RISE UP! is no longer just a Mantra in Atlanta, It's a Mandate

By J. Terrell Price - The Dirty Word

When the Atlanta Falcons came a mere 10 yards from punching their ticket into Super Bowl XLVII, after a failed 4th down pass attempt from quarterback Matt Ryan to Roddy White, fans felt an all too familiar sinking feeling in the pit of their stomachs. Another unrealized championship opportunity had gone by the wayside.

This was supposed to be the year. Best record in the NFC, home-field advantage in the championship game, a 17-0 lead early. And yet, it was Colin Kaepernick an the San Francisco Forty-Niners who were headed to the big easy by the end of that depressing Sunday in January.

Falcons fans had finally witnessed a playoff victory in the Mike Smith/Matt Ryan era just a week before in a heart palpitating win over Seattle, but the loss to San Fran brought back those same doubts and criticisms the duo endured over the previous four seasons. With a 1-4 record in playoff games since 2008, the Atlanta Falcons are officially on the chopping block, for lack of a better term. In the five seasons since Smith and Ryan took over, this franchise has an impressive 56-24 record, only bested by the New England Patriots.

This level of success has been a breath of fresh air for fans, who before 2009 had never even enjoyed back to back winning seasons, let alone playoff appearances. That didn't happen until 2011.

But those milestones are rarely mentioned in these parts anymore, as fans and players alike aspire for higher goals. Getting to the playoffs is no longer viewed as a successful season. Best record in the NFC? Been there, done that....TWICE. To a man, the veterans on the team know what is expected. Championship or bust. And that's the way it should be.

The team is talented enough, well coached enough, and experienced enough. General Manager, Thomas Dimitroff, has done his part to field a competitive product on the field. Each year he has supplied Matt Ryan with offensive weapons any quarterback would salivate over. He has drafted well on defense and brought over accomplished veterans like Asante Samuel and newly acquired Osi Umenyiora from the Giants. Of course, there is the Ray Edwards disaster, but that's the anomaly.

The point of the matter is, the team is stacked! They have replaced long time running back Michael Turner with Steven Jackson in hopes of creating a more dynamic running attack, giving freedom to the receiving trio of Roddy White, Julio Jones, and Tony Gonzalez. Last season was supposed to be Gonzalez's last in a hall of fame career, but he was so convinced this team could mount another Super Bowl run that he put off retirement for one more year. White and Jones are considered a top wide receiver duo in the NFL.

Jones has athletic ability that would translate well to any other sport. He almost looks effortless in some of his touchdown catches. White, though some would associate him more with his twitter shenanigans (see -- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/14/roddy-white-george-zimmerman-verdict-twitter_n_3593212.html), is a reliable option for Matt Ryan, who has been there since before the new regime arrived.

And then there is the aforementioned signal caller who can now afford to treat each member of his arsenal to a dinner....or 20. His still wet inked 5 year $104 million contract ($59 million of which is guaranteed) secures his place as the franchise player. It also makes a bold statement to fans that Owner, Arthur Blank believes that much in him to bring a title to this city.

Ryan is getting the kind of paper that only a select few in this league enjoy. In getting a $100 plus million deal, he joins the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, and most recently Joe Flacco. Those guys have something the Atlanta quarterback doesn't -- A championship on his resume.

That will be a main topic of conversation as training camp turns into preseason into the regular season. This Falcons organization aspires to be considered a superior franchise in professional sports. Arthur Blank has visions of a world class stadium being constructed next to the Birds' current home, The Georgia Dome, by 2017. A new venue will most likely bring higher ticket and concession prices and parking fees. Locally, fans have had cynicism over the prospect of investing more into a team that hasn't brought the ultimate prize to the Capital of the South.

"I just don't how I feel about driving 45 minutes, paying to park, then to drop $300 on two tickets for some guys who haven't won anything", says Ronald Briggs, a Forsyth resident. This sentiment is shared among many fans who have followed the middling franchise since it's early days.

Actor, Samuel L. Jackson, has become the official hype-man before each Falcons home kickoff with an inspiring gospel-like rendition of "Rise Up". The slogan has been a battle cry for fans since 2009. So much so, that when two Falcon fans speak to each other, "Rise Up" is a term of endearment and unity. For the players on the field, however, "Rise Up" is much more than words. It's a requirement in 2013. No longer will playoff appearances suffice. There needs to be a special visit to the Met Life Stadium in New Jersey on February 2, 2014. That is the location and date of Super Bowl XLVIII.

Then, and only then, will the rest of Falcons Nation sing with the rest of Samuel L's choir.

