The Scale of Falconliness: John Zook

by Jason Kirk on Oct 27, 2010 12:00 PM EDT in The Scale of Falconliness

Who's the ultimate Falcon? And who's the ultimate anti-Falcon? That's what we're going to find out with our summer project: the Scale of Falconliness. We'll rate former Falcons on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most Falconly. The rule: minimum of three seasons with the Falcons for coaches, five seasons for players.

John Zook, Defensive End (1969 - 1975)

Falconly

Unfalconly

Never missed a game in seven seasons as an Atlanta Falcon.
1973 Pro Bowler.
In 1971, he put up as many sacks as Hall of Famer Alan Page. Page became the first-ever defender to win the NFL MVP award, and Zook did not. The awesome part: nobody knows how many sacks that is. What did they do back in the '70s, relay oral histories instead of print box scores?
Had his own bannered cheering section at Atlanta-Fulton County: the Happy Zookers.
ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: Recorded the first safety in Atlanta Falcons history.
His college coach, Pepper Rodgers, who's somehow popped up at least three times in this series, once said Zook "never played but full speed from snap one to snap hundred. He was the most full-speed player on every snap that you could imagine."
NORM VAN BROCKLIN once forcefully proclaimed the Zook-Claude Humphrey connection the NFL's best defensive end combo.
"THE ZOOKER HAS BEEN OUR MOST CONSISTENT PLAYER," RAGED NORM VAN BROCKLIN.

Spent his last four years as a St. Louis Cardinal, and not the ones Dave roots for.

Current standings after the jump:

Poll

How Falconly is John Zook?

1

2 votes

2

0 votes

3

0 votes

4

0 votes

5

3 votes

6

5 votes

7

10 votes

8

29 votes

9

20 votes

10

46 votes

115 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 20 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

All I can say is...

Zook ’em, Zooker!

by johnnybacardi on Oct 27, 2010 12:33 PM EDT reply actions

Any relation to Illinois coach Ron Zook?

He and Claude Humphrey were a hell of a pair of bookends back in the days when defense was usually the strength of our team. You were definitely a fine player if The Dutchman liked you!

by tom slick on Oct 27, 2010 12:42 PM EDT reply actions

With all the fantastic players we've had

I still find it amazing how godawful we were some years. 2 young to remember the Zook, but if he was good enuff for NORM VAN BROCKLIN, he’s good enuff for me.

by aces666high on Oct 27, 2010 1:08 PM EDT reply actions

It's the coaching and front office.

When you see a person smile, it really doesn't mean anything, unless they are smiling from within...which can be difficult to detect.

by brotherbrown on Oct 27, 2010 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Brooking's Ranking

On the list is an absolute head scratcher.

"You can't print what I said, but they have to catch us." - Chipper Jones

by Jman781 on Oct 27, 2010 1:13 PM EDT reply actions

Way too many people were still mad about a stupid false start celebration.

Maybe we’ll reevaluate a couple of these newer players next summer.

I am proud to be a Kennesaw State Fighting Owl. -- Vince Dooley

SB Nation Atlanta · Twitter

by Jason Kirk on Oct 27, 2010 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions

We probably should

It’s inexcusable that a decade of being a team leader and asset to the community should disappear thanks to one game where Brooking was a total dumbass.

by Dave Choate on Oct 27, 2010 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Hard to forgive him when he made a choice to make a fool out of himself and mock his former team.

Honestly, would you call what he did “Falconly” at all?

I wouldn’t, and I think other people wouldn’t, either. I think that’s why his rating has suffered. As a Falcon, he really was one of the faces of the franchise, but he chose to act the way he did, and I think it’s left him in bad standing with a lot of fans.

I don’t blame them for their opinion of him being like that.

Follow me on Twitter! twitter.com/FalcoholicZippo

If you're a fan of the Falcons, or if you want to chat it up with some Falcons fans, sign up here, share your opinion, and get to know some great fans of the Falcons!

by Caleb Rutherford on Oct 27, 2010 8:41 PM EDT up reply actions

At least two guys ahead of him on the list have been arrested.

Bigger deal than a little arm-wavin’, no?

Deion did far worse, and the team’s about to hang a banner with his name. These things heal.

I am proud to be a Kennesaw State Fighting Owl. -- Vince Dooley

SB Nation Atlanta · Twitter

by Jason Kirk on Oct 28, 2010 12:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Eh...

Time heals all wounds, but I still think he could’ve handled it better.

Plus, an arrest doesn’t necessarily mean anything. I don’t mean to make this debate bigger than it is, but ya know.

It’s just what he did wasn’t necessary, and that was after all the years he spent with us. This game is a business, and if he understood that, he would’ve left graciously and attempted to take his services elsewhere. While he went elsewhere, he made himself look like a fool against his former team. There’s just no call for that, and it’s not Falconly. People are (and were) pissed about it, and I think it’s deserved, at least for now.

Follow me on Twitter! twitter.com/FalcoholicZippo

If you're a fan of the Falcons, or if you want to chat it up with some Falcons fans, sign up here, share your opinion, and get to know some great fans of the Falcons!

by Caleb Rutherford on Oct 28, 2010 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions

The greatest Falcon of all time is not even on the list!

GOLDBERG

RUN THE BALL ON FIRST DOWN!!!!!!

by bucfanlostiniowa on Oct 27, 2010 4:33 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

I think you know how I feel

He was ferocious. Not as talented as Claude but not that far behind. Tom S – I don’t think theres any relation to the water skiing, jort wearing Zook. Despite my name I don’t know either of them. Just felt like I had to chime in on this one

by zooker on Oct 27, 2010 5:40 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Thank you sir, always wondered about that.

by tom slick on Oct 27, 2010 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I knew you'd come for this one

Bless you, sir.

by Dave Choate on Oct 27, 2010 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions

How could I resist

by zooker on Oct 29, 2010 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions

10 for Zooker

Humphrey got the media attention that Zook avoided. Zook was solid, consistent, and made the offense have to block both ends honestly.

by CaptK on Oct 27, 2010 9:03 PM EDT reply actions

I've read Norm Van Brocklin raging at least six times today

And I’ve laughed every time. Timeless.

by Dave Choate on Oct 27, 2010 11:03 PM EDT reply actions

One things for sure

This Scale of Falconliness can be put into Flowery Branch as some sort of crash course about the history of Falconism museum. People places and things. Taught by Jason, inspired by Dave.
And some nice cheerleaders to encourage us to cram for the up coming exams.

When you see a person smile, it really doesn't mean anything, unless they are smiling from within...which can be difficult to detect.

by brotherbrown on Oct 28, 2010 1:00 AM EDT reply actions

Zooker, another beast

Another guy you didnt want to get hit by. He played every down with bad intentions… lol!

Life is a garden. Dig it!

by Hardcore Falcon on Oct 28, 2010 7:47 AM EDT reply actions

Gave him a solid 8.

I think he was the Norm Van Brocklin version of Duffburger… except he came from a major conference. Would have scored him higher but for (1) the whole Cardinals thing, and (2) no post-Falcons Atlanta involvement that I can see.

by Mnemonic on Oct 28, 2010 8:59 AM EDT reply actions