ajcsportstalk

By Cairo

January 23, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this

This franchise is continuing to go DOWN the hill at an extremely high rate. We have WASTED time again and again. Now we see that this team/franchise is not attractive at ALL. Since #7 is no longer the bargaining chip NO ONE worth a flip wants to come here. OH WELL!!!

By kgod999

January 23, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this

??????????????

By byron

January 23, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this

As a Jaguars fan I’m sorry to see Mike go but he deserves his shot at being a head coach. Falcon fans should be happy with a coach who has integrity and stability.

By steve

January 23, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this

Smith who, are you kidding me, this guy will not command any respect in the locker room, I was a big blank fan until this I am so over this team……

By Mirna from smyrna

January 23, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this

Ryan from Baltimore would have been the better pick.

By B-man

January 23, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this

Not so fast with the criticism just because its not a hight profile name…

Remember that Ravens team that won the superbowl because of their defense? This was the D-Coordinator.

By norman

January 23, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this

Why can’t the falcons ever wait and interview all the candidates? They should have waited and interviewed Steve Spagnuolo of the Giants then made the best choice for head coach. Now it is wait and see if Mike Smith is the answer. As they say, wait until next year.

By Pepe

January 23, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this

I like the DEF-minded coaches approach. If Smith is the best option in the GM’s mind, I’m all for it. Hopefully, he can bring Stroud and Henderson with him.

By FLEE HOUND

January 23, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this

Well i don’t know the last time we dealt with the name smith it didn’t turn out so well.

By Darrin "The vent King"

January 23, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this

At this point, I’m just glad someone will take the job. I will put my faith (once again) in Blank and his new GM that they know what they’re doing. From what I’ve read on the net, Smith seems to know a thing or two about football in the pro ranks which will be a step up considering the last two guys at the helm and Smith is a highly respected assitant. Can he handle all the “There’s no “I” in team, but there dam sure is a M and an E in there!” cry-babies on this roster is what I’m wondering next. I hope he can turn some of these children into men because that’s what some of them have been acting like the last two seasons. I hope Mr. Smith is a hard azz and can get those guys to focus more. He has a HUGE task in that regard, but I do like the fact that he is a defensive minded-coach because that’s what wins championships in the end and I think if anything, our defense was something to build on. So here’s to new beginnings and “Welcome to Atlanta” Mr.Smith!!

(that’s if you actually show up..)

GO FALCONS!!!

By frank

January 23, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this

i think mike smith will workout for falcon . his defence schem is the best around the nfl ,iknow he get the job done and get the falcon back on top of the nfl south and into the superbowlin two years.

By Sport

January 23, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this

I think the focus on defense to start the rebuilding process is a good thing. To have a coach who is defensive minded will help, after all it is what wins championships. The major concern I have are among the rest of the coaching staff (offensive coordinator, etc.). We will find out more when the player changes start though. Then we will know what they are “trying” to do.

By Jason

January 23, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this

Another stupid move. The Falcons will continue to be the laughing stock of the NFL and professional sports for along time to come.

Blank, here is some advice your idiot inner circle is afraid to tell you…Sell the team and please sell it to another city. Your team sucks, they have always sucked, you suck and your stupid decisions suck!

By James Crumbley

January 23, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this

I am ecstatic to get a defensive guy for the job. As for no one worth a “flip” wanting to come here? Give me a break. Atlanta is a great city. The owner is willing to spend to bring a winner. We just hired a respected guy for GM. Ops for taking a head coaching job dont come around often. Unless a winner retires, any head coach being hired is replacing someone who couldnt cut it. A re-build is a re-build. I can’t say that Smith is the answer. We wont know for several years. Get a life whiners…It’s only a game. If the Falcons cant become winners, at least we have something to read related to their off-field/on-field problems. If they do become winners, we will all LOVE Coach Smith.

By tom

January 23, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this

i dont care that its not high profile… no one new who mike mcarthy was and they fell jsut short of the super bowl..the jags had a great defemse and with him drafting players with dimitrioff i tihnk they have a chance to revive the falcons. By the way, lets hope terrance moore isnt upset because the falcons didnt hire a black coach

By frank thompson

January 23, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this

waynto go blanks i know you and your staff made the rigth decsion in picking smith . i would have like to see frazier at ream ibelive he would have been a great coach.

By Bk Hawk

January 23, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this

Mike was my 2nd choice after Steve S.but* WELCOME TO ATLANTA MR SMITH* Only Time will tell how this will play out but give DIMITROFF and SMITH a chance Go Falcons!!!!!

By Phil

January 23, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this

“Singletary”, not “Smith” is the Mike I was hoping for. Never heard of the guy.

By ryan

January 23, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this

I totally agree with this move. In fact, I applaud our new gm for this one. Think about it… Of all the available candidates, wouldn’t you want the man who’s been around the longest and has a track record for having the meanest defenses around? I certainly would… He must really have a great o coordinator in line.

By Will

January 23, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this

The Falcons do not have a clue. They way they are heading they will not sell many tickets. There are a lot better choices out there than this guy. Where is Mike Singletary’s name. He would be the best fit.

By Ted Turner

January 23, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this

Oh, my! Brett Favre was a castoff for Jeff George? Bring back the Clampets and Fulton Co. Stadium too.

At least there is one successful team … in Athens!

I want to punch you all in the nose! Beat you like you was my wife!

By SWGAFALCONFAN

January 23, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this

Why?????????????????????????????? What happened with Ryan, etc? I think that Dimitroff has been around McKay too long (ALREADY!) Is Smith really the best available assistant coach, and why hasn’t he been mentioned as being interviewed by other teams with coaching vacancies? It sounds, at least initially, as if Dimitroff, McKay & Blank have all of a sudden panicked after not liking who they’ve interviewed, and blowing not getting Sparano before Miami hired him (I don’t even want to get into the trio being used & abused by Coach Tuna before he went swimming to Miami). As a person, I really like Mr. Blank, but, he interferes too much in the operation of the team. He should have hired Dan Reeves or Jimmy Johnson to run the football team & hire a coach. I’m just tired of the Falcon hierarchy making foolish, rushed decisions about hiring a head coach, such as Mora and Petrino, and possibly Smith. I’ve been a fan over 40 years, when the team was very, very bad, and give Bennett & Reeves their due, they made the team winners. Mora didn’t impress me, he just benefited from inheriting a very good Reeves team. I thought that the Petrino hire was a disaster from the very beginning. Maybe I’ll be proven wrong - I hope so, but right now, Smith doesn’t appear to me to be the right choice.

By Marcus

January 23, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this

Why can’t we ever be supportive or whomever we pick? This guy hasn’t even said hello and we have already booed him! There is an urban legend going around southerners were hospitable and friendly! Those that believe that legend have obviously never been to an ajc.com blog before. :)

By cdawg

January 23, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this

Well we should wait and see. We haven’t fared so well recently and for someone to come who is a coordinator and not a position coach is a wonder. Let’s build a solid D and get a O coordinator in here to right the ship before the sirens call.

By Mack

January 23, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this

Would everyone just take a deep breath. It appears he has a solid football background. He is defintely know how to win, look at the Jags and his stint with Baltimore.

At least it wasn’t Pete Carroll.

By frank thompson

January 23, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this

that a good start now he needs to go and get a good nfl minded offence cor.and coaching staff to stand by what he belive in

By John Moxie

January 23, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this

What a …yawn… great choice.

By long time falcon

January 23, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this

Not good if you go by what marcellus wiley of espn had to say about this guy. Wiley played for the Jaguars under smith and said that Del Rio was the one who ran the defense and NONE of the players had any respect for Smith. Wiley referred to Smith as a puppet and the guys on that defense looked to del rio as their leader. Go to espn.com and play the video for yourself, it will leave you with a sick feeling in the pit of you’re stomach. I just hope that maybe the two had some kind of falling out and Wiley has some sort of vendetta against Smith. Otherwise, if he is telling the truth the falcons have made yet another blunder in hiring a head coach. Michael Smith of espn also reported that Smith is a very laid back guy and not really the fired up type. Sounds like another guy who Blank can control and manipulate. Why didn’t they wait for spagnuolo? None of these other candidates were going anywhere. Why not rex ryan? Almost all of the Ravens players lobbied for ryan to be their head coach, including their leader ray lewis. Frankly, I don’t like this hire because if he can’t garner respect from players then it will be the same old mess, the inmates running the asylum.

By gary

January 23, 2008 12:39 PM | Link to this

what oc is he bring in?????? anybody know anything about his plans for the falcons.

By Awesome

January 23, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this

We hired the wrong Mike! It should have been Singletary! Singletary would have commanded instant credibility. That was Del Rio’s defense in Jacksonville, and that was Billicks in Baltimore. After watching that vanilla defense against New England we still chose this guy? Give me a break! Blank seems to be very passionate about being mediocre. Blank, sell this team to someone who cares!

By Say what?

January 23, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this

How is Smith better than Ryan? Ryan wants the job and has said so. I guess the Falcons don’t like coaches who actually want to coach in Atlanta and express that desire (as Singletary, and Ryan did). Did not see this one coming. Hopefully he is a Mike McCarthy and will turn the Falcons around, but unlike McCarthy he has no Favre (ironic analogy considering the Falcons traded him away, huh?).

By kgod999

January 23, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this

LOL, THE ONLY REASON THEY HIRED THIS GUY IS BECAUSE THEY WOULDVE BEEN EVEN MORE EMBARRASSED IF SPAG DIDNT TAKE THE JOB, SO, THEY WENT AND HIRED SMITH, WHILE PRETENDING TO INTERVIEW FRAZIER AND RYAN.

By Gary

January 23, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this

I like this hire. Unlike another defensive coordinator that some Falcon fans were drooling over, Smith comes with a proven track record. He has had the Jaguars defense consistently in the top of the NFL and this year did an outstanding job with mostly role players due to key injuries. He also worked with a pretty good defensive mind in Jack Del Rio too. Good hire, lets build a championship team now.

By Ted Turner

January 23, 2008 12:45 PM | Link to this

Punch you square in the nose and watch you tear-up! I built ATLANTA. I lived in the Omni with Sid & Marty Kroftt … HR Pufnstuf was MY Neighbor!

By south ga. boy

January 23, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this

Yes we don’t know much about this guy, but what i do know, I like. He has been a solid def. coord. with excellent defenses. He seems to be a no-nonsense guy, who will either get guys like Meangelo Hall on the straight & narrow or on a Delta plane. It is time to get Matt Ryan & start building again. As a long suffering Falcon fan, I know it is not what we want to here, but facing the truth can be the first step. It will take time, I thing we have solid guys, now, in leadership. Lets, give them some time.

By Bo

January 23, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this

Welcome Mike Smith! Everyone will love Mike when you get to know him and he will clean house, so D. Hall get ready to shut up and put up or be gone. Great Call Dimitroff now get some good draft picks, Can’t wait to see the rest of Smiths staff.

By frank

January 23, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this

Nobody knows yet how he will fare as a head coach, but as someone who knew him way back in his college assistant days, I can tell you the Falcons couldn’t have picked anyone with more integrity or work-ethic than Mike Smith. He has a solid track record, and has earned a shot. IMO it’s a better hire than most of the available high-profile names. Congratulations Mike!!

By Earl

January 23, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this

Vick was high profile you idiots and look what happened to thugboy. You who are still hanging onto #7, get on the bus…go to work…do your chores, boys.

By TURTSNAP

January 23, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this

For those of you who keep claiming “I am so over this team”, why do you continue to blog? Hypocrites!!!

Nice move, I have read alot of great things about Coach Smith.

By morris

January 23, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this

B-man, Marvin lewis was the defensive coordinator when the ravens won the superbowl. What the heck are you talking about? Smith was on that staff but he wasn’t the d-coordinator. Do some real research and quit trying to puff this guy up.

I think maybe the falcons were spurned behind the scenes by spagnuolo. Anyone who thinks these guys don’t have conversations off the record are foolish. Often coaches speak thru their agents to potential suitors. I’ll bet spag gets a huge pay increase to stay with the giants just like garrett did with the cowboys. Thats probably the real reason they made this move today.

By WheresJedClampett

January 23, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this

the falcons had 4 finalists and all you need to know about the competency of the finalists can be summed up by how one of them was treated by his current team - rex ryan, current ravens defensive coordinator and finalist for the falcons head coaching job WAS NOT EVEN GRANTED AN INTERVIEW BY THE RAVENS FOR THEIR HEAD COACHING VACANCY - the ravens dont want him but arthur blank does ???????? - heaven help the dirty birds

By CDS

January 23, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this

I like the guy and I would like the hire. We got some semblance of a decent defensive unit here. But what about the offense? I think the next move is to go out and grab an offensive coordinator. I think Cam Cameron still needs a job.

