Falcons Fire Reeves.

[Ben E Lou]

Just heard on radio. News conference later this morning. Checking the 'net for a story now.

[Ben E Lou]

Can't find it out there yet, not even on local news web sites here.

[FrogMan]

From the Falcons website...

http://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/004/234/


Head Coach Dan Reeves Released from Contract
December 10, 2003

The Atlanta Falcons today announced that Dan Reeves has been released from his contract effective immediately. Falcons defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, at Reeves’ recommendation, was named interim head coach for the remaining three games of the season. A press conference, to provide more details, will be held at 10:30 a.m. today at the Falcons training facility.

“Yesterday, I advised Dan that we’ve decided to bring in a new head coach beginning in the 2004 season,” said Falcons owner & CEO Arthur M. Blank. “Dan asked to be released from his position immediately and we agreed to do so, even though our desire was for him to stay on through the rest of the season.”

“We want to begin the process of searching for a new head coach in a thorough and honest manner,” said Blank. “In order to do so, and as Dan and I previously discussed, I wanted to let him know of our decision first. This conversation also puts the club in a position to operate in an open and honest environment during the final weeks of the season, and to proceed with our plans for the future.”

The decision to hire a new head coach beginning in the 2004 season was based on a number of factors related to the long-term plans and success of the franchise. “This decision is purely tied to our plans for the future success of our franchise,” Blank said. “We have made significant commitments to our fans and the community, and significant changes throughout other areas of the club. Now is the right time to set the course for our future in the coaching area, as well.”

It is anticipated that the selection of a new head coach will be announced after the end of the regular season.

“Dan’s record in the NFL speaks for itself,” said Blank. “He has had a long and successful NFL career as a head coach, assistant coach and player, and his Hall-of-Fame-caliber accomplishments will have a place in the NFL record and history books for years to come.

We are grateful to Dan for his many contributions to the Falcons during his seven seasons with us,” Blank continued. “Through his commitment and character, he has earned the respect of our entire organization.”

Reeves began his head coaching career in Denver where he compiled a 117-79-1 record from 1981-1992. He led the Broncos to three Super Bowl berths, four AFC Championship games, five AFC West Division titles, and eight winning seasons, while also being named Coach of the Year in 1984, 1989 and 1991. In 1993, Reeves was named head coach of the New York Giants where, during his first year, he earned Coach of the Year honors for a fourth time, taking the Giants to an 11-5 mark, including a wild-card playoff victory.

Reeves came to Atlanta in 1997 after a four-year stint as head coach of the New York Giants. In his second season with the Falcons, Reeves was named Coach of the Year for the fifth time in his career as he led the Falcons to the NFC West title with a 14-2 record and the club’s first ever Super Bowl appearance. During the 2002 season, Reeves led the Falcons to a berth in the NFC playoff field as a wild-card participant, when the Falcons became the first team ever to defeat the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in a playoff game.

Reeves leaves the Falcons having achieved the milestone of becoming just the seventh coach in NFL history to reach 200 victories in his career. He also holds the distinction of being the most-winning active coach in the league. Overall, Reeves has accumulated 12 winning seasons as head coach, and participated in 50 playoff games and nine Super Bowls as an NFL player, assistant coach and head coach.

Wade Phillips has 27 years of NFL coaching experience, including three seasons as head coach for the Buffalo Bills from 1998 through 2000 and two seasons as head coach of the Denver Broncos during the 1993 and 1994 seasons. He served as interim head coach in New Orleans for the final four games of the 1985 season. This is his second season with the Falcons.

[rkmsuf]

Nick Saban perhaps?

[Ben E Lou]

Deion.

[Bee]

Originally posted by SkyDog
Deion.

I REALLY hope so. :D

[Ben E Lou]

Originally posted by Bee
I REALLY hope so. :D The UIC factor would go through the roof.

[Poli]

I'll throw my hat in the ring, as long as they'll pay the Navy the bonus money owed them. :)

Vick and the double wing. What fun!

[GrantDawg]

I'm just glad they didn't keep Dan on as GM like there was a lot of talk of earlier. I mean, that is by far his weakest area. He wouldn't know OL or WR talent if it hit him in the eye.

