Why do the Falcons remind me of the Blackhawks

by pierre02 on Jul 25, 2010 6:39 PM EDT

If you could describe our falcons in two words what would it be. I would say youth and potential. Sounds like the team that just won the cup.Most are predicting to win for years to come.We are the hawks of the nfl. A storied franchise who has had rough times over the last 40 yrs.We have a young roster and a great GM and coach. A owner who willing to spend to win.But one problem we insist on keeping vets( even those who arent productive like jenks). I know vets are important for a locker room but they also need to produce on the field. Our WR corp has this problem. We insist on keeping jenks(idk why) and finneran(whos my boy but its coming to a end). Our CB group is a group by committee why cant our WR do the same. Look at the pats,colts, and saints they have alot of weapons for there QBs and have alot of young and unproven players.We have the same in Harvey,Meier, and Wolfe. When you have veterans and a hall of famer at the positions why not bring some youth in. I prefer young and unproven over vet and unproductive. Matt is about to evolve his game and he cant be plagued with the fact that he only trust TG,RW, and HD to catch the ball. Jenks is a bust(if you love him make a fan club) and when you see the success Garcon,Moore, and even miles austin unproven can turn into pro bowl if they have the desire. We can start a dynasty with our talent we just have to put it together. And if you dont believe watch the preseason ull see.

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While I think it's an interesting comparison ...

but I generally despise hockey. I don’t get it (not the rules – just why people choose to play and/or watch it).

by FrankyWren on Jul 25, 2010 7:47 PM EDT reply actions

It's because the people that play hockey are real men.

One guy had a puck hit him right in the mouth, and he lost several teeth.

…..he was back on the ice 15 minutes later. Hockey players are tougher than nails. They’re incredible. Plus the sport is violent and very, very intense. It’s fun to watch, but I’d never play it seriously. I value my physical health too much. Haha.

"Ryan, under center. Single receiver set, to either side. Ryan, gonna throw. First professional pass.....CAUGHT!! Jenkins! 30! 25! 20! 15! 10! 5! He lives in Atlanta!!!" -Wes Durham

by Zippo729 on Jul 25, 2010 10:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I call bullsnickers!

You’re going to tell me that hockey players are tougher than football players (at the professional level)?

by FrankyWren on Jul 25, 2010 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I say yes as well

the guy zippo is talking about (Duncan Keith) lost like 8 teeth, and falling onto the ice while gliding hurts a hell of a lot worse than going down on turf. And I don’t know how you can’t watch it, its so exciting. The game can change at any point in time, even though I like football better I do love hockey. And the Blackhawks!!!

Chicago Blackhawks = Champs
Let football season begin. GO FALCONS!

by mc29012 on Jul 26, 2010 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I don't get the chance to watch it very often

I don’t have much of any kind of TV at my house currently, but I did watch the Stanley Cup back in ‘08 when the Penguins and whoever they were facing had that crazy multiple OT game. The commentators on NBC should’ve been given a raise after that game. They did an excellent job.

Hockey is better than Soccer because Soccer fields are like 800 yards long, whereas a hockey rink is like 50 yards tops. It’s very fast paced and there’s always someone slamming into someone else, but it’s not so over the top that it becomes stupid.

Also, yes, fighting is the best, as is a mere 5 minute penalty for doing so. It’s fantastic.

"Ryan, under center. Single receiver set, to either side. Ryan, gonna throw. First professional pass.....CAUGHT!! Jenkins! 30! 25! 20! 15! 10! 5! He lives in Atlanta!!!" -Wes Durham

by Zippo729 on Jul 26, 2010 5:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Also yes, I know we're comparing American Football to Hockey. I just felt like throwing that Soccer tidbit in there.

"Ryan, under center. Single receiver set, to either side. Ryan, gonna throw. First professional pass.....CAUGHT!! Jenkins! 30! 25! 20! 15! 10! 5! He lives in Atlanta!!!" -Wes Durham

by Zippo729 on Jul 26, 2010 5:14 AM EDT up reply actions

you can't count fighting ... it's not technically part of the game

by FrankyWren on Jul 26, 2010 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions

That may be technically correct

but they don’t discourage it hardly at all. 5 minutes in the penalty box? Shoot, the players are all over that. NFL players don’t punch each other in the face and then sit out for 5 minutes, they get ejected, fined, suspended, etc. which ultimately leads their team to a long term disadvantage. Normally both players sit out for fighting so there’s no disadvantage to either team and sometimes it’s just fantastic.

