The first firing announcement comes out of Atlanta, where, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, head coach Raheem Morris has officially been fired. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports quickly followed up the coaching announcement with a report that general manager Terry Fontenot has also been removed from his position. 
In a statement, team owner Arthur Blank gave an explanation of today’s transactions.
“I have great personal affinity for both Raheem and Terry and appreciate their hard work and dedication to the Falcons,” he began. “But I believe we need new leadership in these roles moving forward. The decision to move away from people who represent the organization so well and have a shared commitment to the values that are important to the organization is not an easy one, but the results on the field have not met our expectations or those of our fans and leadership. I wish Raheem and Terry the absolute best in their future pursuits.”
Additionally, the team’s statement mentioned that they would use two different search firms to help fill the two jobs. ZRG Partners will assist Atlanta on their head coach search while Sportsology Group will assist with the search for a new general manager. Sportsology was already being utilized to perform a full assessment of the team’s football operations. It seems their evaluation was valued, as it led to Fontenot’s dismissal and further work to assist with the job to replace him. No timelines were proposed for the searches, but both will begin immediately and run concurrently.
Blank seems to be growing short of patience as time goes on. Before Morris, Mike Smith held the head coaching job for seven seasons. Dan Quinn only lasted six after that, Arthur Smith three, and Morris just two. The team’s quick response to act all comes naturally at this point as the organization will undergo it’s fourth head coaching search in seven years. The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson reports that, behind the scenes, discussions on resetting the team’s structure have been going on for weeks now.
Voices around the league seemed to be pointing toward a departure from Fontenot, but sources also believed that Morris was likely to be retained in his position. A longtime assistant with the Falcons, Morris spent six years as assistant head coach while coaching various position groups before getting promoted to defensive coordinator in 2020. He stepped up into the interim head coaching job when Quinn was fired and went 4-7 in his first time back in the captain’s chair since his time with the Buccaneers back in 2011.
The Falcons did not choose Morris to take over the full-time head coaching gig, instead hiring Arthur Smith to the job. Morris returned to Atlanta after three years as defensive coordinator for the Rams, replacing Smith when he was fired after three straight 7-10 seasons. In his two years back at the helm, Morris improved on Smith’s streak, if only barely, recording two 8-9 campaigns, the first resulting in a second-place division finish and the second resulting in a three-way tie that ended with a third-place finish in the NFC South.
In order to force the three-way tie, the Falcons had to win their last four games, an impressive close to the season. These marked the Falcons’ only two eight-win seasons during their eight-year playoff drought, but this one enough to save Morris’ job.
Multiple players, including wide receiver Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson, were vocal in support of Morris before his dismissal, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Robinson specifically said he was “going to support Raheem no matter what” but that it’s “Arthur Blank’s decision” (via Josh Kendall of The Athletic). There’s plenty of room for criticism of the move as a bit early. Several coaches with worse results have been given longer leashes in NFL history, and Morris’ short leash came with handicaps from questionable draft and free agency decisions by Fontenot that left him with awkward quarterback situations.
Many are pointing to Fontenot’s failure to solve the team’s quarterback issues as the cause for his departure. With Fontenot as GM in Atlanta for five seasons, the Falcons went 36-48 during his tenure. Despite the clear signs that former franchise quarterback Matt Ryan was in the twilight years of his career, Fontenot failed to address the position in his first draft. The only player from that first draft class to really impact the team was first-round tight end Kyle Pitts, who still delivered a few disappointing seasons over his rookie deal. The Falcons then traded Ryan to Indianapolis and drafted Desmond Ridder in the third round of 2022’s draft, which also yielded them London and running back Tyler Allgeier. 
After Ridder failed to establish himself as a starter, as the Falcons had stood down rather than add an outside option in 2023, Fontenot and the Falcons signed Kirk Cousins to a huge four-year, $180MM deal with the understanding that they would not draft a first-round quarterback to stash behind him. About six weeks later, Fontenot and the Falcons drafted Michael Penix Jr. in the first round to stash behind Cousins without notifying Cousins or his representation that they would be doing so.
