Deadspin: Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons Need Some New Fourth-Down Plays

Barry Petchesky — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:55:00 EST

The cat-and-mouse game of defensive scheming decided both playoff matches yesterday, but in different ways. In Denver, the Steelers stacked the box, daring Tim Tebow to throw. He did. But at the Meadowlands, on a pair of fourth down conversions, the Falcons telegraphed a pair of sneaks up the middle, daring the Giants to stack the box. When they did, Matt Ryan took it up the gut anyway. Mike Smith is a foolish mouse who tells the cat he's going to zig, then does. More »

Hakeem Nicks Treated The Falcons To His Own Interpretation Of "The Dirty Bird" [UPDATE: Jamal Anderson Responds]

Timothy Burke — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 15:32:13 EST

After splitting coverage and making the Atlanta Falcons defense look absolutely foolish, Giants receiver Hakeem Nicks celebrated his touchdown with his take on the Falcons' Dirty Bird—a dance popularized when Nicks was in the fourth grade. [Fox] More »

NFL Wildcard Weekend Open Thread: Atlanta Falcons At New York Giants

Sean Newell — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST

Day two of the best weekend ever kicks off from New Jersey with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman guiding us through all the things they're not so sure wouldn't, shouldn't, couldn't or didn't happen. More »

Eli Manning and Matt Ryan: Post-Turnover Face-Off

Conor Hastings — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 12:30:00 EST

The quarterback matchup today isn't just about who can throw for more touchdowns, it's also about who can make the most ridiculous face after giving one away to the other team. While the Manning face is certainly more renowned, Matt Ryan is certainly no slouch. In anticipation of today's head-to-head battle, we've compiled our favorite Manning and Ryan faces from the past season to help determine, once and for all, just who has the more absurd face. More »

An Insider's Guide To Chop Blocks

Nate Jackson — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:30:16 EST

We're doing a season-long NFL roundtable with our friends at Slate. Check back here each week as a rotating cast of football watchers discusses the weekend's key plays, coaching decisions, and traumatic brain injuries. More »

Are The Atlanta Falcons Really The Dirtiest Team In The NFL?

Josh Levin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:05:13 EST

Your Monday Night Football Open Thread

Barry Petchesky — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 20:30:00 EST

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There are various playoff permutations in play, plus two loaded teams meeting in the last game of most leagues' fantasy championships. It's Atlanta at New Orleans on ESPN, and the comments are the place to be. More »

Santa Wears Ralph Lauren, Seems Uncomfortable Sitting Among Riffraff Falcons Fans

Dylan Murphy — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:25:00 EST

Your morning roundup for Dec. 16, the day we learned not to start a fan page on Facebook when no one likes you. Photo via Mocksession. Got any stories or photos for us? Tip your editors. More »

Jared Allen Told Ray Edwards, "I'm Going To Punch You Square In Your Wiener, Dude" Before Punching Him Square In The Wiener

Emma Carmichael — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 20:10:00 EST

Maybe you've seen the video circulating this week that shows Minnesota's Jared Allen punching Atlanta's Ray Edwards directly in the crotch during the Falcons' 24-14 win in Week 12. If not, here it is, and here's Allen's frank explanation of the incident from today's episode of PFT Live: More »

Why NFL Players Love A Coach Who Goes For It On Fourth Down, And Why They Hate Eric Mangini

Nate Jackson — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 13:00:11 EST

NFL Pundits Hate It, But The Falcons Made The Right Call On Fourth-And-Inches

Barry Petchesky — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:45:30 EST

Julio Jones Makes Incredible Catch, Is Having His Own Game Of The Century Against The Colts

Sean Newell — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 14:22:00 EST

Julio Jones checks in early with today's first wild plays. More »

Men Whose Job It Is To Hurt Quarterbacks Chided For Being Happy When Quarterback Is Hurt

Barry Petchesky — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:05:58 EDT

I get that Lions-Falcons was the closest thing to a matchup of two winning teams yesterday, and that both are likely to be vying for the same limited wild card slots, so we should have expected a competitive game, bordering on the chippy. But what we got—Matt Ryan getting his ankle rolled up, and two Lions linesman called out for gleefully bathing in a fountain of his blood—is really stretching the definition of "controversy." More »

Matt Bryant Had His $3,000 Golf Clubs Stolen By His Chinese Food Deliveryman

Dom Cosentino — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:30:00 EDT

"'He went into the open garage, took the clubs, delivered the food and went on his way,' said Braselton Police Assistant Chief Lou Solis." [AJC, via Larry Brown Sports] More »

