AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2008 > January > 17 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBlank searching for his Handy Dan
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
As the Falcons apparently close in on a new head coach - I say “apparently” because with this club we can never be sure of anything - I feel obliged to say a few words about the Falcons’ next-to-next-to-last head coach. Revisionist history holds that Arthur Blank’s biggest mistake was firing Dan Reeves. As with most revisionist history, this is incorrect.
Dan Reeves did the greatest coaching job in team history - heck, maybe in the history of football - in leading the 1998 Falcons to the Super Bowl. But even with that giddy season factored in, he still had a losing record in seven seasons here. Dating from the end of his tenure with the Giants, Reeves posted winning records only twice in his final nine years as an NFL coach.
We remember him - actually, we remember Michael Vick - winning that famous playoff game in Lambeau Field in January 2003, but we forget that those Falcons lost three of their final four regular-season games and backed into the playoffs. Had they not qualified for the postseason, Blank might well have fired Reeves then. Blank had taken ownership in February 2002 and, out of respect and fairness, had kept the incumbent in place. But any owner wants his own man, and it soon became clear that Reeves, for all his experience and expertise, wasn’t a man after Blank’s corporate heart.
Blank believes a business should be inclusive. (“Listen to your employees” is a Blank tenet.) Reeves didn’t much care what anybody in human resources thought. He wanted to coach the Falcons in 2003 the way his mentor Tom Landry had run the Cowboys in the 1960s.
Yes, it was unlucky that Vick broke his leg in the 2003 preseason, but the way that team splintered told Blank he needed a new coach with newer ideas. (It’s also a truism that, once players start believing their coach is in peril, they never view him the same way again.) As cold as it was then, as cold as it sounds now, Reeves needed to go.
And for those who insist Vick would have stuck to the straight and narrow had Reeves been there to guide him … there’s a grand jury indictment that suggests otherwise. According to the indictment, Vick bought the property at 1915 Moonlight Road two months after Reeves traded up to draft him, and in 2003, even as Vick was supposed to be rehabbing his broken leg, he was allegedly traveling out of state to attend dog fights.
Don’t get me wrong. I like Dan Reeves a lot. He’s a pro’s pro, and in his prime he was a coach’s coach. But he wasn’t the same coach in 2003 that he’d been in 1998, and local consensus - how conveniently we forget - when Blank did the deed was that the owner had done the right thing.
Firing Reeves wasn’t the mistake. The mistakes were in hiring two men who, for various reasons, weren’t long-term upgrades. Maybe this time Blank will get it right. Maybe Blank, who was himself fired by a home-improvement chain name Handy Dan, will finally find a handier Dan.
Permalink | Comments (124) | Post your comment | Categories: Mark Bradley, Quick Hit
Comments
By observer
January 17, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this
THANK YOU Mark Bradley!!
I get so tired of hearing the “biggest mistake” comment about Dan Reeves when at the time 90% of the fans agreeed with it! I love Dan too, but after only 2 winning seasons in his 7 years in Atlanta, nobody was crying in their beer to see him go. But now, all of a sudden, it was a catastrophe? C’mon…
By Herschel Talker
January 17, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this
Dead on, Mark. About time someone said it. I’m glad it wasn’t Terence the hack.
By Manny
January 17, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this
Why are the Falcons not interviewing Mike Singletary? Jason Garrett isn’t coming to the Falcons. Rumor has it that Jason is only going to Baltimore or staying with Dallas.
And Jim Caldwell has already took his name off the list.
So why not at least interview Mike Singletary? And if you want the fans to come back and sell out the Dome, then just put microphones in the room when Mike Singletary meets the team.
But I know since all the football decisions have to go through Rich Mckay, the president and “real” GM, I know that he will only approve those who will play ball with his political games.
By Wrong again
January 17, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this
Dan Reeves did more with Vick than anyone else. His use of play action took full advantage of all of Michael’s skills.
Blank buying the Falcons was the biggest mistake in franchise history. Discuss.
By Realist
January 17, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this
Consensus, consensus?…and the Consensus was we had done the right thing invading Iraq. Consensus. Firing Dan Reeves was nothing more than an ego clash where the nouveau owner had to show who was boss. The honeymoon is over Mr. Hi I’m Arthur Blank.
Arthur Blank should be held accountable for his mistakes and misguided personnel hirings and firings, the combination of which can only be rivaled by the Clippers and AZ Cardinals. And by the way Mr Blank, maybe use your HD talents to remove the dome roof and plant some real grass…indoor football, another travesty, but a subject for another day.
By KneeJerk
January 17, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this
I hope we don’t get Garrett. He’s onlybeen coaching for 3 years. We need a sure thing with this hire, and he ain’t it.He’s the hot name in the media, but that wears off quickly.
By ndadome
January 17, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this
You are, of course, entitled to your opinion. However, Dan Reeves was not just the coach in 1998, he also was the one “buying the groceries”, to borrow from the Tuna. One of the first things Blank did was to take that away and draft by committee. Factor in the owner’s meddling in personnel affairs and the decline began. So, Blank’s first mistake was not in firing Dan Reeves, but in stripping him of final say in personnel matters. Of course, that’s just my opinion, and nobody much cares what I think. After all, I’m just a season ticket holder since 1968. My opinion doesn’t count, just my money. In the future, maybe I’ll just keep both to myself.
By long time falcon
January 17, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this
I actually believe that reeves was still a good coach but a horrible GM. If he would have checked his ego at the door and hired himself a competent right hand mand to run the personnel department he would have been o.k. Look how well that has worked in New England with belicheck and pioli. But Reeves was a control freak who wanted his hand in everything and that led to his doom. I don’t care how great of a coach someone is if they don’t get the right players there screwed. Thats exactly what happened to the falcons under reeves. If you don’t believe me just go back and do some draft research during reeves tenure. Bad players equals bad results and that is not revisionist history!
By BUSHWACKER
January 17, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
wrong wrong wrong.
It was Vick we needed to get rid of not Reeves.
The team finished 7-9 winnng 7 of the last 10 games AFTER AN 0-6 START.
THEY WON THOSE 7 GAMES BECAUSE THEY HAD PLAYERS WITH CHARACTER AND GUTS WHO WANTED TO WIN FOR COACH REEVES.
I know alot of IDIOTS were screaming to fire him back then, I was not one of them.
You see, Coach Reeves is classy football man that the 98 team wanted to win for.
Like I said yesterday, with todays gutless athletes it does not matter who the coach is, as soon as they have adversity, rather than rallying behind a great coach like the 97-98 team did, now they lay down and quit.
