birdz4i Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) -- Owner Arthur Blank is not exactly disappointed with the financial state of the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons' performance on the field is another matter.Since purchasing the franchise for $545 million in February 2002, Blank has watched the Falcons' value more than double.And the team is expected to reap impressive revenues when it moves to a new $1.4 billion retractable roof stadium in two years.''I certainly will say that I'm happy with the results since 2002,'' Blank said Sunday in an interview with The Associated Press.''We know if we do things right and make the right decisions for our fans, our stakeholders and everyone connected to our team and the NFL, that we'll get the good financial results. But our decisions aren't driven by the numbers. We base almost everything on doing what it takes to win.''With the team 10 days into training camp, Blank says he has shaken off the aftereffects of having to fire Mike Smith, the franchise's career-winningest coach, in January. Former Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is Blank's fifth head coach, and the owner hopes his last.''Well, it's been very emotional, for sure,'' Blank said. ''I think our franchise has made huge strides forward since (2002) and I think our stadium will be another step in that direction, but on the field we'll be measured by championships.?''During Blank's tenure, Atlanta has played in two NFC title games with six playoff appearances and two division titles. Though the team had a pitiful .394 winning percentage before he took charge and .531 percentage since, Blank is hardly satisfied.He longs to see the Falcons win a Super Bowl. They nearly made it to the big game in Smith's fifth season, but ended 10 yards shy against San Francisco.Attempting to keep the momentum constant, Blank gave contract extensions to Smith and his staff, but the team fell flat with a 10-22 record over the past two years, and everything changed.''Coach Smith was clearly the best coach in the history of our franchise,'' Blank said. ''Five winning seasons in a row and we'd never had two when I bought the team. I think he did a really good job. I think it was time for a change after a couple of very disappointing years, and I think he probably felt that way as well. We're in a good place now. We love coach Quinn. We love his attitude and enthusiasm.''Blank gave Quinn, who helped Seattle win a Super Bowl and an NFC title, the final say in football operations and hired New England and Kansas City general manager Scott Pioli to work under Thomas Dimitroff, the Falcons' GM since 2008.Team president and CEO Rich McKay, Blank's second-in-command since December 2003, continues to oversee new stadium talks and hopes to be reinstated as chairman of the powerful NFL competition committee when he meets in the next few weeks with commissioner Roger Goodell.The league suspended McKay from his post in March when Atlanta was fined $350,000 and made to forfeit a fifth-round draft pick for piping in fake crowd noise at the Georgia Dome.''Rich certainly has my support,'' Blank said. ''He was a valued member of the committee over 22 years. We've dealt with (the crowd noise issue). An unfortunate set of circumstances, one of which we probably could have avoided - hence the penalty, and we didn't appeal it - but we felt it was proper.''Blank's next order of business is getting star receiver Julio Jones signed to a new contract. Jones, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, is entering the last season of a five-year rookie deal. He likely will command at least $40 million guaranteed.But Blank is confident that Jones ''will remain a Falcon for life.'' The team has been negotiating with Jones' agent, Jimmy Sexton, for the past few weeks.''There is no reason to think anything other than that,'' Blank said. ''I would be shocked and disappointed otherwise. We love the player, we love the person. We'll dealing with a responsible, good agent, so I think we're in a good place.''Quarterback Matt Ryan, whom the Falcons signed to a new contract with $59 million guaranteed two years ago, says Blank's long-term commitment pushes players to succeed.''Obviously he's been great to me since I've been here,'' Ryan told The AP. ''The impact he makes in the community is huge, and he's great role model for philanthropy, but the bottom line is Arthur Blank wants to win. That's what you love as a player more than anything else.''Notes: Quinn said WR Devin Hester was held out of practice with a minor toe injury and should return early in the week. ... FS Charles Godfrey was back on the field after getting cut on his forehead and nose in Friday night's practice. ... OLB Brooks Reed is expected to return soon from a strained hip. ... There's still no immediate timetable for RBs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman, each of whom has a hamstring injury. Neither will play in Friday's preseason home opener against Tennessee.http://sports.yahoo.com/news/blank-still-longs-falcons-win-super-bowl-224917858--nfl.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atlking Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SyCo Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 Blank gives no craPs about winning a super bowlwould be a weird headline. I've always loved blanks enthusiasm for the team and city, the way he remains involved, but doesn't meddle..supposedly. there is something, however, that bugs me about him. I can't place my finger on it. he seems to be the type that wants to be in the club, so he portrays himself as if he were, or atleast how he perceives it to be. those types are usually a step behind and off target, which seemed to have trickle down throughout the organization. he's a smart guy though, and a successful business man. hopefully this time around there will be no doubt that he is truly remaining out of football operations as he claims he will. though I feel like eventually he'll start noticing how green his neighbors grass is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borat Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 Well yeah... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
etherdome Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 Worth a thousand words. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atlking Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 Blank gives no craPs about winning a super bowlwould be a weird headline.I've always loved blanks enthusiasm for the team and city, the way he remains involved, but doesn't meddle..supposedly.there is something, however, that bugs me about him. I can't place my finger on it. he seems to be the type that wants to be in the club, so he portrays himself as if he were, or atleast how he perceives it to be.those types are usually a step behind and off target, which seemed to have trickle down throughout the organization. he's a smart guy though, and a successful business man. hopefully this time around there will be no doubt that he is truly remaining out of football operations as he claims he will. though I feel like eventually he'll start noticing how green his neighbors grass isI may clown the personnel moves that the Falcons make, but clowning Blank, who is one of the best owners in all of sports, has NEVER been on my radar.....Dude is a beast owner. Now, lower management, thats another question... