I was prepared... nay, excited, that I had the ability and freedom (gratzi, sir Dave) to write up a huge, giant, epic piece on our new Falcons uniforms. Boy, did I have a doozy planned. I was going to dissect every new piece of fabric, every small changed nuance, every nook and cranny of the new cut of the new jerseys.

Sadly, I have no reason to. I'll just let Nike tell you why I can't do that:

The Atlanta Falcons have chosen to stay with their traditional design aesthetic as well as their former uniform fabrication this year.

If you look at the picture(s) available here | here you will see no differences outside of the Nike swoosh. No Flywire collar, no Elite 51 fabrication, no nothing. It's the same exact jersey you might just have in your closet right now, sans the Reebok logo.

That's not to say changes will not happen. I'm certain they will. Just not this year. Or next. 2009 started the "Retro" uniform set change which did away with the modern black jersey (to some of your consternation) and Rich McKay said that the retro uniform program was a five year endeavor. Whether this was him imposing a five year retro or him sticking to the NFL's rule of "not more than one major uniform change in five years" is anyone's guess. I'm guessing the latter.

2014 marks the first year the Falcons are free, rule wise, to bring in a major set of changes to their uniforms. While I doubt highly that the NFL would have batted an eyelash at the Falcons getting a stitching makeover with the new Nike deal, I also feel that the administration is waiting...for something. I'm not predicting change two years from now but I am saying that it is possible we will see change soon. Not that I'd change much, really.

Interesting note: the Falcons are one of five teams who told Nike no on all the major cosmetic changes they brought to the NFL arena. The other four are the Packers, Raiders, Panthers, and Eagles.

Thoughts? Personally, I at least wanted to see the new Nike features like the collars and Elite 51 fabrication modernize our jerseys. I'm not disappointed really, as this means my Reebok jerseys are a swoosh away from still being "authentic."

Remember this post? It detailed my thoughts (and some mock ups I made) on what Nike would bring to the NFL table once they took over as the official apparel provider. It also was aimed at alleviating stress, stress that many of you felt when this move was first announced two-some-odd years ago. And here we are. Starting April 1st, Nike is the official sponsor of on and off-the-field apparel for the NFL. Nike has set Tuesday, April 3rd as the official unveiling of the 32 teams' new Nike jerseys. They'll be holding a press conference that I will be watching like a hawk.

We all knew this was coming.What some of you may not have realized is what this exactly means for our favorite team as well as the NFL as a whole. Beyond the jump I have collected some facts, speculation, and best of all, leaked pics of some of the new merch and apparel. Onward!

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I walk along Walton street, hands in my pockets. The sky is blue, the road gray, and the young morning sun has some of its rays glinting off of the chrome-bright windows set in the high buildings around me. Tall shadows leave me in shade for much of my journey along the pockmarked sidewalk. I look down at these imperfections and smile. They, like the city I'm walking in, have their personalities, their characters. Every crack, every divit, every hole is a story in-and-of itself. These imperfections have seen much, likely much more than I have myself.

I cross Spring Street and continue, noting my distance by the ever growing visage of the Olympic Park amphitheater's roof. On my right is a parking lot that, just a few months ago, was chock full of red and black streamers, screaming fans, hollering parking attendants, flag wavers, and the ever-enticing smell of grills and barbecues. The thumping bass of hip-hop can still be felt in echoes along the aging brick and concrete of the buildings I now pass.

I turn left onto Olympic Park Drive, passing a Subway that, on a gameday, would have a line out of its back door. Today though, it's mostly dead. Subway serves breakfast but no one seems to be buying. Past it is a merchandise stall that, six months ago, was the only way you could still buy a Joey Harrington jersey legally. Not that anyone would want to, but it's nice to know that someone, anyone, didn't manage to forget the ebbs that came before the flows. Today though, it's chock full of Kentucky and Indiana merchandise; say what you will about Atlanta's denizens, just be sure to acknowledge our adaptability.

Up comes Marietta Street, always busy, even at 6:30 in the morning. I wait my turn and cross over to the CNN center side of Olympic diagonally. It may not technically be legal but the nearby traffic cop doesn't pay me any mind. Why should he? There are dozens of others doing the very same thing. Welcome to Atlanta, jaywalk if you must but make sure you have accomplices.

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What kind of person is unhappy with a franchise-first four winning seasons in a row? What kind of person is unhappy with the number one receiver and the number one rusher holding franchise records for their respective statistics? What kind of person is unhappy with a franchise-first back-to-back playoff appearances? What kind of person is not happy with a four year record of forty three wins and twenty one losses?

