Don’t Blame Blank

It appears as if many Atlanta Falcons fans blame team owner Arthur Blank for the Birds current troubles. In some respects it’s true because he signed off on certain player personnel moves and on the hires of former general manager Rich McKay and former coaches Jim Mora and Bobby Petrino, but in most respects Arthur Blank probable shouldn’t be blamed for this year’s horrible season.

First, regardless of what Falcons’ fans want to believe, there is no way in the world Blank could’ve foreseen that Michael Vick would be in federal prison for the 2007 – 2008 season. Although Vick had shown questionable behavior in the past, it really wasn’t any indicator that he’d turn into a convicted felon.

Second, Blank didn’t cause the team to not show up on Sundays. One of the simple truths about this season is some players didn’t show up to play on Sundays. The team had so many opportunities to turn the season around, but they feel flat. The offense couldn’t score, the defense couldn’t stop others from scoring, and at times, the team looked old and defeated.

Third, Blank couldn’t have foreseen that the Bobby Petrino hire would prove to be a disaster and that he’d jump ship before the end of the season. Petrino was a proven winner and most fans and “experts” saw this as a coaching upgrade from Jim Mora. We all acknowledged that college coaches often struggle, but no one imagined that Petrino would prove to be clueless as a pro coach and would lose control of his team from the very beginning. More importantly, coaches normally don’t quit in the middle of the season and immediately take another job. I guarantee no one saw that coming.

Fourth, people shouldn’t blame Blank for wanting to be the face of his franchise and walk the sidelines. It’s Blanks’ team, he can do whatever he wants and any potential coaches and players should understand that. I know if I invested millions in buying a football team, I’d be talking with my coaches and players also. I’d be walking the sidelines because its my money on the line. Plus, Blanks actions are no different than Jerry Jones and the NBA’s Mark Cuban and both their teams win.