The Atlanta Falcons Are Bad For Atlanta Sports

You read the title right, it's not some teaser.... and No, I am not drinking. I think the Atlanta Falcons franchise, more specifically, this Blank person and Dimitroff have totally ruined Atlanta. I hope we run them out of town... well, maybe that's a bit too far.

How did I arrive here?

Let's reminisce a little bit.

Authur Blank buys the Falcons, we get all excited. An owner who can spend money and an exciting player. During that time the Braves were still making runs into the playoffs and never winning.

Year before last: All 4 franchises suck and the worst one of all was the Falcons.

Now, what I am upset about is that this Blank character goes off and hires some surfer dude to come into Atlanta with a real plan. Then they hire a Coach that gets "it." The Falcons have a great year, Dimitroff makes more moves and now the expectations are even higher.

That's all well and good, the NFL is very competitive... it's only natural that people root for their team to get to the superbowl, even if they have no shot at it all *cough* Raiders *cough*.

However, in the NBA, it's pretty much decided. In fact, in some cases, even injuries don't play a role.

Let's get to the point. The Hawks dominated talk radio today. I really pity the hosts and the callers. I realize that the real evil is that the Atlanta Falcons organization has raised the bar for every one. To think that people talked about moves the Hawks could make to get to the next level, is ridiculous.

IT"S THE HAWKS, PEOPLE! THE FACT THEY HAVE A WINNING PERCENTAGE OVER .500 IS NEWS ENOUGH.

Now the people of Atlanta want to move pieces to get even further in the playoffs. HELLO! IS ANYONE THERE?!?!

PLAYOFFS (in Mora voice) ?! Really. Let's just be happy that we had a winning season and try not to mess up a good thing.

Ultimately I think the Atlanta public would be just fine if the Hawks made the playoffs as an 8 seed every year and failed to make the championship. Rattle off a few years like that and you can then harold the franchise as one of the most storied of all time.... then again, we already have a franchise like that - The Braves.

So yes, the Atlanta Falcons are bad for Atlanta Sports because they've raised our expectations on all the franchises in Atlanta. Shame on them.

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Robbed

The Pro Bowl Selections are in and frankly, the Falcons got Robbed.

Reserve Selection:

• Michael Turner - Should be the starter
• Roddy White - This guy is second in the entire NFL in Receiving... Reserve, I think not.
  

Really Robbed

• John Abraham - This guy is a beast! Not sure why his 3rd overall in the league in Sacks isn't enough.
  
• Michael Koenen - The best punter in the league on most afternoons. He is top 3 in "inside the 20", the top punter for "Return Yards" and in the top 3 in categories that matter.
  

Really, Really Robbed

• Atlanta Falcons - Did you know? If the Falcons win out and Tampa wins out, the Falcons will miss the playoffs with an 11 - 5 Record, but a potentially 9-7 Arizona team and a potentially 10-6 Chicago team will be in.
  

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Vince Young - A Queer Sort Of Quarterback

Courtesy to blogxilla for reposting these images, but honestly I really don't have much more to say. Wonder how this whole gay thing plays out for Vince.

Blogxilla's comment on the pictures, "It looks like a Sausage party to me b/c I don't see nearly enough women around to warrant taking off anyone's shirt!!! It's just not right!!!"

Yeah, it's prudent not to call a spade a spade, but look at this image, I mean the Braves fan there is grinding on Vince....
Previously, I had posted quarterbacks that I would be just as excited to have on our team since 2003 and Vince Young was one of them. Gee, I think I can remove that name. No offense to guys that of that particular persuasion, but I'll have a hard time rooting for a guy that REALLY, REALLY enjoys the company of guys.

Local radio hosts from 790 the zone talked at length the other day about who they would rather have then Matt Ryan if they could go back and pick and Vince was the resounding number 1 (based on college career).

Wonder if these photos came out earlier if it would change that opinion.

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Who Would Be More Exciting Than Matt Ryan?

Excluding 2007, which QB were taken that would be more exciting than Matt Ryan out of college. You have to go all the way back to 2003 just to find 5 QBs that would be at least AS exciting as Matt Ryan.

