Falcons Safety Jimmy Williams Released

They say you can't evaluate draft picks until 3 years have passed. I think it's safe to call this one a bust!

The first pick in the 2006 NFL draft for Atlanta is gone. I figured that the Falcons would start dropping thugs... oops did I say that... off the team. I'm pretty surprised that he doesn't think being overweight is a problem for a professional athlete.

I don't live to far from Falcons Practice so maybe I have a shot of getting on the team. If I don't make it, I'll certainly point out that they were hiding behind my old age or me being slightly overweight.

NOTE TO JIMMY: YES, THEY WERE HIDING BEHIND THE WEIGHT ISSUE - THEY DON'T JUST WANT TO CALL YOU OUT FOR WHAT YOU ARE.

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Forum Members Do Have Brains - Franchise QB and the FIRST season

I was trolling the Atlanta Falcons board for blog fodder when I found it! Look at this great post by heretic.

Franchise QB and the FIRST season

Peyton Manning
Ben Roethlisberger
Vince Young
Matt Leinart
Eli Manning
Alex Smith
Donovan McNabb
Michael Vick
JaMarcus Russell
Drew Brees
Tom Brady
Philip Rivers
Carson Palmer
Marc Bulger

1/13 started more than 13 games (P. Manning)
10/13 started in 7 or less games
1/8 had a passer rating better than 75.0 among those with 100 or more attempts (Big Ben)

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Matt Ryan Got Paid! - Vick vs Ryan Signings

Ryan is guaranteed $34.75 million. His guaranteed money is $4.75 million more than that given to Jake Long, the No. 1 overall choice who also is represented by Condon.

Matt Ryan received a 6 year, 72 Million dollar deal. One has to wonder here, the guaranteed money is not much less than what a certain someone received.

The Falcons' star [Michael Vick] quarterback signed a 10-year; $130 million contract extension that guarantees him an NFL-record $37 million in bonuses, and he wants to prove he's worth every penny.

I'm not saying Matt Ryan is anything like Vick. I like them them both. However, I'm surprised to see the guaranteed money be so large right after what happened. It's almost like the Falcons are trying to prove to themselves that they have moved on.

In comparison though, Ryan's deal is closer to Vick's extension than his original contract:

Vick is guaranteed $15.3 million through the first three years, including a signing bonus of $3 million.

Ryan only signed for 10 Million more, with twice as much guaranteed money. (Michael Vick signed for $62 Million in 2001).

So while I'm glad that Ryan is in the fold and getting paid, he deserves it. It makes me shudder to think that these NFL teams have so much invested into unproven talent.

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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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Atlanta Falcons Draft Recap Interview With Thomas Dimitroff

AtlantaFalcons.com has added the Draft recap interview with Thomas Dimitroff.

Part 1

Part 2

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