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SyCo Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 I may clown the personnel moves that the Falcons make, but clowning Blank, who is one of the best owners in all of sports, has NEVER been on my radar.....Dude is a beast owner. Now, lower management, thats another question...Don't get me wrong, I love blank, but he's a doofus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbabygrady Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 Blank is a pretty good owner overall. As a fan, I don't think it's a good look for him to be down on the sidelines at the end of a game. It seems like that could be a weird dynamic for coaches or even players to deal with if the game goes sour. But I'm just a fan, I have no idea if that actually bothers any of the coaches. I wonder how much influence he exerts over personnel decisions. If I was Blank and Dimitroff told me he was gonna cut John Abraham I would have thrown him out of my office.I also wonder if he ever reads these message boards. He would have to sort through a lot of garbage but there are a lot of good insights for him here, as far as how we as fans feel about the organization and the experience of being a falcon fan. It's like yelp reviews for a small business, it's the most direct form of feedback that Blank could get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbabygrady Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 Worth a thousand words.We could be like the Colts and hang a NFC Championship Finalist banner for the 2012 season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atlking Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 Blank is a pretty good owner overall. As a fan, I don't think it's a good look for him to be down on the sidelines at the end of a game. It seems like that could be a weird dynamic for coaches or even players to deal with if the game goes sour. But I'm just a fan, I have no idea if that actually bothers any of the coaches. I wonder how much influence he exerts over personnel decisions. If I was Blank and Dimitroff told me he was gonna cut John Abraham I would have thrown him out of my office.I also wonder if he ever reads these message boards. He would have to sort through a lot of garbage but there are a lot of good insights for him here, as far as how we as fans feel about the organization and the experience of being a falcon fan. It's like yelp reviews for a small business, it's the most direct form of feedback that Blank could get.Thats EXACTLY where he needs to be. Dont give the coaches or players a inch. Thats why the Falcons have been a horrible franchise overall in the first place. No accountability. The BEST coaches dont play either...........see Nick Saban............" im about to fire some fools today " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falcon Freddie Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 Yeah, but 12 other NFL teams also have similarly empty trophy cases.`What gripes me is, unless the Falcons win a Super Bowl within the next two seasons, when the Falcons do win the championship I won't be there as a season ticket holder. I refuse to pay for PSLs (and by extension, an unnecessary new stadium,) so 2016 will probably be my last season as a STH, after exactly 20 seasons. It's just too bad, that's all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theyhateme : ) Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 Don't get me wrong, I love blank, but he's a doofusHe's wealthy....you don't get to be wealthy be being a doofus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atlking Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 We could be like the Colts and hang a NFC Championship Finalist banner for the 2012 seasonThe Falcons and the State of Georgia did something worst than that.. They actually got a HIGHWAY street sign up in Cobb County on interstate 75 honoring the 1998 nfc champion Falcons........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mega Flare Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 No kidding. Otherwise, how will he motivate thousands of fans to make the irrational decision to fork over a boatload of money for the right to buy overpriced season tickets? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SyCo Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 He's wealthy....you don't get to be wealthy be being a doofus.weird al Yankovic, olsen twins, Donald Trump. the nfl owner who runs to the sideline where his player makes a clutch catch and starts waving the "no catch" sign like a maniac...who was that? oh yea, Arthur blank lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theyhateme : ) Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 The Falcons and the State of Georgia did something worst than that.. They actually got a HIGHWAY street sign up in Cobb County on interstate 75 honoring the 1998 nfc champion Falcons...........Champions of the whole conference is worth mentioning on that level....IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falcon Freddie Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 The Falcons and the State of Georgia did something worst than that.. They actually got a HIGHWAY street sign up in Cobb County on interstate 75 honoring the 1998 nfc champion Falcons...........Two points:1. What the Colts did was hang a banner commemorating themselves as the "NFL Finalists", not NFC, for a game in which they lost rather badly.2. Well, the Falcons DID WIN the NFC Championship that season. You didn't see any banners boasting about simply playing in Super Bowl XXXIII. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtybird56 Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 weird al Yankovic, olsen twins, Donald Trump. the nfl owner who runs to the sideline where his player makes a clutch catch and starts waving the "no catch" sign like a maniac...who was that? oh yea, Arthur blank lol.Lmao I feel like I remember that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theyhateme : ) Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 weird al Yankovic, olsen twins, Donald Trump. the nfl owner who runs to the sideline where his player makes a clutch catch and starts waving the "no catch" sign like a maniac...who was that? oh yea, Arthur blank lol.I'm pretty sure that it was determined that he wasn't waiving no catch.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atlking Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 Two points:1. What the Colts did was hang a banner commemorating themselves as the "NFL Finalists", not NFC, for a game in which they lost rather badly.2. Well, the Falcons DID WIN the NFC Championship that season. You didn't see any banners boasting about simply playing in Super Bowl XXXIII.You actually tried to spin this.............lmao Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHALCONABERNATHY Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 (edited) Blank is a good owner. Of course he wants to win, but so do 31 other owners and coaches. Success is something that is earned and I think he saw what the rest of us saw with Smith and co., they were on the decline. Quinn is smarter than Smith and I truly believe he can put together a better team than Moke Smith ever could. To say he doesn't really want one and is a dumb person is just absurd. Edited August 10, 2015 by PHALCONABERNATHY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mega Flare Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 1. What the Colts did was hang a banner commemorating themselves as the "NFL Finalists", not NFC, for a game in which they lost rather badly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theyhateme : ) Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 Is this the same as 2014 AFC Champions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falcon Freddie Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 Like I said, "AFC". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peoriabird Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 He's wealthy....you don't get to be wealthy be being a doofus.I disagree! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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