Morris and the coaching staff were believed to have played a role in the QB double-up, becoming impressed with the left-handed QB. The Falcons spent two years shuffling a sometimes-injured, struggling Cousins with a sometimes-injured, struggling Penix, putting them in the situation they now find themselves.
The Morris hire came as Fontenot and CEO Rich McKay were believed to have played roles in swaying Blank away from hiring Bill Belichick. Neither were believed to have wanted to work with the former Super Bowl-winning HC. Politics partially played a part in the Falcons moving to Morris, who worked under McKay in Tampa. Morris was well-liked in the building stemming from his first go-round in Atlanta, but his HC stint ended up not even lasting as long as his Bucs stay. Following the Morris hire, Fontenot secured more organizational power as McKay stepped back from day-to-day operations.
Fontenot’s drafting seemed to show some improvements, especially with some successful defensive picks this past year, but it was mostly first- and second-rounders making an impact from each class. Regardless, through Fontenot’s five seasons, the Falcons failed to see a single winning campaign, let alone a trip to the playoffs. The two won their final game with the team, were seen celebrating in the locker room with the players, then were called to meet with Blank a couple hours later to be delivered the bad news, per D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
There’s obviously no news to report so soon after the dismissals of the two team leaders, but The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman sees Morris having potential looks at defensive coordinator jobs in the offseason. Anderson reports that Ryan, the team’s former franchise quarterback, has been an “active” voice in the building already, with some starting to link his name to the now open general manager position.
Come back to the Rams Raheem
They moved quickly
SentinelATL feasting right now.
Lmao I thought he was safe !
I guess the four game winning streak to end the season had no impact on the decision.
It did weaken the 1st that they’re sending to the Rams, if nothing else.
Hardly weakened it. It’s 13th overall. And with 2 1sts rams could move up into the top 10 if they want to grab an elite talent somewhere.
Maybe Carnell Tate at WR to pair with Adams Nacua
Maybe a tackle like Mauigoa out of Miami
Someone like Cleveland could certainly trade #6 for #13 and the rams other first depending where it falls and walk away with 3 1st round picks. #13, the jags pick, and rams pick.
It definitely weakened it, what are you even arguing here? They were 4-9 and had the 7th pick in the draft and the Rams wouldn’t have had to part with their other first to ‘move up into the top 10’. Do you just like arguing or something? Idiotic.
Weakening it would be like the jags who made the playoffs and the pick is 20 something’s that’s weakening a draft pick
Giving away a top 15 pick is hardly weakening a draft pick. If a guy “falls” you’re first in line to stop the fall. Like Jalen Carter. Laremy Tunsil
And you gave it to a team who is one of the favorites to win it all. A Super Bowl contender getting the 13th overall pick is hardly weakening the pick value
“Oh it’s 13th not 7th” lmao 6 slot values isn’t weakening it all that much man. Again had it dropped into the 20s sure. Not 6 spots.
Being able to trade up or take a highly talented guy who falls isn’t weakening it’s value whatsoever to a Super Bowl contender
What a ridiculous and unnecessary argument. If you think the 13th overall pick isn’t weaker than the 7th, take a lap. You yourself said the Rams would need to trade *another 1st* to move back into the top 10 from 13th. Just stop, bro. You’re just arguing to argue.
Not what I said
I said they hardly weakened its value because of who holds the picks. Atlanta dropping 6 slots would matter. Like Giants costing themselves the 2 pick winding up with the 4 pick. The rams having the pick drop 6 spots isn’t all that important nor matters as much. Just like if Chiefs held the Giants pick 2 4 6 8 doesn’t matter as much to the chiefs as it does the Giants
Reading comprehension is important.
If you think 7 to 13 is a significant drop off for the rams you’re fooling yourself
You also don’t consider trade up scenarios where rams don’t have to sacrifice future draft picks or guys falling into a Super Bowl contender hands
Would you say that the 13th pick is less valuable than the 7th pick? That teams would prefer to have the 7th over the 13th, if given the choice?
It does not matter what you think the Rams may or may not do with the pick. 13 is a weaker draft position than 7th.
Totally agree with RCT here. Silly argument. If it’s not weaker then why is the draft order structured how it is. Why do the worst teams pick first … because they can get an alleged better player. Better being the key word …
If Atlanta owned their own pick, it’d be weaker draft position dropping from 7 to 13. Pretty big slide for a non playoff team.
