schot. who will not be interviewed until the end of the process.

By long time falcon

January 10, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this

This is an interesting excerpt from profootballtalk.com.

McKAY, DEVANEY MANIPULATING FALCONS’ PROCESS?

As more time passes and more seemingly stupid things happen in Atlanta, there’s a growing suspicion in some league circles that former Falcons G.M. Rich McKay and current Falcons assistant G.M. Billy Devaney are doing whatever they can to ensure that someone who might fire them isn’t hired by owner Arthur Blank.

The thinking is that McKay and Devaney are steering the process away from the high-quality candidates who might threaten their turf. There’s also a belief that McKay and/or Devaney threw a monkey wrench into the pursuit of USC head coach Pete Carroll, who undoubtedly would want full control over the football operations.

Why else would Blank now be popping off about “radio silence” if he hadn’t read the riot act generally to whoever it was that blabbed to Len Pasquarelli about the pursuit of Pete Carroll. With Carroll already disinclined to take on a reclamation project, giving him an unnecessary recruiting headache is slightly less effective than, say, sending him a box of Cubans.

Maybe for once mcKay has done the falcons a favor by trying to screw up the carroll to falcons bid by arthur blank. If blank is smart he will fire rich mckay’s a$$ as soon as a new GM is put in place.

By Space Mountain

January 10, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this

And the hits just keep on coming. This franchise is clueless. Why in the world would you even consider a college coach in the wake of the Petrino disaster. Granted I think Carroll is a better coach than Petrino. And I beleive he has done one heckuva job at USC. But as an NFL coach he is right around average and nothing more. Quit playing around with these flash in the pan names and bring sound solid football people to first stabilize the franchise. This is next to impossible looking for a coach and a gm at the same time. Get rid of all these players who do not want to be here and get as many picks as you can for them. That way you can give your new gm and coach a head start at bringing in young fresh talent that has not been tainted with this loser mentality that has plagued this franchise for some time now.

By TJ

January 10, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this

I think the Falcons need to get some talent in here (eg someone that can play defense) before we worry about the coach. The NFL is more about the Jimmy’s and the Joe’s rather than the X’s and O’s!

By Neckville Rednecks

January 10, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this

Mckay is from USC and Carrol would not be a bad coach. This team need a odd fit for a odd place call Georgia. He already knows we have problems. The Media and Fan base for one is clueless in Georgia. If he coached at New England and the management hired him I say give him a shot why? New England has the best management in the football business .

By I'm Blank

January 10, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this

How true, Trojan Horse. Blank is again proving “he knows Nothing” just as Jim Cramer says of Bernancke.

By long time falcon

January 10, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this

ga tech 92, congradulations you’re the second idiot that I have heard blaming the fans for the falcons demise. Please explain to us how this curse by falcon fans works? You freakin moron. And by the way guys like bill cowher, chuck noll, bill parcells, etc. were all once assistant coaches jackass! Thats exactly who the falcons should be pursuing is a young bright personnel guru and an up and coming assistant coach. How has that formula turned out for the green bay packers? Ted thompson and mike mcCarthy were both under the radar guys who have teamed up to build the packers back into a contender. Thats the formula the falcons should use, instead of chasing some pollyanna from the college coaching ranks!

By Obama

January 10, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this

THIS JUST IN: ESPN IS REPORTING THAT BELICHICK IS INTERESTED IN THE FALCONS’ JOB. APPARENTLY, HE’S MET ALL HIS GOALS WITH THE PATS, SEEKS A NEW CHALLENGE, HAS A HOME IN THE SOUTH, ETC. If the Falcons can’t get Carroll, they should go for Belichick.

By ga_tech_92

January 10, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this

Question to all those who are criticizing the Falcons for (allegedly) talking to Carroll:

You say no more College guys… You say no more retreads… You say you want a proven NFL HC/GM…

Who would fit this description? Do not name assistants, as they are not proven HC or GM, thus they are not viable choices based on what people keep saying.

Who then, should the Falcons talk to, who meet the ‘requirements’ of the wise masses?

By mcdawg

January 10, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this

Carroll is a defensive guy-D is how you rebuild a team in the NFL

By joe t

January 10, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this

i am telling you right now, Blank is setting this thing up to be like Philadelphia! Tom E. is the general manager there and sounds like he would be the front runner for the Falcons. As good as a general manager as he is, Andy Reid still has final say-so on the personnel. This is the same thing Blank is doing here. He will still hire a GM even if he hires Pete Carrol. Watch and See!!

