White Drops The Ball, Again

[falcon057]

White drops the ball, again

February 15, 2012

By Len Pasquarelli

ATLANTA -- For most Atlanta players, the season ended rather abruptly on Jan. 8, when the offensively challenged Falcons lost a playoff game to the eventual Super Bowl XLVI champion New York Giants.

But for wide receiver Roddy White, a disturbing pattern that developed during a campaign in which he registered 100 receptions for the second consecutive year, but also led the NFL in muffed passes, apparently has continued into the offseason.

Typical of a 2011 season in which he botched at least 14 passes (one statistics-related site actually pegged the number at 15), White has dropped the ball.

Wonder what Gisele Bundchen would think.

For folks residing in caves, the deliciously quotable but frequently misguided White took to his Twitter account again this week to rip commissioner Roger Goodell for a salary that will eventually reach a reported $20 million annually. That figure was first reported by Sports Business Journal and subsequently confirmed to The Sports Xchange by several league owners.

As is the case anymore in this era of antisocial media, the tweet went viral, and White gained another 15 minutes of fame. Or perhaps infamy, since the Atlanta wide receiver seems to obliviously reside in a universe of virtual unreality.

The obtuse rationale of White was that Goodell has never caught a pass, made a tackle, or delivered a forearm shiver. It's kind of like the same mindset used by the critics of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, who suggest that most members of the 44-person selection committee never strapped on a helmet, and, thus, are unqualified to sit in judgment on the Canton shrine's finalists. Having been uncharacteristically restrained to this point on the latter matter, we'll refrain, and leave it for another day. But the same people who make such arguments, albeit perhaps not White, regularly turn to George Will, or Sean Hannity, or Bill O'Reilly for their daily dose of political update.

Last time we checked, none of those guys had run for, much less held, public office. That fact doesn't preclude them from prospering as pundits.

Look, unlike some of his apologist minions, we don't agree with everything Goodell has done in his tenure. In fact, there are occasions when Goodell seems to have taken on the mantle of predecessor Paul Tagliabue, only with less condescension and more of a smile. His pursuit of an 18-game schedule was as unpopular with fans as with players, the infatuation with overseas games is unwarranted, and at his annual "State of the League" news conference during Super Bowl week, he rebuffed every premise that questioned the NFL's direction.

But he has -- even though players have chafed over his continued role in doling out punitive actions -- navigated the game through a lockout that seemingly became an afterthought in 2011. Goodell has negotiated new network contracts that will further fill the coffers of his constituent owners but also generate additional revenues for the players as well. He has emphasized the importance of taking care of the game's former players, continued Tagliabue's strong initiative toward improved diversity, and focused more attention on concussions and head injuries.

Back in the 1980s, a period marked by labor strife and work stoppages, the popular rallying cry of the NFL rank-and-file was that "the players are the game." Thirty-some years later, that's still the case, but fans have also, in the age of free agency and roster-churning, learned to cheer for uniforms as much as the surnames stitched across the back of them.

The players, nonetheless, are richer than ever. So, too, are the owners. And, a fact overlooked by White, the commissioners are lavishly rewarded as well. Also ignored by White: The man who signs his paychecks, Falcons owner Arthur Blank, rather ironically is the chairman of the NFL's compensation committee, which approved the Goodell deal.

Make no mistake, White is an incredibly candid player, a go-to guy for the media both local and national, a man devoid of pretense. And, at times, absent common sense, too. There are times, when his mouth does the talking, that he articulates himself into trouble. When his fingers do the talking, via his Twitter account, the results are usually problematic.

White, 30, has become a star over the past five years in particular, when he has averaged 94.2 receptions and 8.4 touchdowns, and rung up 1,000 yards in every season. The seven-year veteran and former first-round draft choice (2005) has been to four Pro Bowl games. Although he is prone to mope when he isn't targeted enough early in a game, White has blossomed as a top-shelf pass catcher.

While we're far too Neanderthal to grasp the attraction of Twitter, White is entitled to his opinion, but he might want to pause and think before he tweets.

In 2009, before the team awarded White a six-year, $50 million contract extension, Falcons officials suggested he would cash in the big money only when he divested himself of some hangers-on Atlanta executives viewed dubiously. The Falcons can't take that money away, take away White's cell phone, or unilaterally close down his Twitter account. But someone in the organization at least needs to point out to the wide receiver that he needs to exercise at least some degree of common sense in his frequent public pontifications.

Because once again, as was the case so often in 2011, White's hands failed him.

[bill from accounting]

Jesus christ, people need to just let it go, IT'S TWITTER.

Is he robbing a bank?

Is he complaining about the team?

Is he tweeting rascist stuff like floyd mayweather?

No? He's just saying his opinion about a subject he has interest in?

Thank god some of you aren't owners, or you'd be trying to cut him asap over something silly.

[Falkonator]

This again? Ha SMH people let.it.go,

[Falkonator]

This again? Ha SMH people let.it.go,

[Falkonator]

This again? SMH people need to move on and let it go.

[Falkonator]

This again? SMH people need to move on and let it go.

[MattRyansArm]

Why doesn't that idiot just learn to shut up and quit drawing attention, seriously a strong attention whore.

[The Falcon Jedi Knight]

I cant stand Roddy White

[madman88]

ppl who gives a flying fuk... ppl who say thsy dnt like roddy for giving his opinion is crazy... i dnt hear anyone saying lets get rid of boley for beating up his girl, or getting rid of babs for his weed charge... some of yall are crazy..

[The Falcon Jedi Knight]

ppl who gives a flying fuk... ppl who say thsy dnt like roddy for giving his opinion is crazy... i dnt hear anyone saying lets get rid of boley for beating up his girl, or getting rid of babs for his weed charge... some of yall are crazy..