But I sure hope this guy knows what he is walking into. He is going to have to come in as a guy that players can relate to, but also someone who can tell guys like Joe Horn, Hall, and Crumpler to shut the hell up! Don’t be afraid to tell some of the punks on the team “If you don’t like it, then get out.” I also hope he can deal with the idiots crying about “Why didn’t we hire a black coach? Why didn’t we hire a black GM? Why didn’t we draft Andre Woodson or start D.J. Shockley so that we could have a black QB? Why won’t he talk about Vick coming back? The Falcons are racist, blah, blah, blah…..

By Ted Turner

January 23, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this

What ever happened to Tinky WInky? The purple one with the triangle on its head? Why not give him a shot? I mean, he’s never been a Head Coach, and is a puppet (a suit) of sorts.

Square in the nose! I will punch you hard!

By Gary

January 23, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this

How is Smith better? Well lets see, it was his defense that lead the Ravens to a Super Bowl XXXV win, not Billick as he is supposed to be an offensive genius. It is his defenses that are consistently in the top of the NFL while in Jacksonville. This guy can command respect too and has a proven record as a solid coordinator. Oh an btw…who is the heck is going to listen to Wiley from ESPN. what has that guy ever done in football? And michael smith?? give me a break, just some more espn goons who know nothing.

By falcondawg

January 23, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this

Well spoken, Marcus. I don’t believe it mattered who was chosen, the nay sayers would have come out anyway. If Mr. Smith takes us to the playoffs, I’ll bet we won’t hear a peep from them.

By Concerned Falcon

January 23, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this

PLEASE GO TO ESPN.COM AND WATCH THE VIDEO OF MARCELLUS WILEY WHO PLAYED FOR SMITH IN JACKSONVILLE. NOT PRETTY!

By Concerned Falcon

January 23, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this

PLEASE GO TO ESPN.COM AND WATCH THE VIDEO OF MARCELLUS WILEY WHO PLAYED FOR SMITH IN JACKSONVILLE. NOT PRETTY!

By FLEE HOUND

January 23, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

Right man for the job.he took the ravens defence to the superbowl. that defence was good enough for me.you whinners need to shut the hell up until you know what your talking about. jason you are an idiot. go falcons

By Big Moe

January 23, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this

The falcons need an offensive minded person. The defense was fine until they had to spend 47 of the 60 minutes on the field. Stop the 3 and outs and the defense will be fine.

By bob

January 23, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this

NO! NO! No! no!

By terrell barron

January 23, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this

B-man, he was the linebackers coach of the Ravens Super Bowl team. Marvin Lewis was the DC.

By dannyh1

January 23, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this

One of the main reasons the Patriots are so great is because they have a great owner, who lets his staff run the team, I can’t understand why anyone would want the job as long as Arthur Blanc has his nose into everything, He should just be the G.M. and Coach,and run the team himself.

By vesaversa

January 23, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this

i am very disapointed in this hiring or smith but willing to give him a chance . i don’t think any atanta falcons fan would be happy either way it go let just be glad they might finnaly have a coach soon . give smith a chance befor all the bashing begin what a joke lol

By MV7

January 23, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this

Falcons? Who is dat?

By michaelgee

January 23, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this

Since when is the Head Coach decision left up to the fans?

We have too many drama queens bashing every announcement made from Flowery Branch. Either FAN UP or shut up! Go Falcons!

By ESR

January 23, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this

It ain’t like you have a long line of coaches wanting to try to coach Crumpler and Hall. What you guys expect that someone will leave a winningteam and coach these guys. I say give the man a chance, if he is willing to step into this pile of poop, give him the chance.

By Tim

January 23, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this

How many more people are going to be called the “leading prospect” for the Falcons job? I guess they are going to start going through the phone book next! Jeez, this is embarassing!!! When are they going to post it in AJCJobs?

By Dee

January 23, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this

The simple fact that some Falcons fans hate this hire (and the AJC, too, eventually) just goes to show me that this is an EXCELLENT hire. Good job, TD and Mr. Blank…and way to learn. The last few times the front office listened to the whim of the so-called “fans” we ended up with Vick and Petrino.

By kris in alpharetta

January 23, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this

I think Rex or Spagnuolo would have been better choices,simply because of their track records. I wasn’t very familiar with Frazier or Smith at this point. But I know that Jacksonville is hardly the model of a championship team. They haven’t been to one in almost a decade, and have never been to or won a Super Bowl. Smith was a part of the winning Ravens team but that was many moons ago. I think the Falcons bungled again. They place relationships over logic and this is not good. The last time they harvested someone from Jacksonville we ended up with Leftowich.

By Chad

January 23, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this

What this mean for Byron Leftwich?

By terrell barron

January 23, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this

Sort of reminds me of when the Lions hired Rod Marinelli. Look how that turned out.

By morris

January 23, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this

O.K YOU FREAKIN RETARDS. HERE WE GO AGAIN WITH IDIOTS ON THIS BLOG MAKING FALSE CLAIMS. MIKE SMITH was NOT the defensive coordinator of the ravens superbowl team, that would be MARVIN LEWIS. SMITH was NEVER the defensive coordinator of the ravens. It reminds me of the past month when genuises on here debated about the merits of mike singletary as defensive coordinator of the 49’ers when he is only the linebackers coach. Do some reasearch for yourself instead of following what some blind fool on this blog says.

By Najeh Davenpoop

January 23, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this

Marcellus Wiley’s take on the issue seems more accurate to me. Jack Del Rio was hired as the head coach there because he is a defensive guy. The success of that defense is attributable at least as much to him as it is to Smith. Not a big fan of this hire… wasn’t a big fan of the Mora and Petrino hires either. I still don’t know why the Falcons didn’t go harder after Schottenheimer, but of the four remaining candidates I would have waited for Spagnuolo to become available.

By filberto

January 23, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this

I don’t know much about the guy, so will adopt a wait and see attitude. As for this Wiley player, if he runs his moutn off like Hall does, who cares. Is Wiley a pro-bowler? Plus, I’m sure with all the prima donnas who play football that it’s all too easy to find some big mouth malcontent to shoot his mouth off. Wiley’s comments disregarded, was del Rio in Baltimore when they won the Bowl? If everywhere this guy goes, the defense ends up being one of the toughest around that can’t be a bad thing. As for the “nice guy” comment meant to be an insult, you’ve obviously never met Coach Dungy with the Colts. Care to tell me he’s a puppet? Bottom line is the Falcons need both a good defense and a good offense. One to keep the other team off the field offensively, and the other to score points. will be interesting to see how Dimitroff tags as the offensive coordinator. While I doubt the Bowl is in Atlanta’s immediate future, anything would be a vast improvement over, um, hang on a second, his name wil come to me in a few, oh yeah… Pettino! This team needs a new direction, and right or wrong it looks like that’s what they’re heading for.

By PreyDawg

January 23, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this

Mind Boggling. What the player said on ESPN says it all. This D in JAX was 12th??!!! Big friggin deal!! This is a terrible hire. The guy is a middlie of the pack coach at best. Singletary or The Giants DC I could have gotten excited about. This guy is a nobody from a mediocre Defense. It is Jim Mora all over again. That’s it. After 30 years I have finally had it. Looks like I will save hundreds not going to games anymore. This is absolutely mind blowing that after all this flying around the country BS and this whole “process” Blank kept bragging on THIS is what we come up with. This is a total and complete failure. Dimitroff is as big a dork as Blank and McKay. It is hopeless for this franchise.

By BirdMan

January 23, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this

O.K. They have a new GM and new coach. I hope they have the stones to clean out the rif raf and thugs from this team and replace them with guys who have some integrity and a passion for the game. I think the fans have stomached all they can stand or Meangelo and Algie, et. al.

By Charles Jones

January 23, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this

Marty former San diego Chargers, George Seifet.

By Rankin Stankin

January 23, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this

“As far as the timetable on the whole thing, what I really want to stress is that we do want to be patient,” Dimitroff said. “I think we’ve shown a good deal of patience through this whole process so far.”

The G.M. earlier today…???

By Space Mountain

January 23, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this

Man I just dont know anymore. Maybe it is a strange enough marriage that it might work. I dont know. Wait and see.

By Frank Beamer

January 23, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this

I have a fresh batch of thugs ready to move on to the NFL. Call me.

Frank Beamer

By Awesome

January 23, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this

Serious question. Why aren’t minorities considered more often in the NFL? Caldwell backed out because he was considered 3rd tier in the Falcons eyes behind Ryan and Garrett. Frazier was condered 2nd tier behind Mike Smith, and Singletary’s nor Rivera’s phones never rung for the position. These guys were just as qualified, if not more than the majority of the candidates this year. And look at the minority coaches in the league, Tony Dungy, Mike Tomlin, Lovie Smith, and Marvin Lewis. These coaches have done a terrific job thus far.

By siskel

January 23, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this

How can Spagnuolo have a better track record than Smith he has only been a coordinator for 1 year while smith has been part of superbowl winning teams? You want guy’s mentioned in other teams searches like who Jim Fassel? Obviously Ryan wasn’t very spectacular in his interview I would have liked to see someone with headcoaching experience like Marty Schottenheimer or maybe even a Denny Green but Marty didn’t want to be here and this guy does so let’s just give him a chance see who he hires on his staff and support the team!

By Terrance Moore

January 23, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this

Well, he isn’t black.

By Dlmod

January 23, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this

I couldn’t agree more. The Falcons say they are patient yet the best guy if your going defense is a Jim Johnson disciple in Steve Spagnolia from the Giants. Mike Smith… You’ve got to be kidding me. Why can’t I care as much for another team. This is another 3 year waiste.

By B-man

January 23, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this

Thanks T and morris…you’re right. I did read that on yahoo sports this morn. and they said D-Coordinator so I’ll blame them…

Anyway, the guy seems to put some good defenses on the field which is a start. We can all argue back and forth but the only the next 2 seasons will tell for sure.

As for Marcellous Wiley, he’s been known to spout off at the mouth. I’d be curious to see what other former players of Smith’s say.

By Chikara

January 23, 2008 1:30 PM | Link to this

I, for one am satisfied with this decision (for now). This guy reminds me a lot of John Fox of Carolina, the type of guy who will work on getting the defense built the same way in Jacksonville. I’m sorry if you fanboys who were sucking the c*ck of the “hot” candidate were disappointed, but who needs you anyway?

Chad that is an interesting question regarding Leftwich. The only thing I can suspect is it will be up to the offensive coordinator. If he feels Byron can develop in the system then fine.

kris it’s obvious you know nothing about football. Jacksonville has constantly been a contender since they first came into the league. That team is one WR threat away from taking New England out. I suspect Atlanta will build their team the same way.

That said, it’s going to be verrrrrry interesting how they rebuild this franchise. Will they build through Dorsey in the draft, or McFadden?

I don’t know much about him, which is good for lowered expectations. This way Smith won’t have too much pressure from Vick-loving “fanboys”. What will he do with the malcontents like Hall and Crumpler?

All I know is that I am happy that we didn’t go out and get some “hot” offensive coordinator who is the beneficiary of the talent on the field. coughJasonGarrettcough.

As for the offensive coordinator, is Cam Cameron still available?

By Ted Turner

January 23, 2008 1:30 PM | Link to this

**If I could reach you right now I’d punch you SQUARE in the nose. No, I’d kick you SQUARE in the nuttts!

You make me sick to the CNN. I took on Rupert Murdoch & Vince McMahon — won ‘em both.**

Mr. Wrestler #2 was my right hand man, and … SQUARE IN THE NOSE!

By NASCARfan

January 23, 2008 1:30 PM | Link to this

This SMELLS of more Arthur Blank interference.

Welcome to Atlanta, Dimitroff… where King Arthur meddles, err, rules.

I guarantee Dimitroff wants to wait for Spagnuolo, but Rich McKay is whispering in King Arthur’s ear that the team needs a coach NOW, you know, as opposed to waiting for the BEST coach.

Arthur Blank… STOP LISTENING TO RICH MCKAY AND STOP MEDDLING

Let Dimitroff hire the guy he wants, not the guy you and Rich McKay think the team needs NOW.

MORONS!!!!

By Nightrain04

January 23, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this

Same ole stuff, I had hoped Blank would break out his wallet and get a good coach..Spagnuolo.. Falcons probably heard he wouldn’t take the job or NYG were going to pull a Dallas.. Want to ruin a career.. Go to Atl…Same ole stuff

By Most falcon fans are hyper reactionary morons

January 23, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this

The fact that all these fans think this was not a good hire makes me feel better as most the falcons fans are clueless idiots.

Second of all, who gives a crap what Marcellus Wiley thinks. This is a bitter guy that has an axe to grind. Everybody else out there that has been asked about him, including current players like Stroud, have nothing but great praise and compliments for him. Both Joe D (current ST Coordiantor for the jags) and Mortenson all said he’s a tremendous coach who should of been a head coach sooner. Wiley doens’t know what he’s talking about because he said didn’t call the plays when in fact everyone else in the know, including current players, said he did.