Until Balnk realizes that and gives the new coach the freedonm to dump punks like DHall its only going to be more of the same!!!
Go ask Jamal Anderson and Biscuit and Chris Chandler about the 97 season, they NEVER QUIT BECAUSE THEY DID NOT WANT TO DISAPPOINT THEIR COACH, THEY WANTED TO WIN FOR HIM!!!!
By neckville rednecks
January 17, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this
Reeves was the best thing Atlanta Falcons Have ever Had. He Knew how to use Vick and vick played well. All Atlanta need was a offense line just like now. Now We need a Defense and some offense lineman bar none! Reeves played the game and knew what it took to win. Now we have a new Gm and It look like he is going to hire another daddy boy for a coach if he does he is clueless. All the players that have played the game and none fit the bill to lead this team says our management team. All Blank seem to look at is Daddy boys that never played the game . So far we are 0 and 2. Blank is a good man but he is lead a stray on how to pick a pro coach. Mike Singletary is a leader and has play the game But here we go with another Daddy boy for coach!
By scribe
January 17, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this
Bill Cowher ain’t walking through that door, Bill Parcells ain’t walking through that door and Jason Garrett ain’t walking through that door to revise an old line from Rick Pitino when discussing the celtics….
By observer
January 17, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this
Late in his last season, Dan Reeves kicked a 4th quarter field goal in the red zone in a game he was down 21+ points. Now who quit on who?
By Chris
January 17, 2008 10:19 AM | Link to this
Now just how in the hell do you inject Iraq into a discussion about Dan Reeves? Go water a ficus or something, Realist. Or maybe you can solve global warming for all of us. It sucked when I had snow all over my car this morning.
By BUSHWACKER
January 17, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this
OBSERVER you do know Coach Reeves did not coach the last 4 games that year, so what do you call late in the season, or was it Wade Phillips that kicked the FG?
By observer
January 17, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this
OK, scratch that - only down 20 points, not 21+, and they were on the 11-yd line with 3:46 to play. Just to clarify.
By Underdog
January 17, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this
So when he kicked the field goal the Falcons covered by 1?
By Realist
January 17, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this
Just remarking how the Consensus is generally never right Chris. Maybe switch to decaf tomorrow.
By Otis R
January 17, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this
I don’t agree with this thing of firing Reeves. Atlanta has had three great coaches and dumped on all of them. Norm Van Brocklin had a ‘my way or the hiway’ attitude which the Smiths could not tolerate. Leeman Bennett built a great team but was released when he became more popular than Smith family. Reeves took a medocre team he inherited to the super bowl and a MV-7 team to the playoffs. Blank could not stand having someone who disiplined his new pet QB and would not put up with his meddling with the team.
By observer
January 17, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this
Turns out it was week 4 against the Panthers, not late in the season. Geez, I’m losing my mind!
Either way, he lost his mind in not even giving his team a chance that day, and everyone was pretty much ticked off about it afterwards, saying he’d lost it. But those are things that folks nowadays are conveniently forgetting happened.
By long time falcon
January 17, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this
ndadome, I respect the fact that you’re a long time season ticket holder. However, you need to do some research on Reeves draft picks prior to blank buying the team. In his first draft in 1997 he drafted michael “toast” booker in round 1 and nathan ” quit the team in training camp” davis in the second round. That was the beginnig of the demise of the falcons roster under reeves. And don’t get me started on the infamous reggie kelly draft day trade. Reeves traded our #1 pick to move up to draft kelly in the second round. The next season that pick turned out to be #5 overall and the ravens selected jamal lewis. OUCH! BTW, that season jamal anderson tore his acl and the falcons could have recovered by drafting lewis for themselves. So essentially reeves traded a pro bowl running back (lewis) for a blocking tight end ( kelly). Reeves was a terrible Gm long before Blank came to atlanta and that is not revisionist history because you can goggle draft results and see it for yourself.
By oldmike
January 17, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this
I have to say that Blank is constantly being held accountable for ALL his mistakes. Witness the growing legion of empty seats in the Dome. At whatever each of those seats generate per game the team is truly suffering in the cash flow side of the business. And that is what makes the engine go. Or sputter as the case may be.
By B
January 17, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this
Jason Garrett would come to Falcons for right offer. Please say no to Mark S.! Reeves would have won alot more if not for the Smiths and Blank. I’m not crazy about Ryan. What about Smith from Jax? Mark everyone has a opinion on Reeves, he is old school and thats what I like about him. He’s a great person and friend.
By Realist
January 17, 2008 10:41 AM | Link to this
Otis Could not agree more my man.
By D_Costa
January 17, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this
I believe Blanks biggest mistake was placing too much trust and viability of his team into one player. The Falcons were a one-man show while teams like the Pats and Colts were a full course meal. You had a strong OL, QB and RB on all 3 of those teams. The Falcons did not. I hope he has learned from his mistakes and the new GM hopefully has the ability to put together a more complete roster as well and not having a mere superstar on offense and one on defense. You need a superstar at every level of your team, not just at QB and LB.
By Chris
January 17, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this
People will find any excuse they can to inject their political beliefs into a totally non-related discussion.
And the joke’s on you, buddy. I don’t even drink coffee. But I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
By Realist
January 17, 2008 10:46 AM | Link to this
Longtime Falconfan Correct, but he also got Brooking and traded for Vick, which at the time was the single greatest move the Falcons have ever made. Certainly, drafting was not a strength of the Reeves regime, but hiring wunderkind McKay was not the answer either…if fact it would be nice to see the Reeves drafts and McKay drafts side by side…I don’t think it’s going out on a long limb to say McKays’ are no better.
By Realist
January 17, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this
Maybe next year OldMike, but most all tickets had been sold this year. The no-shows were already -$100+
By Bk Hawk
January 17, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this
Jason Garrett has just turn down the Falcons.. Now wait till after Giants loss or win it all to get Steve Spagnuolo. Just say no to Ryan ad Mark.
By Bk Hawk
January 17, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this
Jason Garrett has just turn down the Falcons.. Now wait till after Giants lose or win it all to get Steve Spagnuolo. Just say no to Ryan ad Mark.