Boley is a Giant with a SB Ring now

Babs can smoke all the weed he wants that doesnt bother me, but his most famous charge was killing his girlfriends dog - which from what i read the dog tried to attack him, so it was self defense from what i understand

Roddy can run his mouth all he wants in 140 characters or less, i really dont care, im more surprised when he correctly spells a 2 syllable word and types a readable sentence. His Tweets arent doing Arthur Blank or the Falcons Organization any favors, but whatever

[HerFavoriteColo(u)r.]

Boley is a Giant with a SB Ring now

Babs can smoke all the weed he wants that doesnt bother me, but his most famous charge was killing his girlfriends dog - which from what i read the dog tried to attack him, so it was self defense from what i understand

Roddy can run his mouth all he wants in 140 characters or less, i really dont care, im more surprised when he correctly spells a 2 syllable word and types a readable sentence. His Tweets arent doing Arthur Blank or the Falcons Organization any favors, but whatever

Neither are players like Babs who kill dogs and smoke weed. You know, criminal offenses.

But voice your opinion? Nahhhhh. Your first amendment rights don't matter.

[The Falcon Jedi Knight]

Neither are players like Babs who kill dogs and smoke weed. You know, criminal offenses.

But voice your opinion? Nahhhhh. Your first amendment rights don't matter.

First Amendment Rights allow you to say whatever you want freely, but i dare you to go to your work and tell your boss he makes too much money to everybody. See what happens at the end of your day. Youre walking out of work with no job.

[HerFavoriteColo(u)r.]

First Amendment Rights allow you to say whatever you want freely, but i dare you to go to your work and tell your boss he makes too much money to everybody. See what happens at the end of your day. Youre walking out of work with no job.

He's not Roddy's boss though. A Commissioner cannot cut a player, only an owner can. He also cannot fire an owner either. The analogy doesn't follow through.

[The Falcon Jedi Knight]

He's not Roddy's boss though. A Commissioner cannot cut a player, only an owner can. He also cannot fire an owner either. The analogy doesn't follow through.

You dont understand corporate politics. The Commish and the Owners eat breakfast together. The Commish influences the referees and competition committee. All the "suits" in the NFL have a hand or a chip in each other's back pocket. What comes around goes around, just like in any business.

[HerFavoriteColo(u)r.]

You dont understand corporate politics. The Commish and the Owners eat breakfast together. The Commish influences the referees and competition committee. All the "suits" in the NFL have a hand or a chip in each other's back pocket. What comes around goes around, just like in any business.

No I do though. If the Commish tells Artie to cut Roddy for getting under his skin it'll only make him look like a weak, thin-skinned commissioner, and that is not the image he wants to have. It'll get him replaced really quickly.

[X-Man21]

Jesus christ, people need to just let it go, IT'S TWITTER.

^^^

Is he robbing a bank?

Is he complaining about the team?

Is he tweeting rascist stuff like floyd mayweather?

No? He's just saying his opinion about a subject he has interest in?

Thank god some of you aren't owners, or you'd be trying to cut him asap over something silly.

[The Falcon Jedi Knight]

No I do though. If the Commish tells Artie to cut Roddy for getting under his skin it'll only make him look like a weak, thin-skinned commissioner, and that is not the image he wants to have. It'll get him replaced really quickly.

Roddy is a push-off artist, thats how he separates from defenders mostly. What's going to happen is the refs are going to start throwing a flag more often when he does that now.

[FalconsManhood]

smh.

Original poster just looking for a reason to start a thread. No one cares!

[Lord Sarcomere]

Jesus christ, people need to just let it go, IT'S TWITTER.

Is he robbing a bank?

Is he complaining about the team?

Is he tweeting rascist stuff like floyd mayweather?

No. He's dropping balls.

[FalconsManhood]

No. He's dropping balls.

He dropped as many as Matt Ryan overthrew and tossed out of bounds without giving him a shot to catch it.

Difference is that at least Roddy has lived up to his pay grade, yeah he has had a few bad games but you can depend on him to show up more often than not and that's more than you can say about Matt Ryan.

[Chain Chomp]

smh.

Original poster just looking for a reason to start a thread. No one cares!

Says the 'realist' who makes a ton of "fire Smith/TD needs to stop playing around" threads. I care more for falcon057's thread than I do about anything that has to do with you.

[Guest mashburn]

Wow people are a joke. If you don't like half the players then why are you a fan?

Hey kids look real fast and leave. But this will be you if you don't get a life.....you'll be the 40 year old virgin and living in the moms basement.

[montanaman71]

Roddy can say whatever he wants but he sure sounds like an idiot with things like this. And before everyone starts to flame me, the day after he made the comment Mike and Mike as well as Colin Cowherd were talking about it and how off base Roddy was. All Roddy did was kind of make himself look stupid.

Goodell runs a 9 billion dollar business. 20 million dollars is fine with me.

[The Falcon Jedi Knight]

Wow people are a joke. If you don't like half the players then why are you a fan?

Hey kids look real fast and leave. But this will be you if you don't get a life.....you'll be the 40 year old virgin and living in the moms basement.

Maybe I am a 40 year old virgin and my mom's basement is quite cozy ... thank you

[Dem Birds]

I cant stand Roddy White

I sure love the **** out of his 5 consecutive 80+ catches 1,000 yard seasons. I could give a **** what he says about Roger Goodell or anything else for that matter, he has every right to say it. Just like you have every right to post garbage on a message board, a right you constantly take advantage of.

First Amendment Rights allow you to say whatever you want freely, but i dare you to go to your work and tell your boss he makes too much money to everybody. See what happens at the end of your day. Youre walking out of work with no job.

And with a lawsuit for Wrongful Termination.