[Ben E Lou]

Hmmm.......interesting thing being reported on the radio. They're saying that Reeves initiated the conversation, asking Blank if he was going to renew his contract next year. Blank shot straight with him, and Reeves asked to be released immediately.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally posted by GrantDawg
I'm just glad they didn't keep Dan on as GM like there was a lot of talk of earlier. I mean, that is by far his weakest area. He wouldn't know OL or WR talent if it hit him in the eye. ...but he sure knows his tight ends, and you can never have too many tight ends. ;)

[RendeR]

I hope they hire deion too, that will guarentee another 3-4 years of losing teams in atlanta and a complete waste of Vick's potential.

If they want a winner in atlanta they should go grab Tom Coughllin. or perhaps the steelers Offensive Coordinator.


But go get Deion, go ahead, the rest of the league needs a new doormat for a few years.

[Ben E Lou]

Ummm....I was joking about Deion...

[Leonidas]

Originally posted by rkmsuf
Nick Saban perhaps?

Can't have him, I called dibs on him for Miami Monday.

[rkmsuf]

Originally posted by Leonidas
Can't have him, I called dibs on him for Miami Monday.

How about Ray Handley then. I hear he's free...

[GrantDawg]

I'm available. And my first hire would be Skydog as DC.

[Alan T]

Originally posted by SkyDog
Deion.


Ugh... maybe the one thing that could make this season worse for me :(

[Ben E Lou]

Here's my resume', G-Dawg. My most recent season, 6-10 team, in salary cap hell, but the #2 overall defense in the league. ;)
Front Office Football 2004
2024 Summary for Atlanta Falcons

Record: 6-10
Winning Pct.: .375

Atlanta Falcons Team Rank
Rushes 481 7
Rushing Yards 2045 5
Yards Per Carry 4.25 7 (T)
Pass Attempts 583 7 (T)
Completions 359 3
Passing Yards 3271 28
Yards Per Attempt 5.61 30
3rd Down Conversions 36.2 26
Points Per Game 17.8 24
Turnovers 35 27 (T)
Turnover Margin -4 21 (T)

Opponents Team Rank
Rushes 421 6 (T)
Rushing Yards 1664 7
Yards Per Carry 3.95 16
Pass Attempts 519 2 (T)
Completions 291 2
Passing Yards 3206 2
Yards Per Attempt 6.17 8
3rd Down Conversions 33.7 2
Points Per Game 18.5 11
Turnovers 31 8 (T)

Week Team Versus Oppnt
1 20 CAR 14
2 7 at SDO 17
3 17 at GBY 26
4 27 at PHI 23
5 27 WAS 24
6 24 TBY 7
7 9 at CAR 21
9 9 at DAL 21
10 13 NYK 14
11 26 at NOS 31
12 6 at OAK 16
13 27 STL 17
14 16 KCY 23
15 17 at TBY 23
16 34 DEN 3
17 6 NOS 17

Passing Pos Att Comp Yards Y/Att TD Int
18 Duncan QB 492 310 2789 5.66 14 20
3 Forbes QB 90 49 482 5.35 0 2
**Team --- 583 359 3271 5.61 14 22

Rushing Pos Att Yards Y/Att TD
49 Weikel RB 168 698 4.15 5
23 Van Pelt FB 155 688 4.43 1
44 McDermott RB 64 262 4.09 1
18 Duncan QB 38 171 4.50 0
**Team --- 481 2045 4.25 8

Receiving Pos Targ Catch Yards Y/Ctc YAC TD
23 Van Pelt FB 122 85 508 5.9 305 2
84 Sudnik WR 148 85 1026 12.0 255 5
86 Robinson TE 108 63 604 9.5 218 3
85 Thornton WR 60 34 313 9.2 62 2
82 Joseph WR 47 31 331 10.6 31 0
87 Chapman WR 30 23 238 10.3 29 0
**Team --- 579 359 3271 9.1 969 14

