NFC South Article
 

NFC South: Champs will be challenged

By Vic Carucci
National Editor, NFL.com


With NFL training camps due to open later this month, Vic Carucci has put together an eight-part series highlighting how each division shapes up in the aftermath of offseason personnel moves and organized workouts.



Most influential offseason moves: The Atlanta Falcons made enough improvements offensively and defensively to take a serious run at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the division crown and be regarded a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Their biggest move was sending a first-round pick to the Buffalo Bills for receiver Peerless Price, whose exceptional talent and precise route running should help make Michael Vick a better passer. Free-agent receiver MarTay Jenkins (Arizona) provides a deep threat and a dangerous kick returner. Two other free-agent additions, cornerback Tyrone Williams from Green Bay and safety Cory Hall from Cincinnati, upgrade a defense destined to show good progress in its second season under Wade Phillips' direction.

In an effort to make their defense larger and faster, the New Orleans Saints said goodbye to tackle Norman Hand, middle linebacker Charlie Clemons and strong safety Sammy Knight, and traded for free safety Tebucky Jones (New England) and weak-side linebacker Derrick Rodgers (Miami), signed free-agent cornerback Ashley Ambrose (Atlanta) and middle linebacker Orlando Ruff (San Diego), and made tackle Johnathan Sullivan (Georgia) their first-round draft pick.

Here's the rest.......
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/6482534

NFC South Article
 

Am I the only one that feels that people are making the acquisition of Peerless Price out to be more than it actually is? The guy is good, but Josh Reed made him expendable.

NFC South Article
 

I agree B&B. I also think all the sports writers have the Mike Vick is \" Jesus Christ the Superstar Syndrome.\" Vick showed that he can run, but his passing numbers were not impressive. He could struggle this year if he passes most of the time. If he runs more, this could cause Price\'s numbers to decliine from last year.

Peerless Price is good but how about our recevivers? I mean damn, how much better do you get than our receivers.

NFC South Article
 

You can\'t compare our recievers to the rest of the league- it wouldn\'t be fair. Our core four, you have a guy that runs a 4.18/40 and is 22 years old, another that runs a 4.2/40, and the other two were the two starting recievers on this team (Horn and Pathon). This foursome could easily be the \"Dome Patrol\" equivalent, only on offense. Barring injuries, they will terrorize defenses everwhere. This group could easily run with the Rams tandem of Bruce/Holt. I think Holt is overrated anyways...

NFC South Article
 

Mike Vick threw only 16 TD passes last year. That an average of 1-per game, which is not that impressive. Vick did score another 8 TD\'s with his legs, which is impressive. However, Vick rushed the ball 113 times. I don\'t think the coaches in Atlanta wants him to do that again this year.

Vick only passed the ball 421 times last year, which compared to the top NFL Qb\'s amounts to about 134 less pass attempts. From everything I\'ve read the Atlanta coaches have brought in new receivers because they want Vick to throw more and run less, which means Vick is going to get into reading defenses more. This was not a strong area for Vick in college, as he used his running ability and improvised in the passing game. Wil that work in the NFL. Maybe it will for a while, but when he plays defenses with good speed, like when he ran in to Tampa last year, he was just average.

The Saints are probably one of the fastest defenses in the league this year. One of the reasons the Saint upgraded the speed on defense was because they face Vick twice each year, but I think they saw how well Tampa\'s speed on defense matched up well with most everyones offense.

Vick will make plays with his legs this year, without a doubt, but for all the \"so called experts\" to give this much credit to an unproven QB and to say that all the new starters on offense are \"destined\" for success, is confusing to me, since they say our new starters on defense are suspect.

NFC South Article
 

It\'s the same old story...The Saints don\'t get the respect they should around the league. Peerless Price is very overrated. He will help out Atlanta only because they have nothing better but in reality this guy can\'t tie Horn or Stallworth\'s shoes!

NFC South Article
 

I think Price is a star. He is a number one receiver and he will make the Falcons better. Sure his numbers probably looked better when he was one of a few weapons in Buffalo, but he\'ll still shine in Atlanta.

And say what you will about Vick - bottom line is that he is the most exciting player in football right now. He is the MJ of the NFL. The entire game changes when he is on the field. Yes he needs to be a better pocket passer. Yes he needs to develop... but all you guys knocking him better pray that he does get hurt before that happens, b/c if not, he has the talent and the brains and the vision to be THE greatest... not just one of them.

NFC South Article
 

Famous last words............

Comparing Mike Vick to Michael Jordan? That\'s a stretch if I\'ve ever heard one. That\'s like saying Stallworth has the talent and brains and the vision to be the next Jerry Rice. Maybe Stallworth does, but to compare him to Jerry Rice is really stretching it.

NFC South Article
 

How many games did Stallworth win BY HIMSELF? How many times did Stallworth take the ball from center and then turn a busted play into a score?

I can count at least 4 off the top of my head for Vick. The guy changes the game when he is on the field.

