brian finneran article

[Guest mashburn]

http://www.thefalcoholic.com/2011/5/28/2194233/brian-finneran-has-played-his-last-down-for-the-atlanta-falcons

There's no easy way to say goodbye to an iconic Falcon, but we're going to have to learn to do so.

We already knew that Brian Finneran was unlikely to return to the team, but in an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, he's all but confirmed he's moving on. The man who has been a Falcon for more than a decade, playing a major role on some of the best teams in franchise history, has seen his epoch come to a close.

How can I be so certain? Finneran said it himself:

Q: What was you conversation with the Falcons like?

A: They said they wanted to give some of the younger guys some opportunities to come up and make some plays. It will be interesting to see what they do, especially with the arsenal that they have now and if they have to make any more moves with the personnel at receiver position because they are pretty stacked right know. There is a lot of money wrapped up in it, I would imagine. But they were very nice.

It only makes sense, from a football perspective. Finneran hasn't been a major factor in the passing game since 2005, and has hung on chiefly because of his special teams and leadership value. With the Falcons adding Julio Jones to a depth chart that already features Roddy White, Michael Jenkins, Harry Douglas, Kerry Meier and Eric Weems--not to mention practice squad guys like Brandyn Harvey and Tim Buckley--there simply wasn't any room for Finn.

The dude still wants to play, though, and I fervently hope he can catch on somewhere else. Finn's done a lot for the Falcons with no complaint, and for that I'd like to see him rewarded. The Falcons will be a better team without him, but that doesn't mean he won't be missed.

Say your fond farewells, friends.

he will be missed and I do as well hope you finds anoher team. he is a great player and a better team player. another team will be very happy with him on the field, off the field and in the locker room.

[The Falcon Jedi Knight]

He was a strange WR when he first came to the Falcons. He could make all the difficult catches, but he always dropped the easy ones. He straightened that out in later years. I'll miss him. He was a blue-collar kind of guy who never complained and just did his job. His knee injuries really sucked and cost him a lot of games.

[ki46dinah]

He was a strange WR when he first came to the Falcons. He could make all the difficult catches, but he always dropped the easy ones. He straightened that out in later years. I'll miss him. He was a blue-collar kind of guy who never complained and just did his job. His knee injuries really sucked and cost him a lot of games.

Being handcuffed to a QB who only threw to his QB, and knee injuries derailed what could have been an even more productive NFL career.

Nonetheless he has been very valuable to the team, and who knows...he may get a call if injuries or ineptitude pile up.

[Tandy]

One of my favorite Falcons - a truly great guy all around. I'll miss his smiling face before the games and his contributions during the game.

I hope he finds a good place to finish his career out - and I hope he comes back to us in a coaching capacity when he's ready to quit playing the game.

[dirtybird1989]

http://www.thefalcoholic.com/2011/5/28/2194233/brian-finneran-has-played-his-last-down-for-the-atlanta-falcons

he will be missed and I do as well hope you finds anoher team. he is a great player and a better team player. another team will be very happy with him on the field, off the field and in the locker room.

I wish the falcons could give him a coaching/personel job.

[Tandy]

I wish the falcons could give him a coaching/personel job.

It may happen when he's ready to retire from football. Brian is pretty competitive - just the fact that he still shows up for the workouts and mini-camps by the players shows he still wants to play the game. I think he'll try to find a spot where he's needed and can contribute and play until he feels it's time to get out of the game.

[Herr Doktor]

Nightmare scenario is Finn touching down in Tampa.