Arthur Blank, that's who.

"Good is the Enemy of Great," said he, when discussing what has transpired these past four years.

Good is four winning seasons in a row. Good is awards and accolades. Good is three playoff appearances in four years.

Great is beating teams you should beat. Great is three playoff wins in a row. Great is hoisting that national symbol of the ultimate NFL season.

We want great. Not ok. Not good. Not pretty good. Great. The goal is not preseason wins, season wins, or accolades. It's rings. Arthur Blank agrees. He wants this team, its fans, and its city to enjoy the fruits of a long, successful, Super Bowl-winning season. Back to back winning seasons? Been there, done that. Mr. Blank wants to give us the Lombardi.

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I'm sure many of you have noticed my inconspicuous absence and for that I apologize. I'm going through the ardent process of becoming a homeowner. Tack on something else I plan to announce later and you've got one busy Adam. I haven't even gotten a chance to sit down and really watch a Falcons game for three weeks. Finally, Sunday, I got the chance.

I felt like I got trolled hard. The level of ineptitude on display shocked me beyond speechlessness. I simply could not fathom how a team with that much "weaponry" on offense could so utterly and completely fail at scoring. What were we, something like 3 of 15 for 3rd down conversions? Pitiful. I remember hearing at one point that Ryan was 15 for 37. Maybe that's exageration. I'm not sure. It was all hazy through a veil of rage. I stuck it out long enough to watch our biggest and riskiest draft pick in years let a tie-the-game ball bounce off his crotch. It's been that kind of season. Crotch-deflected passes kinda sums it all up. I'm saying this about a 7-5 record team that is somehow mercifully still in the playoff hunt. Unfathomable.

The tweets beyond the jump are as voracious as I've seen. One part elation, three parts confusion, and fifty billion parts frustration, these tweets may or may not be for the faint of heart. You've been warned.

Stiff upper lip and all of that.

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It's that time of year when the wind blows sharp and the trees are molting and the TV is loaded down with holiday commercial after holiday commercial. This can mean only one thing: the CHOA Falcons Signature Ornaments are on sale again.

I've been a participant of this very worthwhile program since 2008. You get a snazzy metal ornament displaying the Falcons logo, a holiday symbol, the year, and a Falcons player's signature (on the back). CHOA gets a donation to help continue their efforts to bring good health to children everywhere. I'd say that's a fair trade.

The ornaments are $12.00 each. All proceeds benefit Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Buy one (or else!)

Well then.

The Falcons needed to beat the Colts and they did, not bothering to even allow hapless Indy an offensive touchdown. It wasn't perfect but it also wasn't a disaster. Many fans I spoke to felt this game was a trap seeing as the Colts, by sheer desperation alone, would play at a much higher level than the Falcons expected. While it turned out to be completely false, this worry was a valid one. The Colts' chances of ending the season unvictorious get astronomically lower with each passing week, meaning that eventually, they will beat someone. Thanks to a rookie's coming out party and one fired up piece of silverware, we didn't end up being that someone.

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Since I've been sorely lacking in getting any content up the past few days, today you get a two-fer. Two Tweets of the Game. One day. Enjoy.

Well, what was supposed to be Detroit's bounce back from a terrible loss turned into a rather sloppy but still very delicious Falcons win. Can't ask for more than that. Our fearless leader (Dave) was out of commission this past game but everyone stepped up their game to provide some epic content.

GET U HEAD IN THE DAMN GAME, ANTONE SMITH!!! Poppa_falcon

Better QB SNEAK THAT MESS!!! NO NEED TO BE CUTE MULARKEY!!! Poppa_falcon

Tony Gonzalez is the only receiver on the Falcons that has caught a pass. FalconsDCox

Whoa.....nice fumble recovery! Jake_W

This dude behind me yells cheaters every time we get a penalty. I'm sick of hearing this crap. FalconsDiva28

Eat it!! Just eat that touchdown pill!!! Eat it! FalconsTirso

Optimus Grimes up one on MegaTron so far. FalconsJAdams

Suh isn't in the game right now. Trying to find out why. Hearing a possible ejection? FalconsJAdams

Optimus Grimes got up higher than megatron MidwestATLFALC

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Since I've been sorely lacking in getting any content up the past few days, today you get a two-fer. Two Tweets of the Game. One day. Enjoy.