2006 NFL Draft

1. Vince Young - Can't get more exciting than this, so YES.
2. Matt Leinart - Again, based on college experience alone, absolutely. YES
3. Jay Cutler - Coming from Vanderbilt, his body of work just doesn't excite me the way Ryan's does. Vanderbilt is a whipping boy for a lot of teams, Boston College on the other hand does face some stiff defenses.

2005 NFL Draft

1. Alex Smith - Coming from Utah with little to no competition and lack of experience in a pro-style offense, I really can't get jazzed up about him.
2. Aaron Rodgers - Again, coming from California, Rodgers isn't going to excite me about his level of play.
   
3. Jason Campbell - One great season does not a quarterback make, or does it. I like the fact that he did it in the SEC, so that's a plus, but it's a big stretch to say more exciting than Ryan.

2004 NFL Draft

1. Eli Manning - He's a wild card for me. On one hand, I'm not impressed by his college resume in comparison to others, but he's Peyton's brother. In terms of excitement alone, I'd have to give it to him.
2. Phillip Rivers - Based on his body of work at NC State, I'd have to say I'd be at least as excited about Rivers as I am about Ryan. Several awards and great games in college and he did it in the ACC.
3. Ben Roethlisberger - As a college athlete, Ben just flies under the radar for me at Miami(OH). I'd feel the same about Joe Flacco this year.
   
4. J.P. Losman - Uh, no.
   

2003 NFL Draft

1. Carson Palmer - Anyone from a winning USC team would entice me just a bit. His career isn't as exciting as Leinart's to me, but I'd be fired up about him coming to Atlanta.
   
2. Byron Leftwich - Marshall does nothing for me excitement-wise. Media talking about his big arm, might get me a little bit.... on second thought. NO.
3. Kyle Boller - Again, the competition level that Kyle faced in college isn't on the same playing field. I'm not ready to give Cal any respect.
4. Rex Grossman - In 2003 I'd be pretty fired up about an SEC Quarterback, even though I'm a Georgia Tech fan. In 2008, I'd be very disapointed because Grossman is the Brohm of this years draft in my opinion. A system QB.

Just for kicks

2002 NFL Draft

1. David Carr - No
   
2. Joey Harrington -No
   
3. Patrick Ramsey - Is Tulane a school?

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It Only Takes One Action....

to be called a Thug.

All over the Atlanta Falcons board today (well yesterday) Michael Boley was thrown under the bus as the police report was released from his recent arrest for battery. One local talk show host on AM 790 the zone asked if he should be out as a Falcon. Many of the listeners compared it to dog fighting and agreed that he should be let go. I couldn't disagree more.

Reported: "There was an altercation after Boley's wife confronted him about cheating on her."

It goes on to say that there was a struggle, sounded like Boley's wife was pushing him around and he finally fought back (bad move) and then threw her outside, literally. That's when she called the cops.

It doesn't look great, but does not appear to be very serious as there are no priors on him and it sounded like a tumultuous situation. Time will tell. If he is an abuser, then NO, I don't want him on the team, but if it's an honest mistake (and his wife drops the charges) then I wouldn't hold it against him.

What say you?

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Matt Ryan: Christian Laettner or Michael Jordan

Now that NBA basketball is relevant in Atlanta we have more to talk about, but really, Atlanta is a FOOTBALL town.

If you view the Atlanta Falcons message board there is much bickering over Matt Ryan. I have no doubt that he'll at least be a stable LEADER that this team needs.

The question is: Is he a Christian Laettner or a Michael Jordan?

Some players have been in big games and have come up big, ala Laettner. While other players have not only done the same thing, but elevated their team to a higher level and in some cases carried the team.

For better or worse, Mike Vick was a Michael Jordan type player. Once in a lifetime these players set onto the field or court and can change the game entirely. Obviously, Peyton and now Brady are two football examples. I think Ray Lewis is a stretch but could be put in this category. Adrian Peterson and Tomlison could be other examples.

Matt Ryan has done this at the collegiate level more than just the first Virginia Tech game. He did the same thing against a Jon Tenuda defense at Georgia Tech and Florida State. Of course, there is that other Va Tech game that he didn't do so hot in.

I agree with Dimitroff on this one, he has all the intangibles you want in a leader and is poised to lead the team. Then again, the same could be said for Joey Harrington...

Time will tell, but Matt Ryan has me on his bandwagon for right now.

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