Brett Favre / Photo: Newscom

I am beginning to find the whole media frenzy surrounding Brett’s return to the game amusing. And kind of irritating. One day you hear one story, the next day you hear a completely different story. And every media outlet has a “source.” Who’s to say the Yahoo! Sports “source” referred to in this post has any clue what he/she is talking about? I mean, yesterday we heard that coach Childress was on his way to Brett’s home to talk about his supposed return to the game. Some reports already had him in Mississippi. NFL Network had reporters at the Hattiesburg airport and in Brett’s front yard for God’s sake. Today we have a completely different story. Tomorrow the situation could take an entirely different turn. From an entirely different “source” no less.

I enjoy being part of the hype surrounding information that is actually true. But when you have one conflicting report after another to try to follow, it gets very exasperating. So, at this time, Brett is supposedly happy being retired and doesn’t plan to join the Vikings. Whatever. If that’s the truth, do I expect Brett to change his mind? Of course. I don’t think this is the last we’ve heard of Brett Favre’s “unretirement.”

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Brett Favre Plans to Stay Retired?

Tony Gonzalez traded to Falcons / Photo: Newscom

Tony was understandably excited to join the Falcons:

“It’s somewhat bittersweet. I love Kansas City. I grew up in Kansas City. The city means a lot to me. I got there when I turned 21. It will be sad to leave a city I love. But I’m looking forward to making a Super Bowl run in Atlanta every year for the next three or four years. With Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Roddy White and now myself, we have the chance to be in the top five in the league in offense every year. How could I not be excited to join that team? (Chiefs General Manager) Scott (Pioli) and (coach) Todd (Haley) told me a little bit ago and there were nothing but positives ….. I think this is something that will help the team because they are rebuilding. There was no biterness at all from either side.”

The Falcons look smart with this trade. On paper, Tony might seem past his prime at 33-years-old. But if you look at his numbers on a miserable 2-14 KC team last season with four different quarterbacks on the 24th ranked offense (96 catches, over 1,000 yards and 10 TDs), you have to be impressed. And then look at what he did in the Pro Bowl (six catches, 98 yards and a TD), it’s easy to see the guy has a lot of football left.

Sources: AtlantaFalcons.com, FoxSports.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Chiefs Trade Tony Gonzalez to Falcons

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

The Atlanta Falcons are trying to trade the contract rights of quarterback Michael Vick to any interested parties. Unfortunately, Michael is currently in a federal prison on felony charges and isn’t scheduled to be released until July. At AtlantaFalcons.com yesterday, Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff said:

“With regards to Michael Vick, we’ve decided to seek a trade of his contractual rights to another NFL club. We took a number of steps in the 2008 season, including using our first pick to draft a quarterback. We feel a trade is the best move for the Falcons, and it’s also in the best interest of Michael. This has been a really unique situation from a variety of standpoints and because we will actively be involved in a trade situation, I don’t envision our organization speaking any more about this subject publicly until it’s reached a resolution.”

OK, so I’ll speak about it. A lot of noise has been made recently about Michael playing in the NFL in 2009, maybe with a team who has historically catered to trouble makers and delinquents — like the Oakland Raiders. I don’t see it happening anytime soon. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Michael on August 24, 2007 and said he would review Michael’s status when all his legal proceedings are done. That being said, I will reiterate what I posted back in November. Let’s be realistic. Michael is scheduled to be released on July 20, 2009. That’s mere days before NFL training camps open for the 2009 season. His possible reinstatement won’t even be discussed until he’s out of prison. And if that’s even a consideration, I can’t imagine the NFL not piling on additional penalties for all of Michael’s transgressions. Keep in mind that Michael still faces two state felony counts on dogfighting and animal cruelty. They carry maximum prison terms of 10 years, but under a plea deal, Michael would serve a suspended sentence and a year of probation. I’d be surprised if Michael ever plays in the NFL again, but if he’s hoping for a miracle, maybe he ought to shoot for 2010 instead.

By the way, Michael has a contract that runs to 2013 and calls for him to receive a base salary of $9 million and a bonus of $6.43 million in 2009. The remainder of the contract is worth $45.11 million, with another possible $3 million in Pro Bowl bonuses.

Source: AtlantaFalcons.com, Photo: Newscom

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Falcons Trying to Trade Michael Vick

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

One day after losing a Wild Card playoff game to the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith was named the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year. Coach Smith edged Miami Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano by a mere one vote. He explained his team’s process to success:

“I’m honored individually, but more so for our coaching staff and our players. I think we have tried to establish that we’d be very systematic in how we did things, that we were going to have a plan. We laid that plan out from the very beginning how we were going to practice, how we were going to travel, how we were going to meet, how we were going to communicate, and I think the guys really appreciated definitely how we presented the plan in the framework for us to start the season.”

I believe the award could’ve gone to both men but I would’ve given the edge to coach Sparano. Nevertheless, it was nearly impossible to separate the incredible job these two coaches did this season — coach Sparano taking the NFL’s worst team last year, a 1-15 team, all the way to an 11-5 record and the AFC East title. And coach Smith improving the Falcons from 4-12 to 11-5 and a Wild Card playoff berth. Neither the Falcons nor Dolphins were able to advance beyond the Wild Card round, but both of these coaches set foundations for what should be promising football futures in Atlanta and Miami.

