I came across this today, I figured I'd share with the class...

No. 21: Falcons' best draft class

Favre is bittersweet top pick for Falcons

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ESPN Stats and Information has ranked all NFL players drafted in the modern draft (1967-2008) based on their performance during their NFL careers, regardless of how they fared with the team that drafted them. Insider will count down each team's best draft class (seeded 1-32), then conduct a tournament to determine the best class of all time.

 

 

For a short explanation of the ranking system, click here, or, for a more detailed rundown of how the system was developed, click here.

 

 

FALCONS' BEST CLASS: 1991

 

 

 

Reviewing the Atlanta Falcons' drafts is difficult. On one hand, they drafted two of the NFL's greatest players according to ESPN Stats and Information's ranking system. On the other, those two players didn't stick around for their whole careers, and their other drafts don't stand out as much. Drafting one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, then trading him, puts the Falcons in an elite (or not-so-elite) class, depending on how one looks at it.

 

 

QB Brett Favre (Round 2, 33rd overall, Southern Mississippi): The third player taken by the Falcons in the 1991 draft, Favre threw four passes in his rookie season and never challenged QB Chris Miller. Favre was in then-coach Jerry Glanville's doghouse, apparently due to Favre's "libertine life pattern," as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Glanville reportedly once said on the sideline that there would have to be a plane crash for him to put Favre into the game. Favre was traded for a first-round pick in 1992. Said Falcons vice president Ken Herock at the time: "We traded a good prospect, but a player who might not have played for us several years, for what could turn into a guy who helps us right away."

 

 

Many Packers fans groaned at the trade. But Favre went on to become a three-time MVP, 10-time Pro Bowler, Super Bowl champion and one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play the game. In return for Favre, the Falcons eventually drafted RB Tony Smith, who played just three seasons in the NFL.

 

 

Atlanta Falcons 1991 Draft Class

Players who scored on our ranking system are marked in bold.

Round	Overall	Position	Player	College
1	3	DB	Bruce Pickens	Nebraska
1	13	WR	Mike Pritchard	Colorado
2	33	QB	Brett Favre	Southern Mississippi
4	87	DL	Moe Gardner	Illinois
5	114	LB	James Goode	Oklahoma
6	145	RB	Erric Pegram	North Texas
7	172	DB	Brian Mitchell	BYU
7	186	OL	Mark Tucker	USC
8	199	TE	Randy Austin	UCLA
9	226	DL	Ernie Logan	East Carolina
10	256	WR	Walter Sutton	S.W. Minnesota
10	258	OL	Pete Lucas	Wisc.-Stevens Point
11	283	DL	Joe Sims	Nebraska
112	310	RB	Bob Christian	Northwestern

 

 

HONORABLE MENTION

MORE ABOUT THE FALCONS' DRAFTING: (since 1967)

Category	No.
Hall of Famers drafted	0
MVPs	3
Off. players of the year	1
Def. players of the year	1
All-Pro first team	21
All-Pro second team	32
Pro Bowl selections	98
Off. rookies of the year	1
Def. rookies of the year	3

1989: "Prime Time" hits Atlanta. Defensive back Deion Sanders was a 10-time All-Pro (six first-team and four second-team selections) and defensive player of the year in 1994. He excelled as a returner as well. Sanders was known as one of the greatest defensive backs to go the other way with the football. After five seasons with the Falcons, he parted ways with the team and signed a one-year contract with the 49ers in Sept. 1994. Sanders helped the 49ers win their fifth Super Bowl title. The Cowboys signed Sanders to a long-term deal in 1995. Sanders helped lead the Cowboys to their third Super Bowl title in four seasons. His 1,331 career return yards are the second most in NFL history, as are his nine touchdown returns. His average of 25.1 yards per interception return is an NFL record.

 

 

Best picks: Brett Favre (1991) was simply a three-time MVP and Super Bowl champion. Deion Sanders (1989) was an eight-time Pro Bowler, defensive POY and two-time Super Bowl champion. Claude Humphrey (1968) was named defensive ROY and went to six Pro Bowls in 11 seasons with Falcons. George Kunz (1969) was a premier OL who went to eight Pro Bowls and was named to the All-Pro first team once and second team three times.