Finally, I just don’t understand this redicilous obsession with Mike Singletary. What has he ever done to warrant such great praise and consdieration? He’s never been a coordinator in the NFL, and the team he coaches for absolutely sucks. Talk about a questionable hire. For the record, nobody is going after Singletary. None of the teams looking for coaches even seriously considered him, so that should tell you a lot. And for all you that think that Rex Ryan was so great, why is no one else even really pursuing him? Why was the head coach he just worked for fired?

By andy exeter

January 23, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this

Mike Smith is a very solid hire as the Falcons’ new Defensive Coordinator. Congratulations to Mr. Blank on a fine choice. We will eagerly await your decision on the new head coach.

By Scott

January 23, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure…isn’t that the way of the world?

By Jagsfan

January 23, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this

@Concerned Falcon FYI: Marcellus Wiley was CUT by the Jags…and quite a few other teams. It turned out that he was huge underperformer with a bigger mouth. He just has major sour grapes because Smith made the decision to cut his sorry butt. You can see the proff in that our defense was a heckuva lot better without him.

By Jagsfan

January 23, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this

@Concerned Falcon FYI: Marcellus Wiley was CUT by the Jags…and quite a few other teams. It turned out that he was huge underperformer with a bigger mouth. He just has major sour grapes because Smith made the decision to cut his sorry butt. You can see the proof in that our defense was a heckuva lot better without him.

By Jagsfan

January 23, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this

@Concerned Falcon FYI: Marcellus Wiley was CUT by the Jags…and quite a few other teams. It turned out that he was huge underperformer with a bigger mouth. He just has major sour grapes because Smith made the decision to cut his sorry butt. You can see the proof in that our defense was a heckuva lot better without him.

By Mike from Lithonia

January 23, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this

Here we go again. These guys make it impossible to love the Falcons. Who is this guy???? The last time I looked Jacksonville was at home….. Another bad hire for a hopeless team. Brian Billick would be better than this…….woe are all us Falcon fans…….

By Jagsfan

January 23, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this

@Concerned Falcon FYI: Marcellus Wiley was CUT by the Jags…and quite a few other teams. It turned out that he was huge underperformer with a bigger mouth. He just has major sour grapes because Smith made the decision to cut his sorry butt. You can see the proof in that our defense was a heckuva lot better without him.

By Ted Turner

January 23, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this

Marcellus Squirlley ??? didn’t he get hit by a car running from Bruce Willis in Pulp Fiction?

Falcoons have always been a sports oddity, like Rastlin’ on TNT

By Larry

January 23, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this

Why can’t team management and employees keep their mouths shut until the deal is done? What will it do for the organization if this guy turns us down like others? Just not good business in my opinion.

By keitheray

January 23, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this

Ted Turner, you are killing me!! keep em coming,,sid and marty croft,,what about the banana splits?

By Brian

January 23, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this

ESPN this morning said that Blank and Dimitroff were looking at the top 4 and the O Coordinator they would bring in. Apparently this guy is a stud D Mind and has a stud of an O Coord to boot! I can’t wait to see what they can do. Never heard of you Smith but I am ready to ride your coat tails!!

By KneeJerk

January 23, 2008 1:46 PM | Link to this

Ted Turner- It’s Mr. WrestlING #2, not wrestler. I’m willing to give the guy a shot. All you nimrods who seem to think that someone else was a better choice were not in on the interviews. You have no idea, same as me. Make your choice. Get on board or leave.

By The Red Falconer

January 23, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this

Ever since Michael Vick went to prison, thus ruining the bedroom lives for FALCONS ownership, the phrase “spanking his monkey” has taken on a whole new meaning for our favorite local billionaire $impleton Arthur Blank.

These GM and Head Coach hires are but the latest cases in point.

Lovie Smith and Mike Singletary, I wish to humbly apologize to both of gentleman for how you two were ignored by OUR local NFL Franchise.

By remo

January 23, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this

Thanks Morris for setting the record straight. He was not a D coordinator of the Ravens. This guy is here to be a puppet figure. Hopefully i’m wrong, but i’m not liking what I hear about this guy already.

By athens umlaut

January 23, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this

I think they should just give Emmitt another year. All we should be shooting for right now is two consecutive .500 seasons. Then let’s build from there.

By Darrin "The vent King"

January 23, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this

WELL SAID JAMES CRUMBLEY! Nice to see a “real” fan with some positive spirit. Goodness, people act as if the guy we hired HAS to be someone the fans heard of. I, and I’m willing to bet money most of you, never heard of Sean Payton before he took over the Aints, nor did you hear of Jeff Fischer before he took over the Titans years ago. Truth be told, I’m willing to bet 75% of the coaches currently employed were never heard of before they became head coach. Billick? No. Mike Holmgren? Not before he was a head coach. Not even the potential canidates were household names. I mean really, how many of you heard of Rex Ryan, Spagnulo, or Jeff Garrett before last month? 95% of you NEVER heard of those guys and you know it. Let’s just leave the hiring process to the guys who’s JOB is on the line over this, not the fans. If it were up to me, I would put my faith in guys whose livelyhood depends on making the right choice over some fans who THINK they know who belongs here as HC. Give the guy a chance, at least he WANTED the job.

GO FALCONS!!!

By wow

January 23, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this

**Mike Smith!!?? Wow!! This guy is a neurotic head case. He wasn’t even a position coach in Baltimore… let alone a d-coordinator… How on earth does this guy get a head job over Rex Ryan!?!?! Good move ‘Dim’!

By Sounds OK

January 23, 2008 1:56 PM | Link to this

Kind of reminds me of a John Fox kind of hire. Carolina has struggled because of injuries, but I think most everyone in the league knows he’s a good coach.

Or he could stink like Darnell “The Shent King.” This is, after all, the Falcons.

By Jane Fonda

January 23, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this

YOU GUYS CHILL—Smith is the only coach who will risk life and limb to move to Atlanta. You got to give him credit for making such a bold move. He will only be here for the first 12-13 games anyway.

By Ruthless One

January 23, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this

All you so called Falcon fans (bandwagon) need to shut the hell up!!! If you do not like the hire and hate the team now then go move to New York or something…..We don’t need anymore bandwagon New York type fans down here…..(Referencing the bandwagon Giant fans that all of a sudden love Coughlin and Manning because of the Super Bowl)

If the Falcons make the playoffs you same people will come out talking about how you loved the hire and how great Dimitroff is and etc.

Get a freaking life!!!!!!!!!!

I like the hire and we need some folks in the office who have sprouted a pair!!!!!!!

Sounds like the guys upstairs are not listening to you wavering so called Falcons fans which is a great thing in my opinion. You are the same fans who want us to get Michael Vick back and keep Meangelo because they are “star” athletes. Give me a break.

Go Falcons Baby!!! I for one am excited as hell about this hire. Screw that dude on ESPN for hating on this guy. Who cares….If I had a nickel for every time I heard an ex-player bash a previous coach I would be as rich as Michael Vick once was.

By diehardbird

January 23, 2008 2:06 PM | Link to this

Mike who? Bring in Bartkowski!!!

By geranium

January 23, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this

let’s see if he shows up. no one wants this job.

By B-man

January 23, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this

MORRIS: Whew…man you may need to get your blood pressure checked bro…”blind retards”? I hope my mistake didnt give you a coronary.

Was just going with the information I read on the guy. I’m sure everything else written on this blog is completely based upon facts and solid research.

So give us your “expert insight” on the hire

By laughing

January 23, 2008 2:10 PM | Link to this

You people are hilarious. Most of you are talking about what a terrible hire Smith is…but, it is very clear you know absolutely nothing about him. How do you know he isn’t the next Tom Landry or Vince Lombardi? After all, those two were just NFL assistants prior to becoming head coaches. You toss out a name like Mike Singletary, but you also know nothing about his coaching skills…he has interviewed for 10 head coaching jobs over last couple of years…ever wonder why he never got an offer? Ever wonder why he never has even been hired as a coordinator? Think about it. A lot of you would be a lot better off if you stopped listening to radio sports talk and stopped watching CNN…just watch the games and see if the Falcons win or lose. You are never going to be experts.

By laughing

January 23, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this

You people are hilarious. Most of you are talking about what a terrible hire Smith is…but, it is very clear you know absolutely nothing about him. How do you know he isn’t the next Tom Landry or Vince Lombardi? After all, those two were just NFL assistants prior to becoming head coaches. You toss out a name like Mike Singletary, but you also know nothing about his coaching skills…he has interviewed for 10 head coaching jobs over last couple of years…ever wonder why he never got an offer? Ever wonder why he never has even been hired as a coordinator? Think about it. A lot of you would be a lot better off if you stopped listening to radio sports talk and stopped watching ESPN…just watch the games and see if the Falcons win or lose. You are never going to be experts.

By Chikara

January 23, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this

I trust the management this time. Blank decided to do the right thing and hire people from WINNING organizations. Besides, at the end of the day it’s about who the Falcons put ON THE FIELD, not just ON THE SIDELINES k? That should count for something. Leave it to you losers and another college coach would be here.

This is the trend of the NFL, hiring people from organizations who won with a defense-first mentality. Does this mean we’ll end up with the St. Louis “greatest show on turf”? Probably not, but I will be much happier because I know Atlanta is going to develop a team with DISCIPLINE and STRUCTURE, which is something that has not occurred since 2001.

For all of those who cried about bringing in Blank, keep in mind that team was all veterans when they played Denver in the SB. This team will have to build with Y-O-U-T-H and instead of worrying about who the coach is, we should me more concerned about what they are going to do with this imbalanced roster.

Let’s start with the draft: will they go after McFadden? It will make sense considering that most teams that win on defense must have a dominant running game. Can you imagine McFadden and Norwood coming out of the backfield? OH MI GOD! With the two second round picks Atlanta has this year (thanks Houston), they can get an offensive lineman and a QB like Chad Henne.

It will be extremely interesting to see which route Atlanta goes from here. Only real fans should jump on board.

By Lady T

January 23, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this

There will be at least (5) five black-out home games next year…mark my words!!

My season ticket money will be going towards a summer trip!!

By john

January 23, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this

Of course it’a a mistake. It must be looked at as a mistake just because it’s a Foulcon decision. Just like those ugly a$$ uniforms they wear.

By FalconManiac

January 23, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this

The falcons ended up with about their tenth choice—-a D coordinator with the jaguars—-are you serious? The jaguars defense wasn’t that good. This guy will last 2-3 years, then get fired or leave like all the rest. The falcons—-run by a bunch of morons.

By David Duke

January 23, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this

What, Jim Hannifan wasn’t available? This is a ridiculous decision. The last former Jags assistant we had in here was P-U-trino and everyone knows how that worked out. Thomas ‘the equipment guy’ Dimitroff is offering the job to someone who isn’t qualified to be an assistant and certainly hasn’t the credentials to be the head man. Failure follows the Falcons in every aspect of football and this is just another example of that!

By Manny

January 23, 2008 2:17 PM | Link to this

So, we were waiting all of this time to hire some guy named John Smith?

Oops! I’m sorry… Jim Smith. Joe Smith? Tim Smith? Mike Smith? Is that his name?

Oh, and this is the Defensive Coordinator for Jacksonville? Really? I thought it was Jack Del Rio.

I mean, didn’t Jack Del Rio call the defensive plays? I thought for sure he was calling them.

So, uh, what did Mike Smith do?

And we hired him but didn’t interview Mike Singletary, Ron Rivera, Russ Grimm, etc. And we thought that the competition was too high for Steve Spagnulo’s services, right?

So we hired a dude named Mike Smith. Because Dimitroff worked with him in NFL Europe.

ok.

By jp

January 23, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this

B- man,

Smith was the defensive line coach and assistant coordinator not the defensive coordinator. I think Marcellus Wiley lends us a little insight of how he is viewed by the players. Resumes can be deceptive by title recognition. Being a falcon fan, I would welcome him with optimism however, I was leaning toward Rex Ryan instead. Of all the candidates that didnt pull out or refuse the falcons, Smith was actually my third choice. Congradulations Mr. Smith!

By In the round 1980

January 23, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this

Hey, if Mike Smith takes the job, great. He’s NOT a college wanna be who’s going to quit after 13 games and doesn’t know how to communicate with professional athletes. He’s in the league, has been for a while and knows the ropes and some darn good people too. Let him coach and if there’s a good relationship with our new GM, even, better. After all, what was Parcel’s criteria in Miami? Hire men who approach the game with like minds. And if anyone thinks the Giants DF coordinator Steve Spagnuolo would come to Atlanta, check their pulse. Go with the ones that will come and get on with the show. Draft time is approaching. And we need a team.

By Carroll

January 23, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this

Another terrible move….motivated by irrational panic. Just read the article on ESPN, and apparently the Falcons didn’t want to wait one more week. Hello! This guy would have still been there after the Superbowl if Spagnuolo didn’t want the gig!!!!! Nobody else wanted Smith…apparently Jax was even ready for a change.

