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J. Mike's Missives

A behind-the-scenes look at anything and everything Falcons and a touch of insight on the NFL. As a bonus, some thoughts on life from North Georgia.

Carolina Panthers

Tuesday April 15, 2008

Some Thoughts on the 2008 Opponents

Posted by: J. Michael Moore at 10:44AM EST on April 15, 2008

Day dreaming while waiting for the 2008 regular season schedule...

The bus had just made the right turn into one of the tight parking lots that surround Oakland's McAfee Coliseum when the first egg shattered against the tinted window.

The yolk had just started to slide down the glass when a second egg got scrambled on the opposite side of the bus.

I couldn't help but chuckle as those Raiders fans without breakfast started giving us "the finger."

"So this is Oakland," I thought to myself.

I was in my first season with the Denver Broncos at the time and it was the special reception I wanted from the Silver and Black fateful.

Something tells me the Atlanta Falcons can expect a similar welcome.

It's a customary greeting from The Black Hole.

The Raiders game also figures to have a little more spice since former Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall was traded to the team a few weeks ago.

Either way, any Falcons fan that makes the trip to Oakland or catches the game on television is in for a treat from some of the most unique -- and frightening -- fans in the NFL.

Even the embellished stories don't accurately portray the nature of The Black Hole.

Think Mad Max meets Escape from L.A. Now, add silver face paint.

My route to the field post game on both trips to Oakland did not pass The Black Hole. Plus. Also, by the time I made it to the field, the Broncos had already secured a victory (I imagine it's a little bit crazier given a close game).

I have heard plenty of stories from colleagues, however, about some of the curiosities of the stadium:

There was a time a Falcons employee, as a sign of sportsmanship, went to shake the hand of a fan before the game. He barely escaped the grasp with his NFC Championship ring.

Then there was the video intern who made it a point not to wear any opposing logos or colors. Amazingly, that didn't help.

Why are there so many photos of The Black Hole? Probably because photographers have a good vantage from the opposite end zone.

Still, most players I've talked to say they're not intimidated by fans in any stadium. The hardest part of playing on the road is noise, which is just as easily made without a morbid costume.

In that respect, just about every game on the road in the NFL is the same.

The Falcons have eight regular-season challenges ahead of them, which we'll learn more about when the NFL schedule is released later this afternoon (coverage on AF.com).

That includes a trip to Lambeau Field in Green Bay, a stadium I've visited but not worked. When it comes to noise, I'd imagine Lambeau is on par with just about any other stadium.

Just keep your fingers crossed for decent weather, as I've never talked with a player who enjoyed playing in sub-zero temperatures.

Other Falcons road games will be at Philadelphia (a stadium I've never been to but I hear it doesn't compare to old Veteran's Stadium), division opponents Carolina, New Orleans and Tampa Bay, Minnesota and San Diego.

All quality venues with quality opponents.

But nothing compares to Oakland. Maybe I'll skip breakfast this year.

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Wednesday January 16, 2008

A Look Back at the "Third Quarter"

Posted by: jmike811_DEP at 4:39PM EST on January 16, 2008

It was in a Charlotte, N.C. hotel lobby that I had the pleasure of meeting "Momma Crump."

An incredibly kind and genuine woman, she listened with great interest as I and others in our group of dinner hunters explained what we do for the Falcons.

It was almost in passing that she revealed her son was Alge Crumpler, the Falcons Pro Bowl tight end that would play quite the role in his team's victory less than 24 hours later.

The next day in his home state Crumpler caught a game-winning touchdown against the home-standing Panthers. It marked the second-straight victory for the 2007 Falcons.

I'm sure that catch and run made Momma Crump celebrate up in the stands with the rest of Crumpler's family members that put aside their loyalty to Carolina blue for just one day.

Crumpler's big play and family reception after the game was a nice reminder of how personal this game is to every player on the field.

It also made me remember just how good victory -- especially the last-second variety -- feels.

In many ways, a game like that in Carolina was just what the Falcons needed. Never underestimate the power of a winning streak and, in the NFL, never underestimate the importance of division wins.

You may recall the Falcons went into the week after the Panthers' win with a chance to pick up a huge chunk of ground in the NFC South.

Atlanta finished the season 4-12 and out of the playoff picture but, for a moment against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Falcons had a shot to get right back into the postseason race.

It started in Carolina.

It was a special time in 2007 that hasn't received enough credit. Crumpler's TD and Joey Harrington's poise to stay in the pocket and deliver the ball (in spite of a bone-shattering hit) were glimpses of the fight that remained in the Falcons until the end.

I would encourage fans to remember the moments like this from last season as the team looks to build for the future.

It sure made me -- and Momma Crump -- proud.

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Tuesday November 13, 2007

Musings: Still in the Hunt

Posted by: jmike811_DEP at 6:43PM EST on November 13, 2007

BLOGGERS' NOTE: I'll take some time each Monday (with occasional breaks) to share some of my thoughts on the Falcons and the NFL. I'm a day late due to the FalconsLIFE launch schedule.

You'd be surprised at the range of conversation in the press box before games begin.

You've got the press box food (the Panthers offer Krispy Kreme doughnuts by the way)...

You've got inactives from around the league...

You've got fantasy football lineup decisions...

But by far the leader in talk, as you may expect, is that of the game at hand.

Yesterday's game had some interesting yap, especially when it came to the NFC South race, which, as many fans have pointed out, the Falcons are still in.

My partner in AF.com coverage crime, Mike Benford, pointed this out before kickoff. And, with Alge Crumpler's game-winning touchdown catch, it all seemed to come together.

Today the Falcons are 3-6. The division-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 5-4.

Two games back.

Two games from the top of the NFC South which, if won, would reward a home playoff game.

Just goes to show you 2007 is far from over.

And if word's aren't enough, let one of America's great ice tea commercial movie parodies hammer the point home...

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Still Smilin'

Posted by: jmike811_DEP at 6:07PM EST on November 13, 2007

Clink.

I was disembarking from the team charter Sunday evening when my Payless dress shoes got hooked under something metallic.

I looked down to see a pair of crutches sticking into the aisle just inside the first class bulkhead. I turned to the right to see Falcons rookie tight end Martrez Milner looking up at me as if to say: 'Sorry about that.'

A quick nod (I was holding up traffic) and I was on my way, leaving the injured Bird on his first-class perch.

Unfortunately for Milner, players normally don't ride in first class. Unfortunately for Milner, he needed the extra leg room.

The rookie hurt his left ankle in the team's 20-13 win at Carolina and he needed some room for the protective boot. Today we learned his season is over -- another addition to the injured reserve list.

At the news I thought back to the first-class encounter and how Milner still cracked a smile in the face of such an injury.

That led me to think about my interaction with the rookie through training camp.

Smiles. Always smiles and laughter.

Here's a guy that's grateful for an opportunity. A silent (but hard) worker, it's a shame to see his rookie campaign get cut short.

But if you can stay smilin' in this league, you have an advantage.

Here's hoping the next noise I associate with Milner is that of a crowd celebrating his first professional touchdown.

We'll just have to wait a while to hear it.

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