Defense Pos Tack Asst Sack Hurr Ints Defn
53 Karl ILB 104 29 5.5 8 0 7
95 Fisk OLB 84 18 3.0 3 1 8
45 Miasek CB 75 15 1.0 0 7 21
50 Guthrie OLB 64 27 2.0 2 1 1
43 Patterson S 64 30 1.0 0 0 9
93 Watson DT 59 23 13.0 23 0 1
46 Foreman S 50 23 0.0 0 3 10
92 Shull DT 49 14 3.5 5 0 0
25 Berosik S 40 10 0.0 1 2 11
22 Ludwig CB 34 13 5.0 1 3 6
76 Wohlabaugh DE 27 17 4.5 7 0 0
28 Nevicosi CB 21 5 2.0 0 0 0
96 Callender DE 19 4 5.0 3 0 1
38 Kaplan CB 16 5 0.0 0 0 2
26 Corbin S 16 6 1.5 0 1 2
**Team --- 836 264 55.0 58 18 79

[Butter]

2 words.

Rich Kotite.

Boo-ya!

[cthomer5000]

Why not. At least they can start openly looking for a replacement now, rather than doing it behind his back.

A shame it had to end like this.

[Samdari]

Originally posted by GrantDawg
I'm available. And my first hire would be Skydog as DC.

Good plan. As an OC, I don't see him getting the most out of Vick.

Reeves would be a disaster as GM. He is a football COACH.

They should interview Deion, but make it a dog & pony show, to illustrate to the NFL the absurdity of the mandatory dog & pony show policy. I mean, he should arrive for the interview after riding in a classic car at the back of a parade. In fact, this interview should have camera crews all over the place and be shown on Fox as a 6 episode reality series.

[Ksyrup]

This makes sense to me. From Reeves' perspective, he probably doesn't need money enough to want to work for the next 3 paychecks, and it's not like he's in a Spurrier situation where it would pay for him to wait to be fired, in order to collect huge checks for the next couple of years. I'm sure his thinking is that 3 weeks worth of pay isn't worth the time and aggravation of working at a dead-end job, especially with his health issues.

[B & B]

Originally posted by Samdari
They should interview Deion, but make it a dog & pony show, to illustrate to the NFL the absurdity of the mandatory dog & pony show policy. I mean, he should arrive for the interview after riding in a classic car at the back of a parade. In fact, this interview should have camera crews all over the place and be shown on Fox as a 6 episode reality series.

Which only Samdari, bbor, Fritz and 1,163 people expecting the reality show Trista & Ryan's Egg Nog Chug-0-thon Holiday Bonanza.

[Tigercat]

Nick Saban won't be available, at least not anytime soon. The word is he has agreed in principal to a new contract to be signed at the end of the season. Whats known about the contract: he will be the highest paid coach in college football. One rumor was the contract would be for over a decade and worth over 30 million dollars. I'm not sure that will come to pass, but regardless it will be the first salvo fired in the next round of the college coach contract wars.

[Chubby]

no Coughlin, he's going to SU :)

[Ksyrup]

Originally posted by Tigercat
Nick Saban won't be available, at least not anytime soon. The word is he has agreed in principal to a new contract to be signed at the end of the season. Whats known about the contract: he will be the highest paid coach in college football. One rumor was the contract would be for over a decade and worth over 30 million dollars. I'm not sure that will come to pass, but regardless it will be the first salvo fired in the next round of the college coach contract wars.

His current contract calls for him to be paid $1 more than the highest paid coach if he wins the BCS title.

[Comey]

Surely Dick MacPherson can be brought out of sytrofoam somewhere.

And you KNOW Joe Bugel is due for another shot.

[cthomer5000]

A few suggestions:

Wayne Fontes
Pete Caroll
Mike Riley
Sam Wyche

[cincyreds]

Nick Saban perhaps?

Absolutely! It would not surprise me if he showed there.

[VPI97]

Originally posted by Tigercat
Nick Saban won't be available, at least not anytime soon. The word is he has agreed in principal to a new contract to be signed at the end of the season. Whats known about the contract: he will be the highest paid coach in college football. One rumor was the contract would be for over a decade and worth over 30 million dollars. I'm not sure that will come to pass, but regardless it will be the first salvo fired in the next round of the college coach contract wars. One thing that was speculated on the radio here was that LSU's Offensive Coordinator Jumbo Fisher took his name out of the running for the Mississippi State job because a little birdie told him that he would be in line for the head job at LSU should/when Saban takes a NFL job.

