Bird Droppings #3: Bounties, DBs, Aliens and Tebow
Welcome back to our third installment of "Bird Droppings", my favorite little tidbits from around the Falcons camp and the rest of the league, plus silly little things that get on my nerves. And what a week it was for Falcons fans. Let's jump right in with those ever-loveable 'Aints!!
Gregg Williams should look on the bright side...even if this "bounty" scandal spells an end to his coaching career, he's got a great future in paper towel endorsements.
They're calling Marshawn Lynch the "man who beat the bounty". Given his new contract (4 years, $31 million - $18 million guaranteed) he looks more like the man who beat up the Seahawks. Last year he hit career highs in carries, yards and touchdowns, but he's yet to show any real consistency. At least Matt Forte has a benchmark now.
The Falcons placed a franchise tag on cornerback Brent Grimes, which means he gets a tender offer of over $10 million. Now it's reported Grimes is not going to sign the offer (guess he's taking cues from secondary teammate Dunta Robinson). Chances are Grimes will cave as it gets closer to training camp and the thought of missing game checks hits home, but should that not happen then the Falcons have $10 million of cap space that they can't use. Ahhh..the economics of modern football.
Head coach Mike Smith was at UGA pro day on March 5th. One of the players Smitty was definitely eye-balling was tight end prospect Orson Charles. His numbers weren't too bad, but certainly not earth shattering. 40-yard time: 4.75 seconds, Shuttle Time: 4.75 seconds, 3-cone drill time: 4.29 seconds. Must have been the head wind. It will be interesting to see how Stanford's Coby Fleener's numbers stack up.
Former Falcon Coy Wire (LB - 2008-2010) was interviewed on Atlanta's WAOK on Sunday, where he spoke about his former coach Gregg "Quicker Picker Upper" Williams, and the bounty program(s) around the NFL. According to Wire, the Falcons never participated in any type of "pay for hits" program. Besides, paying a Falcon extra cash for a knockout hit against a Buc, Panther or Saint would be as smart as sticking a C-note in your mailbox every day so that you get your mail.
I guess it wouldn't be an NFL season in this millenium if we didn't hear from Brett Favre. The retired quarterback stated he wasn't angry that he was supposedly a target of the Saints bounty program. "It's football, and I don't think anything less of those guys", Favre stated. I Wonder what the bounty was on him taking the dive on Michael Strahan's record breaking sack?
It was announced today that the Falcons had agreed to terms with safety Thomas DeCoud. (In my best "Archer" voice) "Hooraaaay" (yes, I speak fluent sarcasm).
So now there are three former big-time wide recievers on the market. Terrell Owens, Randy Moss, and Hines Ward. If the Falcons even look twice at any of these guys, there should be an FBI paranormal squad sent immediately to the Georgia Dome to check for alien pods in the Falcons front office. But while we are on those guys...
It was reported that the Saints had contact with Randy Moss, and were going to invite him for a workout. Is this their "let's try some classic misdirection while we are in the middle of a huge scandal" technique? Yeah, Randy Moss will help solidify your standing in the good-guys derby.
Reports are that Saints quarterback Drew Brees is "livid" about being tagged as the team's franchise player. $14 million to make someone "livid"? I think Brees needs to take a look back in history and see how many guys who got franchised by teams went on to sign long term deals before the season even began. Get over it Drew.
Did you know that in 1971, the US Justice Department filed a lawsuit against the Falcons for raising ticket prices. Oh yeah..were are you NOW guys? Of course, back then the price went from $6 to $7.50 per ticket. That money will barely get you to the Georgia Dome on MARTA now.
Tim Tebow has been apporached about doing the show "The Bachelor" I can't...I just can't. My head may explode.
Michael Collins is a contributor to the Grits Blitz Blog. Visit his website Georgia Sports Craze and follow him on Twitter @GaSportsCraze.
[follow]