Rams owning the pick it’s not that much weaker for the rams to have the pick drop from 7 to 13 cause it’s not their pick and they’re among the superbowl favorites
It’s not their pick and they’re walking away with a top 15 pick for free coming off what is likely to be a decent playoff run
Saying “well at least Atlanta weakened the pick value” isn’t remotely true cause Rams are getting a top 15 pick for free to add to their already stacked roster
If you told Atlanta hey if you trade up with the rams for Pearce Jr you’re gonna lose the 13th pick next year would Atlanta make that deal? Nope
If Atlanta was gonna lose 20-30 would they make the deal? Probably
Atltanta hardly wekeaned the value. Rams are getting a free top 15 pick whether it’s 7 or 13, adding to their already stacked team. Hardly weakened it
Except it wasn’t free, it cost them whoever they would have drafted in the first last season. You should consider logging off.
15 mph is a speed limit Sid not how fast your brain is suppose to work
I’m sure you thought you ate there, but there is a reason that none of your soliloquies have anyone liking them. You aren’t as smart as you think.
I’m sure you think it’s cool using lingo that my pre teen son uses. It’s not. It’s creepy and weird. Definitely wouldn’t be surprised if youre not allowed within 500 feet of schools
Did your preteen son give you your user name? Your personal attacks on responders is juvenile.
Silly argument. Of course it’s weakening it. Everyone with an above room temp IQ can see that. I also haven’t seen anywhere that the Rams are one of the favorites to win it all.
“Idk what relative means”
Ya don’t say school zone speed limit.
Huh. Nobody is mistaking you for Einstein that’s for sure.
Blind deaf dumb is no way to go thru life son. You’d have to be living under a rock if you haven’t heard rams be talked about as Super Bowl favorites this season. But maybe that’s all you can afford is living under a rock.
In very rare cases can one tell the exact location of a comment on a message board. With this one, we all know it was from your mommy’s basement. Also, as someone who doesn’t pay for a subscription to this site, it’s funny to read your wordslop about who can afford what. I watch plenty of football with my Sunday Ticker, and have not ever once heard the Rams talked about as a favorite, as they aren’t. Anything can happen once you are in the playoffs, but that doesn’t make you a favorite. You are obviously a fan of the Rams and trying to cope with the draft pick being weakened.
Alright alright alright Matthew McConaughey
We get it. You learned the kids slang cause your favorite thing about high school girls is as you get older they stay the same age.
Alright Chester. Hope you have the day you deserve. Make sure to stay 500 feet away from all schools at all times.
For that trade they got James Pearce and Xavier Watts. Pearce set the Falcons rookie record with 10 1/2 sacks. Could they get that with the #13 pick this ? Plus now they have one years experience !!
They traded up for watts they didn’t draft watts using the 101 pick. Watts was taken at 96.
Right now the rams are projected to take Francis Mauigoa with the pick from Atltanta
Considering Falcons ran with Elijah Wilkerson at RT who finished 63rd in pass blocking someone like Mauigoa to protect Penix Jr wouldn’t be that bad of an idea. It’d mimic the Chargers taking Alt when they already had Slater
But Rams will glad take the pick and bolster their oline for Stafford and Williams
Far as Pearce and sacks.
His sacks primarily came from
NO, CAR, Seattle minus their tackles, Jets, Arizona
Against Miami NE SF BUF LA nada
So he showed up against weaker lines and weaker teams. Ok. That’s cool I guess.
It’s not a hard concept
If I give a poor person 10 dollars instead of 20 dollars that’s a huge difference
If I give a billionaire 10 dollars instead of 20 dollars that’s not all that significant of a difference to them
Lmao they actually pulled the plug
They traded up for watts they didn’t draft watts using the 101 pick. Watts was taken at 96.
Right now the rams are projected to take Francis Mauigoa with the pick from Atltanta
Considering Falcons ran with Elijah Wilkerson at RT who finished 63rd in pass blocking someone like Mauigoa to protect Penix Jr wouldn’t be that bad of an idea. It’d mimic the Chargers taking Alt when they already had Slater
But Rams will glad take the pick and bolster their oline for Stafford and Williams
Far as Pearce and sacks.