[korme]

BRUCE.
COSLET.

[korme]

Originally posted by cthomer5000
Sam Wyche

That would be beautiful. For real.

[scooper]

Originally posted by Shorty3281
That would be beautiful. For real.

I'm not sure he ever regained his voice. He had some sort of disorder. That would make it tough to coach. I'd love to see him back in the game, though.

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by scooper
I'm not sure he ever regained his voice. He had some sort of disorder. That would make it tough to coach. I'd love to see him back in the game, though.

I do remember hearing about that at some point last year. Apparently he was pretty sick or something... I was surprised I had never heard more about it.

[Ben E Lou]

Coach Dooley is available...

[digamma]

Ralph Friedgen's name will have to come up.

[rkmsuf]

With all the hype they should have Vick be player coach. Isn't he a do it all guy?

[Kodos]

Mike Mularkey (Pittsburgh O.C.) sounds like a good match for me.

Although in Madden, I hired Gary Kubiak for the job. :)

[JonInMiddleGA]

digamma -- Fridge's name has already come up, in connection with the possibility that Tampa's Rich McKay would be in line for the GM job.
http://www.ajc.com/falcons/content/sports/falcons/1203/10reeves.html

From the same article, there's a little bit that I really thought was interesting.

Before Reeves' regular Monday press conference, Falcons vice president of community affairs and communications Susan Bass asked a reporter, "Do you think with [Vick] back, if things keep going well, the fans would give Dan a reprieve of sorts, kind of a second chance?"

When it was suggested that most fans would probably consider Reeves' five losing seasons in seven years to be more relevent than the use of Vick's injury as an excuse for this season, she said, "You're probably right."

This is business, and business is putting butts in seats, win or lose.
And that wasn' t likely to happen IMO as long as Reeves was in charge.

[Samdari]

Originally posted by JonInMiddleGA
This is business, and business is putting butts in seats, win or lose. And that wasn' t likely to happen IMO as long as Reeves was in charge.

The Falcons sold every seat for every regular season game before the preseason started. I am well aware this was for Vick and not the excitement of Dan Reeves, but selling tickets was not a problem.

[JonInMiddleGA]

samdari -- selling tickets going into this season was not a problem. Let's just say the mood surrounding the team is more than a little different now than it was then. That's why I thought the publicist's comment was so telling -- as long as Reeves is around, I don't believe fans are going to expect a winner, even if the team is winning.

Remember too -- the Falcons didn't sell out the Dome regularly even during the Super Bowl season.

[Abe Sargent]

If I had a coaching vacany, I would look very carefully at:

(I am looking for fresh faces, no retreads here like Coughlin or Green, who are the two most successful coaches available with experience in my opinion)

Lovie Smith
Tom Rosselly (would be available for a song this year when the Pack is down)
Jim Johnson (The Eagles D Coordinator, not the previous coach)
Ted Cottrell
Gil Haskell (Seahawks O Coordinator, WR coach who made Antonio Freeman a megastar, O Coord for Panthers when they were the 6th best offense in the nation in 99, does a good job with the 'Hawks.)


-Anxiety

[rkmsuf]

Charlie Weiss would be interesting with that team...

[Samdari]

Originally posted by JonInMiddleGA
samdari -- selling tickets going into this season was not a problem. Let's just say the mood surrounding the team is more than a little different now than it was then. That's why I thought the publicist's comment was so telling -- as long as Reeves is around, I don't believe fans are going to expect a winner, even if the team is winning.

Remember too -- the Falcons didn't sell out the Dome regularly even during the Super Bowl season.

I would bet that the mood surrounding the team has improved quite a bit in the past week :) The full house of people who showed up Sunday seemed quite excited, before Vick even stepped out onto the field. The atmostphere there seemed as electric as any I had seen for a reg season game, except the Pats game earlier in the day. The guy is like his own Super Bowl, every Sunday.

I am not saying they were wrong to fire Reeves. By NFL standards, this firing was certainly justifiable. I just think that evidence so far suggests that there will be sellouts as long as Vick is there, and have no reason to believe they would not sell out next year, even if Reeves had remained.

