To the Black Hole

The AJC reports that the Oakland Raiders and Atlanta Falcons Pro Bowl cornerback DeAngelo Hall are close to a deal which would send Hall to Oakland for a second-round (34th overall) and sixth-round selection in the upcoming draft. If the Birds complete this trade, this will mark the end of D. Hall’s successful and recently controversial career with the Falcons.

Up until this year, D. Hall was considered one of Atlanta’s top defensive players. In his four years with the team, he’s gone to the Pro Bowl three times and he’s been one of the top 10 cornerbacks in interceptions and tackles.

Hall fell out of favor with the Falcons organization and fans in the 2007-2008 season when he caused several distractions. First, he had an on-the-field meltdown against the Carolina Panthers. He caused several penalties which played a big part in the Birds losing. Second, he and several other players ran on the field with a Michael Vick poster when the Birds played against the Saints. Third, he publicly criticized former Falcons’ Coach Bobby Petrino and later publicly criticized the Falcons organization.

I personally liked D. Hall and I actually met him once in Atlanta. It’s true – he’s loud and sort of arrogant, but he was cool guy that acknowledged his fans and seemed to be proud to be a Bird. Moreover, he appeared to give 100% on the field and unlike some of the guys on the team, he appeared to actually be bothered by the recent losing.

I listen to talk radio and I’m so surprised that so many people have been so quick to turn on D. Hall. First, people are quick to attack his abilities by saying that he gets burned by too many wide receivers. True, Hall got burned some this season, but people have to remember that he’s cover every team’s #1 receiver, the Chad Johnson, Terrell Owens, Steve Smith, and Randy Moss. These are the top guys in the league. It would be impossible for Hall to stop them all the time.

Second, people want to condemn him because of his on-the-field meltdown and the Vick poster. Yes, Hall’s conduct during the on-the-field meltdown was uncalled for, unprofessional, and stupid, but can we be realistic – this is the only time that Hall as conducted himself in this manner. One outlandish episode doesn’t make a man a cancer. As far as the Vick poster, Hall’s conduct reflected the views of many fans who felt that the Falcons organization had railroaded Michael Vick by erasing his existence from the team.

Although I hate to see D. Hall go, I understand the Falcons desire to trade him because based on his recent comments, he no longer wanted to be a member of the team, and if a player doesn’t want to play for the team, then he has to go. I will admit, I’m surprised that he would want to go to Oakland.