Falcons’ DB purge continues

Cornerback Tye Hill was released today, another step in revamping the secondary. The team also added Veteran safety Matt Giordano.

Hill was acquired last season from St. Louis for a 7th-round pick. The Rams originally selected Hill with the 15th pick in the 2006 draft, but it became pretty clear the speedster from Clemson was a huge bust. That’s when Dimitroff took a flier. It didn’t pay off, but that’s why they call it a flier.

Giordano should make the team, he has playoff and Super Bowl experience, and has played 60 games in the league. Additional special teams and safety depth is always welcome.

After underwhelming at the combine, Haden a real possibility

Once considered a pipe dream, the Falcons now have a realistic shot at drafting Joe Haden in the first round.

The “experts” had Haden listed as the top corner for months now, and the assumption was that he would be long gone by the time Atlanta’s 19th overall pick came around. After turning in a 4.57 and 4.60 in the all-too-important 40-yard dash, he’s definitely falling past Oakland, and possibly further. Should Thomas Dimitroff address the corner position, he’d be hard-pressed to find one with more on-field credentials.

D.Orlando Ledbetter knocks Haden for his size, nothing that at 5’10, 190 lbs., he doesn’t fit the  ideal body type the Falcons are looking for out of a defensive back this offseason. He then goes on to hilariously suggest that 6’2 210 would be a more prototypical size. While everyone loves defensive backs who can backpedal, open their hips and change directions at 6’2 210, the truth is they just don’t exist.

There’s Virginia DB Chris Cook, who at 6’1 and 212 lbs., posted a faster 40 than Haden (4.55) and is shooting up draft boards, but will likely not be taken during round 2. Opting for a player like Cook over a talent like Haden for measurables reasons–ignoring his superior ball skills, 3-years of experience, and SEC pedigree–is a move I’d expect from Al Davis, not Thomas Dimitroff.

I understand the need for non-midget defensive backs in the NFC South. After seeing Brent Grimes and Chris Houston get maimed by Marques Colston last season, many are now clamoring for DBs with a bit more size. “BIG CORNERS! WE NEED BIG CORNERS!” (Since they’re so abundant and all…)

This ignores the fundamental fact that, in addition to being a small corner, Chris Houston is also a bad corner. As in, terrible. He could be 6’6, he still wouldn’t have any ball skills or awareness in coverage. Joe Haden is a three-year starter for a top program, who faced off against the likes of Julio Jones (6’4 215) and AJ Green (6’4, 205). Was his size a problem during his junior season, when he was a consensus All-SEC and All-America selection?

I’m still on the “draft Sean Weatherspoon” bandwagon. But if the Falcons seriously want to address the corner position, and Joe Haden, all 5’10 1/2 of him, “slow” as he is, is there at 19, Thomas Dimitroff would almost have no choice.

Thomas Dimitroff makes his own luck

The Falcons won the coin-toss with the Houston Texans today for the 19th overall pick.  They’ll also pick 81st overall (3rd round) as a result.  Thomas Dimitroff moves to 2-0 in coin flip situations and is on pace to pass Harvey Dent as the best of all-time.

This time, TD didn’t need a tails call to secure victory.  The NFL made a custom coin with a team logo on each side. They also didn’t actually flip the coin, they let Sage Rosenfels fumble it while helicopter hurdling. As will happen in that situation, it turned out badly for Houston.

Update: Coin flip to go down this Friday

The most important coin-toss of the offseason will happen on Friday in Indianapolis, according to the official Falcons blog. Before this report, no information was available in terms of time or location of this decisive coin-toss, which will determine the final draft order for the first round and third rounds.

Thomas Dimitroff has the experience factor, having won the coin-toss in his first offseason that allowed him to draft Matt Ryan. This time, his competitor will be Texans GM Rick Smith. No idea what Smith’s flip history is, or what type of strategy he’ll employ, but I’d advise him not to involve Chris or Kris Brown in any way. The winner gets picks to pick 19th and 81st overall, the loser gets picks 20 and 83.

It’s strange that the NFL leaves something so important and potentially franchise-altering to chance.  But what’s even stranger is that before today, nobody knew exactly when or where this would take place. It still isn’t clear exactly what time they’ll make the decisive toss, but NFL.com promises to announce the results online sometime Friday.