[ISiddiqui]

Good week for the Falcons :D. Vick has a great game on Sunday and Reeves gets canned... happy days :D.

[JonInMiddleGA]

samdari -- I'm starting to think I didn't do a good job of explaining what I found interesting at all. Matter of fact, I'm almost sure of it.
We really don't disagree much about all this, I just haven't said what I was thinking very well.

1) If Vick's playing, sales take care of themselves pretty much.

But ...

2) If he's out for any reason, interest goes in the toilet quickly.

What I was getting at is that, in general, nobody believes that the team will win with Reeves at the helm minus Vick. Another coach?
Maybe somehow they won't be perceived as such a one-man show. Nevermind whether that's the case or not, it's the perception that I believe in part they're trying to combat.

[mckerney]

Atlanta could end up with Denny Green. http://ootp5league.com/forums/html/emoticons/yelrotflmao.gif

[JonInMiddleGA]

And mckerney invokes the name I suspect will be at/near the top of the list.

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by Anxiety
If I had a coaching vacany, I would look very carefully at:

DTed Cottrell


absolutely not. Watch 1 jets game this year, and you would never in a million years make that suggestion again.

The Jets D is playing at a high school level right now. Unless you want your defense allowing ~175 yards rushing per game, he's probably not a great hire.

[mckerney]

Originally posted by JonInMiddleGA
And mckerney invokes the name I suspect will be at/near the top of the list.

After this year McCombs will no longer be paying Green not to coach in the NFL, Green's old agent is the GM in Atlanta. I expect Richard Solomon to be in Atlanta corrupting the Falcons secondary in no time.

[Abe Sargent]

Originally posted by cthomer5000
absolutely not. Watch 1 jets game this year, and you would never in a million years make that suggestion again.

The Jets D is playing at a high school level right now. Unless you want your defense allowing ~175 yards rushing per game, he's probably not a great hire.

I personally think that has more to do with the man at top that Ted, but I don't know, so I stand by your word. I do, however, stand by Rosselly who is having a down year, Haskell, Smith and Johnson.

-Anxiety

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by Anxiety
I personally think that has more to do with the man at top that Ted, but I don't know, so I stand by your word. I do, however, stand by Rosselly who is having a down year, Haskell, Smith and Johnson.

-Anxiety

As a Jet fan, I want Edwards and Cotrell gone... I hate the whole staff.

Objectively, I think the Jets horrible defense will really hurt Cottrell's odds of getting a head coaching job.

[GrantDawg]

I hope it is not Saban or any other college coach. It probably will be, though. I would have been happy with an O'Leary hire.

[Bonegavel]

Originally posted by SkyDog
Coach Dooley is available...

I went to school with his son Derek. Nut job.

[unless you meant Derek, which i doubt]

[tucker342]

Not surprising.... Why not just wait till the end of the season though?

[rkmsuf]

Originally posted by tucker342
Not surprising.... Why not just wait till the end of the season though?

Perhaps Reeves told Blanks to shove it when Blanks said they'd be going in another direction next year...

[Franklinnoble]

Buddy Ryan

[BishopMVP]

2 suggestions (1 already mentioned)

Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel.

I hope you, and every other team, get neither.

[Poli]

Jackie Sherrill

[Poli]

Rod Rust :)

[Ben E Lou]

The good news for Reeves, a South Georgia boy, is that there is an opening at Statesboro High (http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/~fof/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18404). ;)

[TLK]

Wayne Fontes

[Pumpy Tudors]

Mouse Davis

[ctmason]

Something tells me Chris Shula isn't at the top of the list.

And as an aside, I know well of and respect his coaching abilities, but does anyone else get the impression (strictly from me watching his press conferences this season) that Nick Saban is a complete prick?

Just a thought.

[Tigercat]

Originally posted by ctmason
Something tells me Chris Shula isn't at the top of the list.

And as an aside, I know well of and respect his coaching abilities, but does anyone else get the impression (strictly from me watching his press conferences this season) that Nick Saban is a complete prick?

Just a thought.

Saban is a nice guy, except to the media. Hes that way because he takes his job WAY seriously. Its not like Edwards where he will be an outright prick to the media, and he can even joke with the media, but if the topic is a serious one he takes his job and what he says very seriously.