By eatapeach

January 23, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this

Anyone that judges this move as negative doesnt have a clue!!
Do you realize Lombardi was 4th on list of coaches to select from for GB? NO ONE has any idea if this is a bad or good move. You have to trust those that make the decisions. Listen to the football people, they can let you know about the hire. FANS are just that FANS! No way they can make any judgement of the action taken.

By Max

January 23, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this

I Don’t Get It!! This Guy Was NEVER Mentioned As One Of The Possibilities! Was This A “Ploy” By Our GM?

Why Now? Why Not Wait Until AFTER The Super Bowl?

Once Again,Medling Blank Has Created A Giant “Screw-Up”!!

By Who cares its the Falcons

January 23, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=atl

Idiot Franchise!!

By B-man

January 23, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this

ok…lemme get this straight, Smith was the assistant d-coordinator of Tom Landry’s cousin’s daughter’s soccer team?

By Ted Turner

January 23, 2008 2:34 PM | Link to this

I have never been wrong before … but I am a big man, and admit today (for the first time JANE) I was wrong. Thank you kneejerk for pointin’ out my error. It is indeed Mr. Wrestling (not Wrestler) #2, and yes, I do think he is the right man for the job!

The FALCOONS have nowhere else to go but up (though they could actually still bottom out), and if not Tinky Winky, then why not a Masked Man?

Mr. Wrestling #2 has all the qualities I look for in a leader … and one hell of an Atomic Knee! Take that HATERS!

By Ted Turner

January 23, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this

I drove one of them Chrome trucks at the Opening Ceremonies of the ATLANTA OLYMPICS … the one with the Rebel Flag on it!

By Pop

January 23, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this

eatapeach

Did you just say “trust those that make the decisions”??? Have you seen the last TWO “decisions” McKay and Arthur have made??

I would like to know who was on that 9 member committee that helped with the interview process….THIS IS A BUNCH OF FOOLISHNESS FOLKS…..You can sit hear and make ALL of the excuses you want!!

By K-Dawg

January 23, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this

Great hire! With some solid personel moves and a good OC, we’ll be Ok in a couple years. PLEASE stop the whining about Mike Singeltary, there is a reason he WAS NOT interviewed for ANY opening in the NFL> Wake up and pay attention for once.

By Kneejerk

January 23, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this

Great point by Darren. Very few people on this board had heard of Spags before 2 weeks ago, now everyone wants him. What is Jax had pulled the upset on New England? Everyone would be drueling over Mike Smith.

By Carroll

January 23, 2008 2:39 PM | Link to this

What is the obsession with Singletary, folks? Remember: the Falcons were battling his team (the 49ers) to see which of them could be bad enough to get the 2nd pick in the draft!! And you think Singletary is a capable coach? What did the 49ers defense rank?

Did you read the AJC article on him a while back? Basically, his approach to coaching is that he would really really really want to win…really! He would have been another Mora for sure…all fire and emotion and style with no substance. At least Smith, presumably, has a plan. I’m not crazy about him, but we’ll see.

By War Eagle

January 23, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this

Del Rio ran the defense, Mike Smith was just DC. Occasionally,assistant NFL coach comes out to be a success in NFL, but Falcons are in such disarray it will take years to find the direction.Blank should be like the Godfather with Tuna”give him a deal he could`nt turn down”.

By John in Tampa, FLA

January 23, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this

Instead of the bottom of the barrell, are the Falcons scraping UNDER the barrell?

Woohoo, Falcons go 5 and 11 in 2008.

Yeah, they need a defensive guy since their offense is sooooooo good.

Boy, the asst coach prospects will be lining up to apply now. First come, first served.

Note to Smith: consider renting your place in Atlanta instead of buying…makes it easier next year to leave town.

By falconfan211

January 23, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this

Isn’t it awfully arrogant for fans to assume who is qualified and who isn’t? Were any of you in the interviews? You can’t judge a candidate for any job based on perception. Typical ignorance by some of you to assume you know more than people in the business just because you watch tv or maybe played a little at one point in your lives. Stop and think a bit about how it would be if people off the street started telling you how to do your jobs without any real experience. In all work related decisions, some pan out and some don’t. No one can say whether this is really a good move or not…

By Robert

January 23, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this

Great!!! Someone finally said yes.

This organization is in DEEP TROUBLE.

By DOG THE MAN

January 23, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this

What is this? A coach that has no pedigree and brings no enthusiasm. We could have waited two weeks and then pulled the trigger. The Falcons continue to suck the life out of me. Why couldn;t we go with Frazier or Ryan. These coaches have done it consistantly and without the helpful, sheltering hand of thier head coach. Well See you at 4 and 12 again..

By Free Mie Vick

January 23, 2008 2:45 PM | Link to this

This is Mike Vick and eyes want the job. Call me at fi fi fi- fi fo fi fo and we talk. Don’ts call collectibles.

By Boo Boo

January 23, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this

I know nothing about this guy, but his last name is a good fit for the Falcons. Maybe he’s a distant relative of Rankin, et al. Still, reading what little I have about him so far, I am reminded of Marion Campbell. Great Defensive Coordinator, but lousy head coach. Hard to imagine why some jerk on ESPN would badmouth him that way. That makes him sound like he’s distant from the players, like the last bozo the Falcons had, who ran off in mid-season. Oh well, only time will tell. Patience will definitiely be the key … once again.

By coachcook

January 23, 2008 2:47 PM | Link to this

How does the Blank reconcile an offer to Parcell, who is no one’s “yesman”, with now hiring Mr. Who? The two coaches are at opposite ends of the spectrum.

By Jacob

January 23, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this

To the earlier poster: check your facts. Mike Smith NEVER worked for the Ravens. Geeez! Knowledgeable fan, huh?

By Maniac is accurate

January 23, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this

It’s cute to see some of the posts the perennially adolescent leave on these blogs. The Jags defense is not good? The statement is ridiculous on its face.

Smith might be pretty good.

By Didier

January 23, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this

Oh, boy, what a terrible hire.

Go to ESPN.com and listen to the comments of Marcellus Wiley, who played under Mike Smith. He is completely shocked that Mike Smith would get a head coaching job in the NFL.

According to Wiley, Mike Smith was the defensive coordinator for the Jaguars in name only. The defense was lead by Jack Del Rio and Mike Peterson. And, without Peterson’s presence due to injury, the team’s defensive rankings fell dramatically in 2007.

Mercy, sakes alive. Talking about the gang that cannot shoot straight.

Mike Smith looks nice and talks a good game, but he inspired no one in Jacksonville.

And, you don’t have to believe Wiley, go to the message board on the Jaguars website.

Dom Capers? Dave Campo? Those are the comparisons folks.

Well, it’s three more years of mediocrity until Smith is fired and they hire another loser.

Mr. Blank, you seem like a very nice man, but back to the plywood for you.

By Rock

January 23, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this

Arthur Blank has hired an unproven GM and 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. I hope Coach Smith is not a mistake.

By kdubatl

January 23, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this

B-man,

Actually, Marvin Lewis was the Defensive Coordinator when Baltimore won the Super Bowl, not Smith(he was the defensive line coach/defensive assistant).

Also, after hearing Marcellus Wiley’s comments, I am slightly concerned. Wiley, who played for Jacksonville, stated that Smith was more so the “puppet”, and that Del Rio and Mike Peterson were the ones that ran the defense and commanded respect.

We shall see…hopefully he hires a great staff that will pull the load.

By BENJAMIN T. COLLIER V

January 23, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this

what a whining bunch of fans…

some prespective: do u think Colts fans are still ‘proud’ about their superbowl win last year? IT JUST DOESNT MATTER!!!!!! ITS A FLUID SPORT…AND UR ALL P** ME OFF!

By Falcons Stink!

January 23, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this

Ha ha ha ha ha! Another bonehead move by this gutless franchise! How stupid is Blank? Hmmm, I’m drawing a blank! Dumb a*******e$!!!!!! If any of you falcon fans pay money to go see this emabarrassment of a franchise you are all tools and you will get what your money is worth, NOTHING! Until you maroons wake up and stop supporting blank and his bonehead moves you will continue to get this kind of product delivered to you. Basically whatever it takes to get your money, who cares about winning? Not Blank, he just wants your money! Ha Ha Ha Ha

By Disgruntled Atlanta Sports Fan

January 23, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this

**HELP WANTED**

Wanted: NFL Head Coach for well-established, professionally run franchise in premier American city. Team stocked with best players in league, experienced President in place coupled with hands-off owner. Great venue and support staff in place. No experience necessary, will train. Salary negotiable. Apply to e-mail address: wearewinners@yahoo.com. EOE

**HELP WANTED**

By mountain jim

January 23, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this

I have no opinion or knowledge about whether its the right hire or not, I just hope TD made the choice and did not getting hurried up or cowed into not waiting to interview Spags by a worried/hurried Blank or McKay.

I also really want to see what OC and staff he can put together before having a feel for the hire.

By Jesse

January 23, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this

What the Foulcons need are the 5 Smiths back in place of the Blank!

By Dr. I.Q.

January 23, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this

While I had hoped for Terry Maples, Director Emeritus of Zoo Atlanta, I guess Coach Smith will do. At least, he wants to be here which is more than can be said for several in the league.

Maybe Coach Smith could bring on Mr. Maples as a consultant —- to bring some order to the zoo that has existed in Atlanta for some time now.

Anyway, go Falcons!

By Anthony Rhodes

January 23, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this

Why did the Falcons not interview. Mike Singletary? I heard they were impressed with him last year

By LynnCain

January 23, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this

Who the heck is Marcellus Wiley and why should anybody care what he thinks?

By will

January 23, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this

for those who think singletary should have been the coach, how can you hire a man who has never been a coordinator and only a linebackers coach for three years. Steve Spag is in his first year as a coordinator, while smith has 6 years in the job. And billick was offense not defense dumb@$$

By Calvin G. Sims, Sr.

January 23, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this

I have said it before, it bears saying again. Atlanta is my team. I was born here which few of the cry-baby-fair-weather-fans can say. You don’t give up on your team, EVER. They may make some or many boneheaded mistakes, but they are STILL our team. I will support the Falcons no matter what. Mike Smith has never been a head coach, something that, at one time, he has had in common with Cower, Landry, Lombardi, Shula…

Let’s have a little faith. I was in Germany in 1971 (USMC) and I had a friend who was from DC and he was a Redskins’ fan. People laughed at him because they were terrible then. But boy did they turn their team around. The Falcons will have their day and I will love it. I will suffer until they do, but they are STILL MY TEAM.

Go Falcons - Best of luck to Coach Smith - Welcome to Atlanta!!! Period.

By Ted Turner

January 23, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this

According to “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair, you are not the man until you beat the man.

We’ll guess what! Mr. Wrestling #2 beat The Nature Boy way back in the day. Why was he not given serious consideration? Is it the mask?

By Shamus Thacker

January 23, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this

Been a Falcs fan for almost 40-years. It has prepared me for damn near anything. I’m no longer surprised by catastrophic event or miraculous phenomena of any type. Remember, I said I’ve been a Falcons fan for 40-years.

I’ve learned to just relax, to be pleased with any decision the Falcons organization deems appropriate. It’s the only way to balance Falcons fanaticism with good mental health. If Marion Campbell’s carcass is exhumed, (I still wonder if he was dead the last time he coached), and he’s returned to the Atlanta sideline, I must admit I’d be slightly perturbed. Other than that, I’m FINE with ANY coach! Welllll, except for maybe Dan Henning. Is Pat Peppler still alive!? OMG……..

By SirReal

January 23, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this

I cannot believe they went with this guy over Rex Ryan!!! Rex only comes from a line of football minds. His dad only came up with the design for the 46 Defense. This hire STINKS badly! Who really made this decision? You guys really got Ryan’s hopes up and dashed them. I dont know much about this new guy….and thats the scary part. Bad hire Atlanta!

By Ted Turner

January 23, 2008 3:14 PM | Link to this

According to “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair, you are not the man until you beat the man.

We’ll guess what! Mr. Wrestling #2 beat The Nature Boy way back in the day. Why was he not given serious consideration? Is it the mask?

Well, that’s all I’ve got to say ‘bout that.

By boca brave

January 23, 2008 3:15 PM | Link to this

unbelievable! another yutz blank and mckay can push around. he’ll be gone in 3 years.

By humbug

January 23, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this

Why can’t the totally inexperienced experts give the new guys a chance? None of us will know if they are good or bad hires until they have the opportunity to show us. As far as Marcellous Wiley and his opinion just remember that he is the same type mouth as our DeAngelo Hall. PULL FOR THE FALCONS OR SHUT YOUR STINKING MOUTH.

By diehardbird

January 23, 2008 3:18 PM | Link to this

This is great ain’t it? Don’t we all love the Falcons in one way or another!!!!! Go Mike, Go!!!!

Hey, where is Lynn Cain these days? Or, Mike Kenn?

By Falcons will always suck!