 

 

TOP FALCONS DRAFT PICKS OVERALL

 

Rank	Player	Position	Draft Year	Points
1.	Brett Favre	QB	1991	75
2.	Deion Sanders	CB	1989	64
3.	Claude Humphrey	DL	1968	32
4.	George Kunz	OL	1969	29
5.	Mike Kenn	OL	1978	27
6.	Bill Fralic	OL	1985	19
7.	Keith Brooking	LB	1998	17
8.	Jeff Van Note	LB	1969	16
9t.	Lincoln Kennedy	OL	1993	14
9t.	William Andrews	RB	1979	14

 

Note on Rankings

We ranked players based on the following criteria: Hall of Fame induction, MVP awards, All-Pro first-team selections, All-Pro second-team selections, Pro Bowls, offensive and defensive player of the year and rookie of the year awards, and membership on a Super Bowl-winning or -losing team. A player scores on our ranking system when he earns at least one of those honors. For a deeper explanation, click here.

Apparently the former Buc's and current Colts head coach has decided to hang em up.  I always thought Dungy was a very good coach, who happened to inherit a fantastic roster in indianapolis.  That is if you like 6'4, 230 pound quarterbacks, with laser rocket arms, like Peyton Manning.  Anyhow, his retirement made me wonder who the best coach in the history of the NFC south is, at this point, I guess Jon Gruden would be my vote, hard to go against the only guy whose won a superbowl...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3827058

We all either saw it happen, watched the replay, or read about it here by now.  What unfolded at approximately the two minute and twenty second mark of the fourth quarter of todays game will prove to be a pivotal point to this season.  I do not want to go as far as to say that what happens tommorow or later this week will define the current front offices tenure, but their reaction will be telling. 

First things first, Adam Jennings has to be removed from the role of punt returner, if not from the active roster entirely.  If his continued failure is not addressed, it will give the press a foundation of criticism for the front office and coaching staff.  With all of the good will the team has built up over the first 6 weeks, there is no reason to allow a problem like this to fester any longer.  Jennings has to go, case closed.

As far as the rest of the team;  They need to show up next week against Oakland and beat them like a rented mule.  They cannot allow Jennings misplay, the refs missed call, and an apparent blase attiude by the defense on the eagles ensuant possesion to carry over AT ALL.  I firmly beleive that the leadership in place will make sure that it does not, but its not just on Mike Smith.  Now is when guys like Lawyer Milloy have to look everyone in the locker room square in the eye and demand they perform to the best of their ability next week.

Matt Ryan needs to head into the next game dying to prove that he couldve rallied the birds to victory again;  He needs to prove he learned from his bad throw.  Mike Mularkey (and Mike Smith for that matter), need to show they learned a lesson on that red zone possesion as well, but they must also show they are not gun shy when it comes to calling pass plays inside the opponents 20.

Whether we like it or not, today happened.  I beleive in the end, it may be a good thing.  THis team proved today that it can play a full game with a very good football team.  Now they need to learn to adopt a We'll show you attitude, and react to this loss by ripping off a few wins in a row.

It is difficult to keep coming up with these, but after Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo, and "Comrade" Dimitroff, I beleive I've struck gold again and found the most appropriate nickname available for Matt Ryan.  If you have not seen Team America World Police, you won't get it, however if you have, I motion that Ryan's new nickname mimick Matt Damon's only lines in the aforementioned motion picture master peice....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWTzyU5MFgM

Maaaaaaaaaatttttttttttttttttt RYyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!

Poll

Nickname for Matt Ryan?

33%

Matty Ice

10 votes

13%

Maaaaatttttttt Ryyyyyaaannnn

4 votes

23%

Matty Light

7 votes

3%

Matty Horse Face

1 votes

23%

Ryanheart

7 votes

3%

Other (specify in comments)

1 votes

30 votes | Poll has closed

With all the coverage Matt Ryan, Brian Brohm, Joe Flacco, and to a lesser extent Chad Henne have received in the leadup to this years draft, there is one very good QB prospect who seems to have avoided the wide spread media attention.  

I'm not sure all of you have heard of him, and I'm sure a number of you will discount him immediately because he runs a 4.4 forty, but heres who I'd nudge Comrade Dimitroff to pick if I was an advisor.