Saban is the only coach I've seen go up to people waiting in line to buy tickets to say hello to each one and thank them for supporting the team.

[daedalus]

I want to be near enough to see Ben go nuts but not close enough to be in collateral damage range when the Falcons announces that they're hiring June Jones to bring the run-and-shoot back to Atlanta. :D

And, what? No love for Jerry Glanville, Part Deux in Atlanta?!?!? :D

[ISiddiqui]

What about Solich and run the triple option ;).

[Tekneek]

I suspect they are going to try and buy the replacements from other NFL teams, or someone is going to have their contract end and decide they want to 'explore other options' and take that offer that Blank gave them a few weeks back.

[Easy Mac]

Ditka

[tabucko]

Jim Mora.

Playoffs?!!???

[Ben E Lou]

Originally posted by daedalus
And, what? No love for Jerry Glanville, Part Deux in Atlanta?!?!? :D I'm one of about three Falcon fans who wouldn't mind that at all.

[JonInMiddleGA]

SD -- either I'm one of those three, or else there's at least four of us.

[cuervo72]

If Glanville comes back to the league, Buddy needs to resurface somewhere too. And Sam Wyche.

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by SkyDog
I'm one of about three Falcon fans who wouldn't mind that at all.

Those were some pretty entertaining days. And they really were a pretty decent team.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally posted by cthomer5000
Those were some pretty entertaining days. And they really were a pretty decent team. Considering the (lack of) talent, yes.

And don't forget his work as defensive coordinator.

[GrantDawg]

Originally posted by cuervo72
If Glanville comes back to the league, Buddy needs to resurface somewhere too. And Sam Wyche.

And Elvis

[Ben E Lou]

Originally posted by GrantDawg
And Elvis :D

[WSUCougar]

How about Glanville as Head Coach, Mike Price as o-coordinator, and Buddy Ryan as D-coordinator.

Then change the team name to the Atlanta Soundbytes and away ya go.

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by WSUCougar
How about Glanville as Head Coach, Mike Price as o-coordinator, and Buddy Ryan as D-coordinator.

Then change the team name to the Atlanta Soundbytes and away ya go.

Deion can coach the cornerbacks:

"...And under no circumstance do you attempt to tackle anyone."

[Kodos]

Originally posted by cthomer5000
Deion can coach the cornerbacks:

"...And under no circumstance do you attempt to tackle anyone."

And be careful with your high-stepping. Sometimes that results in a pulled groin...

[WSUCougar]

Originally posted by Kodos
Sometimes that results in a pulled groin...
I wonder if Mike Price pulled his groin? Nevermind...

[JAG]

Originally posted by SkyDog
Considering the (lack of) talent, yes.

And don't forget his work as defensive coordinator.

Lack of talent? You're more familiar with the Falcons certainly, but I felt the Falcons of that era were a talented team that underachieved.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally posted by JAG
Lack of talent? You're more familiar with the Falcons certainly, but I felt the Falcons of that era were a talented team that underachieved. Besides Deion and Jessie Tuggle, there really wasn't that much there. Rison and Haynes put up significantly better numbers under Glanville than under any other coach. The feature back during most of Glanville's stint? Steve Broussard. The '91 team that made the playoffs won with smoke and mirrors (and lots of Glanville craziness.) They were 6-3 in games decided by a touchdown or less.

[daedalus]

Being at the other end of the country, I don't know much about Glanville as a coach but I like him a lot as a commentator.

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by SkyDog
Besides Deion and Jessie Tuggle, there really wasn't that much there. Rison and Haynes put up significantly better numbers under Glanville than under any other coach. The feature back during most of Glanville's stint? Steve Broussard. The '91 team that made the playoffs won with smoke and mirrors (and lots of Glanville craziness.) They were 6-3 in games decided by a touchdown or less.

Erric Pegram baby... didn't he have a 1,000 yard season?

That passing game was pretty damn solid. I thought they did about as good as they could, usually before meeting up with a flat-out better team in the playoffs.


edit: insert link to Erric Pegram career stats:
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/PegrEr00.htm