January 23, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this

This WHOLE thing could have and should have been soooooooooo simple….just hire Marty. That’s ALL you had to do. Hire him, hand him the keys to the franchise, and take a nice vacation, knowing that your toy was in good hands. But nooooooooooooooooo….you had to get cute….had to hire a new-age personell man….had to get a fresh, new head coach (though he looks like he must be as old as Marty). WHY????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By wait and see

January 23, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this

Here we go again hiring a guy that “interviews” good, we see how that worked out the last 2 times.The best man for the job was Marty S., and no where have I seen that he said he did not want this job. To not even ask the man for a interview was a idiotic move on the part of ALL falcons management. Dimitroff clearly wanted someone he could control so he goes out and hires a buddy he worked with in the past.

I am willing to take a wait and see approach with smith but he clearly was not the best choice for this job.

One last thing: Arthur Blank…KEEP YOUR A* IN YOUR OFFICE AND OFF THE FIELD. You have repeatedly showed your ignorance of football with poor decisions over and over and over..etc…, starting with the firing of Dan Reeves to the 3rd coach in a row with no Head coaching experience. If you can’t stop trying to be jerry jones please sell the team to someone who has enough sense to let the management you hired run the team.

By Frankie

January 23, 2008 3:20 PM | Link to this

Three rookie Coaches in four years. They were afraid that the Giants DC would decline their invitiation for an interview after the super bowl. SO they decided to get Mike Smith. I agree why hasn’t any other team looked at him. I guess the same reason no one looked at Jim Harbaugh for Baltimore. I guess we will see both Baltimore and Atlanta at the bottom of the barrel, Baltimore just hired Cam Cameron as OC, wow these GMs are on CRACK…Remember CRACK IS WACK!!!

By Ted Turner

January 23, 2008 3:26 PM | Link to this

He touched me inappropriately

By No_more_earrings_on_men

January 23, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this

I just viewed the “Wiley” interview on espn.com. It is hard for me to give credence to anything a MAN wearing an earring has to say. This guy is wearing two. I am a Black man and I have always believed that MEN DON’T WEAR EARRINGS. Sounds like “hating” to me.

By Nice Guy

January 23, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this

Bill Parcells, Mike Shanahan, Mike Holgren, Bill Belichick, Tony Dungy, Bill Walsh, Joe Gibbs, Dan Reeves, Marty Shottenheimer, Lovie Smith, John Gruden, Bill Cowher………and so on. All started out as assistants and coordinators. Enough said.

By SJONES

January 23, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this

WHY NOT FASSEL, BILICK I DIDN’T THINK HE ACCEPTED THE OFFER YET, BUT HEY WE WILL GIVE HIM A CHANCE, BUT JAG ASSISTANCES DON’T WANT TO FOLLOW HIM EITHER

By SJONES

January 23, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this

WHY NOT FASSEL, BILICK I DIDN’T THINK HE ACCEPTED THE OFFER YET, BUT HEY WE WILL GIVE HIM A CHANCE, BUT JAG ASSISTANCES DON’T WANT TO FOLLOW HIM EITHER

By mclaw44kk

January 23, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this

hey nay sayers dont jump to conclusions - i went to college and knew MIke Smith very well- he will do what he will be hired to do -he will win-and dont be suprised if he does not pull a rabbit out of his hat when he hires his staff!!

By WarParty

January 23, 2008 3:39 PM | Link to this

Ho-hum.

Another typical Blank inspired hire for someone who:

1) Won’t make waves or insert their strong personality or beliefs into the mix, especially with the media.

2) Will defer to the throne of Blank and won’t say or do anything that Blank hasn’t already approved.

This Falcon’s team is about the biggest joke in the NFL, thanks to their meddlesome owner who hasn’t a clue about running a NFL franchise.

Other than the above, it’s a good hire.

By blue69

January 23, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this

You dumda$$ dont know $hit WE all would have gone crazy if the Falcons had hird bellicheck after the browns fired him Please learn talent wins in hte NFL not coaching all coaches suck when they have no players. And the Falcons have very few player maybe 6

By Tony Abel

January 23, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this

At least he wants to come to Atlanta. Welcome aboard, maybe you can kep the ship from sinking.

By Roger

January 23, 2008 3:43 PM | Link to this

What’s next? Brian Billick as offensive coordinator?

By Draft will tell

January 23, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this

Lets see who we draft. Drafting 3,4 or 5 we should get starters, ready to play in 08. We must not use a high picks on a QB as no one in college ready to play next season. Cedrick Ellis, DT, USC, Jake Long, Chris Long,Glenn Dorsey for example. Go big D & O line and you will see improvement. GM knows 1st hand that a QB can be had later. Watch what Miami does with their 1st 3 rounds.. Starters and impact players right away.

Let’s wait and see what new GM and coach do. Judge a man by what he does. There is too much negative talk when we have given them a chance. I say back up the truck and load a lot of the garbage and let’s build the team with solid players. We get nine picks in the 1st 7 rounds. We should be looking for a lot of positions.

Dump some veterans with big salaries and get busy in free agent market. Stay positive and give the guys a shot. GO FALCONS. I am keeping my tickets!

By Lewis

January 23, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this

Detroit’s offensive coodinator Jim Coletto praises Smith as “A genuine, honest, loyal, and good guy.”

Heck - you could’ve had that with Chan Gailey.

You also reported that he had the 6th rated defense two years ago and the 12th rated this past year? I hate to sound like Columbo but “I’m missing something here.”

I’m sorry - but the events of the past month with this organization haven’t highlighted strong leadership in any way, shape, or form. The 2008 season ought to be interesting.

By Robert

January 23, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this

Someone earlier in the post said that Smith was the D-Coordinator when baltimore won the superbowl that is incorrect Marvin Lewis was the D-Coordinator when baltimore won the superbowl. Well ATL has done it again, they have ensured that they will lose and lose and lose…Blank should have hired Singletary.

By jan

January 23, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this

Can you say one and done! How about Dan Reeves, at least he has coaching experience and has been to the super bowl. How low can the Falcons go?

Mr. Blank here is something may want to consider: People want a winner, if the team wins fans WILL come if NOT you loose money.

Jan

By OpinionsAreLike

January 23, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this

Asking if this is the right choice will get blog responses but what do they mean? Absolutely nothing! Impossible to know until at least the end of his second or third season. But who would want to wait that long to offer their opinion? Would be an empty blog wouldn’t it? No one has a clue if this will work, I don’t and you don’t either.

By coocoo falcon fan

January 23, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this

good pick. Stay away from any expectations and build a formidable defense. Not Ryan [Matt] Long is the choice.

By Jack Sheet

January 23, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this

Man everyone on this board needs to switch to decaf.

We’ve all lived through this before, it seems like the only way they can go at this point is up. I mean, how can it get worse?

That said, if Coach Smith is successful all y’all will be here claiming you saw the potential where everyone else didn’t.

Have a little faith Dimitroff and Smith add up to old school D and a bruising running game, that’s exactly where the Falcs need to go. No Glanville or Jones or Mora/Knapp razzmatazz, maybe more like Reeves stuff it up the gut.

By Master P

January 23, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this

What a joke! Another bonehead hire by the incompetent atl falcons! Why didn’t they interview any black coaches, who would relate better to the players? Dennis Green is available and could win big here with the right talent. Instead, the racist Arthur Blank hires some nobody from the jaguars. He will not last. I will not go to any games until the falcons bring in some black coaches!

By Ed

January 23, 2008 4:10 PM | Link to this

The people that are bashing this hire are the same people that would bash any hire. I guess if Dimitroff hired Jesus Christ to be the next coach people would find something not to like about the guy. The fact of the matter is we all just need to give Mike Smith a chance, I know one thing Jacksonville is a lot better off as a franchise right now than we are and maybe just maybe Smith is the right guy, most people have said wonderful things about him including Ron Jaworski and Tony Boselli, who by the way played for the Jags. Everyone needs to cool it and give the man a try. People in Green Bay weren’t wild about the Packers hiring Mike McCarthy until he got them to the NFC Championship game in 1 season.

By jerry

January 23, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this

Wasn’t the guy who banged Marcellus in the a$$ in “Pulp Fiction” named Mike Smith?

By Poor McKay

January 23, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this

Was Musgrave the OC at same time Smith was DC in J’ville? It looks like way when reading their bios. Hmm, I wonder if we will see Musgrave as our new OC, Emmitt Thomas as our DC and a few seasons of 4-12 football?

By JM

January 23, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this

It’s just hard to know what to think of this hire. It’s a lot like when we hired Mora. He’s such an unknown that you’re not really sure what you’re getting. Jacksonville’s had some very good and very physical defenses, but you don’t know how much of that was Smith and how much of that was Jack Del Rio.

I’ll say this, though. I feel better having Mike Smith as our head coach today than I ever felt about having Bobby Petrino.

By humbug

January 23, 2008 4:24 PM | Link to this

Falcons hire GM with no GM experience, HC with no HC experience. Doesn’t sound good at first glance. Remember that our Braves had a GM with a lot of experience and have a MGR with a lot of experience. Maybe experience ain’t what gets you over the hump. Maybe the quality of the players is what’s important. We will see. Give the new guys a chance. Also remember all we have to offer is opinions, Mr. Blank pays the bills and didn’t get rich by being a fool.

By Notafanbutstill

January 23, 2008 4:25 PM | Link to this

You Falcon fans are funny. This is the same man that helped the Baltimore Ravens win a Super Bowl (I may add a defensive player won MVP-Ray Lewis) and one of the only coordinators to truely put pass rush on Peyton Manning and the Colts. You guys criticize any move they make. Heck, if they did wait and get Steve Spagnuolo of the Giants, you’d still find something to say. STAND BEHIND YOUR TEAM!!! If you are not sure what that is, here are some examples: Selling out season tickets with consecutive loosing seasons like the Packers; still going to the Eagles games after Donovan went down last year and Jeff Garcia took over to take them into the playoffs. Booing a little girl with your rival team’s jersey on because she likes them while she’s accepting an award at the halftime of your divisional playoff game (Indy). This is what it takes! Just don’t boo Santa!(Philly)!!!!

By Paul

January 23, 2008 4:25 PM | Link to this

As a Saints fan I salute you for making a great pick. Hopefully this coach will make the Falcons more competitive. It will, however, take awhile.

What a great deal for us and the rest of league this mystery selection seems to be! Nothing like on the job training!!

By antonio banderas

January 23, 2008 4:25 PM | Link to this

Bad hire. Coach Proust Hoover High and Coach Shockley would have been great teaming up with Blank chasing secretaries around at the complex playing grab-a*

By Paul

January 23, 2008 4:25 PM | Link to this

As a Saints fan I salute you for making a great pick. Hopefully this coach will make the Falcons more competitive. It will, however, take awhile.

What a great deal for us and the rest of league this mystery selection seems to be! Nothing like on the job training!!

By Paul

January 23, 2008 4:26 PM | Link to this

As a Saints fan I salute you for making a great pick. Hopefully this coach will make the Falcons more competitive. It will, however, take awhile.

What a great deal for us and the rest of league this mystery selection seems to be! Nothing like on the job training!!

By Rev. Al Sharpton

January 23, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this

Congrats to Falcons org. for hiring 1st albino in NFL I will be marching at the complex Jesse stay away this one’s mine

By Rob

January 23, 2008 4:36 PM | Link to this

I’m just glad it’s over with. Now we need a QB in a bad way. The Falcons should do whatever it takes to trade for Billy Volek. The guy should be a starter in the NFL and would be a huge improvement!

By Enterprize

January 23, 2008 4:38 PM | Link to this

Lofton as wr coach, marty Schottenheimer as coach, Emmit Thomas dc

By DAWG NATION

January 23, 2008 4:39 PM | Link to this

Welcome Coach Smith to Atlanta (if you accept the job), could you bring Grady Jackson back with you please!

By mclaw44kk

January 23, 2008 4:41 PM | Link to this

hey roger-watch what you wish for- brian billick is mike smiths brother-in -law

By mclaw44kk

January 23, 2008 4:41 PM | Link to this

hey roger-watch what you wish for- brian billick is mike smiths brother-in -law

By Stu

January 23, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this

Now, wouldn’t it be cool if we also got the Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator to come in also.

By Chikara

January 23, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this

Ed that was a funny yet very true statement what you said about hiring Jesus. Knowing these incredibly stupid people on the blog they probably would hate on Him as well. For all those who m*sterbate to hot candidates, go be a Cowboys fan. To show you how dumb most people are on this blog, go check out some REAL blogs on foxsports.com or other websites. The people who actually PLAY the game have shown nothing but support for Mike Smith getting this job. I think i’ll take their opinion over some of you pieces of monkey crap.

I’m sure that you will start filling up the Dome again once the Falcons start winning again. You know it’s funny, no one here in DC is crying for a black coach the way racists in Atlanta do.

Oh, and for the moron who said that Atlanta needed a black head coach to relate to the black players, how many white players do you see in Jacksonville? The Cowboys? The Titans? Don’t see any problems there do you? They have white coaches and they happen to succeed with no problems.

