The Roost
by: reuseter
The Atlanta Falcons: Giving The Dolphins Hope...
Dec 12, 2007 | 2:55AM | report this

Just when the Dolphins thought they had secured the title of "Worst Team In Football", Bobby Petrino makes a mad dash for Fayetteville, and the Falcons rise up to take on the moniker.

Sure, the Fins are winless, but they've been ravaged by injuries.  Given, I don't feel too bad that they're juggling between Cleo Lemon and John Beck, since they did put their immediate future in the hands of Trent Green, a man who has had enough concussions to make boxers and hockey players grimace.  That aside, their running back corps has been absolutely cleaned out by ligament tears, neck injuries, and Steeler cleats.  The defense has been a shell of its former self, with Zach Thomas trying to catch Green on the active players with the most concussions list.  The franchise did trade away Chris Chambers, which many people decried as the end of the organization, but Chambers in the past few season has been at best a decent number two receiver on most teams.  Truth be told, he'd probably never see the field in Indy, New England, or Arizona.  That being said, you can't hate them too much for the move.  Overall, Miami has been relegated to playing a rag tag bunch of second or third stringers, and, as a result, they've gone 0-13, which should surprise no one.

The Falcs, on the other hand, are playing their STARTERS.  While I don't consider the three-headed quarterback beast of Harrington-Leftwich-Redman to be any more intimidating than the Lemon-Beck duo, these are the guys Atlanta brought in and assumed would play, even after they knew Vick would probably face some time in federal prison.  The lone offensive bright spot year in and year out, Warrick Dunn, has shown signs of age, and the offensive line would probably best be suited for high school football instead of the pros.  The receiving tandem of White-Jenkins is proving to pay off with about the same dividends as Charles Rogers and Mike Williams did for Detroit, and Alge Crumpler has been limited to mostly handling PR duty.  Joe Horn's been a total bust, as far as aging wide receiver free agents go.  Moving onto the defense, they've been consistently overmatched, and the fact that their "star" corner feels it necessary to speak into any mic within 100 miles and express discontent probably hasn't helped.  The franchise let go of Patrick Kerney and Grady Jackson, leaving John Abraham to get double teamed constantly.  Somehow, this squad has managed three wins, which has done absolutely nothing, except ensure they don't get the number one pick.

Even after the Vick fiasco, no one assumed it could get worse.  What else could happen to a team with all of the above mentioned problems to possibly make the season a bigger disappointment?  How about your coach abandoning ship after about three months?  It's no secret that the de-facto team spokesman and former Ocho Cinco victim, DeAngelo Hall, detested Petrino, and even the likeable Crumpler expressed frustration.  Of course, this is not the first time a team has disliked a coach (remember a guy in New York named Coughlin?), but the obvious animosity, combined with Petrino's affinity to check the classifieds, appears to have boiled to head on Tuesday.  To make matters worse, between Vick and Petrino, poor Arthur Blank has been made to look like a fool most of the year.  It's just the latest in what has to have been the worst overall season for a franchise, both on and off the field.

So don't feel so bad Dolphins fans.  You've still got a coach, your stud running back will be back next year, your formerly dreadlocked running back seems to be serious about sticking around and could be used for trade bait if nothing else, you're attempting to develop a quarterback for the future, your defense when healthy is still potent, and you've all but secured the right to draft the first player in 2008.  Things could be a lot worse...trust me.

27 Comments | Add a comment   categories: Atlanta Falcons, DeAngelo Hall, Miami Dolphins, Michael Vick
 
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slapNtickle
Dec 12, 2007
7:04 AM
How's that? The Dolphins are still winless...They have no QB, no RB, their D is old......Maybe they have a better O-line...I am not saying the Falcons are even "good"....Both franchises are in trouble....

Pumpnfe
Dec 12, 2007
8:04 AM
I have to agree that the future in Atlanta is much bleaker than in Miamia, but the season will be judged on wins and losses thus the fins are not out of the woods yet. I am a huge Packer fan but have always admired the Dolphins orginization.

jnava121
Dec 12, 2007
8:29 AM
eh ... how long do you think an 0-16 coach is going to be with the team???

Why next season? So he can draft another punt returner?

KIVER
Dec 12, 2007
8:50 AM
We can all agree that there are two tragedies here. The first being the obvious waste of talent in Atlanta that is now in prison due to illegal entertainment. The other being Brady Quinn sitting on the bench in Cleveland when he could be tuning up in Miami getting ready to make things respectable for the Dolphins for 2008. I was just as shocked as everyone watching the draft this past year and I will never forget the looks on the Dolphin fan's faces. I am a lifelong Patriot fan and despise the "Phish". However, I am a FOOTBALL fan and love the competition of which we have none in the AFC East. It's a shame.