His sacks came from
NO, CAR, Seattle minus their tackles, Jets, Arizona
Against Miami NE SF BUF nada
So he showed up against weaker lines. Ok.
It’s not a hard concept
If I give a poor person 10 dollars instead of 20 dollars that’s a huge difference
If I give a billionaire 10 dollars instead of 20 dollars that’s not all that significant of a difference to them
My bad idk why it replied here
Lol
I mean signing Cousins then taking Penix it was only a matter of time if they didn’t win. And not like the division has been some power house with Bucs Saints Panthers unlike NFC AFC West
Plus you then trade your pick to the rams and don’t have a first this year
London Pitts Robinson not like they’re devoid of talent on offense.
Anyways
Move on from Cousins
Bring in someone to work with Penix who’s your guy currently. See if it can work if not shoot for 2027 QB
Kevin Stefanski
I think he’d be a good OC candidate, maybe he doesn’t get HC consideration right away.
Why do people think Stefanski is a good OC? What evidence of that is there?
Why do you think he’s been coach of the year twice?
Jason Garrett was Coach of the Year, lmao. So was Brian Daboll. It doesn’t mean what you think it means.
He received it twice. If it was once, sure the coach may have got lucky and over achieved with a team. But twice? He’s gotta be half ass decent
Yeah, the two seasons he went to the playoffs with the Browns, the first with one of the most talented rosters in football he inherited. That’s why. It’s like seeing a comet, but the offenses weren’t anything special, and he sucked working with the actual #1 pick overall QB he inherited when he got there. Again, you might want to examine the list of people who have won that award. It doesn’t mean s***. He’s been in the league seven years and has a .400 rcord or something.
I thought all those were solid moves. The issue is they haven’t won. There is a lot of talent on that team, and what they traded to the Rams for, to address their anemic pass rush, was more than answered with those two first rounders they took. Something just is missing there.
You thought signing Cousins and then drafting Penix was a solid move?
Yes, taking a QB of the future when your FA QB is 37 coming off of an Achilles tear was more than smart. Tell me how did that stop them from losing winnable games the last two years? You can’t claim QB is the most important position in sports and then say pass on one when you have a top ten pick. The only argument I’d listen to is maybe they should have taken Nix instead considering Penix’s injury history.
Yeah you’re being strangely convoluted about this. You don’t spend $100 million plus on a QB and then insure that investment with a premier draft pick. 1st round draft picks are expected to contribute to winning immediately in today’s NFL. Either the money spent on Cousins or the pick used on Penix was a redundant waste. That’s not on the coach.
Why not? It’s the most important position on the field, but your’e telling me you wouldn’t spend basically what Seattle spent on Darnold this year for the position? Furthermore, what was the glaring need they had going into last year’s draft that taking Penix precluded? Again, he was 37 years old, coming off of an Achilles tear. They’re not 8-9 because they paid Cousins or drafted Penix. Like they lost to the Dolphins, Panthers when they were one of the worst teams in the league coming into the game, Saints, and Jets this year and blew fourth quarter leads over the Patriots and Colts while destroying the Bills and beating the Rams. Talent of the roster is not the issue.
Yeah ok buddy. Maybe you’ll get up to 20 or 30 replies in this article by the end of the night. Feel free to address anything I have already tried to reason with you about.
Darnold and cousins didn’t sign for the same amount or at the same time. Enjoy running into the brick wall of logic while you try and push whatever silly narrative or justification you hold near and dear to your heart.
Committing multiple significant resources to a QB both in money and draft capital is precisely the backwards philosophy that prevented the falcons from winning a terrible division. You actually needed both QBs and it STILL didn’t work in your favor. Silly.
It’s basically the same deal, lmao. Cousins actually has one more year on his deal at about the same money.
Yes that extra money would have gotten them out of getting blown out by the Dolphins and losing to the Jets, lmao. You’re just blathering about nothing.
I mean had Atlanta taken a QB and spent 180 mill on defense instead of Cousins yeah they probably play better against Jets and Dolphins. Thats just common sense.