Maybe it’s not so much the experience as it is a person’s ability to coach talent. Mora could’ve been a great coach here had he learned to keep his emotions in check and not try to play favorites. Petrino lacked integrity and that is something Blank should’ve looked into before jumping into bed with him.

As for Smith, I look back to another person who started off as a D-coach and was regarded as a failure: Bill Belichick. If personality was a component for winning he would be out of a job eons ago. He was a failure in Cleveland and almost one in NE before stumbling upon Tom Brady, who if I’m sure as drafted by Atlanta in the sixth round would’ve been thrown out by the first year knowing you hypocrites.

The bottom line is this: IT DOESN’T MATTER WHO’S ON THE SIDELINES IF YOU DON’T HAVE A LEADER ON THE FIELD! Atlanta needs a take-charge kind of QB who will keep things going. They haven’t had that since Bartowski. Matt Ryan, Chad Henne or Andre Woodson would be perfect picks.

By Ticki Barber

January 23, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this

He ain’t no tom coughlin I’m bummed they are doing so good without meI wish I were my brother he said Eli’s got more class in his pinky then i got’s in my whole selfish body

By JimD

January 23, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this

Jacob as for your 2:49 post … Mike Smith DID IN FACT work for the Ravens … 1999-2002.

By Billy White Shoes

January 23, 2008 4:58 PM | Link to this

Why is everybody so upset? I’ve been a Falcon fan since ‘84. I can’t remember a particularly good decision made by franchise management. Why should this one be any different?

I keep telling myself if I keep my expectations at that Bobby Petrino/Marion Campbell/June Jones/Jerry Glanville/Dan Henning level then I won’t be let down.

At least Mr. Blank is helping me save money on my DirecTV bill. That’s two seasons in a row that I don’t need the NFL ticket.

By GODAWGS

January 23, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this

Should have hired Dan Reeves. PERIOD. WAY TO GO ARTIE

By Richard Beaton

January 23, 2008 5:09 PM | Link to this

In my opinion this is how it works in New England, you have a strong scout team that knows how to evaluate talent. You have a good draft team that knows how to look at a scouting report. You have a head coach who knows how to evaluate need going into a draft and more importantly, knows how to coach his coaches to coach up the team that has been presented to him (we know this by not only the won/lost section, but by the number of coaches he looses to other teams, normally as promotions).

It doesn’t matter who you draft if you don’t know how to get the most out of that player for his team. I have seen a lot of good players from Atlanta go to other teams and excel because the coaches on that team knew how to get the most out of that player. This does not just mean football, but also basketball and hockey. In the Braves organization, you see average talent on other teams come here and succeed because of John S. and Bobby Cox and the way they develop their players and it is not just in the big league, it exist in their farm system too.

I say all of this because now we have a situation with the Falcons that Mr. Blank should take advantage of. He has hired a new GM, Thomas Dimitroff that has the reputation for identifying talent. Once he rebuilds the scout teams and drafting team, I am sure he will be able to build a winning tradition with our beloved Atlanta Falcons. Oops, there is a key element missing from that winning formula – a head coach. I am still on the Marty Schottenheimer bandwagon for these reasons. He has proven that he can win with what ever talent he has in his stable. He has done it with the pass and he has done it with the run. He knows defense and special teams win football games as long as you have an offense that knows how to score (and not turn over the ball).

I know Mr. Marty Schottenheimer is in retirement, I also know that he has told teams to come see him and the end of the search, basically so he could skip the menial process based on his strong background already in place. So what will it take to lure Mr. Marty Schottenheimer out of retirement? Money and a commitment to him and the team he brings in to turn this team around and the talent that GM Thomas Dimitroff will bring to the team.

I am telling you that the only way to get past the Michael Vick era is to start winning and Marty is a proven commodity that I believe can handle the task.

PS, as you can tell I am not a writer, if you feel any of this is worthy, please feel free to use any or all of it or please submit it to someone else or put it in the opinion section, I would just like Mr. Blank to see it. I think Marty is so right for the team; I would even help pay his salary (I know this won’t happen, Mr. Blank won’t take my money, but it is a nice gesture).

Richard Beaton

By CPACNUPE

January 23, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this

Pat Nix for OC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He’s young has a “creative offensive mind” and he made Reggie Ball an alright player while he was at TECH with his sorry a$$ but that is who they should hire as OC/QB Coach. The falcons need a OC who develop a QB if the HC is a defensive mind. PAT NIX THE NEXT JASON GARRETT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Jim P.

January 23, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this

All I can say is Good Luck Mr. Smith. You have just entered HELL!! Set your clocks back 40 years….you will encounter black and white biggots! Blacks will be mad if you hire a white QB, and Whites will be mad if you hire a Black QB.

AGAIN, GOOD LUCK MR. SMITH

By Boo Boo

January 23, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this

Do defense and indoor stadiums go together as well as blown achilles, torn pectorals and shredded acl’s do? What dome teams are known for defense over offense? Mike Smith needs to bring a good Offensive Coordinator with him and New Wave GM needs to draft offense, offense, offense. Of course having a Def. Cord. who is chummy with Deangelo and the guys won’t hurt.

By Jimmy

January 23, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this

This team was doomed from putting all of their eggs in one basket when giving Vick all of that $$$. Of course when he left, the team fell apart. It wouldnt have mattered if Jesus Christ himself were coach of this shipwreck of a team. Blank is doing things the right way now, building a team w/ men(Dimitrof and Smith) who are lifetime NFLers. Let them build the team around a hard hitting defense and a smash mouth offense. That combination, more times than not, always wins in the NFL.

By neckville rednecks

January 23, 2008 5:14 PM | Link to this

ssdd art BLANK AND NEW GM ARE CLUE LESS. YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING. SHOULD I BUY SEASON TICKET? 1700 BUCK FOR THIS .

IF MV IS NOT GIVEN A CHANCE TO COME BACK AND HE HIRES A WEAK COACH WHY GIVE YOUR MONEY AWAY WHEN THE MANAGEMENT DOES NOT TAKE IN WHAT THE SEASON TICKET HOLDER WISHES ARE.

THE NFL OTHER TEAM ARE CRACKING UP AT YOU ART!

By Jim P.

January 23, 2008 5:19 PM | Link to this

neckville rednecks,

If your that discontent with the Falcons, move to New England.

By Robert

January 23, 2008 5:22 PM | Link to this

With a few more bad decisions by blank, all of ATL will be begging to have Mike Vick back. If you can look at the achieves of blogs you will see that I predicted how bad the falcons would be and I’m telling you the falcons will be bad for years and years to come. So instead of packing the GA Dome pack Philips Arean…Go Hawks

By TheCounselor

January 23, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this

Primer – How to Fix the Atlanta Falcons

Coach – It’s apparent that a lot of “hot” coaching candidates view the Atlanta Falcons situation as undesirable because of the negative news associated with the team as a result of the Bobby Petrino scandalous departure, and to a lesser extent, the Michael Vick “experience”. Therefore, it is of paramount importance that Mr. Blank appoint a head coach whose name will reverberate through the Falcon’s fandom. That person is “Iron” Mike Singletary. Perhaps, he is viewed as too inexperienced by some but frankly, in today’s NFL, the job of the head coach is more of a leader than an actual teacher/instructor. Moreover, he could offset his lack of experience by naming two well-respected coordinators to help him run the team (my choice for the offense would be Al Saunders who will most likely be available the minute Dan Snyder offers the job to another coach; my coach for the defense would be Rex Ryan, but the fact that he is interviewing for the head coaching position would seem to make this a difficult sell-job. In short, Mr. Singletary’s HoF playing career and his recent coaching experience, he would be well-served to be the FACE and leader of the Atlanta Falcons football team, with Mr. Blank as the face of the Atlanta Falcons organization. It appears that the falcons have now offered the job to Mike Smith from the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jags have had a solid defense for several seasons so this appears to be a good hire. The question then becomes whether the Jags defense was good because of Mr. Smith or because Jack Del Rio is defensive-minded head coach. Only time will tell.

Quarterback – They need one. Period. The question is whether they use the 3rd overall pick with the associated guaranteed dollars on position with such a high rate of failure (or at least of not living up to draft position status). Once they hire the Head Coach, I would immeaditely hire the Offensive Coordinator and stick him in a room with Thomas Dimitroff and not let them come out until they have decided whether or not to use the 3rd pick on a QB. Furthermore, I would caution them by saying that you had better get this pick right because the Falcons cannot afford another wasted pick which would further retard the evolution of the franchise. Regardless of whether they pick a QB at #3, if they manage to hire Al Saunders, the Falcons should immediately sign Todd Collins to be their QB for next year. Two reason: 1) even if you draft a QB at #3, he will most likely not be ready to play at the beginning of the season; and 2) even if he is, it would make sense to have Todd Collins act as a QB coach in waiting since he know the Al Saunders offense so well. By the way, neither Chris Redman nor Joey Harrington played terribly for the Falcons. They could compete for the starting job with Collins and then move into a back-up role once the QB of the future is identified. I would be tempted to take either Jake or Chirs Long or Glenn Dorsey in the first round and then look to grab Joe Flacco in the second round.

Running Backs – Jerious Norwood and Warrick Dunn. Both good players. Mr. Norwood has to start because of his speed but only if he can perform as well as the most underrated Mr Dunn has (pass catching and blitz pick-up). Besides that, they need to have a big RB (a la Brandon Jacobs) to help soften the defense for the 2 scatbacks.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends – The falcons actually have a pair of good young receivers. Roddy White emerged as a #1 WR this year and in my opinion it’s no coincidence that this is the first year that he had a more traditional dropback passer than he did in the past . He is big fast and strong. If I were Mr Blank I would sign him to a contract extension to make sure I have a playmaker at the WR spot. Opposite Mr. White, I would start Laurent Robinson. His first year was ok but assuming he keeps developing he demonstrated the skills to be a good second WR. Michael Jenkins could serve as the 3rd WR or in the alternative, the Falcons should look for a good slot WR like Wes Welker who will allow Mssrs White and Robinson to work down the field. Alge Crumpler, for all of his complaining in the past year is still an above-average TE. With a new coach, Mr. Crumpler would most likely return to form and if not, TE’s are becoming more and more like RB’s (you can always find a serviceable one in the draft).

Offensive Line – The biggest addition would have been the return of Alex Gibbs as OL coach. Unfortuanately, he signed with the Texans. Regardless, the Falcons need to improve their OL. The main target should be Alan Faneca. Why? Mostly because he can be had for money. It seems that Mr. Faneca is content with his super bowl ring and is now looking to cash in. That works in the Falcons favor because the only thing the Falcons can offer is more money. They can’t offer a chance at the playoffs , at least initially. I would offer him a GUARANTEED $14 million ($7mm/year seems to be the going rate for guards) over a 3 year contract (3rd year not guaranteed). This move would immediately improve the quality of the OL thus helping the running game as well as keeping the QB upright. I would then try to get a veteran tackle to help with the line. Although he is coming back from ankle surgery, Jon Jansen of Washington might be available for a low round pick (the Redskins need cap space and they might be willing to trade Jansen since they developed younger players this year (although not as good as Jansen).

Defensive Line – Since Patrick Kerney left, the falcons defense has not been nearly as good as it used to be. John Abraham and Rod Coleman’s injuries hurt this year (as did the unceremonious dumping of Grady Jackson) but they need to get some help. Jamaal Anderson will be a good player but they need to improve the pass rush or run defense. In the event that the Falcon do not take a QB with the 3rd Pick I’d be VERY tempted to take Chris Long or Glenn Dorsey at #3. I’d prefer Long as I think he has a good upside and a limited bust potential. Either of the two players would improve the unit and perhaps allow Mssrs. Anderson and Abrahams to go after the QB.

Linebackers – Keith Brooking is a leader and a fine player but he is in his 10th year. The rest of the LB’s are nothing special, although Michael Boley led the team in tackles and has good upside. Fortunately for the Falcons, LB’s like RB’s can be found all over the draft. How did D’Meco Ryans go in the 2nd round?! The Falcons need to look for that kind of value

Secondary – the first thing Coach Singletary (or wwhomever the new coach is) should do is sit down with DeAngelo Hall to see whether he wants to be a part of the Falcons or not. He is a very talented player but his head (and mouth) often cuase him problems. Atlanta was ranked 22nd against the pass in 2007 and 26th against the run. Jimmy Williams is a hard-hitter in the secondary but his coverage skills are not up to par with his run-support skills. Chris Houston played well as a rookie and should improve in his second year. Improving the pass rush will help the secondary but there is little doubt that the Falcons need to improve the talent level in the secondary, especially from a coverage perspective.

By Dave

January 23, 2008 5:27 PM | Link to this

Now that they may have a new coach maybe the next step it to trade some of the trouble makers on this team.It’s not just a good coach you need, but players who will think of the team first rather than themselves all the time.