The Kansas City Chiefs' Sad Cavalcade Of Torn Knee Ligaments

Barry Petchesky — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 16:30:02 EDT

Michael Vick’s Head Injury Is The NFL’s Worst Nightmare

Josh Levin — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 14:48:40 EDT

This Atlanta Sports Radio Guy Dares You To Call Him A Homer

Emma Carmichael — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 13:15:00 EDT

Beau Bock was born and raised in the Bronx and played college football at Miami, but he's been a sports radio guy in Atlanta since 1973. We learned this about him (and quite a bit more) when we read through the even-tempered and very detailed 3,000-word partial autobiography on his website today. More »

Falcons GM Tries To Justify Julio Jones

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 17:45:00 EDT

Every morning, the fine folks at Sports Radio Interviews sift through the a.m. drive-time chatter to bring you the best interviews with coaches, players, and personalities across the sports landscape. Today: the price was dear, but good teams just don't get players as good as Jones in the draft. More »

Your "Roddy White Should Keep His Mouth Shut" MNF Open Thread

A.J. Daulerio — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 18:10:00 EST

The Falcons can clinch the Dirty South with a win tonight, but the Saints will try to remind America they still have a good football team in 2010, too. It's the battle for Trent Dilfer's soul! More »

This Is Like 20 Times Worse Than The Sal Alosi Trip

Barry Petchesky — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 12:45:00 EST

Quietly, the NFL fined Carolina's Tyler Brayton $15,000 for setting a moving screen on an Atlanta gunner last week. That's less money than Alosi, and no suspension, so the NFL's consistent record of inconsistent punishment continues. More »

Tony Gonzalez's House Comes With Its Own Porsche

Barry Petchesky — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 17:30:00 EST

Crazy Uncle Tony's got a beachfront home, priced to move! These deals won't come around again, so act now! He'll even throw in a brand new Porsche! So do we have ourselves a deal, or what? More »

Your Late Games Open Thread

Barry Petchesky — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST

Mike Vick was soundly booed every time he touched the ball, until his two TDs heralded "We Want Vick" chants. Probably led by these two ladies! Discuss the beginning of Tony Romo's annual December meltdown in the comments. [AJC] More »

Falcons Officially Release Michael Vick

Dashiell Bennett — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:45:12 EDT

I don't understand. Did he do something wrong? [ESPN] More »

Tony Gonzalez Is The New Falconer

Dashiell Bennett — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:00:02 EDT

Kansas City sends Tony Gonzalez to Atlanta and Matt Ryan for a 2010 second-round pick. You weren't using that were you, Matt Cassel? (Yes, two Falconer references in one day! I win $5!) [USA Today] More »

Wake The Kids And Hide The Pets, Michael Vick Is Heading Home

Rick Chandler — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:00:09 EST

Michael Vick could be released from prison as early as May 21, say government officials, and sent to a halfway house. Which, in this case, will be his own house. More »

Jamal Anderson Was Snorting Cocaine Off A Toilet?

Rick Chandler — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 10:15:59 EST

Jamal Anderson probably isn't the first person to sniff cocaine off of a toilet in public restroom, but he's the first to do it whose touchdown dance was called "The Dirty Bird." More »

Ex-Falcon Jamal Anderson Arrested On Drug Charges

Dashiell Bennett — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 11:55:00 EST

The former RB turned ESPN analyst was arrested in Atlanta last night in possession of cocaine and a "suspected marijuana cigarette." See what you've done, Michael Phelps? [AJC] More »

Worst Columnist Predictions Of 2008 ... With Gratuitous Jay Mariotti

Rick Chandler — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:15:51 EST

Sure it made for good copy when Terence Moore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote back in April that "The Falcons just blew it" by drafting Matt Ryan. Did he think that wouldn't come back on him? More »

Matt Ryan Has Won Some of the Black Vote in Atlanta

A.J. Daulerio — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:45:09 EST

Interesting story in the New York Times today about Falcons' quarterback Matt Ryan and how he's slowly winning over the large percentage of African-American Falcons' fans, many of whom were decidedly pro-Mike Vick. The timing is excellent too, given that Vick might be coming to a football stadium near you sooner than first suspected. But regardless of Ryan's success there are still an abundance of No. 7 jerseys in the crowd at the Georgia Dome, paying homage to the man who once inspired them with jaw-dropping plays, willfully ignoring the fact that he tortured and killed a few dogs. More »