By dewitt
January 17, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this
Mark, I disagree. I said then that the Falcons were making a mistake firing Dan Reeves. He brought stability to the Falcons, and he did have the player’s respect. He probably should have turned the GM position over to someone that he could rely on, but he didn’t. That was his mistake. It is difficult to battle contracts with a player and then direct them. The falcons need to hire another experienced guy like Reeves. That type of coach will not be intimidated by an experienced offensive and defensive coordinator. For instance, Dan hired Rich Brooks and then Wade Phillips as his defensive coordinator. A new coach like Garrett will not hire such experience with fear of being intimidated. He will hire an inexperienced guy for sure. That’s when the problems will arise and confidence from the players will come. Sorry that Im not my usual positive self, but I feel that way about this. Thanks
By kgod999
January 17, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this
JUST THE FACT YOU STARTED THIS COLUMN, LETS US KNOW YOU KNOW THAT FIRING REEVES WAS A MISTAKE.
By Najeh Davenpoop
January 17, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this
About damn time someone wrote this article. Lord knows it wasn’t going to be Jeff Schultz. Reeves only looks good now because he was followed by Jim Moron and Traitor McGee.
By Realist
January 17, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this
Just talking about Consensus Chris…not politix, but I don’t blame you for feeling crabby for being part of the lemming herd that bought into W. …or maybe it’s just your $200 mattress at HI Ex.
By Steve Richards
January 17, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this
Why do so many people think that Singletary is the answer? I respect the man, but he has only been a coach for three years, and I don’t see the 49ers doing anything great.
By Barry
January 17, 2008 11:12 AM | Link to this
Hey Y’all;
They should have made Dan Reeves the GM when Blank initially bought the team. The tranisition and the stability in the franchis would have been maintained based upon what was trying to be established: TRADITION.
By Ryder
January 17, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this
I, for one, am SO happy that Garrett is not coming to Atlanta. He is exactly what this team does NOT need, a “hot” coordinator who only succeeded with the talent around him. Funny, but what happened to his great offensive play calling when the Giants punched the ‘boys in the mouth last Sunday? If Miami was so enamored with him why didn’t they try to make him coach last year?
I know that Rex Ryan might be the next available option, he won’t be too bad since he is a defensive first guy. I still think at this juncture Singletary is the way to go.
Did you all hear the joke that the Redskins might actually hire Jim Mora Jr.? Oh that’s not a joke? All I can say is I live in DC and if they do hire him, the ‘Skins fans will crucify him. If the thought the people in Atlanta were bad, he hasn’t seen anything yet!
By Chris
January 17, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this
Well, sir, the current “consensus” is that invading Iraq was the wrong thing to do…So I guess when we did it it was a bad idea, but now it turns out it was the right thing to do. If you go by “consensus,” that is.
By Godsend
January 17, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this
Rumor has it around flowery branch that Arthur is making a visit to Athens later today to meet with Coach Richt! He would make a terrific NFL coach!
By BUSHWACKER
January 17, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this
Another no name turned us down.
Way to go Blank, you turned this franchise into soemthing worse than when the Clampetts owned it, PATHETIC!!!
If you are a smart man, “which is really in question now” you will go get June Jones “brilliant offensive mind” and Jerry Glanville, a defensive coach players love to play for!!!
By toshie
January 17, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this
Why are we discussing Dan Reeves? He never won a Superbowl in Denver or Atlanta. I am a woman and I could tell you what play we were going to run next when he was here. Without Vick when Reeves was here we would have been 0-16.
By BUSHWACKER
January 17, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this
Did Garrret turn them down or did DHall say he did not like him BECUASE HE IS TOO SMART therefore Blank did offer him the job???
By BUSHWACKER
January 17, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this
Did Garrret turn them down or did DHall say he did not like him BECUASE HE IS TOO SMART therefore Blank did offer him the job???
By Spinx
January 17, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this
This is opinion piece is so off, Reeves had to use the Smith’s money to build a team (that he took to SuperBowl), then design a very limited offense to ensure the new running QB could run it and still made history by beating Green Bay in Green Bay. How good have they been since he left? What’s changed beside payroll increase, not results or back to back winning seasons. We’d be lucky to have Reeves still there.
By BUSHWACKER
January 17, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this
Arthur, offer JIMMY JOHNSON $10 million a year to please come here and build a team that will kick the crap of Parcells and the Dolphins and Garret and the BOYS!
I think he’s up for the challenge!!!
By Realist
January 17, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this
Totally agree toshie T-566 days till Vick loses the “con” prefix off his last name. Then we can re-insert him into the offense and start winning …what do you think?
By jack Atlanta
January 17, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this
Well, pray tell!!! What right decision has Mr. Blank and his ‘mini me’ cohort Rich McKay made? Truth is, Dan Reeves DID TAKE THE TEAM TO THE SUPER BOWL! Who else has done that during the franchise?? Blank and McKay put all, repeat ALL, of
By RG
January 17, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this
The Falcons have only had two good coaches: Leeman Bennett and Dan Reeves. Both were disrespected and fired by ownership for insane reasons. Reeves took the Falcons to the SUPER BOWL for crying out loud. That alone should have given him the job for his natural life. Yes he did have several losing seasons but two of those were due to devastating injuries to Jamal Anderson and Michael Vick. Reeves was a harda$$ and Vick would have gotten straightened out or at least held in check. A guy like Mora with his need to befriend players only fostered that kind of behavior.
By Manny
January 17, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this
So, now that it is official that Jason Garrett turned down the Falcons, we are left with only Rex Ryan. He’s the only survivor left!
This is getting increasingly ridiculous! The Dolphins went out and got Tony Sparano and he’s now the coach. Their search was pointed and concise. and they got their man.
The Falcons are talking to every coordinator from every team that made the playoffs this year and we still don’t have a head coach.
And we have a hall-of-famer with strong credentials and the ability to lead men on ANY field- football, Lacrosse, Battle~ but we’re not even talking to him… even though he said that he would LOVE to come and coach in Atlanta!
Who else is saying that? He WANT to come coach the Atlanta Falcons???
And who’s Rex Ryan? Rex Ryan is merely a Jim Mora retread: the son of a legendary coach with Defensive Coordinator experience. He’s the D-coordinator for Baltimore, but he’s consistently overruled on the field by Ray Lewis, who the defacto Defensive coordinator. Ray Lewis changes the play as he calls them out. It was even on NFL Replay.
So this guy is supposed to be our best head coaching candidate? Quit playing politics, interview Mike Singletary and at least give him a chance.
By mountain jim
January 17, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this
Good column Mark. I agree.
You folks who think Reeves was a good drafter are wrong. McKay’s drafts, while only decent, shine in comparison to Reeves picks. However McKay lost his right-hand talent-judger when Seattle hired him away as their GM. Now that loss is finally replaced.
