nativefalcon Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 Dunn deserves better than FalconsBy Jeff Schultz | Monday, March 3, 2008, 07:56 PM The Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionJeff Schultz He came here through the front door of a rebuilding project. He leaves here through the back door for the same reason.Welcome to the NFL circle of life. It makes no exception for the respected, the admired, or the sometimes brilliant. It makes no exception for Warrick Dunn. He was brought here believing he could help the Falcons win a Super Bowl, but six years later finds himself being escorted to the curb, still with two legs, 10 fingers and no rings. It s not easy to release a player like him, Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said Monday.In truth, it probably was pretty easy for Dimitroff. He had just signed Dunn s replacement the day before. But you understood the sentiment.Players like Dunn are considered missing ingredients for championships. They can play. They can lead. They can inspire. Heart isn t something that shows up at combines or scouting reports. That saying about the size of the fight in the man being more important than the size of the man in the fight - it was written for Warrick Dunn. He s amazing - one of the toughest players I ve ever seen, said Dan Reeves, the Falcons former coach who brought Dunn to Atlanta.Some things, Dunn can t control. His career timing has always been off. He left Tampa Bay in 2002, which turned out to be the season the Buccaneers won a Super Bowl. He missed the playoffs in four of his six seasons with the Falcons, who actually made the Super Bowl four years before he arrived.We can t know what happens from here, or if Dunn eventually retires beloved and title-less, like a modern day Ernie Banks. But if he was put on this earth only to rush for over 10,000 yards and help build homes for single mothers well, there are worse legacies to leave.The Falcons let Dunn go Monday. The current of the franchise says that was the right thing to. They have a new general manager, new coach and a new offense, which will play more to the power-running strengths of Michael Turner.But bottom line: the man deserves a better career exit than this. Sports are littered with great athletes who never won championships. The NFL has its share: Barry Sanders, Dan Marino, **** Butkus, et. al. But nobody of Dunn s stature deserved to be subjected to the goofiness that was the Falcons the last few seasons.He can still be what he wasn t here: a piece of a championship team. Maybe he rejoins his former coach, Tony Dungy, in Indianapolis. Maybe he goes to Dallas, which is looking to get over the top. Maybe he goes anybody closer to a title than the Falcons are right now. He deserves it.Dimitroff said the Falcons agreed to release Dunn immediately after his agent requested it Sunday night. Why? We thought it was the best thing for him, Dimitroff said.Dimitroff is new here but he can speak to Dunn s potential value to some teams. Remember where the general manager came from. Remember how New England started its dynasty. We all have believed that if Warrick can get in the right system he can still produce, Dimitroff said. We had a number of people up in New England who were aged veterans and were looking to be involved with a top tier team. This situation may provide Warrick with an opportunity to land on one of those teams. In 2002, Dunn thought he had signed with one of those teams. The Falcons were flushing the remnants of a Super Bowl roster: Chris Chandler, Terence Mathis, Jamal Anderson (not long after Dunn s signing). With Michael Vick, Dunn and a new aggressive owner in Arthur Blank, they looked to be the NFL s rising star. But fame had a cameo role.So he leaves again still admired, still capable, still ringless. It would be nice if he got there, but there are so many players who ve never won a championship, said Reeves. People in New York wondered about Michael Strahan and Armani Toomer, but they finally won it. I remember in Dallas when we picked up Jackie Smith, who had been with the Cardinals. We got to the Super Bowl and he cried like a baby. Here s hoping Warrick Dunn gets a chance to cry.http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-bl...deserves_b.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faninmd Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 Who didn't see this coming? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obmann Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 The falcons media deserves better than Jeff Schultz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fan since 1968 Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 A good article, but they just had to have a snide title. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Smith Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 DUNN is one classy guy and will be missed. But he did the right thing. He doesn't need to be on a rebuilding team. Best wishes WD - you are da man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenfried Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 Jeff Schultz sometimes writes a good piece (but most of the time it is useless drabble). This is one of those good ones. Nice job Jeff (you didn't let your own words steal the lime light from Warrick).Warrick, Thanks for all the hard runs, blocks, and yes -- the heart, both on and off the field. If karma rules, then you will be rewarded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XLDenaliReturns Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 Dunn is awesome, and deserves to go to a winning team and get a ring before he retires.and...The Falcons deserve better production from their starting RB than what Dunn has offered.and...the AJC blows Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blizzard_falcon Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 Dunn was always one of my favorite players in the league, even when he was on the Yucks. Here's hoping he'll land somewhere that he can help contribute toward winning a Super Bowl, and then retire gracefully ... Indy? Dallas?I have a similar sentiment for Fred Taylor. He's not quite the class act and community leader that Dunn is, but the's been around for a long time, rushed for over 10,000 yards, and been a leader for the Jaguars for so long ... maybe the Jags can win it all before he retires (I was rooting for them this past season :P). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Skelton Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 I think most people like Warrick Dunn. What do they think the team is gonna do. He is a RB and an 11 vet. I hate to see him go but you just can't stop father time. Why does Jeff Schultz seem to be ripping the Falcons for cutting Dunn. He said that Dunn joined the team as they were dismantling the team that went to the superbowl well he leaves at the time we dismantle and rebuild at this time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mugzy12 Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 nativefalcon (3/3/2008)Dunn deserves better than FalconsBy Jeff Schultz | Monday, March 3, 2008, 07:56 PM The Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionJeff Schultz He came here through the front door of a rebuilding project. He leaves here through the back door for the same reason.Welcome to the NFL circle of life. It makes no exception for the respected, the admired, or the sometimes brilliant. It makes no exception for Warrick Dunn. He was brought here believing he could help the Falcons win a Super Bowl, but six years later finds himself being escorted to the curb, still with two legs, 10 fingers and no rings. It s not easy to release a player like him, Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said Monday.In truth, it probably was pretty easy for Dimitroff. He had just signed Dunn s replacement the day before. But you understood the sentiment.Players like Dunn are considered missing ingredients for championships. They can play. They can lead. They can inspire. Heart isn t something that shows up at combines or scouting reports. That saying about the size of the fight in the man being more important than the size of the man in the fight - it was written for Warrick Dunn. He s amazing - one of the toughest players I ve ever seen, said Dan Reeves, the Falcons former coach who brought Dunn to Atlanta.Some things, Dunn can t control. His career timing has always been off. He left Tampa Bay in 2002, which turned out to be the season the Buccaneers won a Super Bowl. He missed the playoffs in four of his six seasons with the Falcons, who actually made the Super Bowl four years before he arrived.We can t know what happens from here, or if Dunn eventually retires beloved and title-less, like a modern day Ernie Banks. But if he was put on this earth only to rush for over 10,000 yards and help build homes for single mothers well, there are worse legacies to leave.The Falcons let Dunn go Monday. The current of the franchise says that was the right thing to. They have a new general manager, new coach and a new offense, which will play more to the power-running strengths of Michael Turner.But bottom line: the man deserves a better career exit than this. Sports are littered with great athletes who never won championships. The NFL has its share: Barry Sanders, Dan Marino, **** Butkus, et. al. But nobody of Dunn s stature deserved to be subjected to the goofiness that was the Falcons the last few seasons.He can still be what he wasn t here: a piece of a championship team. Maybe he rejoins his former coach, Tony Dungy, in Indianapolis. Maybe he goes to Dallas, which is looking to get over the top. Maybe he goes anybody closer to a title than the Falcons are right now. He deserves it.Dimitroff said the Falcons agreed to release Dunn immediately after his agent requested it Sunday night. Why? We thought it was the best thing for him, Dimitroff said.Dimitroff is new here but he can speak to Dunn s potential value to some teams. Remember where the general manager came from. Remember how New England started its dynasty. We all have believed that if Warrick can get in the right system he can still produce, Dimitroff said. We had a number of people up in New England who were aged veterans and were looking to be involved with a top tier team. This situation may provide Warrick with an opportunity to land on one of those teams. In 2002, Dunn thought he had signed with one of those teams. The Falcons were flushing the remnants of a Super Bowl roster: Chris Chandler, Terence Mathis, Jamal Anderson (not long after Dunn s signing). With Michael Vick, Dunn and a new aggressive owner in Arthur Blank, they looked to be the NFL s rising star. But fame had a cameo role.So he leaves again still admired, still capable, still ringless. It would be nice if he got there, but there