McFadden Runs Fast, Procreates Faster

by Dave Choate on Feb 24, 2008 11:11 PM EST in Falcons News

Darren McFadden is a baby-makin' machine, man. D. Orlando Ledbetter reports from Indy that McFadden's got a paternity suit and two more little buggers soon to land on this moral coil. That, coupled with some of the other rumored and factual character issues, is causing your team owners with Puritan sensibilities to flee for their richly appointed mansions.

In my mind, these character issues are going to force Arthur Blank to assert his influence again. McFadden is a huge talent, yes, but I think off-the-field problems are going to be a big no-no in Atlanta this year. The Falcons are much more likely to flip Hall for the 31st pick and go for Felix Jones or Jonathan Stewart, if they're still hanging around at that point.

The problem here is that McFadden's 40 time of 4.27 seconds is slightly faster than I ran it in high school (actual time: 4.8 seconds), which makes him every scout's midnight fantasy. That kind of athleticism isn't easy to ignore. The Falcons, as you'll recall, have only mildly slower but much less musclebound back Jerious Norwood on the roster already. If you're trying to hit a home run purely based on talent, though, it's hard to smack one much harder than getting McFadden at #3.

I'm torn between reality and fantasy on this one. On one level, I'd like to believe the team can draft McFadden and he can never, ever get in trouble every again. On the other hand, I know for a fact that the new management will look hard at this kid's, um, kids in any decision they make, and there's not guarantee that McFadden won't be a complete head case. Why can't things ever just be simple?

This further solidifies rumors about Matt Ryan and Jake Long, in my mind.

Thoughts?

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Comments

been following the combine a bit

i have to admit that john stewart from oregon is impressive and i would love to nab him if we get another pick in the first via a D_Hall trade. I also think it's going to be Jake Long or Matty Ice with the #3. It would be great to get Long and Stewart in the 1st and go defense with our 2 second rounders.

These red flags about McFadden...I mean, where there is smoke there's fire right? we can't take a chance with the #3 pick with someone who could be the next Lawrence Phillips.

Jake Long, CHris Long, Matty Ice...these guys will help shape the culture of the team as we move in a new direction.

by VBfalconfan on Feb 25, 2008 10:47 AM EST reply actions

true....

...however the same was said about AP's shoulder last year.......

go hard or go home

by TO falcon on Feb 25, 2008 12:45 PM EST up reply actions

He could be ours

From the Dallas Morning News:

Jerry Jones on....

On moving up to the top of the draft to possibly take McFadden

"I don't want to get into a real strategy, as far as going forward here the next few weeks, but I don't see any guy today where we'd make some big trade for the first pick up there. I guess that's what we're all alluding to. There's absolutely not been one breath of discussion with anybody about going up there to get the one or two or three pick."

On adding a running back

"Without Julius Jones signed, it's obvious we need to look at running back. How we get there might surprise you. It can be, but it's not necessarily, drafting one."

All signs point to McFather... I mean McFadden being available @ #3. The one wild card could be Al Davis I think. Obviously he is desperate and if just a little hint of that senility comes out he might try to make a move.

That being said, the LAST thing we need is more off field drama and from the way Mike Mayock of NFL Network sees it, Matt Ryan is def. a franchise type QB.

PS: If you don't have NFL Network, you are totally missing out. I was stuck indoors with a nasty cold and wound up watching about 6 hours of the Combine live.

In a way, each of us has an El Guapo to face.

by runningback on Feb 25, 2008 11:14 AM EST reply actions

so right about Al Davis

we were at a bar yesterday, me and my degenerate pigskinfans. we watched the combine when McFadden ran his 40 and at first it said 4.27, but i guess the official time was 4.33. but anyway, we all said to watch out for the raiders and al davis now that mcfadden could be there at 3. i like our chances of a bidding war between Jerry Jones and Al Davis.

by VBfalconfan on Feb 25, 2008 11:21 AM EST up reply actions

I'd still take him...

...if I thought he was a serious need. Well, actually, I'd still take him even if he wasn't a serious need. It's not that I am enamored by him and think I should have his babies as there is plenty of RB talent in this draft, but it has always been my firm belief that the first ten picks should be all about getting the most talented/best player available to you at your pick. I also believe that none of our needs are so serious that we have to pick in the top ten and that we could fill those needs later in the first round or early second round.

That's why I would actually be much more interested in seeing us trade down to the middle of the first round somewhere, maybe a little lower, and get another pick later from someone who is in desperate need of whatver will be available when the third pick arrives, because it may not be McDaddy McFadden there. You never know what these crazy owners will do on draft day when the clock is ticking down their fifteen minutes.

We could trade down for a couple of picks, a first and a second, and easily get equal talent for a lot less money, and more of it too. And in the rebuilding stage we are in, am inclined to think that it's in our interests to have many more options come cut-day than being stuck with one big contract.

by Jesse @ The Falcoholic on Feb 26, 2008 9:33 AM EST reply actions

Trdae down I say!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZxW_RdJjtos

Go to 3:19 and watch the play. I firmly believe we trade down and do whatever it takes to get this guy.

by Jesse @ The Falcoholic on Feb 26, 2008 11:14 AM EST reply actions

Rising

I keep hearing how this guys stock has shot through the roof since the combine. Nice highlight reel and the fact that he only through 5 picks out of 520+ attempts caught my eye. The knock on Matt Ryan? He threw 19 picks.

In a way, each of us has an El Guapo to face.

by runningback on Feb 26, 2008 4:10 PM EST up reply actions

Flacco

At least one personnel dudeman has commented that Flacco reminds him of Andrew Walter. I'd prefer Flacco to rolling the dice with Woodson or Ryan high in the draft, but that is one comparison I don't ever want to think about again.

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by Dave Choate on Feb 27, 2008 2:28 AM EST up reply actions

Really?

Is it possible that comment comes from certain people who are only focused on BCS conference schools, and is simply biased because he came out of Delaware? Hmm, maybe not, but I could definitely see it being that way as we all know that most talking heads believe that if you aren't from a power conference then you just ain't.

I, personally, don't see it, but I agree Dave, that is something I don't want to hear at all. I watched his showing in the combine and he showed really good signs. I also take the combine with a grain of salt and put more weight into his game performances like in the aove video. That one play I mentioned specifically, he threw the ball on a line over 40 yards, off his back foot, and on the run. I was impressed to say the least, haha, obviously.

I think he would be a nice grab if we could trade down. Either grab him there or early second round. Of course, that is all assuming that he lasts that long.

by Jesse @ The Falcoholic on Feb 27, 2008 7:30 AM EST up reply actions

Combine

You know I have always thought it was strange that such an emphasis was put on the combine. I personally don't subscribe to it that much. The reason I mentioned about Flacco rising was that for some reason GM's don't seem to agree with us. I almost liken the combine one of those gossip websites out there where perception somehow becomes reality. Truth somehow becomes irrelevant.

It's all about buzz. Flacco's combine showing created it, so now many people out there believe it to be true. Like you stated though, I am more of a game tape guy. Putting players in context. You can't tell me that guys who run a 4.8 forty aren't a lot quicker when they are being chased in a game.

In a way, each of us has an El Guapo to face.

by runningback on Feb 29, 2008 2:51 PM EST up reply actions