jimmyd22
Dec 12, 2007
9:47 AM
Atlanta needs to start over! Clean House;get rid of the GM(Mckay)He has not done his job, Before any player is signed for Millions of $$$ a little background on a player's CHARACTER needed.Hell they do that at Wal-mart. Arthur Blank does not deserve to be blindsided , he is not the Smith Family (Why did he NOT sign Patrick Kearny a Player with CLASS & CHARACTOR ,who has 11 sacks for the Seahawks1

kevo2
Dec 12, 2007
10:05 AM
You know an era in sports is bad when we're debating over which team is worst! They are terrible teams and they both will have a top 3 pick in April. THE END

Last edited by kevo2 on December 12th at 10:06 AM.

tellitlikeitis1000
Dec 12, 2007
10:19 AM
yeppers the dolphins have the NFL teams where they want them

dbx902
Dec 12, 2007
10:19 AM
Has anybody noticed that Roddy White is a having a Pro-Bowl type year?

reuseter
Dec 12, 2007
12:35 PM
Haha...believe me guys, I know the Dolphins are an absolute atrocity. I'm not saying they're good by any stretch, but they have been forced to put out basically a second or third rate product. Both teams are an absolute wreck, but I still say the future of the Fins is a little happier than that of the Falcs.

cruises44
Dec 12, 2007
1:19 PM
More excuses!!!
A win is a win, A lose is a lose....
Dolphins are bad and that's just the facts...

slapNtickle
Dec 12, 2007
1:46 PM
"Has anybody noticed that Roddy White is a having a Pro-Bowl type year? "

Well, I wouldn't go that far.....But the ironic part is, that BLEEP pulls up his jersey in MNF to reveal a t-shirt that reads "Free Vick".....Funny thing; look at his numbers when Vick was the QB.....Yep, garbage.....Give him a QB that can actually complete more than 48%, and my my, and actual WR emerges.....

reuseter
Dec 12, 2007
2:02 PM
Yea, I dunno about Roddy in the Pro Bowl...he's improving, but it's hard to argue that either he or Michael Jenkins has played like a couple first rounders should.

Pasco
Dec 12, 2007
2:43 PM
WELL... Mr. Pasco sez that The Dolphins can rise from this like a Phoenix out of the ashes. Marlins, Heat etc.
All that needs to happen.....
Mr. Owner Wayneo needs to get with it. St.Joe R. is doing flips. RIP
Cam needs to go back to college.
Dan...Do you want to coach?
Please let someone with a little brains pick in the draft.

ElSporto
Dec 12, 2007
3:00 PM
Issues with the coach, the franchise player and unprecendented numbers of injuries to key personnel and the Falcons were not mathmatecally eliminated until last Monday. The Dolphins are going for the perfect double, 1.) Pats break the undefeated Dolphin record (the one that should be asterisked as an, only modern era record) and 2.) this years model goes winless as the seventh best team in Florida, after Bucs, Jags, Canes, Noles, Southern Florida,Gators and a tie for the Fins and Miami of Ohio. The Falcons will be much improved next year. The Dolphins will be in Miami, hoping. Nice try, but the Dolphins dug their hole all by themselves so dont drag anyone in behind you.

Last edited by ElSporto on December 12th at 3:05 PM.

ElSporto
Dec 12, 2007
3:09 PM
Blank owned Home Depot, McKay was ahead of schedule for a total personnel change needed for the new coach. Kerney left town while an investigation for a rape at his home was underway. Other than that, youve got it right Dimmyj22.

Last edited by ElSporto on December 12th at 3:12 PM.

reuseter
Dec 12, 2007
3:17 PM
I really don't know how you can make the argument that the Falcons are going to better than the Dolphins next year. The QB situation is Miami, while admittedly terrible, is allowing John Beck to take some snaps and get some game experience, no matter how terrible he is. Is Atlanta really going to put their future in Harrington, Leftwich, or Redman? As a fan of the Falcons, I certainly hope not. Also, Dunn is getting old, and Norwood has not emerged as a every down back. Miami has a beast in Ronnie Brown, a former great in Ricky Williams, and even Jesse Chatman proved to be a decent back. DeAngelo Hall, the defense's "leader", is an a punk who has no idea when to close his trap. Miami has veteran leadership in Zach Thomas, Jason Taylor, and Trent Green. Outside of Dunn and Crumpler standing up sometimes to lead, the Falcons have no one. Miami has a brighter future, and, unfortunately, my Falcons are going to BLEEP for at least the next two years.

uvula79
Dec 12, 2007
3:48 PM
> The Falcs, on the other hand,
> are playing their STARTERS.

That's absolutely untrue, the Falcons have been decimated by injuries as well, particularly on the offensive line.

I have no problem admitting the bleakness of the situation in Atlanta but I find it highly annoying to read BLEEP put out by people who don't even take the time to do some simple research.

Last edited by uvula79 on December 12th at 3:49 PM.

reuseter
Dec 12, 2007
3:53 PM
D-Hall, Lawyer Milloy, Keith Brooking, Abraham, Harrington/Leftwich, Roddy White, Dunn, Crumpler...these guys aren't starters? Admittedly, the line is god awful and composed of a bunch of undrafted scrums, but, unlike Miami, Atlanta hasn't lost any of its so called "leaders"...unless you count McGruff..errr Vick. The key players are still there...unlike Miami. Those guys are all starters, but they've been terrible ineffective.