Source: Yahoo! Sports, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Mike Smith NFL Coach of the Year

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was named the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year yesterday by the Associated Press. I think Falcons owner Arthur Blank had hoped for Matt to have a shot at the starting quarterback position this season when the team drafted him third overall back in April. But I’m sure he didn’t expect this kind of success this soon — not for Matt and not for the Falcons as a team as the prepare to play the NFC West champion Arizona Cardinals Saturday in a Wild Card Playoff game. As one would expect, Matt was typically well-spoken of the award:

“There’s a number of guys who had great rookie seasons this year, so to even be mentioned in that light is nice. It’s certainly a great honor, and I think it speaks to what we did as a team this year.”

I’m sure Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson is one of the guys Matt was talking about. It had to be a close call. Nevertheless, Matt had a great season by any player’s standards, but especially for a rookie QB. He completed 265 of 434 passes for 3,440 yards with 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He had a respectable 87.7 passer rating and also contributed with 104 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. His 3,440 passing yards ranks sixth in a single-season in Falcons history and he became only the second rookie quarterback in NFL history to have over 3,000 passing yards. Impressive.

When you think about what the Falcons organization and the fans went through in watching their supposed savior quarterback Michael Vick being led off to prison and their proud franchise reduced to jeers amidst the embarrassment of former head coach Bobby Petrino, this has to be an especially proud moment. From 4-12 in the basement of the NFC South last season to 11-5 and a Wild Card berth this season, the team can look to their Rookie of the Year quarterback as a building block for many years to come.

Source: AtlantaFalcons.com, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Matt Ryan NFL Offensive ROY

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Atlanta Falcons fullback Ovie Mughelli is thankful. And he wants to know what you’re thankful for. Impress him enough with your answer and you will receive a special gift package from “Ovie Claus.” To enter this Thanksgiving contest, just visit Ovie’s Yardbarker blog and leave a comment.

Source: YardBarker.com

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Ovie Mughelli is Thankful

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Atlanta Falcons rookie Matt Ryan was named the team’s season-opening starting quarterback by head coach Mike Smith today. Matt will also start the Falcons preseason finale against Baltimore this Thursday:

“We have evaluated Matt through OTAs, mini-camp, training camp and over the course of three preseason games. After reviewing Matt’s progress, we feel like he has won the starting job.”

The decision makes sense. In this particular situation, Matt will do better in a “baptism-by-fire” than he will watching and learning from the sidelines. In three preseason contests, Matt has completed 32 of 52 passes for 277 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for an 80.4 passer rating. I could say not bad for a rookie, but he’s clearly the better option over Chris Redman or Joey Harrington. The Atlanta Falcons aren’t going to the playoffs and Matt will take his lumps this season. But in the long run, this assignment will only help the development of Matt’s career and the development of this team.

Source: AtlantaFalcons.com, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Matt Ryan Named Starting QB for Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons gave wide receiver Joe Horn his unconditional release from the team today, something he had been seeking since OTAs this past offseason. The Falcons couldn’t trade Joe, so they let him go. They will have to eat his guaranteed $2.5 million salary for 2008. Naturally, Joe couldn’t have been happier, but he also expressed sorrow:

“It’s a sense of sadness because after every game last year and after the first two preseason games, I had to look at Mr. Blank and know that he deserves a winning team and he deserves a championship. I was here and couldn’t make it happen. It’s kind of sad for me leaving.”

Despite being 36-years-old, I think Joe has some football left in him and now he’s free to negotiate with any team that’s interested. Among those teams possibly looking for a veteran receiver are Dallas, Jacksonville, Seattle, St. Louis and Tennessee. Apparently Joe’s agent went all out by contacting every team (except the Falcons, of course) to gauge the interest in his client.

Joe’s had a nagging hamstring injury that has kept him out of voluntary workouts and the Falcons’ first two preseason games, but he says he’s 100% ready to run. Expect a needy team to make a move for his services quickly.

Sources: NFL.com, Miami Herald

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Atlanta Falcons Release Joe Horn

Atlanta Falcons rookie quarterback Matt Ryan was impressive in his debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars tonight. The Falcons lost the game 20-17, but Matt was 9 of 15 passing for 113 yards and a touchdown (25 yards to WR Roddy White) in five first half drives. It’s too early to be making any sort of predictions, but Falcons fans have to be optimistic with this start.

Source: AtlantaFalcons.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Matt Ryan Solid in Preseason Debut

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

Disgruntled Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Joe Horn would like to play for the Dallas Cowboys. Then again, who wouldn’t? Obviously the Cowboys seem to have all the pieces in place to make a Super Bowl run in 2008. Their entire training camp will be documented by HBO. And it’s simply becoming almost trendy to want to play for “America’s team” these days. Just ask Adam Jones, Chris Henry and Chad Johnson. Joe is no different:

“I would be in awe to play with an organization like that because I know that they’re at that next step of winning a Super Bowl. To come there and be on the other side of T.O. would be fabulous, but right now, that hasn’t happened. No conversations have been made and all that is speculation.”

The Falcons are favoring their younger receivers (Roddy White, Laurent Robinson, Michael Jenkins). But Joe feels he still has the ability to be a starter in the National Football League. At 36-years-old, I’m not so sure, but I know Joe can still play. And I happen to think he’s better than the Cowboys’ current #2 option Patrick Crayton. If Dallas is unsuccessful at resigning veteran receiver Terry Glenn, they might just be in the market for Joe’s experienced services. That is, if the asking price isn’t too high. Stay tuned.

Source: Dallas Morning News

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Joe Horn Would be in ‘Awe’ to Join Cowboys