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Cowboys-Celtics-Chisox said 02/19, 01:00 AM
Alex Smith, as you noted, was injured for most of the season which negated Frank Gores effectiveness. As you also noted, the 49ERs have a solid D that is up and coming. San Fran figures to improve, not take another step back.

Similarly, Miami is almost certain to improve with Big Bill in charge.

That leaves...

The Atlanta Falcons.

This is a team that only had a handful of good players to begin with. Then their QB goes to prison and the coach quits on them before the season is even over. To add insult to injury, the nobodies they interviewed for the position blew them off.

Enter Mike Smith. Atlanta's 15th or so choice is the new HC. Smith was immediately ripped in the media by several of his ex-Jaguar players, but one stood up and praised him. Byron Leftwich. Oh, for his trouble, the Falcons cut Byron shortly thereafter.

In addition to cutting the one guy on the team who approved of the new HC, the Falcons ALSO cut their most consistent offensive player...4 time pro bowler Alge Crumpler.

To add insult to injury, their top RB is a declining 32 year old Warrick Dunn, best receiver is Joe Horn who hasn't cracked 700 yards in 4 years.

The Falcons are in full rebuilding mode.

Cowboys-Celtics-Chisox said 02/19, 01:48 AM
Wait. You listed 8 games, 6 of which they lost. You then say they were competitive against "good" teams...such as the 49ers (on your list of "good" teams and also your choice for worst record next year).

Ari. and N.O. were good teams last year? Houston? Carolina? Not a playoff team amongst them. If you reach any further, your arms are going to be in another state.

Not only are the Falcons talent poor, they can't rebuild properly because of the recent ruling that allows Mike "mad dog" Vick to retain most of his signing bonus' money. They won't even be getting cap relief to help the process along. While Vick rots in prison, his team is equally handcuffed by the ridiculous deal they signed him to in the first place.

The Falcons are bottom feeding for coaches because nobody with credibility wants any part of that mess. No free agent worth a crap will touch the place with his agents finger. They had little for offense to begin with and even less, now. This team isn't just in decline, it's the Titanic of the NFL.

This team is in disarray from ownership down to the towel boys. Nobody wants to play for or coach them. What little talent they HAVE retained is aging. This is a BAD team.

Cowboys-Celtics-Chisox said 02/19, 03:01 AM
Let's contrast these two teams.

On the one hand you have San Fran with one of the up and coming young studs of the game in Frank Gore, a coaching staff that has a couple of years under their belt and has a plan, a solid ownership and front office group, and many young, improving players.

On the other hand you have the Falcons whose only real star is in the clink, has fast declining OLD "stars" at the offensive skill positions, cut their most consistently productive offensive player, settled for a HC by throwing darts at a board after being turned down by everyone with an ounce of credibility, no free agent with an ounce of integrity would sign with, AND has salary cap problems thanks to the aforementioned star doing time courtesy of the Government.

The 49ers are moving in the right direction with the third most salary cap space available for next year in the entire NFL. They are some 30 mil under the cap, plenty of room to improve.

The Falcons? Well, not so good there, either. Only 4 teams in the entire NFL had more money tied up in contracts for next year when the season ended. This would have put them some 3-4mil OVER the cap. Hence already cutting key players like Crumpler.