By harrywx52

January 23, 2008 5:35 PM | Link to this

I was hoping Rex Ryan would be the choice. Maybe Smith will work out. It will depend on the staff he can assemble. Anybody will be better than PETRINO.

By I Am The Hurricane

January 23, 2008 5:35 PM | Link to this

Don’t worry folks. Mike Smith will only be around for one season. Then ATL hires Bill Cowher or Tony Dungee! BELIEVE IT!

By This Gets Old

January 23, 2008 5:36 PM | Link to this

You’re going to have to get a young QB some time. You need an offensive guy in order to truly make that work (Bill Walsh’s words)

Seems to make sense when you look at SFO this past season. Plus if you’re going for a defensive guy get a guy that there is something to be said for getting a guy that you KNOW that he’s truly run the defense. I personally would have preferred a DC who regularly knocks the opposition QB on his a$$. Seeing the Steelers without Willie Parker run all over the Jags troubles me.

But don’t mind me, I only buy season tickets.

By jack Atlanta

January 23, 2008 5:39 PM | Link to this

Is anyone else just a little bit amused that ‘Mr. Smith’ has not been seen at Falcon Headquarters sporting a Falcon’s cap and hugging Mr Blank, the new GM and Rich McKay (oh, that is right … McKay is now taking a back seat)?? More importantly, isn’t it just a little strange that ATL has not heard from Mr. Smith? (Wouldn’t an enthused new head coach of an NFL team be so overjoyed that he would be contacting the ‘new home town media’ to let them know just how enthused he is?????

By Eric

January 23, 2008 5:39 PM | Link to this

I really wanted Rex Ryan, but who knows how Smith will turn out. One of his former players saying he doesn’t command respect is not a good sign, especially with DeAngelo in the locker room.

By Wink from Lithonia

January 23, 2008 5:43 PM | Link to this

Let see we hire this Smith character, just two weeks before the NFL season ends with the Super Bowl.

We waited this long, why not wait until all availble candidates could be interviewed. Why not wait to interview Spagnuolo of the Giants or Josh McDaniels of the Patriots??? Why rush to judgement again.

I understand the Jags defense was good, but the Giants defense was better. Petrino was suppose to be an offensive genius & Thomas the interim coach offense put up more point in less games (3 vs 13). My point is if I am the personnel guy for a perennial playoff team with Super Bowl rings like New England, why not wait to interview Josh McDaniels the offensive coordinator who oil that machine in New England.

Tom Dimitroff it want matter how good of a personnel evaluator (GM)you are … if you give good talent to a bad offensive coordinator/coach… we will not get any better (see Hawks talent & Coach Woody)…perfect example.

Will Mr Smith serve as Coach & Defensive Coordinator?

All is forgiven if you are trying to compile some kind of “dream team” coaching staff!!

New England = GM = Dimitroff to select personnel.

Jags = Head Coach = Smith for discipline & authority??

New England = Offensive Coordinator = Josh McDaniel to bring us an offensive identity (give him the title of Head Coach in Waiting …see Garrett in Dallas)

Giants = Defensive Coordinator = Spagnuolo who would head up our defense since he was able to get the Giants past the offenses of Dallas & The mighty Favre (give him the title of Assistant Head Coach & some cash to keep him quiet for about 13 months when we revisit this Head Coaching thing again.)

This is the only scenario that makes sense, because Smith was hired early so we would not lose out on filling our coaching vacancies. Well if I am correct, no other team can sign these two guys for the next 2 weeks, we should be ready to pounce on these two guys as soon as the last whistle blows at the Super Bowl because they will be the only coaches left in the entire NFL that could change our fortunes…RIGHT dimitroff!!!!!

By Paul

January 23, 2008 5:48 PM | Link to this

Please stop talking about DHall and Crumpler. They were more right than wrong about Petrino. How any one could defend Petrino at this late date is well beyond me.

By Dr. I.Q.

January 23, 2008 5:54 PM | Link to this

For those who insist on opining about the relative merits of having Singletary as the HC, just one question: What has he done in the last five years that would prepare him to be head coach —- particularly, the head coach of probably the most dysfunctional array of players in the entire league?

He may be ready in another five years, but he’ll have to acquire skill sets that he doesn’t presently possess. Great guy, no doubt. But, he’s not head coach material at the present time. However, for some, being black is all that really matters.

By Navigator

January 23, 2008 5:55 PM | Link to this

Best option available - Say what it is folks, no top coach wants the Atlanta job. Now could this guy develop into a good head coach, only time will tell. The Jaguars has one of the best defenses in the league, so the Falcons will benefit from his presence there. Remember the HC runs the team in general, but the day to day operation is the assistants, so he may be judged by who he can help hire (with the help of management). I hope he looks at the newly deposed Offensive Coordinator from Tennessee. He’s a good one, blame for not developing a runner QB. Atlanta has and will get a classic QB, he could be a good fit. Secondly, John Tenuta hasn’t left the area, and I surely would try to get him. His defense is pro style, attacking just like the Jaguars. With those two, Atlanta could get a good start with assistants.

By Wink from Lithonia

January 23, 2008 6:00 PM | Link to this

PS

What do you think of a coach when one of his players says he was a figure head and Jack Del Rio called all the shots??? Not here say but someone has played for the man…his only supporters are his former co-workers…who say emphatically they are not coming to Atlanta if he asked them too???

I see your concern regarding the impending coaching staff…it may take awhile to convince coaches to come here!!!

My final question, what do you think of a coach who installs one of your mid season cast aways into his starting defensive line up 1 week after you let him go…what was the reason detrimental to the team…your new head coach…found a starter in GRADY JACKSON…what do you think of that????

Maybe Smith does know his football…hmmmmmmm!!!!!

By neckville rednecks

January 23, 2008 6:09 PM | Link to this

counselor never fix any thing .You are past clueless! Alex Gibbs @#$%^&#@* get a mind!

By SameOldFalcons

January 23, 2008 6:11 PM | Link to this

Once again, Blank fires a blank in hiring a coach—-no experience, not even a coordinator. Who is advising blank for these bad hires? Blank will down on the field again, putting his nose in and acting like he knows football. I’m not buying tickets again until they make real changes down there—-get rid of the thugs on the team, get a good QB who can throw the ball, get a real defensive line and get better beer at the games—the stuff they sell is terrible.

By falcon21

January 23, 2008 6:12 PM | Link to this

I know nothing about MIKE SMITH,so i have no right to knock him. Give him a chance.Look at the bright side,at least its not MIKE SINGLETARY.

By Jerry Glanville

January 23, 2008 6:21 PM | Link to this

Arthur Blank,

What about the interview we scheduled for Thursday???

Jerry

By Dawgs

January 23, 2008 6:25 PM | Link to this

For the love of God, how would Singletary be the best fit for this team? I bet I can name more players who turned coach and failed than ones that made the switch and had success.

Singletary had a great career as a player and has really just started being a coach. In 3 or 4 years I think he will be ready to become a HC but he doesn’t have the experience. He wasn’t my first pick. I wanted Billick. Still, this guy is the next best thing. The falcon’s talent base is on D anyway so hopefully we are good there next year and can start building the O.

You can make this some racist crap by saying Singletary wasn’t hired because he was black if you want to but your not doing yourself or the black community any good for doing it.

Ask yourself this… Singletary did not interview with ANY team this year. Why is that?

By Bernie

January 23, 2008 6:27 PM | Link to this

I think they should hire Donald Shockley. He’d fit right in.

By David Duke

January 23, 2008 6:32 PM | Link to this

Primer-How to fix this blog.

Eliminate obtuse, pompous flatulence such as the wind broken by someone offering counseling without benefit of license or other suitable qualification. Save your intellectually bereft blabberings for your poor wife or, don’t let it be Lord, the mongoloid fruit of your pork loins.

By Dawgs

January 23, 2008 6:34 PM | Link to this

Sameoldfalcons

Err… He was jacksonville’s DC for 4 years… Are you on acid or something or is it that you just can’t read?

Now I just hope we trade for a few middle round picks and maybe a 1st rd this year and ship Meangelo somewhere. He has skills but the guy costs you more games than he wins for you. A Neon Dion you are not. Prime Time at least returned punts/kick offs for his first few years while D.Hall just says no to that.

By neckville rednecks

January 23, 2008 6:34 PM | Link to this

4-12 6-10 8-8. now draft time please don’t mess it up!

By neckville rednecks

January 23, 2008 6:40 PM | Link to this

Dawg dude, dude put the pipe down dude . ask the player who played for mike smith ! Dawg dude this is no uga-y he is coaching men !

By David Duke

January 23, 2008 6:51 PM | Link to this

I wet my bed when I think about intelligent black people I use David Duke name cause my sense of humor is sophomoric and I’m a virgin unless u count my momma

By Rod

January 23, 2008 6:53 PM | Link to this

Ive come to the conclusion Blank is a fking fool when it comes to running a football team. His fking ego ran the only football man we had running this team in Dan Reeves.

By catholic Priest

January 23, 2008 6:53 PM | Link to this

Hire a little boy

By KrisG

January 23, 2008 7:02 PM | Link to this

Don’t get rid of the thugs. Get rid of the people who can’t play or maybe lose us games because they can’t control their tempers. If the thugs can play, and don’t screw us on the field, by all means keep them.

I don’t want boy scouts. I want back to back winning seasons.

By NC_Falconfan

January 23, 2008 7:09 PM | Link to this

Kinda looks like Don Rickles,don’t ya think? All he had to practice against was Leftwich?I hope and pray this isn’t.. ‘here we go again!’

Go Falcons !!!

By Bama

January 23, 2008 7:10 PM | Link to this

Wiley is another D-a21 Hall. His word is worth nothing. He was cut by Jax in 06. The person with Falcons who leaked to espn about Smith and requested anonymity should be fired. *Steve Smith will make a great HC for Falcons. Give the man a chance. He’s got to be better than MORA and PETRINO. Fans need to step up and support the team, its been hell for the last year and half. Time to start over New, the past is gone get with the future. *

By David Duke

January 23, 2008 7:20 PM | Link to this

i’m not a virgin and I haven’t been one in quite some time thanks to yo mammy.

By Najeh Davenpoop

January 23, 2008 7:29 PM | Link to this

Primer - How to fix the Falcons:

(Actually there are a few more steps involved, but I don’t feel like typing the same damn s** I already have posted three or four times before)

But those are the two most important steps.

Keep your head up, #33765-183.

By WILL

January 23, 2008 7:39 PM | Link to this

LISTEN,YOU MORONS,THE FALCONS, IF YOU ARE A TRUE FAN,WILL BACK UP THE NEW COACH 100%.being, from a family member, of someone, who once played in the nfl,with initials, WG, WILLKNOW, THAT TEAMS, CAN WIN SUPERBOWLS,WITH STRONG DEFENSE, AND A SUB PAR, QB,THAT DOENT MAKE MISTAKES,POINT TAMPA BAY, AND BALTIMORE.WON SUPERBOWLS WITH WHO AT QB?TRENT DILFER,ARTHUR BLANK,YOU NEED TO DRAFT,JAKE LONG FROM MICHIGAN,2NDROUND RUNNING BACK MAYBE KEVIN SMITH CENTRAL FLORIDA, 3RD ROUND, AQB, AND A GOOD LINEBACKER, CALL ME ARTHUR BLANK,I HAVE BEEN STUDING THIS DRAFT FOR 3 MONTHS,IM IN THE PHONE BOOK.ARTHUR,ILL CALL YOU TOMORROW AT THE BRANCH .LISTEN YOU SO CALLED FANS,THE ONLY MISTAKEARTHUR BLANK MADE WAS BELIVING MIKE VICK,WHEN HE SAT DOWN AT HIS DINNER TABLE, AND TOLD ARTHUR,I DID NOT KILL A DOG.GET REAL IF YOUR A FAN AS I AM YOU WILL SUPPORT ALL THE GOOD AND BAD , AND LORD ITS BEEN BAD SINCE, 1966.GOD BLESS NORM VAN BROCKLIN,AND TOMMY NOBIS, HARMON WAGES,BOB LEE,FULTON KEYKENDALL, STEVE BARTKOWSKI, WILLIAM ANDREWS,CLAUDE VAN HUMPHREY,JONH ZOOK.AND OTHERS, FOR BEING TRUE FALCONS, OH YEA AND KEITH BROOKING, AND JESSE VAN TUGGLE.GOFALCONS GO./IN 2008

By WILL

January 23, 2008 7:43 PM | Link to this

WHERES MY POST .

By Peter

January 23, 2008 7:51 PM | Link to this

Good gosh a defense !

What a concept !

Hopefully some one who can judge talent, and integrity.

TEAM would be good as well !

By whatever

January 23, 2008 7:52 PM | Link to this

Did yall see the video on the espn website where one of Smith’s former Jag players (Wiley) said he didn’t have the respect of his players, and had little to do with the Jag’s defensive success?