are so many players who ve never won a championship, said Reeves. People in New York wondered about Michael Strahan and Armani Toomer, but they finally won it. I remember in Dallas when we picked up Jackie Smith, who had been with the Cardinals. We got to the Super Bowl and he cried like a baby. Here s hoping Warrick Dunn gets a chance to cry.http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-bl...deserves_b.htmlThat saying about the size of the fight in the man being more important than the size of the man in the fight...notice that they never put dog instead of man...:w00t::w00t::w00t: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AF89 Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 fan since 1968 (3/3/2008)A good article, but they just had to have a snide title.beat me too it. Hopefully one day the AJC's monopoly over Atlanta's news will be broken and we can have a more fan freindly paper. for now though hate and slander sales. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunny Hartman Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 There are many RB's in the NFL who are far better than Dunn ever was. Dunn is an average RB on his best day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matty ICE Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 And Falcons deserve better than Dunn so it's win/win Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerrtyBirdGirl Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 omg...hes a good guy but hes gone. Time to face it. Didnt we all see this coming? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goat Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 DerrtyBirdGirl (3/3/2008)omg...hes a good guy but hes gone. Time to face it. Didnt we all see this coming?No. :crying: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
real_fan Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 It was time to go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sporkdevil Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 Why is it the second that the Falcons let a guy was released, as desired, who has not produced for a few years, is being paid millions, the AJC says this? I love Dunn, but he is far past his prime. We have given him some serious chances to run (he did put up 1400 yards in 1 season I think), had some good stats, he got plenty of money, but hasn't been performing up to his pay. And we are the bad guys now? Once we cut Brooking, there will be an article about how Brooking is the greatest MLB ever, and we will never be the same without him. ****, I hate the AJC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rock AKA RyanFalcon34 Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 well Dunn is 33 am i right? There arent many starting 33 year old RB's in the league now. I know Dunn is a great guy but a Great community guy doesnt mean he is a great player on the field. At one point Dunn was a great player but his days are gone. I am sure Dunn will play on another team and try to be successful and best of luck to him. We need to look for whats best for now and the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott hartley Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 we deserve better than the AJC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WTA Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 XLDenaliReturns (3/3/2008)Dunn is awesome, and deserves to go to a winning team and get a ring before he retires.and...The Falcons deserve better production from their starting RB than what Dunn has offered.and...the AJC blowsPost of the Day... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stumpjumper Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 I never pick up the AJC for its sport section Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REV.2000 Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 DerrtyBirdGirl (3/3/2008)omg...hes a good guy but hes gone. Time to face it. Didnt we all see this coming?SOONER OR LATER ..... THEY ALL HAVE TO GO ..... GIVE IT A LITTLE TIME .... THEY'LL BE SAYING THE SAME THING ABOUT M. TURNER .... OR J. NORWOOD. THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ki45toryu Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 Dunn has been my favorite NFL player since 1999...but the writing is on the wall.Every team has to cut it's great players at some point.Crump was cut, and hes been with the team longer, and been to more probowls since 2002.Zach Taylor was cut.Isaac Bruce was cut....you could go on all day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan minnich Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 blah blah, dunn is a respected player but the fact is he is 33, no longer the same player and has a high cap figure. we cant just keep players that are washed up because they are a respected guy. besides we gave dunn the best thing that could have happened to him, a chance to play for a playoff team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knight of God Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 I was never real big on the guy and won't miss him. Not my type of back. Your off field deeds have nothing to do with why I like football. Its a plus to me and is only something that I pay attention to when winning. Most of us who care do our part and don't make mention of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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