Reeves did use Vick a lot better than Knapp, and if Mora had been willing to get rid of his poor choices at OC and DC, he might have lasted another year.
For choosing Quitrino, McKay deserves his loss of Football-decision power. Well that and his horrid waste of free-agent dollars and cap space.
By BUSHWACKER
January 17, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this
toshie, take your but pregnant butt back to the kitchen and cook my dinner you idiot.
Dan Reeves took this team to its only super bowl, thanks to that piece of crap Vick, now we are in the toilet bowl!
By michaelgee
January 17, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this
oh please, why keep bringing this up? The new GM is NOT listenuing to the ajc’s whining.
Get over yourself ajc…do you ajc guys just rotate these same storeis over and over, what a joke.
If I want to see something new and fresh, I have to look elsewhere. Dimitroff must be amused by your persistant LIVING IN THE PAST mentality at ajc.
The GM and other new changes are all about ASCENDING, not REVERTING to past dysfunctionality.
I guess the Terence Mathis story will be next, AGAIN? ajc is an echo chamber of confused ramblings. Please hire some new writers.
By sports report
January 17, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this
Never happen REALIST..What did we win with Vick..after Reeves…He’s 80% for the fall of team. Get real!
By mountain jim
January 17, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this
having now read all the opinions in this thread, long time falcon is the most accurate, imho. Reeves drafts sucked overall, and he was a control freak. If he had allowed someone else to GM and just coached, you folks who worship at his feet might have had a case. I have no problem with Arthur replacing him, but in hindsight Jim Mora was not the right replacement - that’s on Blank, and the scumbag Quitrino is on McKay, who had plenty of history from that coach and should have known better.
By James McLaughlin
January 17, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this
Reality check on Reeves and his losing teams the last few years with the Giants and Falcons: His Quarterbacks were Danny Kannell and Doug Johnson. When he had Elway, Vick and Simms he won. Lombardi is not winning with Kannell and Johnson.
By michaelgee
January 17, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this
Reeves fed off Vick just like Mora Jr did.
Without Vick, Reeves could NOT win here.
Mark, you forgot that dog killer was all we had, bringing Reeves with this team would be a total disaster.
By Russ
January 17, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this
Why isn’t Russ Grimm being mentioned as a possible head coach? He was a pretty hot commodity for coaching vacancies the last couple of years and his O-line experience as a player and coach would seem to be a good fit for the Falcons. Sure, they have weaknesses all over the place, but the O-line is the most glaring.
By michaelgee
January 17, 2008 12:10 PM | Link to this
ATTENTION AJC WEB MASTER:
HOW MANY MONTHS HAS IT BEEN SINCE A SINGLE ONE OF YOUR POLLS HAS WORKED PROPERLY?
ON EVERY SINGLE POLL, AFTER YOU ENTER YOUR SELECTION, THE PAGES ERRORS OUT TO SOME UNRELATED ERROR PAGE.
THE SAME ERRORS HAPPEN WHEN YOU CLICK TO SEE THE POLL RESULTS.
SINCE AJC HAS NOW LINK TO REPORT ERORS, AFTER SEEING THESE ERRORS ON ALL OF THE AJC POLLS I AM FORCED TO WRITE THIS IN HERE TO GET SOMEBODY TO FIX THE LINK PROBLEMS ON YOUR WEBSITE.
I HOPE YOU SEE THIS AND CAN HIRE SOMEBODY WHO UNDERSTANDS HOW TO LINK WEB PAGES TO GO TO THE CORRECT PAGE.
THANK YOU
By Rock
January 17, 2008 12:10 PM | Link to this
We will never known where the Falcons would be if Dan Reeves was still the coach; however, one thing for sure, the organization and the team would not be a state chaos and no immediate solutions are in site.
Arthur Blank has hired an unproven GM and will probably hire unproven Head Coach. We are now to believe the team is headed in the right direction. The Team was headed in the right direction when Blank fire Reeves, hired McKay, Mora and biggest mistake in Falcon coaching history, Petrino. No matter how you look at it, the downward fall of the Falcon started with the departure of Dan Reeves. The firing of Reeves may go down as the second biggest mistake in Falcon history.
By Awesome
January 17, 2008 12:10 PM | Link to this
Mike Singletary! Mike Singletary! Mike Singletary! Why aren’t we talking to him! I’ve been screaming this ever since we hiered Petrino!
By david
January 17, 2008 12:11 PM | Link to this
ndadome: reeves did not “buy the groceries” for the Super Bowl team. That was only his second season. Reeves was no better at the draft than McKay. In fact, he was probably worse. The knock against Reeves going back to Denver, and clearly confirmed in New York, was that he was a good, solid coach, but one who struggled frequently at personnel evaluation.
By observer
January 17, 2008 12:11 PM | Link to this
And who do you suppose was the responsible party for having Kannell, Johnson and Kittner (don’t forget Kurt!) on the roster in the first place?
By Dean
January 17, 2008 12:13 PM | Link to this
Memory check: Reeves and Vick sparred over whether or not Vick was ready to return from his broken leg. Reeves’ fate was sealed.
By Josh
January 17, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this
Yeah, Garrett is no loss. Every year there’s a new crop of hot assistants. Look at last year with Grimm and Rivera. Those guys aren’t even mentioned now. Rivera still seems like a solid candidate to me… DC for a dominant unit in Chicago for several years, then goes to SD. Chicago is in the SB last year, SD in the AFCCG this year. Coincidence? Remember, he played on the ‘85 Bears too…
By sports report
January 17, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this
Steve Spagnuolo is the Man wait and get him. If Dimitroff gets Ryan everyone will know Blank is still calling the shots.
By True Falcons Fan
January 17, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this
Ok here we go again off topic. This is supposed to be about Dan Reeves and yes the players loved and respected him. That is what made a less-talented team make it to the Big Game.
At least we are getting crafty with our posts now and not downright into the “race” thing. But think…
Same person says, “No Jason Garrett because he has only been coaching 3 years and is only a hot coordinator right now. And then says it must be Singletary??? Hmmmmm let’s see. Coached about the same amount of time and is not a hot coordinator at all. Team is terrible. Both played a long time, both very respected players and I assume coaches, I know Garrett is. Why do you think this guy would say Singletary??? Again I say no place for this in Football.