By This Gets Old

January 23, 2008 7:54 PM | Link to this

Wiley was more expansive on SportsCenter about why he said what he said concerning Smith. You have to take into account what players think. I know a lot of you think that these are the days where players do “what they’re told to do”

Well, the NFL isn’t that way. Coaches have to be a lot of things but overseer isn’t one of them. I think that we should have found a guy to fix the offense because at some point we have to have a young QB.

Like it or not guys like Ryan, Frazier and Spag are blitzing coaches and that’s the way the game is moving.

That being said the Patriots this season played Jax, NYGiants and Baltimore. Presumably Dimitroff attended those games and saw these defenses for himself. He hired Smith so there, it’s over. Who knows maybe Grady comes back.

By Jerry

January 23, 2008 7:58 PM | Link to this

The way I see it is like this. All the peoplethat are slamming Blank and the rest of the Falcons franchise need to remeber how the Falcons got in this position to begin with. A franchise QB who was conducting illegal dogfights and got caught. A coach who was not man enough to at leaste do what he wanted his players to do and that is FINISH. He quit the season early to run like a sissy back to the college ranks where he can control boys instead of working with grown men. Blank has made some mistakes since buying the Falcons but not all this is his fault. Mike Smith should be welcomed by Falcon fans as the man who is willing to step up and give his best at trying to help this team become a strong defensive team and hopefully become a champioship calliber team in the process. I say welcome to the Falcons Mr. Smith and I support you as long as you give your best all the time…

By morris

January 23, 2008 8:00 PM | Link to this

” being, from a family member, of someone, who once played in the nfl”. Can someone out there please translate this phrase for me? Hey neckville, he seems to speak the same language as you, care to translate this gibberish?

By WILL

January 23, 2008 8:04 PM | Link to this

HOW BOUT THEM BRAVES.THEY WILLFINISH IN 3RD PLACE AGAIN, ARIZONA GOT DAN B=HAREN,WEGOT TOM GLAVINE, HAREN,WEBB, AND JOHNSON,FOR ARIZONA.WEHAVE SMOLTZ,GLAVINE, JAMES,AND THE OTHEER OAKLAND PITCHER,IWISH IT WAS 96 AGAIN., SO WE COULD CELEBRATE,SOMETHING, BETWEEN, THE HAWKS,TRASHERS,BRAVES,FALCONS, GTECH,BULLDOGS,NOWONDER EVERY BODY CALLS US LOSERSVILLE.BUT THE FALCONS HAVE TURNED THE CORNER, WITH SMITH, OR RYAN OF BALTIMORE., OR REHIRE,

By saint

January 23, 2008 8:11 PM | Link to this

My guess is that Spagnuolo passed the word to the Falcons, that he was not all fired up to join them. Then, we really don’t know is he was the one to lead us out of the desert. Big names are not sure things: look at the terrible job Charlie Weis has done at ND, him being an NFL OC with a bunch of superbowl rings! It would be worthwhile hearing from current JAX players, other than one that was cut. If Spag had been come here, I’ll bet we would complain that he was too small in stature to command respect from the team. Smith will do a lot better job than most of us think, because he is motivated to come to Atlanta.

By tony

January 23, 2008 8:34 PM | Link to this

i must say, i agree with this hire eventhough i was hoping they would hire ron rivera. mike smith got something jim mora and b.petrino don’t have - a championship with the ravens and he establish the 2nd best defense in the league in 2006 with the jaguars. this team will respect this guy because he’s been where they’re trying to get to - THE SUPER BOWL!

By SWATS

January 23, 2008 8:46 PM | Link to this

This was the wrong hire in my honest opinion. The Falcons needed someone with a resume, someone who would garner instant respect…people like Marty Schottenheimer or a Mike Singletary, who really wanted this job and was passed over TWICE.

Arthur Blank still has not learned the key to a successful business is to stay ON your busines but not IN your business. Hire competent people and take your hands off…like the Kraft’s, Rooney’s, Laurie’s of the NFL world. I feel that maybe an established name, or heck, even Rex Ryan’s personality would have been too strong for Blank, who, in my opinion, wants a puppet so he can meddle in the football operations and be seen on the sidelines directing his vision. Blank knows absolutely nothing about football and has as much business owning the Falcons as I have owning Home Depot. As you can see, three coaches and five years later, the two business structures are COMPLETELY different. He fired Dan Reeves because Dan wasn’t going to put up with Blank’s antics! He was like “Look here….I will take care of the business down here, and you should take care of the business in the luxury boxes.” He fired an Hall of Fame player and coach because he wasn’t a YES guy. Singletary was never going to be that YES guy.

Until Blank understands that the Falcons are NOT about showcasing him as this franchise savior, but rather, an owner who knows his place. We will continue striking out at the plate. And yeah, some smart team will hire Singletary soon and the results and impact will be seen and heard leaguewide.

By 3 Season Tickets man

January 23, 2008 9:01 PM | Link to this

* I love this hire so much I am going to let 3 on the wait list have my tickets.*

By D.Allen

January 23, 2008 9:09 PM | Link to this

Rod Woodson the soon to be Hall of Fame CB spoke very highly of Singletary, most football guys do….unfortunatly football guys don’t hire coaches…owners who have usually never played the game on a high level do. Woodson says that after speaking with Singletary you are a very motivated individual. He said that he as a player would do anything for Singletary. His motivational skills are great. He says the guy brings a great sense of credibility to the table.

By Ken Strickland

January 23, 2008 9:17 PM | Link to this

The OC for the Falcons could also be considered a puppet since Petrino called all of the plays before he flew the coup. After Petrino left, the Falcons OFF actually improved dramatically with the OC calling the plays. And he had much less to work with than Petrino since most of the starting OL were injured.

Why don’t you consider Grady Jackson’s opinion of Smith before acceping Wiley’s comments lock, stock and barrel. Grady’s assessment should be more informed, because of his more recent experience with Smith and having played for both organizations this season.

Who is this AJC moron saying Smith will be inheriting an aging roster. Look at the overall age of the 2 SB teams. They could be considered aging rosters as well. Yet it hasn’t prevented them from winning big.

By The Realist

January 23, 2008 9:23 PM | Link to this

Some of you who don’t OBVIOUSLY don’t know football should take your personal biases elsewhere. If you think that getting rid of the “thugs” will fix the team, you’re as clueless as the Falcons front office. Like KrisG said, get rid of the guys who don’t make plays! I must say, as a lifelong Falcons fan, that I hope this hire works out but I do have to wonder why Singletary didn’t get an interview. I won’t even go there. Some things just don’t & won’t change. ANYWAY, what’s going to be crucial is the staff Smith puts together. Oh yeah, that & whether or not the front office realizes that a rookie QB behind the same sorry O-line will give yield the same sorry results.

By neckville rednecks

January 23, 2008 9:46 PM | Link to this

now that we have a new coach . As season ticket holder draft some offense linemen and defense linemen a big running back and middle line backer.

Bring back MV in 2009 that if snow board Gm want to win or lose to prove a point. Time will tell if he plays the best talant and draft the best talant.

We are all looking on to see. when is the last day for the money to buy season tickets? I will wait to see what the new GM does frist on draft day!

By Weasel

January 23, 2008 10:29 PM | Link to this

Great hire at GM. He helped build the Patriots and they are doing pretty weel. If this is who he wants, then I say Go Falcons!! Looking forward to next season.

By zorro

January 23, 2008 11:31 PM | Link to this

I’m a Falcons Fan at heart, I think arthur has learned his lesson from catering to a certain “demographic” on the team, he’s ready to pull the team out of the ghetto,and will not be targets for every sports radio and TV show in the country, what an embarrasment for Atlanta, I’m white and have been here Most my life and am ready for a fresh start, and the HE$$ with the mugs who don’t want to come because of the race issue on the team, whining about no Black coach or Black GM, because when the Birds start winning again, trust me you’ll line up for tickets just like you did in 98 Pre Mike Vick era, our Super Bowl run. The Mike Vick Debacle will be 1 yr behind us in april 2008, before spring training, so guess what atlanta no more surprises { I Hope } for 2008. Bottom line Mr Blank I will reup my season Tickets, but please no more hip hop in the dome before the games. I feel like i’m in the bluff in west atlanta.

By Bo Diddley

January 23, 2008 11:37 PM | Link to this

Jan. 23, 2008 - 6:51 p.m. ET

The Falcons have reportedly offered former Dolphins assistant Mike Mularkey their offensive coordinator position.

He is expected to choose between taking Atlanta’s offer or becoming the Bucs’ QBs coach shortly. Mularkey previously had success as Pittsburgh’s offensive coordinator and in 2004 as the Bills’ head coach, but his stock has fallen off dramatically since a turbulent 2006 season with the Dolphins.

Source: St. Petersburg Times

By wallace

January 24, 2008 12:26 AM | Link to this

mike smith! aw man, i was hoping it was chuck smith! we have 3 days before its official, renege, and bring in chuck smith.DE…and since i tipped you off in the right direction, i’d like to be hired stadium employee!

By joebrave

January 24, 2008 12:48 AM | Link to this

Listen up people,1!! Mike Guddam Vick is not COMING BACK HERE EVER!!!! 2! Mike Singletary PHUKKING SUCKS!!!!!!!

Mr.Blank does’nt Run this Team to satisfy the wantoness of the other coloreds in Atlanta,Get a guddam Education you illeterate SCUMBITCHES!!!!!!

Go MIke Smith,now Hire Ron Rivera for your D.c.,and Cam Cameron,for your O.c.

By joebrave

January 24, 2008 12:52 AM | Link to this

and Neckville,You are one ignorant SONOFAWHORE,learn how to spell you KUMDRINKING IDIOT!!! it’s Talent,no talant!!!!

Damn Boy,I used to whup @sses like yours on a daily basis just for being STUPID!!!!

By 25year ticket holder

January 24, 2008 7:17 AM | Link to this

Too bad all these people who are intelligent enough to criticize, are’t intelligent enough to be working for the Falcons, and in a position to have some real input besides armchair negativity. I hope the guy works out. Every coach in the NFL, no matter how successfull, had to start somewhere. I’ll buy my tickets again this year, and the year after that, and so on… Us fans should do what we’re supposed to do…SUPPORT THE TEAM…and leave the decisions to the ones we’re paying to make them. …and hope for the best!

By fatz

January 24, 2008 7:30 AM | Link to this

hey, no one really knows if these coordinators can make the leap to head coaching until after the fact. i think the major decision here was to go with a lesser known quantity vs going after a billick or schottenheimer or mariucci. our first look at the dimitroff/smith era will be their choice of new coordinators…… it does seem that blank panicked somewhat- maybe he finally understands how badly this franchise is reeling. what amazes me is the fact that he liked mike singletary so much during the petrino search, and seemed to have no interest this time. it is painfully obvious he has no clue what he is doing running a football team. lets hope tom dimitroff was the right hire or this team will spiral down to a new ring in dante’s NFL hell….

By Lynn

January 24, 2008 7:44 AM | Link to this

Well zorro, why don’t you just buy up the other 35,000 season tickets that will be available since you think you are entitled to “your type of environment” at the Dome?? Unfortunately, you Mayberry types will never learn.

By Jerry

January 24, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this

It sounds to me like some people need to get over the race issue. we are talking football here. Football and all other sports are not about race it is about the competition and supporting your team to a win. I do not care what color a persons skin color is as long as he can get the team that I have grown up loving to the winners circle.

By powerhouse neckville rednecks

January 24, 2008 9:08 AM | Link to this

joe brave our home town redneck . Did you crank one of those old cars around you mama house to get on line. Have you brush your one green tooth.

you hate vick so much you pi@@ on the floor when vick name is called neck get over it clown #7 2009 ATL. You could not beat you own meat. Any time you want me clown section 211 row 3 seat 4 at the dome.

your redneck a$$ don,t buy ticket just raise hell because you hate vick. VICK make blanks money . your po @$$ can,t buy tickets.you are home school in rednecklogy because you are dumb as dirt clown.

By zorro

January 24, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this

Hey Lynn, and you THUG Types will never learn either, you don’t own atlanta like you think. PLEEZ, oh my bad PLEASE!!!!!!

By Whit

January 24, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this

I think the hiring of Mike Smith can be positive only if he has the backbone to stand up to some big name players who want to run the show. Turning the Falcons around will have to be done by a firm coach!

By Sang

January 24, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this

A good portion of you posting your thoughts on this are missing a few screws in your head. Some have said that we should have waited to interview with the Giants D-coordinator. Why? So if he decides after the Super Bowl that he doesn’t want the job we can lose out on great applicants like Mike Smith? He helped lead the Ravens to the Super Bowl with a superior defense. If you can get top notch guys like Ray Lewis and Ed Reed to respect and want to play for you, it should be easier to get a bunch of younger guys like Chris Houston and D. Hall to work hard for him. If any of you douchebags are season ticket holders, please sell them now. I live in New York and I would be really disappointed if I fly down to support my team and see you c** there. If you arn’t for the team, go talk your s** somewhere else and stop dwelling on a team you supposedly are “so over”.