Taste The Goodness Of Vicktory Dogs Wine

Rick Chandler — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 08:50:25 EST

When I think of fine wine, I also think of dogs — who doesn't? Throw in Michael Vick, and you have an amusing little wine with a full-bodied locker room bouquet and just a hint of flea powder. Welcome to Carivintas Winery, a Southern California company which markets Vicktory Dogs Wine; 22 varieties with labels picturing the dogs that were rescued from Vick's Bad Newz Kennels (do not serve with fish). More »

NFL Season Previews: Atlanta Falcons

A.J. Daulerio — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:55:59 EDT

The NFL season has officially started, so it's time to finish the impassioned season previews from various writers, bloggers, diehard fans, cooks, TV personalities, and numerous other walks of life whom consider football the only sport worth watching. Clearly, these previews will be running until, oh, the first round of the wild card playoffs based on how quickly they've been coming in. So, for the next few days, expect a lot of these. Actually, let's see how many we can get out in one day. More »

1st Round, Third Overall: Falcons Select Matty Ice

mike tanier — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:22:15 EDT

The Falcons wish to remain anonymous. After a year of dog torturing and climb-out-the bathroom-window coach quitting, the team would like to return to the quiet old days when David Archer was the quarterback and the average crowd rivaled the turnout on the Asia reunion tour. They hired someone named Mike Smith as head coach because no one named John Doe was qualified for the job. With Michael Vick, D'Angelo Hall, Alge Crumpler and Warrick Dunn all gone, the team had to decide who belonged on the cover of the media guide: Keith Brooking or Funky Winkerbean. More »

Ron Mexico's Prison Pen Pal

Leitch — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 17:40:26 EDT

Considering how much Falcons owner Arthur Blank stuck by Ron Mexico for years, before that dog-fighting business, it should perhaps be little surprise that he's still corresponding with Vick while he's in the slammer. How's he doing, anyway? Has he organized a team to beat the prison guards yet? More »

Michael Turner Is Free To Be Mediocre

Christmas Ape — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 11:15:21 EST

Erstwhile Chargers running back Michael Turner, best known to fantasy players as the guy you picked up in a late round in hopes that LaDainian Tomlinson would get injured (BUT NNNOOOOOO HE HAD TO WAIT FOR THE PLAYOFFS FOR THAT), got on the 6-year-deal train which seems so popular this off-season and is now heading to the Falcons. More »

Lawyer Milloy Is A Demon With The Red Pen

Leitch — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 16:40:20 EST

New Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino wrote this nice little letter to his team after bolting on them in the middle of the season. (Wisely, but still.) Falcons cornerback Lawyer Milloy was eager to add his own addendum. More »

Bobby Petrino Ends Up A Smashing Success In Atlanta

Leitch — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 10:40:51 EST

Ah, the halcyon days of January 7, 2007. Bobby Petrino was coming off a thrilling year as coach of Louisville, and he was seen as an offensive mastermind. He was Steve Spurrier, except, you know, he didn't mind working hard either. And then, very quickly, it all imploded. More »

Why Vick's Gonna Be In The Slammer So Long

Leitch — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 11:10:28 EST

We remember Ron Mexico's contrite, emotional press conference from August, when he nearly broke down and talked about his love for the Lord. We found it an impressive confession. His initial confession was a bit less graceful. More »

Tonight's Episode Of The Vick Bowl

Leitch — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 18:45:59 EST

Under normal circumstances, this would be what we'd call a "dull" Monday Night Football game, the Saints at the Falcons. In the wake of the Ron Mexico business today, it is upgraded/downgraded to "insufferable." More »

Spiraling Down The Coaching Abyss

Leitch — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 16:10:48 EDT

We remember, a few years ago, when Roy Williams (the coach, not the pizza delivery boy) left Kansas to coach North Carolina. That led to a cascade of coaching changes, with Bill Self at Kansas, Bruce Weber at Illinois and Chris Lowery at Southern Illinois. Four quality coaches, four quality programs. But it doesn't always turn out that way. More »

A Nice Night For A Boring MNF Game

Leitch — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 17:10:30 EDT

We have to thank ESPN today. It's an awfully active sports night tonight, with two League Championship games, including one that could secure one half of the World Series, and, just to make matters easier, they've provided us with an incredibly dull Monday Night game. More »