By KC
January 17, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this
Hi Mark, I gotta disagree with you on this one… When I listen to Dan Reeves do color analysis for Westwood 1 radio games, it reminds me of just what a great person and football mind that he is. If Dan would have remained, we would be the perennial favorites in the sorry NFC South—for sure and not the butt of every “Who let the dogs out” joke variation. Additionally, Dan was a mentor to Mike Vick and I believe that he would have had a profound “fatherly” influence on him over the long haul.
By James McLaughlin
January 17, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this
Observer,
FYI:Kannell, Johnson, and Kittner were on the rosters as No. 2 and 3 quarterbacks, not the starters. Injuries forced these guys into starters. Any coach who is reduced to No. 2 and 3 as their starting QBs usually end up losing. Check the records, Reeves actually made the playoffs one year with Danny Kannell as the starter. Dan Reeves is a very good coach, so-so drafter.
By Bring him Back #7
January 17, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this
As a season ticket holder I say bring Vick Back. He is already paid for. And plus who is going to be up to speed at QB. I do say draft a 4th round QB in this draft. Redman is now the best of the three QB in camp. Shockley Need more time. We need a running back offense linemen and a middle line backer real bad in this draft. we will se if mr. snow board (GM) has the right stuff! Call Tony Dungy and ask him who he would get for a coach! Vick is the best talant and he is still on this team. Yes Vick mess up but he will be a lot more focus when he come back . Blank don’t be a fool , he and we need your help in 2009. The best Talant in the NFC south! Who is better you can get in the next 4 to 5 year who?
By C from Marietta
January 17, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this
Mark, your just a know it all sportswriter. You opinion means NOTHING. We all know, you and Terrance Moore root in secret against the Falcons and Braves. Why even bring up this OLD news. Just tell the truth. You are in high cotton, with the misery that is the Atlanta Falcons.
By UGA -Fool
January 17, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this
Bushwackher== Dumb as a BIG rock and very clueless he needs some pills! And he is not a season ticket holder!
By KneeJerk
January 17, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this
Probably Singletary over Garrett because this team desperately needs discipline and Singletary exudes toughness and discipline.
By True Falcons Fan
January 17, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this
Michaelgee
Check the roster of starters on the falcons superbowl team!!!!!!!!!!
Reeves didnt feed off Vick for anything. Vick wasn’t playing.
Do research before speaking.
By Thomas Davis
January 17, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this
King Arthur would not know a mistake if it hit him in the face.
By Awesome
January 17, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this
Hey TRUE FALCONS FAN! This is for you! Singletary actually played the game, and was a leader (Can you also say Hall of Fammer?). Garrett was a backup quarterback his entire career (Hardly saw the field). Look at San Fran’s defense. Look at their defensive players, and then look at their season avg. for rush defense, passing yards etc… Singletary also produced the defensive rookie of the year. San Fran’s defense actually wasn’t that bad, it was the offense that cost them the majority of their games.
By Awesome
January 17, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this
Hey TRUE FALCONS FAN! This is for you! Singletary actually played the game, and was a leader (Can you also say Hall of Famer?). Garrett was a backup quarterback his entire career (Hardly saw the field). Look at San Fran’s defense. Look at their defensive players, and then look at their season avg. for rush defense, passing yards etc… Singletary also produced the defensive rookie of the year. San Fran’s defense actually wasn’t that bad, it was the offense that cost them the majority of their games.
By mountain jim
January 17, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this
Head Coach is going to come from: Schwartz, the TN DC, McDaniels the New England OC, Spagnuolo, the Giants DC, or Ryan. 2 out of those 4 can’t be interviewed yet.
By Mr. Football
January 17, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this
The firing of Dan Reeves was not a mistake in my opinion. I still have flashbacks everytime we’re inside our own 10 yard line of the other team getting a safety. I have never seen one team give up that many safeties in a season.
The problem is, we have short memories and our brains automatically compare him to the last two head coaches. If you do that comparison he will absolutely come out on top.
By Realist
January 17, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this
Thomas Davis…I agree It used to be good to be the King now Hi I’m Arthur Blank is shooting blanks. T-566 days till we could take Vick back…does King Arthur have the cajones to do it?
By Say loud we want Vick Back
January 17, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this
T-566 till Vick Snow board man!
By KneeJerk
January 17, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this
STOP with the Josh McDaniels references. Even Greg Knapp would look like a genius with the talent they have on offense in New England.
By True Falcons Fan
January 17, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this
Awesome? Wow!
Cowboys Offense Points Per Game 2nd Yards Per Game 3rd Time On Field 12th Turnover Margin +5
49 ers Defense Yards Per Game 25th Time on Field - Dead Last (couldnt get the ball back) which is why Turnover Margin -12 (not aggressive) Plays from scrimmage 31 out of 32.
Really trying hard aren’t you. Be honest. I don’t like Garrett, don’t want him to be coach even if he didnt withdraw, he is too young in the field. So is Singletary. But the numbers speak for themselves on the coordinator thing. All I was saying is the real reason why that was brought up has no place in football.
By Brian
January 17, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this
Say what you will about Dan Reeves. All I know is the Falcons were a joke before he came here and pretty much have been since he was fired. At least he brought some much needed respectability to the organization.
By Charles
January 17, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this
I hear all of what you are saying but Dan Reeves has taken OUR TEAM (ATLANTA FALCONS) to the SUPER BOWL…Has any other coach done that. I think he should have been rewarded for that. General Manager perhaps. I agree it was time for a change but General Manager would have been the better move.
By Singletary
January 17, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this
Dear Awesome & Kneejerk — why * aren’t * we interviewing a HOF player and highly paid motivational speaker … who expressed interest AGAIN (post Vick incarceration) in coaching the the Atlanta Falcons?
This does not compute. If he gets an interview and then whatever decision-makers “go a different direction,” I will feel a lot better about the final selection.
If they don’t interview him at all, then the decision is suspect, period.
By dewitt
January 17, 2008 2:00 PM | Link to this
You dont judge a GM by draft picks. You never know what you are going to get. You judge a GM by his ability to get free agents from other teams. Look at New England. They went out and got Junior Seau(sp). Dan Reeves was good at that part of his duties. Rich McKay has failed to do that successfully. I hope the new GM is willing to mix the old with the new. Lot less risky than depending on the college draft. Dan built the Super Bowl team with free agents not drafts. Thanks
By Realist
January 17, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this
Rock steady dewitt, I’ll take proven talent over the Indy Combine numbers…just go get some bloody footballers that don’t have to be the center of attention…see Dhall.