The Panther game was special. Not "OMG we totally kicked butt" special but "yup, that's a NFC South game for ya" special. We didn't exactly dominate but we didn't exactly suck either. Tweets ahoy.

I was hoping for a little more...you know, six points. TheFalcoholic

Good to see we've got a third team in black and white stripes playing today. TheFalcoholic

Story of the year so far there. Moore and Babineaux have Newton in a bad place and it ends with a first down.  FalconsJAdams

Ray Edwards is giving a Panthers o-lineman a piggy back ride, but that isn't holding on CAR? Oh, okay. Jeannathomas

Looks like 1st quarter will be one of the quarters we decide not to play today. FalconsNeedRing

Michael Turner running with purpose. That purpose? The annihilation of all that is good and alive in the world. TheFalcoholic

LOOK at Ovie!!! Poppa_Falcon

This drive has as many penalties as plays. This is sloppier than my college dorm room. TheFalcoholic

Dear Mike Mularkey: The run appears to be working today, so it's okay to do it.  Jake_W

This zone is as soft as angel down and kitten fur. TheFalcoholic

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Like how the Falcons are establishing the run early. Getting back to Falcons football! Falcfans

OLD GUY TOUCHDOWN JasonKirkSBN

#2 to #88! Great start Falcons! Keleland

Best thing about that drive? Everything. TheFalcoholic

Seattle does the illegal shift! That's what they call the 9 a.m. in El Paso, Texas. TheFalcoholic

Need better push up the middle there. They still got Jackson down but I'd like to be able to see him not step up in the pocket. FalconsDCox

That sound you hear is tens of thousands of Seahawks fans dialing 911 on Julio Jones for cornerback abuse. TheFalcoholic

Got to get Julio a TD today.  FalconsDCox

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Matty has NO time. O-line gotta do better. Gotta. FalconsNeedRing

We're about 2.5 minutes into the game and two turnovers already. Could be one of those games. FalconsJAdams

Well at least Bosher can tackle. FalconsNeedRing

The Falcons need to move their offensive dial from "slow" to "not slow." TheFalcoholic

That drive went in the trash compactor quick. TheFalcoholic

The Falcons special teams are not, really... technomonk13

Matt Bosher punts like a small child. TheFalcoholic

I hope I have enough beer in this house to get me through the game. Jeannathomas

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For a good three point two-five quarters last night, I felt as if a time warp had opened up on the muddy, soddened field at Raymond James Stadium and some late 60's version of the Falcons offense showed up to play. It wasn't until Matt Ryan found Julio Jones on a streak route for forty-nine yards, setting up a Gonzo TD with the score a dismal 16-6 that I felt I was watching the Falcons that won thirteen games last night. That score happened with a little over six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Too little, too late.

Do I feel that the Falcons were the better over-all team last night? Yes. Did they play that way? Absolutely not.

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Last week we all dug deep down for the most heartbreaking loss we as fans ever witnessed. Many of you pointed to the recent drubbing we took at the hands of the Packers in last season's playoffs. Many of you old timers started talking about 1980's iconic team and their utterly inexplicable meltdown against the Cowboys. All in all, tears were shed, hearts were heavy, and we all had a renewed perspective to view the shocking, disappointing loss to the Chicago Bears with.

Now, I ask a similar question, seeing as we just won a toughly contested, highly entertaining game against an opponent we hadn't beaten in half a decade: what was the best, most epic, most awesome Falcons win you've ever seen?

For me? Of course, I'm going to mention the NFC Championship against Minnesota. That's a given for any Falcons fan that's been on the bandwagon since the 90's. So instead of going for the obvious, I'm going for the somewhat-kinda-obvious-if-you-were-alive-in-2008. 

The ending to the 2008 game against Chicago literally almost killed me. When Elam nailed that kick with six seconds left to put us in the lead, I was on my way home from visiting my soon-to-be-wife. I took both hands off the wheel, screamed as loud as I could, and almost swerved into a semi. After the semi rightfully blasted his horn at me, I pulled off the side of the road half-elated at victory, half-terrified at the notion that I had just been a hair's breadth away from pushing up daisies. For the near death experience, that game wins over the much more important 98 NFC Championship win.