Copyright, 2013

Hawks Enjoy Financial Flexibility Most NBA Teams Desire

By J. Terrell Price - The Dirty Word

Danny Ferry looks on During a 2013 Playoff Game

When Atlanta Hawks General Manager Danny Ferry inherited the traditionally mediocre franchise, he was given a talented bunch, who was widely considered underachievers on the basketball court and overcompensated on pay day. That was due in large part to the enormous six year, $124 million, freshly minted deal shooting guard, Joe Johnson enjoyed. Combine that with the nearly untradeable five year deal of Marvin Williams, a former number 2 pick who never realized his potential nor justified his contract status. The Hawks were perennial playoff participants, but never materialized into true championship contenders and were cap-strapped to boot. So when the former Cleveland executive took over in June of 2012, he knew he had work to do. To put things in figurative terms, Ferry was given the keys to a brand new Lexus Coupe that was on an empty tank of gas, without money provided for a fill-up.

Not even three weeks into the job, Danny Ferry did the unimaginable by trading the contracts and the services of Johnson and Williams within hours of each other. In return, Atlanta acquired a number of players in the final year of their deals, granting them significant cap relief for the future. After the 2013 campaign, the Hawks would only have 3 players under contract and enough scratch to sign 2 big fish free agents (Namely Dwight Howard and Chris Paul).

Well we all know how that went, don't we?

Even though the Hawks whiffed on the prized free agent talent of 2013, they did salvage the off-season by landing the solid and consistent Power Forward from Utah, Paul Millsap. He replaces the enigmatic Josh Smith, who ended his nine year relationship with the Hawks franchise by signing a deal with Detroit. The acquisition of Millsap is brilliant within itself, but the dollar figure is even more appealing. At a meager 2 years and $19 million, Atlanta gets a player who possesses all the skills to be a productive contributor on a rebuilding team. Danny Ferry did not stop there. He re-signed shooting specialist Kyle Korver at 4 years and $24 million. The 10 year veteran, Korver, provides the ability to spread the floor in new coach Mike Budenholzer's system.

The system that Coach Bud, as he's affectionately called, plans to implement involves constant player and ball movement, centered around pick and roll play and a dribble penetration point guard. Atlanta now has the luxury of having two of the best and brightest young playmakers in the game. After a chess-like negotiation, incumbent starter Jeff Teague's 4 year $32 million offer sheet from Milwaukee was matched by Atlanta. At $8 million a year, for a quality starting point guard, in a guard-oriented league, the deal is considered highway robbery for the Hawks.

Teague will be challenged and pushed by 19 year old, German point guard, Dennis Schroeder, who was drafted by Ferry at #17 in the June draft. On the surface, Teague should not be threatened by a guy who was born after the first Chronic album dropped, but Schroeder has opened eyes during the NBA Summer League tournament.

His natural point guard skills and innate passing ability has had critics comparing him to the likes of Rajon Rondo. Should the rookie, Schroeder develop into a valuable piece in Atlanta's reconstruction, Teague's contract is one that can be moved with ease and could garner them more assets in positions of need.

If there is one concern in Atlanta, it would be the ongoing dilemma of Al Horford playing Center. The two-time All-Star has played undersized at the center spot for the majority of his career. Now, with Josh Smith gone, he is considered the franchise player. One would surmise that it would be in the Hawks' best interest to move Horford over to his natural power forward position to preserve his career and to minimize the wear and tear of playing bigger opponents. 

After the Hawks were rejected by Dwight Howard and passed on the oft-injured Andrew Bynum, they still are left with a void at center. Veteran Elton Brand was signed as a spot big man for a one year $4 million deal and the draft brought 7 footer from Brazil Lucas Noegeria. Noegeria is raw, frail, and needs to develop his body to be able to handle the physicality of the NBA. There is still doubt as to whether the Brazilian will even play for the Hawks in the 2013-14 campaign or stay with his FIBA club in Spain.

This Atlanta Hawks roster is far from a finished product. There are still more questions than answers as it pertains to how good (or bad) this club will be. There is speculation among some NBA experts that Atlanta is one of many teams who are angling toward a lottery pick in the 2014 Draft. A draft that is projected to supply the best collegiate and amateur talent to the league since 2003. If you were to ask Danny Ferry if that were the plan of action, he would probably vehemently deny such an accusation.

What he would be excited to tell you about is the prospect of his franchise once again being a free agent player in the summer of 2014. With the new collective bargaining agreement handing out punitive action to teams who exceed the salary cap, the Hawks remain fiscally flexible for the next few years.

When the big names decided to go elsewhere this summer, it would've been easy to give into fan frustration and sign B level stars like Al Jefferson and Monta Ellis to lucrative deals, but Ferry continues to stay the course. He refuses to bring this franchise into the same financial peril that it suffered through only 13 months ago.

The plan is clear. Stay prudent, develop a system, create a culture, and most importantly, be flexible. For a franchise who is still seeking its first Conference Finals appearance in the Atlanta era, you have to start somewhere. Why not  here?



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