"Ryan, under center. Single receiver set, to either side. Ryan, gonna throw. First professional pass.....CAUGHT!! Jenkins! 30! 25! 20! 15! 10! 5! He lives in Atlanta!!!" -Wes Durham

by Zippo729 on Jul 26, 2010 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Again:

In my eyes, punching in the face is clearly outside the rules proscribed by the NHL. Agree to disagree I guess.

by FrankyWren on Jul 26, 2010 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions

maybe if they changed the puck to a cute girl trying to run away

maybe we get it then.

I belong to NO ONE...and no one belongs to ME.

by brotherbrown on Jul 27, 2010 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd liked to have cried after reading that.

That, sir, was hilarious.

"Ryan, under center. Single receiver set, to either side. Ryan, gonna throw. First professional pass.....CAUGHT!! Jenkins! 30! 25! 20! 15! 10! 5! He lives in Atlanta!!!" -Wes Durham

by Zippo729 on Jul 27, 2010 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Thank you.

My other suggestion was for soccer to have the ball be a little dog or pig, but I thought that might have racial slur issues, so I withheld that comment.

I belong to NO ONE...and no one belongs to ME.

by brotherbrown on Jul 28, 2010 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Have you watched much football?

Exhibit A: McGahee’s knee injury while playing for the U
Exhibit B: Theisman’s broken leg
Exhibit C: Y.A. Tittle – if you don’t know who he is, look him up, he played through a concussion, bloody/broken/smashed face, and broken ribs (before this photo was taken)

Losing some teeth doesn’t impress me. Usually when you see a big hit in the NHL, the guy who’s getting hit was blindsided, because you can’t (to my knowledge) go head-to-head like NFLers can. The rules just don’t allow it.

by FrankyWren on Jul 26, 2010 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Note: some of these videos/pictures are relatively graphic

I’ll see your exhibits A, B, and C, and give you:

- Eric Belanger pulling out his own tooth on the bench and returning to the game

- Clint Malarchuk and Richard Zednick taking skates to the neck.

- Bryan Berard almost losing an eye.

- Chris Pronger going in to cardiac arrest after taking a puck off the chest

- Trent McCleary’s tracheotomy in the hallway to the locker room after taking a puck to the neck.

- Jamie Heward taking a skate to the face.

- Chris Clark suffering a crushed pallet bone, finishing his shift, and having to have one inserted from a cadaver.

It’s kind of silly to debate it, though. Obviously anyone’s who’s playing in the NFL or NHL is one tough dude.

by David Getz on Jul 26, 2010 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Correction: McCleary’s tracheotomy wasn’t in the arena. My mistake.

by David Getz on Jul 26, 2010 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm with you

Both sports cater to guys who are tougher than hell. I just enjoy watching one of them a whole lot more than the other.

by Dave Choate on Jul 26, 2010 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s kind of silly to debate it, though. Obviously anyone’s who’s playing in the NFL or NHL is one tough dude.

Agreed.

by FrankyWren on Jul 26, 2010 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Ray Lewis did push ups

in full pads with a seperated shoulder. Most doctors will tell you thats impossible. Not saying that makes the NFL tougher by any means I just wanted to point that out.

by gritzblitz on Jul 28, 2010 11:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Same thing as Franky said

Interesting comparison, but I despise hockey, so I don’t have the background necessary to totally comprende.

by Dave Choate on Jul 26, 2010 2:18 PM EDT reply actions

I don't think you can really accuse the Falcons of holding onto over-the-hill vets

Sure there are guys like Finn we’ve kept around for veteran leadership, but we aren’t hanging onto Jenkins out of some nostalgic affinity for the guy; we’ve just been busy building up other areas of our game where the weaknesses are more detrimental. Jenkins is decent, White is awesome, Gonzo is awesome, HD showed promise and he’s back this year, Kerry Meier has a mustache…why mess with that setup just now if there are more pressing concerns?

by ArthurDank on Jul 26, 2010 3:37 PM EDT reply actions

I think there's only two examples I'd point to, and one is hypothetical

Mike Peterson is still around, but I think you can argue he’s a valuable reserve, at least. As a starter…not so much.