By Darrin "The vent King"
January 17, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this
I believe most people that say firing Dan Reeves was a mistake were looking hindside to that situation after what occured the next few seasons. When they saw the WCO not working, Mora not working, McKay’s picks not working, it made Dan Reeves look great. Well what Mora and co. did NOT accomplish with the team would make anyone look good looking at it that way. Yes the team got to the NFC championship Mora’s 1st year, but that was mainly using the team Reeves built and the excitement of having Vick back that season and teams still in the dark about how to deal with him. Had Vick played in ‘03, they would have figured him out sooner. After the ‘04 season, they figured it out by using a spy on him and well, you saw what happened in ‘05-‘07. The main reason Vick flourished somewhat more under Reeves is because the NFL had never seen anyone like Vick and did not know how to counter him YET. Alot of folks say his passing numbers were better under Reeves, well duh, the system was different. In Mora’s system there was more planned running and dink and dunk passes with less skilled rcvrs than when Reeves employed his system. Reeves system allowed Vick to throw deep WAY more to BETTER rcvrs than the WCO hybrid dung he was playing under with, again, poorly skilled rcvrs when Mora was here. PLUS, alot of those passing numbers were yards after the catch by rcvrs who were better playmakers. Overall, Bradley you make a good case noting what happened to the team when Vick was hurt in ‘03 and the oft forgotten tale of how we slid backwards into the playoffs (like the Titans this year) losing three of four when us making the playoffs was in our own hands at the beginning of the 3 out 4 streak. When we had a chance to “make” our way in, Reeves couldn’t get the guys going and we ended up, by divine grace, getting lucky some other team let us slide in. Granted, the job done at Lambeau was good, but I still believe the Packers being befuddled with how to deal with # 7 had more to do with that and that day Vick was passing pretty well. Whenever vick was locked in like that, NO ONE in the league knew how to stop him. You back up to check the rcvrs, Vick ran on you underneath for 25 yards if not all the way. If you stacked the box or blitzed, he would throw it to the rcvrs he had back then that were WAY better playmakers than the rcvrs Rich McCr@p drafted. I still remember Reeves playcalling and the outcry over that very well from Falcon fans not to mention his highly annoying fetish for drafting tight ends every chance he got. For those same fans to claim firing Reeves was a mistake just shows the incredible shrinking attention span of the American football fan in today’s sports IMO.
By Najeh Davenpoop
January 17, 2008 2:48 PM | Link to this
Dan Reeves traded Jamal Lewis for Reggie Kelly.
As far as I’m concerned, that’s reason enough to fire him.
And that wasn’t even his worst personnel move.
He was a decent coach, nothing special, but decent. Certainly better than Mora and Petrino. He was also one of the worst personnel guys in the league.
Worth reminiscing over? Absolutely not.
By AlfredJenkinsJackson
January 17, 2008 2:59 PM | Link to this
Though it was under the previous ownership, this franchise still hasn’t recovered from firing Leeman Bennett. (And I don’t want to hear how he didn’t pan out in Tampa.) Go Falcons!
By GT
January 17, 2008 3:20 PM | Link to this
I think Blank should chill out. Maybe sit back and learn about the NFL a little before jumping into the ring of decision making. I think Blank bought the Falcons before giving it any thought what he was going to do with them.
By Funny Face
January 17, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this
I am sick of listening to digs about Dan Reeves…leave the nice man alone. He wouldn’t come back for all the tea in China…neither will anyone else. The Falcons are done for…losers…the laugh of the NFL. If I were a player, I’d run for the hills.
Draft Bartkowski as coach! At least he knows how to play the game.
By Awesome
January 17, 2008 3:34 PM | Link to this
To TRUE FALCONS FAN. Did you see any San Fran games? Look at thier offense? How many points did they average? How could San Fran’s defense be aggressive when the offense is 3 and out? Look at San Fran’s personnel? W/o looking at thier roster, name me 3 of thier defensive guys? They have a no name defense. Look at the offense Garret inherited? What person with common sense wouldn’t look like a genius?
By Awesome
January 17, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this
To SINGLETARY. What can I say man. Unfortunately, I believe Sponge Bob has a better chance at being the coach of the Falcons than Mike Singletary. It’s a shame Blank isn’t considering this guy, but yet he hired a glorified scout to be GM over a teleconference. I believe Blank is in love with mediocrity. If you want to bring back some repect to this organization, why not bring in a guys whose a class act. I mean, how many teams in this league could say that they have a Hall of Famer coaching thier team? You know how many free agents that would attract to this team?
By Rob
January 17, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this
Let’s hope that Dan is the right man for Georgia State Football, coming soon! GO PANTHERS!
By tony
January 17, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this
Realist, I was thinking along those lines as well. Blank has so much money that he can almost manipulate anyone. What coach has done anything for this franchise? I can think of 2, Leeman Bennett and Dan Reeves. MV was Dan’s project and Mr. Blank ruined it. I really believe Dan Reeves would have gotten us back to the SB is Blank hadn’t bought this franchise.
By Orlando
January 17, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this
It’s simple: Blank probably thinks that there’s a certain “type” of coach that will lead this team. No wonder he turned down Lovie Smith and other qualified candidates to be the coach of this team.
Once Singletary said he wanted to be coach, I’m sure Dimitroff probably thought, “Nope he’s not my ‘kind’ of coach.” Never mind bringing in someone who’s disciplined. I wonder who this idiot Dimitroff thinks he is? He has no concept of running a franchise. If he did he wouldn’t be basing his coaching search on whomever ESPN says is the “hot” candidate.
Moron, I hope he does choose Rex Ryan so Atlanta can go 3-13 for the next two years! Watch Singletary go to Baltimore and lead that team to glory!
By KrisG
January 17, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this
My opinion is that Jim Mora was a decent coach who we really didn’t have reason to fire. I still think keeping Reeves would have helped in tons of ways, but firing Mora may have been a more unforgivable mistake. Bear in mind that the media says Jim Mora was a bad coach, but people in the NFL still like him a lot.
He wasn’t friendly with the media, and as a former member of the media covering the Falcons, I can tell you these guys have egos they want coaches to stroke.
Mora was a young coach, but a good one. He had flaws in his approach, like being too attached to players and Greg Knapp. All head coaches have growing pains. Maybe he needed firing to let him regroup, but I think if he gets another shot, he’ll do a good job wherever it is.
