The Scale of Falconliness, Inside Linebackers Week: Buddy Curry

by Jason Kirk on Sep 6, 2010 1:00 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.

Let's face it, family: we're not going to make it all the way through all the worthy names in Falcons history this time around. We haven't made it to John Zook, Bob Whitfield, or Scott Case yet, among several others, so it's safe to say we'll be back to evaluate more in the future. We can pick it back up next offseason and maybe work through a couple during the bye week, but this week will probably be about the end of Round 1.

Of course, there are two names we couldn't finish Round 1 without. Today's isn't one of those two, but he is a nice young man who once played alongside Lawrence Taylor at UNC.

Buddy Curry, Inside Linebacker (1980 - 1987)

Falconly

Unfalconly

Eight years as a Falcon. No years as a non-Falcon. Except for the ones before he joined the NFL.
In his first seven years, missed only one stretch of games.
1980 Defensive Co-Rookie of the Year, along with his Falcons linebacking associate Al Richardson.
Still lives in Atlanta I think, doing good deeds, being fan-friendly at draft parties, running a local football camp, and hanging out with teammate Bobby Butler.
The internet also alleges he runs some sort of business here.
Endured almost the entire '80s, the lost decade of Falcons football history.

Never was thought of as the most incredible football player of all time -- isn't near the Falcons leaderboards in any stat, and earned no Pro Bowls or any other kind of distinction after 1980.
Some of you may be concerned that his son plays for Auburn.

Current standings after the jump:

Poll

How Falconly is Buddy Curry?

1

2 votes

2

1 votes

3

1 votes

4

1 votes

5

5 votes

6

24 votes

7

22 votes

8

23 votes

9

13 votes

10

16 votes

108 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 9 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Solid 6 or 7. Nothing more nothing less.

by JCush on Sep 6, 2010 1:34 PM EDT reply actions

I hate to bring merit into this

But he was basically a ho-hum guy who played a long time. I appreciate that he contributed for eight years, but I gotta give him a 5.

by Dave Choate on Sep 6, 2010 3:09 PM EDT reply actions

If only he'd stuck around long enough to star in Tecmo Bowl, he'd be a 9

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

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by Jason Kirk on Sep 6, 2010 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

That's either a shot at my love for Tecmo Super Bowl

Or you’re bemoaning the lack of a digital Buddy Curry.

by Dave Choate on Sep 6, 2010 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I wish I could have been around earlier

It seems like players back then were more homegrown and longterm than todays dynamic environment. Nothing last forever. Makes me want to jump off a cliff or something because integrity is lost. I wish I knew a way to bring it back.

Feeding the Monster since 1984

by brotherbrown on Sep 6, 2010 6:16 PM EDT reply actions

Good player, great guy

Saw him play in the one and ONLY game we ever won against the L.A. Rams. Can’t remember if he did anything great, mostly just remember Mick Luckhurst GW FG as time expired and jumping up in my dads bosses box seats as it sailed thru. But what I do remember is him signing everything that was handed to him and taking the time to talk to everyone. Different times back then, i can’t even remember seeing any security! Got his autograph at games we lost(plenty of those!) too and he was still very approachable. Good player, great guy.

by aces666high on Sep 6, 2010 6:45 PM EDT reply actions

I said 6...

Solid player for the most part. Kinda like Scott Case – name recognition made him a notch better, in our minds, than he actually was.

Really, we’re going to have, in our mind based on the different personnel grouping, we’re going to have 14 or 15 guys that we consider starters on our team. I think it’s very important that everybody understands that they are all starters and they’re all going to be contributing. That it’s not just the first 11 guys that go out there on the field." Coach Mike Smith

by ATLsince1972 on Sep 6, 2010 8:52 PM EDT reply actions

Okay this is a case where you guys are wrong

If you didnt see the guy play, you probably shouldnt comment. Curry was a ferocious guy with a non stop motor. He was in on every play. Keep in mind this was during the grits blitz days and the entire Falcon defense played in a swarm. Everyone to the ball on every play. He may not lead in any categories, but he was a beast with a non stop motor and was a guy who liked to punish you when he layed in to you. I gave him a 9. yes I saw him play quit a bit.

Life is a garden. Dig it!

by Hardcore Falcon on Sep 7, 2010 10:18 AM EDT reply actions