But then there’s Brian Williams. If—and I know it’s an if—he makes the team, that’s one thing, but if he starts the first explanation that comes to mind is a fondness for an over the hill former Jag.

by Dave Choate on Jul 26, 2010 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions

ugh this hockey vs football argument

is stupid. both are great sports. both are for the tough, physically and mentally.

by VT89 on Jul 26, 2010 8:48 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

I'll rec that

No disputing that, and as for preference, whatever, different people like different things. Might as well argue over whether blue or green is the better color.

by David Getz on Jul 27, 2010 8:55 AM EDT up reply actions

I've had a chance to ruminate on it and...

I think it’s a really interesting comparison, but I don’t think the Falcons are quite “there.” Going in to the 09-10 NHL season the Blackhawks were a team people saw as ready to break out – they’d been showing glimpses of that kind of ability and their farm system had been held in high regard.

A couple players emerge this year or next and a good draft in 2011, and I think they could be at that point, but right now…tough sell.

by David Getz on Jul 27, 2010 9:05 AM EDT reply actions

wow we are talking a lot about hockey and soccer

maybe there should be a part two

Does anyone think if we let go of Jenkins to another team, all of a sudden he has a breakout year?

I belong to NO ONE...and no one belongs to ME.

by brotherbrown on Jul 27, 2010 2:59 PM EDT reply actions

Not a chance

unless he gets converted to tight end, Madden-style.

by thisistherevolt on Jul 28, 2010 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Well I mentioned that because

The Falcons have a history of doing that.
I know Crumpler hasn’t done too much since leaving but he’s on the Patriots which pass the ball a lot so maybe. And Laurant Robinson of the Rams seems to have been Gem. And we all know about Schaub and Farve.

I belong to NO ONE...and no one belongs to ME.

by brotherbrown on Jul 28, 2010 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions

"Insist on keeping vets"?

Like Warrick, Crumpler, Kerney, Grady, and Rod Coleman?

Excuse my language, ma'am, but that damn Dodd's gonna beat my butt today. -- Bear Bryant, November 1962

SB Nation Atlanta · The Falcoholic · Blog · Twitter

by Jason Kirk on Jul 28, 2010 7:27 PM EDT reply actions

But they all were gone save one from 2008.

I belong to NO ONE...and no one belongs to ME.

by brotherbrown on Jul 28, 2010 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions

So what?

Excuse my language, ma'am, but that damn Dodd's gonna beat my butt today. -- Bear Bryant, November 1962

SB Nation Atlanta · The Falcoholic · Blog · Twitter

by Jason Kirk on Jul 29, 2010 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions

by FrankyWren on Jul 29, 2010 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions

/fail

by FrankyWren on Jul 29, 2010 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions

by FrankyWren on Jul 29, 2010 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions

cheap shot dude

"JASON HEYWARD STRIKES AGAIN"

by southman on Jul 31, 2010 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Believe it or not (and I'm going to assume you won't) ...

I just googled for a picture with the words “hand in face” and that was what came up. No political intent whatsoever.

by FrankyWren on Jul 31, 2010 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions

okay

I’ll tell you what I’m gonna vote for the first time in my life next election and I’m still going republican :)

"JASON HEYWARD STRIKES AGAIN"

by southman on Jul 31, 2010 8:31 PM EDT up reply actions

sweet dude ...

by FrankyWren on Jul 31, 2010 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions

And your reason for that is?

I’d like to vote for a libertarian for a change
I feel socially liberal (with some traditionalism in moderation)
and economically “conservative” (No more Big Brother)
Socialism Rules! (in moderation and in a balance)
However I do think we may need some extreme measures in our society.
And I’ve never understood why we have Bail in the Justice system. All they want is money, but the criminal gets back on the streets in hours.

My life is multiplied and then divided by zero.

by brotherbrown on Aug 1, 2010 3:00 AM EDT up reply actions

I won't touch the political side of what you've said (not with a ten foot pole - do not want to upset Dave)

But as for the bail system, it is actually very important. First, not all criminal offenses require incarceration, and thankfully so, otherwise our crim justice facilities would be overrun. And second, while some folks do bail jump (commit more crime while out on bail), generally speaking, I don’t think that’s the case.

by FrankyWren on Aug 1, 2010 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions