Wow. The Falcons get a leg up in their knoweldge of the Saint's offense by getting Joe Horn, a key player in their NFC South wars with the Falcons. Plus, he has something to prove and will play in a new system -- no one knows what they're going to do.
Receiver, leader added with acquisition of Horn
By STEVE WYCHE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/08/07
Joe Horn has never lacked conviction. So when he told his agent he wanted to play for Atlanta after being released last week by its longtime rival, New Orleans, Horn was going to find a way to make it happen.
It took six days of conversations, three days of meetings, dinners and tours and more than 12 hours of contract negotiations, but at just past 11 p.m. Wednesday, Horn and the Falcons agreed to a multiyear contract, believed to be for at least three years, with guarantees in the $2 million range.
"I'm thrilled to have him as a player, and obviously his productivity in the NFL has been extraordinary," said team owner Arthur Blank, who spoke to Horn three times on the phone during the recruiting process. "Unfortunately, I've seen what he's done a number of times against the Falcons. It's been a source of frustration for a number of years.
"I'm very enthused about having him. He's achieved at the highest levels."
In acquiring the outspoken Horn, who was publicly upset with his release from the Saints, the Falcons address two vital needs: leadership and a wide receiver with a track record.
From 2000-04, Horn was one of the NFL's top wideouts, catching at least 78 passes and seven touchdowns each season and surpassing 1,000 yards in four. He also was one of its most flamboyant, most notably for drawing a $30,000 fine for pulling a cellphone he'd hidden under a goal-post pad and using it as part of a touchdown celebration.
Horn, 35, has missed 11 games the past two seasons with groin and hamstring injuries, which were concerns in the initial stages of conversations, which began last Friday. However, Horn passed a physical to alleviate worries about his health.
In the past two seasons, though, Horn has 86 receptions for 1,333 yards — 66 fewer yards than he had in his career-bestseason in 2004. He did not tail off vocally, though, emerging as one of the more provocative voices for the team and the city of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.
Though Horn played in only 10 games last season, he had 37 receptions, two fewer than Falcons leading wideout Michael Jenkins.
Horn, a four-time Pro Bowl pick, is a sure-handed receiver who should fit into new coach Bobby Petrino's system, in which three and four wideouts will be deployed at times.
Horn is friends with Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, according to Horn's agent, Ralph Vitolo. The two have known each other for years and have spoken during this process.
Horn also brings enough credibility to garner respect from young wide receivers Roddy White and Jenkins, first-round draft picks better known for inconsistency than playmaking. Atlanta lost starter Ashley Lelie to free agency but swill get back veteran Brian Finneran, who missed last season after tearing an anterior cruciate knee ligament.
"He's an overall leader but he's going to be a leader in that position room," Blank said of Horn. "I'm looking forward to the impact he's going to have on our team and our young receivers."
Showing posts with label In. Show all posts
Showing posts with label In. Show all posts
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Friday, January 26, 2007
Profootballltalk.com - Did NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Get Involved In Steelers Hiring Of Mike Tomlin?
This comes from Profootballtalk.com. If it's true that Goodell did get involved by suggesting to Rooney that someone like Tomlin be the choice, I so wish hed done that in the case of the Oakland Raiders, who hired the way, way underqualified Lane Kiffin and mainted a kind of affirmative action for young white guys. Notice how none of the white male media types are screaming about this, but they are focusingg on Tomlin?
January 23, 2007
DID STEELERS YANK RUG FROM GRIMM?
As the media continues to try to understand the process that resulted in conflicting reports regarding whether the Steelers would hire Mike Tomlin or Russ Grimm to be the team's next head coach, the hot rumor at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama (where various league types currently are gathered) is that Grimm was indeed offered the job before it went to Tomlin.
As the story goes, the Steelers called Grimm on Saturday and told him not to believe what the media was reporting about Tomlin. Then, the Steelers and Grimm negotiated a contract, and Grimm was told that he could tell his family that he was the guy, which he did.
But then, as the story goes, Commissioner Roger Goodell got involved and suggested to Steelers chairman Dan Rooney that it would be nice if the Steelers would hire one of the minority candidates, given that the Rooney Rule was named after him. Rooney relented.
On Sunday morning, Rooney met with Art II and Kevin Colbert and told them about the decision. Both initially disagreed because a deal had been done with Grimm. But the contract hadn't been signed, and Art II and Colbert deferred to Dan.
Grimm was then told about the decision, and he was obviously pissed. But, to date, he has been discreet regarding his displeasure, presumably because he plans to continue working in the industry that has only 32 job locations. Tomlin was then called on Sunday afternoon, and he was informed that he was the guy.
One source told us that he has been hearing this rumor "all day" in Alabama. Though we're not saying that any of this actually happened, the mere fact that this story is making the rounds at the Senior Bowl is newsworthy, in our opinion.
Especially since the events that transpired on Saturday night and Sunday were so damn bizarre.
Meanwhile, a reader tells us that Mike Prisuta of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has been insisting in radio appearances that his story linking Grimm to the job was on the money. Though we poked fun at Prisuta's predicament on Sunday, it could be that he was right, after all.
January 23, 2007
DID STEELERS YANK RUG FROM GRIMM?
As the media continues to try to understand the process that resulted in conflicting reports regarding whether the Steelers would hire Mike Tomlin or Russ Grimm to be the team's next head coach, the hot rumor at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama (where various league types currently are gathered) is that Grimm was indeed offered the job before it went to Tomlin.
As the story goes, the Steelers called Grimm on Saturday and told him not to believe what the media was reporting about Tomlin. Then, the Steelers and Grimm negotiated a contract, and Grimm was told that he could tell his family that he was the guy, which he did.
But then, as the story goes, Commissioner Roger Goodell got involved and suggested to Steelers chairman Dan Rooney that it would be nice if the Steelers would hire one of the minority candidates, given that the Rooney Rule was named after him. Rooney relented.
On Sunday morning, Rooney met with Art II and Kevin Colbert and told them about the decision. Both initially disagreed because a deal had been done with Grimm. But the contract hadn't been signed, and Art II and Colbert deferred to Dan.
Grimm was then told about the decision, and he was obviously pissed. But, to date, he has been discreet regarding his displeasure, presumably because he plans to continue working in the industry that has only 32 job locations. Tomlin was then called on Sunday afternoon, and he was informed that he was the guy.
One source told us that he has been hearing this rumor "all day" in Alabama. Though we're not saying that any of this actually happened, the mere fact that this story is making the rounds at the Senior Bowl is newsworthy, in our opinion.
Especially since the events that transpired on Saturday night and Sunday were so damn bizarre.
Meanwhile, a reader tells us that Mike Prisuta of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has been insisting in radio appearances that his story linking Grimm to the job was on the money. Though we poked fun at Prisuta's predicament on Sunday, it could be that he was right, after all.