Samuel J. Jackson himself gets the crowd started tonight. FalconsJHicks

Spoon is making his presence know early! Kinglouie9

Michael Turner is running like a magnificent gazelle tonight. TheFalcoholic

JUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUULIO! FalconsDCox

ROLL TIDE JasonKirkSBN

Did you ever Juli-know that you're my hero? TheFalcoholic

So how cool was that diver with the 83 jersey and Falcon helmet on while underwater? That was awesome. FalcoholicZippo

The Falcons' offensive line goes all gooey and Matt Ryan gets hit with a helmet. No call. Naturally. TheFalcoholic

How was that not a penalty... Went right for the helmet! hotbunsugafoot

Sean Weatherspoon is on Brent Celek like cheese on a burger. TheFalcoholic

All i gotta say is THANK YOU BEARS for beating us like that, youve sparked something else ConManJankins

Tony Gonzalez has moves on top of moves on top of moves in between a delicious bun of pass catching. TheFalcoholic

My favorite move in the whole NFL is Tony Gonzalez' stepback after a catch. Sneaky old man basketball player feet. JasonKirkSBN

The Falcons are going to Michael Turner the Eagles to death. TravisFain

Mike Vick wears Matt Ryan underwear. DrewWill

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Last night had the feel of a knockout, drag-out title bout between a dastardly heel and a righteous face. I had to check my cable bill online real quick just to make sure I hadn't been billed for a Pay-Per-View event. The stream of anxiety-induced foulness that flowed from my twitter account will likely still be floating somewhere above Elijay when I sit down in my office in Midtown today. 

The Falcons found a way to win despite essentially giving the game away with terrible secondary play, a lack of pass rush, and an O Line that was slightly less hole-y than a block of swiss. The home crowd was vicious, the refs were atrocious, and the turnovers? Delicious.

Follow the break for the full break down.

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Sunday was, in a word, heartbreaking. It was not the way we wanted to see our Birds start a year many of us expect(ed) to be one of their best yet. Many (proverbial) tears were shed after the shocking 30-12 shellacking at Soldier Field. However bad it was, it certainly wasn't the worst. 

For me, the most heartbreaking Falcons loss came in the Super Bowl. A team that had gotten there against all odds with hardly any real super stars (Tuggle, Anderson withstanding) who, despite their best efforts, get manhandled by a soon-to-retire John Elway seeking redemption after a career of never winning the big one. A Falcons win in that game would have been electric for the city's sports atmosphere. It could have ushered in an all new era of Falcons Fandom. Instead, it's considered yet another depressing day in the history of ATL sports. 

I was rooting for our birds so hard that night that when it was apparent the game was out of reach, I literally got misty-eyed. And I did all of this two ours away in Alabama. I was probably the saddest kid in my city, maybe even state, that night (Alabama has no professional sports teams and couldn't care less about the NFL on the whole).

I know it's painful to bring up such memories but I feel some of us (specially you rather new Falcons fans) need some perspective. What is your most heartbreaking Falcons loss?

Depressing missives behind the jump, though some kept it entertaining to the end. Enjoy.

Frank Caliendo consistently brings so much pain to the world he should be tried for war crimes. @mFalcons5

Matty Ice > your QB @bangxprettyWill

Matt Forte is going to get tired of Sean Weatherspoon quickly. @ReidAdair

Sean Weatherspoon is playing out of his mind today. He looks like a one-man barbarian horde. @TheFalcoholic

Apparently Sean Weatherspoon didn't have lunch, and will settle on having Matt Forte @KMarch_

Turner, Ryan to White, Turner. Ah, feels like 2010. @TheFalcoholic

If Matt Forte touches the ball, rest assured Sean Weatherspoon isn't too far away. @ReidAdair

Uh oh...Cutler's getting a little frustrated. @FalconsDCox

It just wouldn't be a Bears game if Jay Cutler didn't get whiny. @jeannathomas

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I'd like to quote the Shirelles, who were the first ever girl pop group to reach number 1 on the Billboard Top 100. It's old music, but the message is perfectly applicable in this situation.

Yesterday, we had the chance to show everyone we were who they thought we were. We didn't. We picked up just where we left off in the playoffs: bumbling, fumbling, shambling, failing. 

Follow the jump and dive into the sadmadness. 

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As many of you seasoned Falcoholic veterans know, last year I started an in-season feature called "Tweets of the Game." This feature collects the best in-game quotes from social media, fans, and pundits alike. It's making its return this year and if you want to participate, all you have to do is A) Have a twitter account B) Follow @AdamLSchultz and C) Let me know that I need to follow you and add you to the Tweets of the Game list.

Simple, no? First Tweets of the Game post should hit Wednesday of next week.