Imagine Atlanta takes Penix and signs
Leonard Williams 21 mill
Arik Armstead 14.5 mill
Patrick Queen 13.6 mill
Jordyn Brooks 9.5 mill
That’s roughly the same as Cousins 45 mill aav
First of all, it wasn’t 180 million, and they didn’t have any QBs before they signed Cousins, which preceded taking Penix in the draft. It’s literally what the Seahawks did this year with Darnold contract wise as far as cap resources go. Ask the Raiders how that worked out for them when they decided to wing it going into that same draft and signed Gardner Minshew on the cheap. It’s like you people talk about how important QB is and then are like oh, just spend the money on something else. This is not why they were sucking in fourth quarter situations week in, week out despite having enough talent to go toe to toe with some of the best teams in the league.
You do 1 of the other
Plan to take a QB or sign cousins not both
If you sign cousins you don’t host any QB prospects and take one 8th overall pick
If you don’t sign cousins you sign free agents and plan to take a QB 8th overall in a draft that saw what 5-6 guys taken in first 12.
How’d it work out for the Raiders not preparing for the contingency plan you don’t get one on draft day? They’re on the clock right now.
Cousins wasn’t coming off an ACL tear when they signed him !!!!
He was coming off something even worse, an Achilles tear.
Well raiders wound up with Brock Bowers so pretty well I’d say
Not like any of the QBs would thrive in LV anyways behind that oline that’s been atrocious for years
There’s a reason raiders haven’t picked in a playoff spot since 2017. Lot of bad decisions made by that organization. They’d ruin a rookie QB had they taken one the last 5-6 years
They were playing some really good football there at the end. Almost like they would’ve been better off addressing another position besides QB since they already had Cousins on the roster.
Cousins sucked last year down the stretch. Too many teams don’t take their next QB and hold on to the vet too long, not to mention he’s 38 coming off of an Achilles surgery that ends careers inside of two years most of the time. It was unconventional, but I had no problem with the Penix pick nor the trade for the extra first rounder this year because Pierce has been a beast. They just didn’t get the job done, and it might come down to Morris just isn’t cut out to be an HC. I mean it’s a very large sample size at this point. Same with Arthur Smith before him.
I see what you’re saying. I guess I just wasn’t enamored with Penix coming out of college and had doubts about how well his game would translate to the professional level.
See, I can get with that argument, but not the criticism I see of drafting him just because they had signed Cousins. However, if you believed in the evaluation, you pull the trigger on that one every time considering the oft repeated addage that QB is the most important position in football. I mean look at the Raiders who famously missed out in that draft but got a stud TE. They’re picking first in April.
Another quick hook for the Fritz Alliance
You can have tomlin.
What alliance is there for all the bad white coaches? Arthur Smith was worse and got one more year, lmao.
Took me awhile but I found the race-baiter.
I thought Fontenot might get another year because the collection of talent isn’t bad, but Morris underachieved with that team both years. If you’re capable of not only beating both the Rams and Bills but handling them at points in those games easily, you shouldn’t be losing to the Saints and Panthers.
Don’t forget losing to the Jets too smh
I mean there are just a lot of head scratching losses there that shouldn’t have happened. They lost so many games that came down to bad situational football, which is puzzling because I think that’s something Morris excels at as a coordinator. But like they always say, it’s a different job managing the whole team.
Bill would’ve done better for sure. Not by much, but it wouldn’t be this bad.
Belichick is offensively illiterate. They would have been worse because he’s proven to be a mediocre HC without Brady. Did you watch UNC this year in the ACC which is as bad of a conference to college football as the NFC South is to the NFL, and before you go talking about he didn’t have any players, that’s the one thing Mack Brown did well was recruit. Belichick just misidentified personnel, a running theme his last ten years in New England.
I could see an argument that Bill could have been better. He has proven, Brady or not, that he can coach defense in the NFL beyond its talent level. I doubt that Belichick would have lobbied for Penix either in the first after Cousins’ signing, and likely would have pushed for another defensive pick. Given the fact that all of Atlanta’s offensive playmakers predate Morris, Belichick could just stay out of the offense’s way and let the proven veteran in Cousins handle that with an offensive coordinator. I could see a world where it works.
