For teams considering Deangelo Hall...

Consider this an open letter to teams considering Deangelo Hall.  I see that SBNation fanposts and even the official blogs themselves, are peppered asking the $8 million question: Should we pursue DeAngelo Hall?

Let me get this out of the way first: I hate DeAngelo Hall.  Long before he was traded to the Raiders, I've argued tooth-and-nail with fellow Falcon's fans about how awful DeAngelo Hall is.  So know this: I am the far-end of the Anti-Hall spectrum, so take what I say with a grain of salt.

Now, why do I hate DeAngelo Hall?  It's simple:

1.) His tackling is bad.  Imagine DeAngelo Hall approaches a ball-carrier.  His first move is to wrap up... the football.  And try and strip it.  While his relatively tiny arms try and pry the wedged in football from the elbow crook and grasp of, say, Brandon Jacobs or Jamal Lewis, that ball carrier lumbers for an extra several yards.  This happens all the time.  Hall, in pursuit of a strip, allows the ball-carrier 2-5 extra yards of territory that wouldn't have happened if he'd tackled him when he made contact.  

2.) His coverage is bad.  I know, he's blaming the 'scheme' in Oakland.  This is, of course, total nonsense.  His scheme and performance have generated top-10 interception numbers.  DeAngelo Hall's desire for interceptions (much like strips, these so-called 'big plays') leads him to do TWO specific things that drive me bonkers.  First, Hall allows his receiver to get separation.  WRs across the NFL are killing themselves to get separation from their respective DBs, and Hall freely gives it to them.  Why would he do this?  Because he's ridiculously fast, and he's counting on his closing speed to result in an interception or pass defensed.  It rarely works.  Second, he keeps his eyes in the backfield.  Knowing where the QB throws the ball is an excellent way to jump a route.  The problem is that he's not watching his man or his zone.  He gets punked like this all the time.  All the time.  

3.) His attitude is something else.  Most of the known "cancers" of the NFL are "locker room cancers."  The big names people think of (like T.O.) end up being primetime performers between the lines, but after the game start running their mouth (or making it rain).  DeAngelo Hall is not like those guys so much.  He runs his mouth after games, but not nearly as bad as the other well known "cancers."  He is, however, an "on-field cancer."  He has a TON of personal fouls.  Tons.  He gets them all the time.  In fact, last season, his personal fouls were singlehandedly responsible for an opposing team's scoring drive (Steve Smith and the Refs made Hall lose his cool completely).  Late hits, unsportsmanlike conduct, whining are all trademarks of DeAngelo Hall in Atlanta, and I saw NO change in Oakland.

Now, I know you're thinking your team is different.  Or that I'm totally wrong.  That's okay.  I'm just gathering my thoughts on something I've thought a lot about.  I do not like him.  That's not to say he can't fit somewhere, or that he can't change, but it's going to take a lot.  I hope that helps you come up with a position on how you feel about your team or franchise taking a flyer on Hall.

Here's a little parting tidbit: ESPN does a pre-game bit called "For Love or the Game" where a player is spotlighted and a teammate and the player's spouse answer questions about what the player thinks and believes to see who knows him best.  Hall was spotlighted on the Monday Night game (prior to his "Royal" torching).  When asked what his greatest NFL achievement was?  Hall's wife said that DeAngelo's answer would be: "Getting Paid."