By morris
January 17, 2008 5:28 PM | Link to this
To the two retards arguing over singletary’s merits as a defensive coordinator! Singletary is not the defensive coordinator of the niners, he is the assistant head coach/ linebackers coach. If you know anything about the NFL the assistant head coach title is basically meaningless and is usually given to someone out of respect. So in reality singletary is only a linebackers coach at this point. I think he needs to prove himself as a Defensive coordinator before he is hired as a head coach. All of you screaming for singletary ever wonder why nobody with a head coaching vacancy is calling him in for an interview? Could it be that he is not qualified to be an NFL coach? And just because a guy was a great player doesn’t neccessarily mean he will be a good coach. Thats already been proven in every single sport.
By PoF
January 17, 2008 5:53 PM | Link to this
This post is for all of the people blasting Auther Blank… Am I the only one who see’s that he is the only owner who ever cared this team. No one has ever been willing to open up their wallet and try to do something good for this team the way he has. I agree that he was made some mistakes, but but let’s face it he’s a buisness man, not talent scout. And he has admitted that in a round about way, with the near hire. He’s only been an NFL owner for a little over 5 years. It takes most players and coaches longer than that to perfect their game for god sake. Just be glad that he gives a crap, cause no one else ever has.
By Curt
January 17, 2008 6:01 PM | Link to this
You are right about revisionist history. The farther we get from an event and the worse things get in the future, the better the past looks…no matter what it really was.
Dan Reeves is a good guy and was a good coach. In Denver. In a different time and with different players.
For whatever reason it seemed Reeves could not or would not adjust to the flow of a game. It seemed like he wanted or thought the game would come to him rather than he to the game.
By JRL
January 17, 2008 7:28 PM | Link to this
Some of you folks are simply stupid. Hall of Fame player’s don’t equate to Hall of Fame Coaches. Dimbbulbs!
By Ken Strickland
January 17, 2008 7:38 PM | Link to this
Narrow minded fans conveniently forget that Dan Reeves was also fired by the Denver Broncos. Reeves had the same issues with Blank that he had with the Denver team owner. He is a control freak, much like his mentor Tom Landry, and either wanted, or didn’t want to give up, power/control. Until ABlank mandated he hire some help, Reeves was the HC, GM, OC and DC. He still tried to hold onto as much control as he could, and only hired a DC.
After the SB season, Reeves started making one bone headed move after another. (1)He let C RTobeck, his best and most important OL, leave for Seattle(that’s a stupid move for a team that led the NFL in rushing yds and attempts). (2)He released DE CSmith and allowed DE LArchambeau to sign with Denver. (3)He released SS White and FS Robinson(who signed with Carolina). (4)He traded his best DT Johnson to Denver and released his best WR, TMartin(who went on to star in Miami). (5)He released our best MLB, JTuggle(The Hammer). (6)He traded our best blocking TE, Santiago, and a future #1 pick for a #2 pick(which ended up being ACrumpler).
In the 1st gm of the following season, RB JAnderson, the teams best and most important player, blew out his knee. That’s when Reeves’ coaching ability really came under scrutiny. Jamal went down twice with knee injuries, and Reeves was unable to coach his team to any degree of success. The same thing happened with MVick. When he broke his leg, Reeves was unable to even make his team competitive. When MVick returned and started the final 4 gms, the team went 3-1. With MVick’s return, the team had more wins(3) than they could manage in 12 without him. It became obvious to ABlank, and anyone with an actual IQ, that the team could win without Reeves, but Reeves couldn’t win without MVick, or JAnderson, or JElway.
Dan Reeves entire career has been based on the 3 players mentioned above. Without them he has a losing record. That’s not the mark of a very good coach. Even the Denver Broncos owner realized Shannahan was a better coach than Reeves, and fired him.
Most of the people running the Falcons and the NFL were aware of MVick’s dog fighting exploits. He was simply worth too much money for them to do anything about it. Once it was uncovered and made public, the scramble was on to distance themselves from Vick.
By Rod
January 17, 2008 7:56 PM | Link to this
Mark, local consensus was wrong and your wrong. Stupid is as stupid does. Dan Reeves never should have been fired and for that matter Jim Mora jr never should have been fired, but thats the way it goes when you have owners like JJ and AB, and a local consensus that is built by the AJC and talk radio.
By David Duke
January 17, 2008 8:05 PM | Link to this
Dan Reeves took the Falcons to a Super Bowl and that’s something no other coach, in forty-one seasons has done. he did it with a good quarterback and a good defense and no Mike Vick. Fools continue to bring up the fluke win against Green Bay but that amounted to nothing more than blind pig luck. Firing reeves was a stupid move and the Falcons have made nothing but poor decisions since. Keeping Vick, hiring Mora, firing Mora, hiring P-U-trino and hiring Thomas the equipment boy as GM. It’s all been lunacy and will remain so!
By neckville rednecks
January 17, 2008 8:49 PM | Link to this
Blank you don’t have to do the right thing and bad thing will follow your team all your days. Mike singletary will lead this team to the land of milk and honey. T-566 till our Qb can come back! Blank you have been useing your head and it has not work , now just use your heart.
By James
January 17, 2008 9:12 PM | Link to this
I believe Mr.Blank see’s the light now!We will move forward! Bring in Singletary! We need a big name and motivator,I was hoping for Singletary before Garret interview and I’m a whitey!!!!this is about the Falcons & the fabulous city of Atlanta And us the FANS that buy the tickets!!
By David Duke
January 17, 2008 9:15 PM | Link to this
Get over it darkness! Vick is not coming back to the NFL ever. He’s done. singletary was a great player but he has no credibility as a head coach. Aside from complexion, what are your reasons for wanting him here?
By neckville rednecks
January 17, 2008 9:21 PM | Link to this
James Thank Man
By neckville rednecks
January 17, 2008 9:37 PM | Link to this
David who have they interview that is credibility. And what is credibility. most of these guys are daddy boys that some bodys daddy is trying to help his boy get a job. Here me none are proven. On yea lightness Vick will be back WHY? He makes the man to much money.DAVID Money talk and BULL$HIT WALKS! Do the math 75+ DOLLAR A TICKET * 70 THOUSAND. AMERICA IS ABOUT THE MONEY! DO THE MATH!
By Tom
January 17, 2008 9:37 PM | Link to this
Ok…fair is fair. But remember, no one, I mean no one since then has done anything without Vick in place. Dan bombed when Vick wasn’t there…he prospered when Vick was. Ditto for Wade, Mora, and Thomas. At least He didn’t bomb a season with Vick in place, like Mora did…twice.