The problem with Bill is, if you do see that possibility, you need to accept that it will take a long time. Belichick will want to do it his way, and that involves taking a while to build a foundation with specific jobs for every player. At his age, that’s a huge gamble, even if you do believe in the promise of a successful payout at the end.
The only real issue that I have with the Belichick/Morris decision was how much say Rich McKay had in the affair. McKay has had a steadfast hold on Blank for years now, and hasn’t done much to justify the outsized influence that he has on the organization. It would appear that his veto of Belichick-and subsequent endorsement of Morris-had more to do with preserving his own independence than it did choosing candidates based on their own individual merits.
The Belichick fanboys ignore the inconvenient truth that without Brady he’s a nobody.
A counterargument could be made that Bill haters ignore that Bill ran the team, not Brady, and the team won games…including those that Brady couldn’t win himself.
For months I’ve seen people on here talk about this great collection of talent underachieving and I just don’t get it. The headlining names are good, but they have poor depth, noticeable holes, and I think they round out to a middle of the pack talent level, but with a quarterback situation they’ve dumped a crazy amount of resources into to not clearly have a good quarterback. Fontenot obviously had to go. I get cutting the coaching staff loose, but given the draft pick situation might have waited a year to court a new coach.
Morris and Ulbrich should both be high on the DC list for any new head coach.
Nobody has a lot of depth in the league. They didn’t suffer from a rash of injuries. They lost about four or five games with fourth quarter meltdowns. If you’re capable of beating the Bills like a drum and running the Rams off the field for a half, you have more than enough talent to be better than 8-9 in as sorry of a division as the NFC South is. Like even today, they were struggling to put the Saints away, and they’re superior at almost every position. Blown out by Dolphins, Panthers, and losing in inexplicable ways late to the Colts and Patriots is why they’re going home.
“Nobody has a lot of depth in the league.” There are different levels. We’re talking about a team that had a wide receiver depth chart of London, Mooney, and then guys that should be back of the roster special teams specialists. I’m not saying this coaching staff definitely deserved more time, but people talk about this talent group like it was special and it wasn’t. I love Bijan. I love London. This roster was not sniffing the top ten in football going into the year and quarterback problems are the biggest problems.
Name most team’s receiver depth charts past the starters. Receiver was not their problem. They melted down almost every week, which is why they’re 8-9. Like who knew any of those receivers in New England past Diggs before the season. They were routinely called horrible. They’re 14-3. Same with Chicago. Odunze has been out for weeks, and DJ Moore has hardly lit the world on fire. However, Bears play great situational football the opposite of Atlanta and pull those games out that the Falcons lose almost every week.
Past the starters? Most teams that fancy themselves playoff teams don’t run completely off a cliff after an OK number two.
But when did their offense go into a tailspin because of receiver? They’ve been fine in that department, even getting a big game from Pitts last week. If you lose to the Jets, Dolphins, Panthers, and Saints when you have more talent than all those teams as evidenced by you not only playing the Rams and Bills well but beating both of them, the latter convincingly, talent isn’t your problem.
The Bills lost to the Dolphins. The Rams lost to the Panthers. You’re being a little too logical about the matchup thing. And having big games from a couple of pass catchers doesn’t mean they’re enough.
When they lost to the Panthers, they were hapless and trending toward worst team in the league again. They got shut out. That’s not the same as the Panthers catching the Rams slipping and getting turnovers to pull a close upset. Same with the Dolphins. they had just fired their GM and were circling the drain when they played the Falcons and blew them off the field. Okay, the Bills lost to the Dolphins. So the Falcons lost to the Saints in a similar spot. It was all inexcusable. It was constant meltdowns every week, not just oh, we got outplayed here or there.
That 1st they traded for Pearce was worth it, 10.5 sacks then Jalon Walker 5.5, top two rookie sack leaders in the league, then Xavier Watts had 5 picks to lead all rookies and 95 tackles. Bijan top three back in the league, drakes legit, Jake Matthew’s is legit, Terrell holds his own, don’t understand why Fontenot was let go he drafted well
You can’t make a football team out of a handful of guys. They could have taken Nic Scourton without trading up at all.
