This is Rotoworld weighing in on the Falcons. Take your grain of salt as you read this one.

Personally, I've suspected since the beginning of the pre-season that Sean Weatherspoon might be starting on the strong side, taking over for Stephen Nicholas. I believed it because of Mike Smith's clear attachment to Mo Pete, his uncanny ability to come up with a good play just when you've about abandoned hope that he'll ever do so again and the fact that he's all veteran-y.

I'd like to believe that this particular hypothetical is in the best interest of the team, but I just can't make myself do it. Stephen Nicholas isn't a great linebacker, but he's probably the most coverage-ready guy on the team. Mike Peterson is aging and one-dimensional. Sean Weatherspoon is talented and inexperienced. And so on.

I'm not saying that Mike Peterson can't do well. I'm not saying Sean Weatherspoon shouldn't start, because I think he should have every opportunity to do so. Obviously, we have to live with the starting lineup, and Mo Pete's gotta have a chip on his shoulder after last season. But I don't believe we're putting our best three linebackers on the field if Peterson is one of them, and I hope this bit of conjecture turns out to be completely wrong. Peterson would be a great sub, but he's barely average as a starter.

Your thoughts?