By Space Mountain

January 10, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this

I dont recall any NFL team that Pete Carroll was the head coach of having any real kind of identity. I mean no dominating defense or high powered offense. He reminds me a lot of Mora jr. I dont know guys somewhere sometime this franchise has to get it together.My gosh 40+ years and they have never had back to back winning seasons. I have been a fan for over 20 years. I’m getting tired of waiting on them to finally turn the corner. Its the same thing over and over. One good year followed by several bad ones. This last year has honestly been the worst I have seen so far. I wonder if they are even capable of getting it right. Their track record does not provide any hope.

By Matt the Brave

January 10, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this

Bold predictions:

1) Rich McKay stays one more season to make sure that he is acquitted of all blame in personnel moves by the new GM.

2) Falcons draft some unknown WR in the first round of the draft instead of a QB, RB, CB, or any other specific skill position that we don’t have enough of.

3) The Falcons don’t get Pete Carroll. He doesn’t even meet with them other than a phone interview so that he can still be known as the person who listens to ever offer.

4) The Falcons continue to stink.

By ga_tech_92

January 10, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this

long time falcon – since you called me an idiot right off directly, I’ll be so kind as to treat you with the Golden Rule, you freaking imbecile. My point was the masses in general for ATL want everything and nothing at once, thus cannot be pleased. Most folks say: no retreads, get an experienced HC, no college guys, etc…to meet all these requirements means you cannot hire an assistant without getting the wrath of the masses who demanded something we cannot have. My point, dumbarss was philosophical. Blank cannot ever hope to please the masses, because they want something that cannot be. Thus…the masses are the curse of the falcons, because they have an expectation that cannot be provided, thus Blank cannot succeed in accommodating it. Do I think an assistant coach, who’s personnel have be proven to DOMINATE over a long time is a great idea, SURE! Do I think Carroll might be good, SURE. My point is….the clear cut winners of the world “Parcells, etc” do not want to be here and the sooner the ‘fan base’ realizes we are not going to have a proven guy, who isn’t a retread, or being promoted up from an assistant, or from college…the better. Oh, and as boring as it would be…tell me what would happen if we committed to drafting the most dominate Oline in the NFL for the next few years, instead of going for the flash guys…it couldn’t’ hurt…but it will never happen…thus…we will get some QB…who will get killed on the field…thus will ‘look bad’ and be run out of town by the media…and the cycle continues. Thanks for listening to this philosophical rant.

By ga_tech_92

January 10, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this

History shows us one thing, that somehow the Falcons will made a bad choice. Unfortunately for us, they have very important ones at hand: GM, HC and the draft…opps…they might do it again…

I guess I’m the only one, btw, who thinks we should focus on the line of scrimmage for a year or two before we move back towards the skill positions. sigh

By Space Mountain

January 10, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this

Different owner. Different GM’s. Different coaches. Different players. Different schemes. Different stadium. Same old Falcons. The more things change the more they stay the same.

By jsmith770

January 10, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this

My concern is not so much Pete Carroll as a leader of a football team because he has proven he is a leader and that he can develop players but what the Falcons don’t need are college defensive and offensive coordinators and postion coaches. HELLO this is the NFL the college game is so different compared to the NFL and lets not forget, Carroll coached in the PAC-10 for christ sake…people already argue they shouldnt be ranked as high for being in a weak conference and now Blank wants to consider him as a head coach. It appears Blank is looking for a gimic to raise interest back to the Falcons.

Look at this, there is no Vick not superstar player so what better way to cause excitement than to hire a coach everyone will talk about. Hell if your going to pursue a college coach go to a hard division ie..SEC, He!! Les Miles or Mark Richt would make more sense but I say boycott college coaches by all means. Atlanta needs coaches that have NFL game experience as well as NFL personality experience. Blank dont listen to everyone, if you dont trust Mckay with personnel choices why are you letting him help you find a coach and GM. If i had to find someone to replace me at my job guess what I would half a$$ care because I might just be a little oh…BITTER!! Whats more important a little nice guy coach that players are all cool with that leads to team to 8-8 or a coach who can communicate with players but still gets in their rears when he needs to that will lead the team to 12-4…you tell me

By scribe

January 10, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this

In the words of Rick Pitino, “Pete Carroll isn’t walking through that door.”

By Singletary

January 10, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this

This is a feint. He either wants the Redskins or Ravens job, or he’s testing the market.

I’d think it safe to hire Shottenheimer or Cowher and give them total control than someone fresh out of the college ranks (even tho he does have NFL exp.)

By johnny

January 10, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this

The Falcons don’t need a coach they need A RINGMASTER>>>>They are Clowns and Bank is the TOP>>>They

By Shamus Thacker

January 10, 2008 2:06 PM | Link to this

I used to think Rankin Smith was the worst/dumbest owner in the history of pro sports.

Compared to Arthur, Rankin was Robert F’n Kraft!!

By John Zook

January 10, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this

Lord have mercy, you could place this column in suspended animation, thaw it out in a couple hundred years and simply change the names, they are, they always have been, they always will be THE FALCONS!!! They will never, ever make the right decision. Other than the Twilight Zone episode when they somehow ended up in the Super Bowl, (wait, did that really happen?) what have they ever done right? Exactly.

By Neckville rednecks

January 10, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this

This is the Falcons and this is Georgia but change is on the way.

Winning is the key. Take a look at the old Birds before and after.

When you burn something come back greener and the Falcons have been burned. It is our time. Even in Georgia where rednecks views is King , some will change and that is key!

By Sportschick317

January 10, 2008 2:48 PM | Link to this

There’s no beach here. He’s not trading the sunshine, the beach, and the adulation of Hollywood for the ATL. No way. So says an L.A. native. Ain’t no way.

By Barry

January 10, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this

Hey Y’all:

If there is a reason why the top choices that Blank considered opted out are a number of reasons. First, I believe that many around the leaugue may believe that Arthur Blank is an owner that does not allow his coaches to caoach. As Petrino says, he meddles in the coaches affairs in dealing directly with the players. I believe owners should be distant from the players and coaches. He should let the coaches handle the players. He should just be a silent observer of field operations until he is needed and/or requested by the GM and/or the head coach. The head coach needs only the financial resources the coach need to purchase quality players to implement his plan.
Many owners do not know anything about running plays and dealing with players, especially at the professional level. Heck, many of them never played football in their life. Therefore, believe they need to leave playing the game of football to football minds. Second, I believe the word is out that the Atlanta footbal market consist of a lot of fare weather media folks who make every effort to thwart anything atlant sports teams do. They do naot stand behind the local teams. In addition, they try to convince local fans to be against and not support their local teams. No matter who is selected as GM and/or coach, watch the negative articles that will be written agaist that coach and/or GM. This is a small town city with small town media folks and fans. They like to sit on the porch and look for gossip. If nothing is there, they make it up: on the negative side of course. Things will not change in this regard until we get a local media outlet that are about unifying local fans with their teams. Currently, this is not happening in Atlanta. And this will drive coaches and general managers who like winning programs from even thinking about coming to Atlanta. When this problem is addressed, and I think it will not, we will always be a small town, small thinking sports town.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!! This is a SECRET from a FAN who want Atlanta sports to be BIG TIME!!!!! TELL EVERYBODY!!!!

Ringold

By Barry

January 10, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this

Hey Y’all:

If there is a reason why the top choices that Blank considered opted out are a number of reasons. First, I believe that many around the leaugue may believe that Arthur Blank is an owner that does not allow his coaches to caoach. As Petrino says, he meddles in the coaches affairs in dealing directly with the players. I believe owners should be distant from the players and coaches. He should let the coaches handle the players. He should just be a silent observer of field operations until he is needed and/or requested by the GM and/or the head coach. The head coach needs only the financial resources the coach need to purchase quality players to implement his plan.
Many owners do not know anything about running plays and dealing with players, especially at the professional level. Heck, many of them never played football in their life. Therefore, believe they need to leave playing the game of football to football minds. Second, I believe the word is out that the Atlanta footbal market consist of a lot of fare weather media folks who make every effort to thwart anything atlant sports teams do. They do naot stand behind the local teams. In addition, they try to convince local fans to be against and not support their local teams. No matter who is selected as GM and/or coach, watch the negative articles that will be written agaist that coach and/or GM. This is a small town city with small town media folks and fans. They like to sit on the porch and look for gossip. If nothing is there, they make it up: on the negative side of course. Things will not change in this regard until we get a local media outlet that are about unifying local fans with their teams. Currently, this is not happening in Atlanta. And this will drive coaches and general managers who like winning programs from even thinking about coming to Atlanta. When this problem is addressed, and I think it will not, we will always be a small town, small thinking sports town.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!! This is a SECRET from a FAN who want Atlanta sports to be BIG TIME!!!!! TELL EVERYBODY!!!!

Ringold

By Steve

January 10, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this

Get over it “necks”. Carrol would be the best thing to ever happen to the Falcons. You guys just want another “Southern Son” to come and coach your team. What’s up, are you afraid that Carrol may bring the “West Coast” offense with him?

By Yea, its personal!

January 10, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this

What needs to happen is this franchise needs to be taken away from this sorry excuse of a community leader that is Art Blank. I say this because of the shame this franchise has brought upon the ATL/GA/Southern football-loving community as a whole under his “stewardship”.

He has no business owning this team - it belongs in the hands of a real Southern owner(s) or possibly the ATL/GA community (like Green Bay). Per some reports, he has doubled the money he paid for the team (off of a very dissappointed fan base) with broken promises (I will build a winner as long as you keep paying more & more for it), condoning bad behavior (why did he not fine/bench MeHa21 for his childish actions in the TB game?) and ridiculous decisions (does anyone remember the anchor that is MV7’s contract). He is a community-raping, carpetbagger extraordinare.

Further, he cannot/won’t admit he has continually been hoodwinked by that dumbass McKay (and others) because he is too arrogant - but for no good reason. I knew this jerk when he first came here to ATL (he was poor then, but still arrogant) and he was nothing but Bernie Marcus’s boy and hatchet man. This guy wasn’t the brains of HD. Hell, they fired his sorry a*. He can’t think his way outta a wet paper bag. Why do you think he is surrounding himself with his posse of advisors - because he is numbskull stupid and only knows how to sell nails to a carpenter (which ain’t tough).

People of ATL, fans of the Falcons - please get a clue, finally. Hell, Jane Fonda could do a better job. She would at least look better on the sidelines than that Sad Sack, Snidley Whiplash-looking Blank.

The math is simple to taking this franchise back. There are estimates that the team is worth twice the $355M Blank paid for it. Given the mess he has made of it, I wish some gruop of SMART Southerners make him an offer of $450M and buy him a house in CA to send him back from where he came. I’ve got plenty of time not to love (reverse of the ATL motto) - with what this jerk has done to OUR TEAM. Yea, its personal!

By T Carroll

January 10, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this

Dear Mr Blank, please do the right thing and hire Chan Gailey. He is a great coach and super person. Finally he fits the Atlanta market.

By GT81

January 10, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this

I don’t think Carroll would be a good match. He’s a rah rah Socal guy. I’d say the only coach these prima donna pros will respect is one who walks into the room with a ring on his finger and says, “Gentlemen, this is a Super Bowl ring.”

Barring that, maybe Blank can coach the team himself like Turner did with the Braves. Then, when MV7 is released maybe he can be a player/coach.

By rlinaug

January 10, 2008 3:35 PM | Link to this

Blank should talk with Brian Billick for the head coaching job.

By long time falcon

January 10, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this

Ga tech 82, a couple of blogs ago I suggested that the falcons hire gene smith of the Jaguars as GM. He has built a good team down in Jacksonville that features a great running game and mammoth defensive line that is very physical. Apparently, you and I have the exact same philosophy when it comes to how we want this team built. The Jaguars are built from the inside out, which emphasizes both lines of scrimmage. Smith is exactly the kind of under the radar canidate Blank should be looking to hire. One AFC official was quoted as saying that the Jaguars had probably the best depth of any team in the league right now. No prima-donnas on that squad, just solid football players. Right now I am actually more concerned with getting the right architect to build this team than I am the coach.

By Jock Itch

January 10, 2008 4:29 PM | Link to this

Time to think outside the home depot box and look at other sports coaches….how ‘bout Pat Summit or Suzanne Yucolan..give a woman a chance

By Dave

January 10, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this

Carroll is not interested in this job. Please no assistants or any others that require training wheels. The best coach the Falcons have had was Dan Reeves and he knew what he was doing BFORE he got here. Two names, Billick and Shottenheimer. Anbody else is a gamble.

By Wink from Lithonia

January 10, 2008 5:42 PM | Link to this

Somebody please check the board rooms at Flowery Branch! Has the Sprit Group taken residency there and brain washed Arthur Blanks. His the ghost of the Smith family lurking in the hallways…if so send Van Brocklin to exercise his a$$.

By blue

January 10, 2008 5:56 PM | Link to this

To all you Dumba$$ who think NFL coaches are the only why to go think about this the Falcons have had 13 head coaches with NFL experience and they have all sucked. Coaches dont win players do the falcons have no talent. Every coach in the NFL has had jobs and got fired for not winning Ask washington about hiring a 3 time superbowl coach and him unable to win.

By blue

January 10, 2008 5:56 PM | Link to this

To all you Dumba$$ who think NFL coaches are the only why to go think about this the Falcons have had 13 head coaches with NFL experience and they have all sucked. Coaches dont win players do the falcons have no talent. Every coach in the NFL has had jobs and got fired for not winning Ask washington about hiring a 3 time superbowl coach and him unable to win.

By Bk Hawk

January 10, 2008 7:01 PM | Link to this

* Hire T. Dimitroff, Reggie McKenzie ,are Heckert as GM and let GM hire the Coach. Why interview for Head Coach if GM is going to do hiring? Something stinks here….Please say no to Corroll.*

By Bo

January 10, 2008 7:18 PM | Link to this

Can’t blame Chris Mara who withdrew his name for GM. Why interview with all the Carroll sh!!. and Blanks and McKay running around country like kids playing. What a JOKE.

By morris

January 10, 2008 9:09 PM | Link to this

Mara withdrew his name because he was not going to be considered for the position after his intial interview. I guess it was his way of saving face. He can’t even get a prominent job with the giants and his family has owned and ran that team for 80 years. If his own brother wouldn’t hire him to be the giants GM last year then why should the falcons? According to pro football talk, heckert and dimitroff are the two finalist for the job.

By Getaway

January 11, 2008 7:30 AM | Link to this

I’ve learned one thing from reading the opinions of AJC sportswriters and their critics here.

No one wants ANY coach that is willing to work for the Falcons.

I think if Pete Carroll had expressed interest in this job last year 90% of us would have been pretty excited. I think it’s interesting that people here are so vehemently angry that Blank would even interview one of the most successful college HC of this decade. Particularly when Blank continues to interview other qualified canidates.

Personally, I don’t care that this process is dragging out. Some of the BEST canidates are on teams that are still playing.

By hallcountyobserver

January 11, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this

it is not so much as carroll seems an odd match, the even stranger match is the falcons and arthur blank. i had thought for so many years that blank had to be such a smart person to do what he did in businness but maybe it was all bernie marcus. what in the hell is blank doing? blank says, we want a gm no we want a coach no we want a gm/coach combo no we dont know what we want. bill parcells took about two days to hire a gm in miami. what is wrong with blank. why dont we try to trade blank and a whale to be named later to the aquarium for bernie marcus and some common sense.

By sports report

January 11, 2008 9:46 AM | Link to this

Is something going on between Blank and McKay? You see one, you see both. What does McKay have on Blank?

By Curious George

January 11, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this

Does Arthur Blank pleasure himself to photos of Jerry Jones and George Steinbrenner?

Why do you take such pleasure in ruining OUR local NFL franchise, Blank, you bagel-slurping carpetmuncher?

Why Don’t You Just Go Back to Boston, Blank?

By Falcons Stink

January 11, 2008 10:21 AM | Link to this

Don’t worry Atlanta, scuse me, thug-ville, the Falcons will draft the latest college embarrassment D. McFadden, scuse me, D. McThug, in the first round. he’ll be in jail or out of the league by year 3. The coach and GM will be what you wish for, someone tha tKing Artie will use to sell you morons tickets and bring you back to that hole you call the dome, and all will remain the same - In Loserville! Webster’s definition for a Falcons Fan: Cluess, brainless, moron, imbecile, thug!

By willdave

January 11, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this

Mark Bradley, I just hope that Pete Carroll is not seriously considering the possibility of becoming the Falcons head coach. When you consider what a poor job Punky Petrino did for them before he just walked away with three games left in his first season, I don’t see how Arthur Blank could even think about hiring another college coach to take over his team. And, as you have pointed out, the college coach he is considering has already demonstrated that he cannot coach successfully in the NFL. I’m really beginning to wonder if Mr. Blank has even the slightest idea as to how to run this extremely inept NFL franchise successfully.

By Rick Lodewell

January 11, 2008 10:41 AM | Link to this

Hey, if you want an incompetent coach, hire me! I’ll work cheap.

By gg

January 11, 2008 2:48 PM | Link to this

Remember when everyone was praying Arthur Blank would buy the Braves? God was definitely watching out for us when He didn’t answer that one!

By Realistic Ricky

January 11, 2008 5:31 PM | Link to this

I think the Falcons are becoming the NFL’s version of the University of Arkansas … every GM or coaching candidate looking for a raise or a better job is using Blank’s sense of urgency to improve their own situation. I do not believe 75% of these so called “candidates” are truly interested in either of the Falcons’ positions, particularly with the Redskins and Ravens jobs now being open. Somebody needs to tell Arthur to slow down and give himself a chance to GET IT RIGHT this time.

By Big Dawg

January 11, 2008 8:19 PM | Link to this

* Hire Pioli and let him hire and fire Head Coach and run the team. You want a winner then give Pioli the power to run the show and set back and watch.*