Scourton was a solid get without trading extra to get him, and he might have a solid career, I’m just saying Pearce is of to a better start
Both things can be true: he’s looking like a very good pass rusher, but the process and value of trading up for him weren’t good.
Yea it was a bit of a hefty price I’ll give u that, It’ll be interesting to see what Snead does with that pick though
Corner is probably their most glaring weakness, id imagine if either McCoy or Delane are there they’ll pounce on it
If you watched the incessant mismanagement of talent, time outs, the clock you would understand why Morris needed to go. As far as Fontenot, the fixation with duplicating talent on the team led to a big waste of high picks. Picking Pitts and London in consecutive drafts was repetitive and whole Bijan is a great RB, we already had a good back in Allgeir. Doubling up at Qb and Edge was the final straw. Yes, all of the picks on their own were fine. But in the context of building a team, we missed so many opportunities to build the one of scrimmage. Been watching this for over 50 years now and we have found so many ways to be mediocre. Maybe, just maybe, we can bring some professionalism and foresight into the organization.
The Falcons can have Kevin Patullo as their new H.C or O.C, for the low low price of a 10lbs bag of frozen Lemon Pepper Lou wings from Magic City.
That might be too much, lmao. Those are some good wings.
Haha true that & as an ATLien in Philly I miss the amazing wing scene more than Waffle House
In the face Falcons Fans! 2 years ago I said it was a huge mistake to hire this clown and you insulted the bejesus out of me
I think Blank just got sentimental because he likes him personally, but you should never let business mix with personal.
next failed retread .. come on down !
Probably needed to get a jump on the Phillip Rivers for head coach sweepstakes
Penix Robinson London Mooney Pitts
The offence has some good young bits
Stats wise they were about middle of the pack in total yards and throwing yards. Top 10 ish in rushing yards but bottom 10 in total points.
Very similar to there defensive stats.
Middle of the pack in total yards, middle of the pack in throwing yards but bottom 10 in rushing yards and bottom half for total points allowed.
There’s also a +5 difference in turnovers
Not owning their first round pick makes things harder but their roster is terrible and they aren’t a bad side. They only needed 1 more win to make the playoffs, having missed out by a tiebreaker.
Maybe the right coach and GM can help them. They’ve got 8-9 2 seasons in a row and 7-10 3 season in a row prior to that.
Agreed, and don’t forget Allgeier and a steady offensive line. Cousins played fantastic football down the stretch, depending on what they do with him, and the defense features a great corner in Terrell and a young, promising rusher in Pearce. Diablo was a gem in free agency (we’ll see if he keeps up), and it seems like any of the Elliss brothers are going to be solid contributors. The division is getting better, but still is pretty open. There are worse situations to fall into as a coach.
Everybody razzes the Jets for 10 straight losing seasons. Falcons have had 8 straight — and NFC South is much weaker than AFC East.
Shedeur should call Ulbrich and act like another team offering him a job.
The downfall of both of them was their drafting of Penix just weeks after signing Cousins to that huge contract. But they continued to thin’ it was a great decision and ultimately it was their undoing. Instead woth that top 10 pick they could have drafted a defensive weapon or an OL. Instead a 25 year old with 2ACL tears and an injury history.
Don’t feel bad for them losing their jobs. It’s like anything else, make bad decisions and you hav to pay the consequences.
Tom Brady cursed this organization and its going to take Pedro, Papi and Schilling to break it…
You forgot Mark Bellhorn.
Atlanta news sites don’t play Sportsball Mashup.
Oh Yankee fan
too soon?
“Blank seems to be growing short of patience as time goes on.” Well Blank is 83 so I think his impatience is to be expected. He doesn’t have a lot of “wait until next year” left.
Ya see anyone on the Atlanta Hawks you like Arthur? 🙂
Still playing Sportsball Mashup?
Matt Ryan is now expected to leave CBS for the Falcons’ front office per an ESPN news report. Ryan was a pundit on The NFL Today this season and a game analyst in 2024.
Who would have thought Cousins outlasted Morris?
The real story is that finally Rich McKay is gone and will no longer plague the organization with his front office decisions.