As mentioned earlier, Reeve’s insistence of the play action worked wonders with Vick. The team was cohesive…they didn’t fight, or complain, or cry and get fined. Mora’s success was with Reeve’s personnel. Mora never knew how to run the west coast, or use his receivers. He just ran…and a lot of that was because of Vick.
By Robdan
January 17, 2008 9:44 PM | Link to this
Say what you will about Reeves, Blank, Mora, ect., but the absolute dumbest move the falcons ever made was losing Brett Favre - Glanville was it not? Hall of Famer on our roster that never got a chance.
By David Duke
January 17, 2008 10:29 PM | Link to this
I’ve done the math darkness and I can give you twenty-two million reasons why Vick will not play here again!
By Awesome
January 17, 2008 11:10 PM | Link to this
I swear. I don’t get it with a number of you. We hire Dimetroff, and everyone’s like yea, yea! But yet, he has no credentials as a GM. Bring up Singletary as a head coach, and you guys pull a million reasons not to hire him out of your butt. If that’s the case, convince me why Ryan, Shwartz, etc.. should be hired? If you ask me, the two mentioned in the later suck!
By Awesome
January 17, 2008 11:10 PM | Link to this
I swear. I don’t get it with a number of you. We hire Dimetroff, and everyone’s like yea, yea! But yet, he has no credentials as a GM. Bring up Singletary as a head coach, and you guys pull a million reasons not to hire him out of your butt. If that’s the case, convince me why Ryan, Shwartz, etc.. should be hired? If you ask me, the two mentioned in the latter suck!
By Awesome
January 17, 2008 11:15 PM | Link to this
ROBDAN! Check your history. Had Farve stayed in Atanta, believe me, you wouldn’t even be talking about him. The guy loved to drink and party here in Atlanta. Green Bay was good for him because there isn’t ish to do up there but eat cheese and milk cows!
By Manny
January 18, 2008 7:07 AM | Link to this
I can agree that being a great player doesn’t mean that you will make a great coach.
But also, being a great coordinator doesn’t mean you are going to be a great head coach. Just like being a great college head coach doesn’t make a great NFL head coach.
See, you have to look at every team situationally. The Falcons right now needs a disciplinarian. They need someone who has been in the trenches, and someone who can bring out the best in players.
That’s what I think the Falcons need in their head coach. Mike Singletary fits that bill. He’s disciplined in life and disciplined in his profession. He’s a paid motivator. He automatically becomes the most prolific individual in the room when he enters it. And he’s no punk… you can’t run over Mike Singletary.
Plus, let Mike Singletary talk to the local radio media about the game. You WILL sell out the Dome that day! He’s that strong!
But let’s be smart: Mike Singletary needs offensive and defensive geniuses to become his coordinators. If, during the interview, he cannot bring in great coordinators, close shop and move on. But if he can, you gotta sign him!
By ndadome
January 18, 2008 7:54 AM | Link to this
long time falcon, you’re probably right. Reeves did draft some busts, and I don’t mean hof. I’ll admit, I just like the man. He’s always been a straight shooter, a man of integrity. That’s what I admire about him most. And I’m not about to quit on the team, even though prices have continued to climb while the “product” quality has declined. Plus, I honestly believe Dimitroff is a good hire. .everytime I hear him speak I become more convinced of that. My bad.
By South GA Falcon
January 18, 2008 9:22 AM | Link to this
I also beg for outdoor football. It is stupid to play indoor football in the south. Also, for all of us that said the Falcons would be better off when Rankin Smith sold the team (me included), we should let him rest in peace…we were wrong. They are a cursed franchise and Blank has not helped matters!
By Gary
January 18, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this
Awesome, look dude you need to do some research and actual thinking before you post. To compare the situations of Dimetroff and Singletary is stupid at best. Dimetroff has been the Patriots director of college scouting, which means he scouts, evaluates, and makes recommendations to Piloli and Bellichec k about who/where to draft. In his 5 years in that position, the picks made have turned out very well for the model franchise of the NFL. He has certainly deserved his chance as a GM. Mike Singletary has been a DC for about 3 years now. His defenses have not improved at all during his stint. Yes you can blame that on talent, but your argument is he would be a great motivator and command attention. Well if that is his strong suit then the 49ers defense would not be ranked in the bottom 5 in the league. Look at their numbers (someone posted them above) and you will see why Singletary has not earned his chance yet. Like another poster on here, i see why Singletary is being shouted by some of the fan base in Atlanta and agree it has no place in football or any other sport.
By Shamus Thacker
January 18, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this
Dan Henning was once the HOT assistant coveted by all.
Now it’s Jason Garrett.
Please Gawd; NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
By morris
January 18, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this
Gary, how about you doing some research before you post. MIKE SINGLEYARY IS NOT THE DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR FOR THE SAN FRANCISCO 49’ers! Damn, I guess it just want sink into some of your heads. I have posted this multiple times on these blogs yet we still have folks on here arguing about singletary’s merits as a defensive coordinator. The defensive coordinator of the san fran 49’ers is Greg Manusky! Mike singletary is the linebackers coach and he has done a wonderful job coaching rookie patrick willis. However, I think he needs to prove himself as coordinator before he gets a head coaching job.
By Norman Bates
January 18, 2008 9:56 PM | Link to this
I have no doubt that King Arthur has no intention of bringing in a credible coach. One of the reasons he can’t attract a good coach is the habit of sticking his nose into all facets of drafting, signing free agents and treatment of his pets.
He is the reason they are so salary cap inhibited. I’ll bet he never gets a penny back from MV7 and the cap will have to suffer while time runs out on the bonus.
Blank better come to the fans with his hat in his hand and beg them to come back. Having Georgia only 50 or so miles away, the fans easily have switched their allegiance and could care less about the stumbling fumbling bunch of birds. He could get Cowher if he offered enough money. He could have gotten the guy from Dallas if he had offered enough money.
All he knows is get the cheapest hammers on aisle 19 and stock the shelves with the lousiest lumber.
Try it sometime, Arthur, Go into Home Depot and try to find good merchandise. He has followed that pattern and stocked the team with, not the best, but the cheapest.
By joebrave
January 18, 2008 11:54 PM | Link to this
ShutTheFukkUp about Mike F******* Vick!!!!That sonofabitch,is done for….and if he does come back I’ll take the Marthaphucka,out my Damn self!!!!!
By joebrave
January 18, 2008 11:57 PM | Link to this
I’m Glad,You B@stards don’t run this Team,no I mean Ruin!!!!! What a bunch of color blind sockcuckers you are!!!!
Mike Singletary is a Pi$$ant Idiot!!!!!