Without further ado, allow me to introduce Josh Johnson, QB, San Diego Toreros.  He of swift feet and 43 td passes.  Oh yeah, he only threw 1 pick the entire year.  

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=166992

Sure, he didn't play against many big time programs, but neither did Flacco.  In my opinion He's worth a shot, he's one hell of an athlete, and the stats make it fairly apparent that he makes pretty good decisions...

He was tutored in college by Jim Harbaugh, a guy who knows a thing or two about quarterbacking in the NFL...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sITaJVOX0BQ

Falcons owner Arthur Blank said he has been in touch with Michael Vick. "Michael has written a couple times. I've written him back," Blank said. "We have that kind of relationship. Despite the mixture of frustration, anger and disappointment in him, I believe in second chances and redemption. I would love to see Michael pay his debt to society and come out and play again in the NFL. I think he could also be a big help to ... speak to people about some of his choices."

Oh boy....

I was discussing the truly feasible landing spots for the aforementioned formerly dynamic duo and i settled on one team in particular...the bucAneers.  Last I checked they were 44 mil under the cap, and Garcia missed a number of games to injury last yr.  While I dont believe this will actually happen, I was interested in hearing other cases be made for potential destinatons.

2008 DRAFT ORDER

1. Miami
2. St. Louis
3. Atlanta
4. Oakland
5. Kansas City
6. N.Y. Jets
7. New England (from San Fran.)
8. Baltimore

The Falcons also have two second round picks, their own, and houstons (part of the schaub trade).  Thats 3 picks in the top 50.

It seems Arthur Blank has offered Bill Parcells the position of V.P of football operations. If Parcells were to accept said offer, he would wield a significant amount of power.  Parcells would be responsible for hiring the new head coach, re-organizing the personnel department, and if he and Blank see fit, hiring a new G.M.  Rich McKay has been removed as the teams general manager.  Blank has asked McKay to remain with the franchise to oversee stadium plans and as a liasion to the league.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3160597

nothing from the ajc on this yet, but i'm sure tommorows paper will cover it.

Its high time the Falcons restored order to the franchise.  Its gotta start from the top, and the best way to put a stranglehold on this debacle is to hire someone with a stellar reputation as a head coach IN THE NFL.  I hate to beat a dead horse, and since I've been begging for Cowher since mid-season, I'm sure you guys knew where I was going with this, but humor me for a minute.

Cowher is 100% what this team needs.  The minute he walks in that door HE COMMANDS respect from every single person involved with the falcons franchise.  He is a proven winner who has shown that he can adapt to the circumstances that present themselves.  He is both a players coach and a disciplinarian.  HE WOULD IMMEDIATELY BECOME THE FACE OF THE FRANCHISE.  No matter what big free agent the team signed, they would not over shadow Cowher (tom brady and peyton manning excluded).  

I strongly beleive Cowhers presence and influence would help to quickly turn this team around.  I beleive the veterans who had such problems with Petrino would be ecstatic to see a proven winner with an NFL resume on board.  I also beleive that his longevity (he ain't jumping ship after 13 games, or 3 years) would allow Rich McKay to do a far better job at identifying and signing/drafting (I really can't knock McKay, our drafts have been good under his watch) the players Cowher would need to turn this team into a perenial super bowl contender.  

I wish there was some way we could force Blank and Cowher into a room together, with a contract that has 3 lines on it, the amount of money, the # of years, and a place for cowher and blank to sign.

After all we've endured this past year, we deserve a head coach and a breath of fresh air.

Perhaps the only article I have read during this entire fiasco that seems to take a deep breath and a step back in looking at the situation.  I really couldn't agree more that all the talk of "making an example" of Vick, or any defendant, is completely ridiculous and 100% against the tenants of the American Judicial system.  Definetly worth the read.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=easterbrook/070816

[editor's note, by Dave the Falconer] I actually hadn't caught this rare non-TMQ story by Easterbrook, and it's very thought provoking. Give it a read and let Hamburger know what you think about it.

Update [2007-8-20 19:41:50 by Dave the Falconer]: Seems a trifle less thought-provoking now, but I still think the basic point he was making is a generally applicable one. Unfortunately, his timing couldn't have been worse unless he had posted it today.