Freighttrains
Dec 12, 2007
4:20 PM
you eat some crazy little weeds dont you ?

JMar99
Dec 12, 2007
4:42 PM
Apparently when you say that the Falcons are "unwatchable", you mean it, because you're clueless. Roddy White has been excellent this year, and Jenkins pretty good as well. Falcons are playing their starters? Not their starting DT, pro bowler Rod Coleman - out for the season. Not their starting NT (after waiving Jackson), Trey Lewis - out for the season. Not their starting tackles - Todd BLEEP and Wayne Gandy, both out for the season. Not even their replacement, Renardo Foster. Not their starting wide receiver, Brian Finneran. Six starters out for the season, not counting Michael Vick.

Byron Leftwich, Doug Datish, Martrez Milner, David Patterson, Omare Lowe, DJ Shockley - all key contributors that are injured. The starting offensive tackles and all of the backup linemen were picked up over the course of the season and would barely make most teams' practice squads. The starting nose tackle is also a street free agent.

This team has been as decimated by injuries as anyone in the league. And significantly moreso than Miami.

reuseter
Dec 12, 2007
5:43 PM
JMar99...you obviously haven't read my previous comments. My point is not that the Falcons haven't had injuries, my point is that the importance of the Dolphins injuries have been far more significant. They lose their two offensive leaders in Green and Brown (Atlanta still has Dunn and Crumpler), and Zach Thomas, one of the biggest leaders on the team on either side of the ball, goes down (Atlanta still has their defensive "leader" in DeAngelo). The importance of these players to their team far surpass those who have been injured on the Falcons. Besides Rod Coleman, I certainly wouldn't refer to any of those goes as the "heart" of the team or even call them leaders.

Chuck
Dec 12, 2007
8:24 PM
You know, the Dolphins have never been the same since Finkle missed that field goal in Super Bowl XVII. Dumb Arse Marino, LACES OUT!

I hope the Dolphins go 0’fer to a Pats undefeated season – forever shutting Old Man Shula’s maw. He was my boy back in the day, but he has gone wayyyyy too far.

Falcons have a long sad road ahead, but no one in ATL will notice as they will be sitting in traffic on 285 over the next four years.

Last edited by on December 12th at 8:26 PM.

Len82
Dec 12, 2007
8:53 PM
What the puck is wrong with T.O he needs to grow the blip up, KJ was right T.O is having a really great season. I don't know why T.O is attacking KJ i really thought he was talking really nice about T.O. T.O you are the Hater in my eyes. You don't have a ring KJ does. even if it means you have to look him up to see that he has a ring. I can look you up right now am sure am not going to find your name linked to any superbowl win. so till you get one Shut your pie whole.

kellyscott
Dec 12, 2007
10:00 PM
well myohmy look at both teams!!! ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww is all i can say

Wojo12
Dec 13, 2007
3:44 AM
Good blog but as a long time Dophins fan I have to disagree with a couple of things. The problem with the Chambers trade was that they waited too long to pull it off. Probably could have picked up a first rounder two years ago. The big disagreement I have is the thought that they have a solid defense when they are healthy. The defense like the entire team has been destroyed by bad drafting for years. The D-line is old and the secondary might be the least talented unit in the entire NFL. Taylor and Thomas (when healthy) covered up a lot of problems with their stellar play. The Falcons are bad but please give my Dolphins some respect as the worst team. The only real competition they have is the Jets. When thinking of the worst teams you can't discount an organization that has allowed Chad Pennington to not only have a roster spot for so long but to actually start for most of his career.

uvula79
Dec 14, 2007
9:48 AM
My comments were in reference to the article where it says:

> The Falcs, on the other hand, are playing their STARTERS.

It doesn't say LEADERS, it says STARTERS. Plus it really doesn't matter which leaders are starting if the line is decimated. Unglamorous as it is, it all starts up front. Honestly, how well do you think the Patriots would be doing this year if they had to swap lines with Atlanta?

Last edited by uvula79 on December 14th at 9:49 AM.

reuseter
Dec 14, 2007
10:14 AM
I think the Pats could elevate anyone at this point, even this god awful Atlanta line. They have that kind of unity, team mindset, and leadership to make a bad player into a decent player, at worst. The Falcons do not possess any of those traits, but I totally sympathize with that. Given this broken season and franchise, it's no surprise.

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ABOUT ME


reuseter
While I love it all, I'm an admitted football junkie. A perfect Saturday is spent doing some hard tailgating and then making my way to Sanford Stadium to see the Bulldogs rack up a win. On Sunday, I try to veg out and catch a couple of the pro games, though my Falcons have been unwatchable as of late. I am a Browns Backer though, so they're taking my mind off of it. Sports are a huge part of my life, and I think they're one of the few things that manage to bring people together, no matter their differences.
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