NFC South Article
 

Doesn\'t matter if he won all 16 games by himself. He still can\'t be considered one of the greatest. He does have potential. Which means \"he hasn\'t done it yet.\"

NFC South Article
 

Did I say that he is the greatest QB ever right now? No. I said:

\"he is the most exciting player in football right now\"
\"Yes he needs to develop... but all you guys knocking him better pray that he does get hurt before that happens, b/c if not, he has the talent and the brains and the vision to be THE greatest.\"

See I know I said those things b/c, well, I was standing there when I said them. I didn\'t say Vick is the greatest, I said he could be. And yes, he does have the MJ quality where he can make any place at any time just with sheer athleticism. As an athlete he is head and shoulders above anyone else I\'ve seen in the NFL. He\'s a freak.

NFC South Article
 

Were you standing there when you said this?

NFC South Article
 

My god, what a bunch of freakin\' lawyers in this place.

OK counselor, I rescind that previous statement and amend it by inserting the following:
\"He is MJ while at UNC.\" Flashes of brilliance, but he still needs to improve his game. My point was that he has the ability to change a game.

Please see the attached Motion for Leave to File an Amended Complaint which will add an additional count which states, \"BillyC is a fag!\"

That\'s what\'s cool these days right guys?

NFC South Article
 

Mike Vick ran 113 times for 776yds and 8 TD\'s

Duante Culpepper ran 106 times for 609yds and 10TD\'s

In only 10 games Donovan Mcnabb ran 63 times for 440yds and 6TD\'s.

I don\'t think you will see Vick run 113 times again because he isn\'t big enough to hold up to the punishment. On the other hand I know Dunate is and Mcnabb is bigger and you see what happened to him.

That\'s what I mean about he might have the potential, but I don\'t think he will redefine the QB position. His numbers last year were only average compared to some of the other running QB\'s.

NFC South Article
 

I move to strike that last fag comment from the record and file a motion to dismiss on the grounds of insanity because WhoDat has lost his mind...... :P

I\'m sorry it\'s on the floor............

[Edited on 16/7/2003 by BillyCarpenter1]

NFC South Article
 

NO pleading Insanity in my court! Sorry. :P

NFC South Article
 

Your JoeSamness, I must bring into evidence the confession that WhoDat made in one of his previous posts that his brain was on the floor.

Also, I would like compensation for defimation of character.

Show me da money....judge.

NFC South Article
 

My question for you then would be? Who defirmed your character? And don\'t you have to have character to defirm it? :P

NFC South Article
 

All you queers with your blatent usage of the word \"fag\" is offending me. The PC term would be \"heterosexually challenged\". All you homo\'s, get it right!!! :P

NFC South Article
 

LOL, I saw that coming from a mile away. And this is now a mistrial. The judge is being arbitrary and capricious.

But JoeSam you can remain if you take bribes????

NFC South Article
 

Whatcha got to offer?

NFC South Article
 

I got some predicitions on all of the Saints games this year. Bet everything. You\'ll be rich. :D

NFC South Article
 

If it weren\'t for Eric Moulds, Price would still be a #2 somewhere.
Put Moulds opposite Joe Horn so Joe gets single coverage and he would put up twice the stats Peerless did. Peerless benefitted from a great passing QB and he was always lined up against the #2 CB on Defense. He\'ll help Atlanta only because the rest of the fulcons WR\'s suck. He would be battling for 3rd string on our team and would have to play hiss ass off to get that.

NFC South Article
 

Damn BillyC, I sure hope you can do better than that. You know an old man like me needs something to look forward to. LOL

NFC South Article
 

for me,
vick=CRING
DEJA NEAUX
ALL I SAY TO MYSELF WHEN HE\'S ON THE FIELD,
GET HIM, SOMEBODY PLEASE GET HIM
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

NFC South Article
 

A. I\'m not insane... Joe had our brain when I made that comment. Or, as Al Gore once said, I was tired when I made that comment. I had been up all night inventing the internet.

B. Tweeky, I have to strongly disagree with you. Put Price on this team and he is undoubtedly the number two receiver, and he could definitely compete with Horn for the one spot. Regardless, we\'ll see. I doubt Carter or Thomas will be able to keep up with him, so the Falcons games just got a lot scarier to me.

[Edited on 17/7/2003 by WhoDat]

NFC South Article
 

Whoa, easy fella, let\'s not go overboard. He\'s been in the league for 4 years, and he just now broke 1000 yards. His rookie year wasn\'t even remotely close to Stallworth\'s, nor does he have Stallworth\'s size or speed (he is fast, just not 4.18/40 fast). In Buffalo, he played second string to Eric Moulds, and deservedly so. Let\'s not be brash and just hand him Joe Horn\'s spot on the roster. Joe Horn, he is not.

[Edited on 17/7/2003 by BlackandBlue]

NFC South Article
 

True, true. Joe Horn he is not. And he certainly did benefit from having Moulds across from him... no doubt. I just think he\'s on the brink. Could he be just another one of those receivers that looked like a star somewhere and then left and stunk (we know one of them well... his name was Michael Haynes... Hakim is another example of one, but Saints fans shall forever remember his name for a different reason).

I just think the guys is coming into his own. Stallworth is a stud and could be our number one receiver by year end. Horn is still awesome... so you\'re right I may have been a little hasty. Of course, only two or three other teams in the league have close to the receiving talent we have, so let\'s be reasonable. He is likely to be the best #1 receiver in ATL since Andre Bad Moon Rison.

NFC South Article
 

Stallworth is hands over better than Price, Joe and Donte are going to light it up this year.