What’s the most you’ve ever lost on a coin toss? Try a draft pick

It’s a big week for Falcons fans. The NFL Combine starts today in Indianapolis, which means it’s time to flip a coin for the 19th pick in the draft. Dimitroff is 1-0 in coin flip situations, beating the Chiefs for the third overall pick in 08 and the right to draft Matt Ryan. Remember TD, tails never fails. For you degenerate draftniks, you can watch the hideous physiques of gigantic shirtless men and the unsightly throws of Tim Tebow online here.

Finneran re-signs with Falcons

Veteran WR and fan-favorite Brian Finneran has signed a contract extension with the Falcons, according to the team’s website.  While Finny has had little impact in the passing game, with only 32 catches over the last two seasons, he provides a great locker-room presence and is a valued member of the special teams unit.  He also moves the chains, as 21 of those 32 grabs have gone for first-downs. Financial terms of the deal were undisclosed. While this isn’t the type of deal that off-seasons are centered around, it’s nice to know that the “White Randy Moss” will remain in Red-n-Black.

Should Falcons go after Julius Peppers?

It’s well documented that the Falcons have a need at defensive end opposite of John Abraham. It’s also no secret that Julius Peppers wants out of Carolina. With Peppers heading for unrestricted free-agency, many are pointing to Atlanta as a possible destination for the 5-time pro-bowler.

AJC’s Jeff Schultz is convinced. But ESPN’s Pat Yaskinkas spoke with Thomas Dimitroff last week, and while he didn’t rule anything out, Dimitroff didn’t sound very eager to spend much money during free agency:

“First and foremost, we’re going to be very fiscally responsible. That doesn’t mean we won’t be active. If we think a player in free agency can really ratchet us to another level, we’ll contemplate it. If we see a player that is a fit like Tony Gonzalez was, then I’ll go to (owner) Arthur Blank and tell him that we want to pursue this guy.”

There’s no question Peppers would improve the Atlanta defense, but at what cost? He’s likely going to command a contract similar to his last one, which would once again make him the highest paid defensive end in football. What Dimitroff must decide, is whether paying upwards of $16 million for a 30-year old sack specialist would be beneficial long term, or if the team would be better served spending that money elsewhere, and giving either Lawrence Sidbury (1 sack year) or Kroy Biermann (5 sacks, 1 forced fumble in 2 starts) a legitimate chance to start opposite of Abraham. There’s also the possibility that the team addresses its pass-rushing need through the draft, but more than any other defensive position, it’s very hard for a rookie end to be a difference-maker right away.

I have no doubt that adding Peppers would give this defense a much-needed boost, but is it worth the sticker price?

With everyone back to 0-0, time for Dimitroff to get to work

The Saints won the Super Bowl.  Wow.  For any Falcons fan, that’s hard to stomach.  For a Falcons fan who spent the football season living in Baton Rouge, it’s a nightmare. I should’ve been happy for my adopted state, for my closest friends, for my father, a lifelong Saints fan, and for the people of New Orleans. But I wasn’t happy, far from it in fact. I was crushed.

That’s right, crushed. As soon as the game ended, I responded to the Saints’ newfound success with the bitterness of a 30-year old bridesmaid at her 20-year old sister’s wedding. Thoughts of jealousy consumed me. Cynical, even bitter thoughts. I caught myself making snide comments like “This will never last!” and “Who do they think they are, being happy like this? Where do they get off acting soooo damn happy?”

The same season that the Falcons finally exorcised their demons, and got over the whole “they’ve never had back-to-back winning seasons” thing, our arch-rivals had to go and one-up us. The only team in the NFC South as perpetually hapless and pathetic as us, is now a Super Bowl champion. “Who do they think they are?”

But with the Saints’ storybook season culminating last night, at least I know it’s over. I can take comfort knowing that it’s now 2010, and every team is 0-0 again.

Good-bye, nightmare season, hello dream offseason. Thomas Dimitroff now has a chance to do what he does best, and that is to crush the draft and free-agency.  He has a chance to do what  Saints GM Mickey Loomis did last summer, and that’s rebound from a disappointing season, one that saw no playoffs, and build his team into a Super Bowl champion. With 9 draft picks, including either the 19th or 20th of the first round, depending on a coin flip with the Texans, (tails never fails, TD, tails never fails) and the impending removal of the salary cap, Dimitroff will be afforded every opportunity he needs to improve this team.

So fear not, Falcs fans, someday soon we’ll find the one for us. If the Saints can do it, it really can happen to anyone.  With apologies to Lions fans, we’re catching that damn bouquet.