Welcome Mr. Jackson. I Am For Reeeeaaaall.

The Falcon's Thomas Dimitroff did what great general managers for great teams do. He patiently waited for a difference-maker's asking price to go down to a more reasonable number, and Dimitroff, who learned from some of the best while in New England's front office, got a talented, bruising running back (see picture below) in Steven Jackson, thus improving an already stacked offense.

Jackson voided the final year of his six-year contract with the St. Louis Rams. He was scheduled to make $7 million dollars this season and cost the Rams $11 million against the hard salary cap. Since being drafte No. 24 over all in 2004, the three-time Pro Bowler was looking to go to a team in contention for a Super Bowl, something he hasn't experienced since arriving in St. Louis. In the teams' best seasons with Jackson they went 8-8. And while they did make the playoffs, they were no where near a threat to win the whole thing. Much like the new proposed Atlanta stadium deal, it was a win-win for both parties, or depending on how you look at it all three—St. Louis, Jackson and Atlanta—are winners.

The most worrisome aspect of Jackson joining the Falcons around Atlanta was taking on his salary. Could Dimitroff not pay too much for the veteren while being certain to shore up a sometimes porous defense a year ago and saving enough space for franchise quarterback Matt Ryan? In a word, yes. Dimitroff was able to get Jackson to agree to a three-year deal with only $4 million guaranteed ($7 million less than he would have received in St. Louis.

Jackson (left) does not lack toughness.

And to all of the Jackson detractors, the free agency period is not over and, there is still the draft where Dimitroff is sure to take a few defensive ends and linemen for both sides of the line.

Speaking of that defense, Jackson will—through his offense—aid the Falcons weakest link out, too.  The Rams' all-time leading rusher—more than Eric Dickerson no less—also provides the sort of short-yardage situation specialist former Falcon Michael Turner couldn't the last two seasons.

Being able to help Atlanta's offense sustain drives with conversions on third, fourth-and-short will give the defense a chance to rest on the sideline. It also helps the defense by helping the Falcons put away games. Time and time again last season the Falcons would surrender two-possession leads in the second half because they did not have a power running back to help put games away. Give me Jackson three chances at two yards, and I'll take my chances. He trails only the Vikings Adrian Peterson in yards after contact over the past four seasons, at over 2,100.

The Falcons now boast two Oregon State alums in the backfield with the more versatile and quicker Jaquizz Rogers and Jackson, a 1,000 yard rusher for eight consecutive seasons, even though opposing defenses would put eight or nine men in the box to stop the two-time All-Pro back as a Ram.

Hall of Famers Emmit Smith (11), Curtis Martin (10) and Barry Sanders (10) are the only running backs with longer streaks. More than likely he won't get 1,000 yards this season, but he will bring a professionalism and work horse attitude that every locker room can't get enough of.

Jackson left the franchise once known as "Greatest Show on Turf," and Dimitroff acquired a beast of a man in the hopes of making the 2013 Falcons' offense something similar.
-----
For those of you who do not understand the title (like my mother), it's a spin-off from Outkast's—both Atlanta natives—popular single from 2009.

Businessman Blank and Atlanta's Deal A Win-Win

Arthur Blank is a businessman. His background that makes the Atlanta stadium a good thing.

The stadium deal caused a massive uproar around the city on radio and television airwaves and newspaper columns because it was originally proposed as a "publicly-funded" project. But the deal states he will pay $800 million of the $1 billion price tag out of his own pocket (Just imagine making that monetary promise to anyone or anything. $800 million...).

The other $200 million is coming from the state's hotel-motel tax, and estimates from Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed show that up to 85% of that revenue comes from outside of Georgia. And up to $150 million of that $200 million the city has promised will come back to the Atlanta economy when the Falcons host a Super Bowl, which has been promised by the NFL if they built a new stadium.

Blank owns this little company known as Home Depot which will presumably serve as the primary funding party. (Does this mean he can get discount prices on the building materials for the stadium, ths saving Atlanta money?) Blank's businessman past will make sure that the building is done right; being that he is funding 80% of it, I am sure it will be done at a much lower cost than if the state's taxes were footing the bill.

He is a businessman who also understands that building it now, not later, is important. Now is when the Falcons are experiencing unprecedented success as a franchise, with three consecutive playoff berths and coming up 10 yards short of this year's Super Bowl.

The often-accused-of-being-lazy Atlanta sports fan has come out to watch his or her Falcons as of late. And for outsiders who don't believe it, check ticket prices online and try to get one for reasonably close to face value. Sans Bobby Petrino-post-Michael-Vick-dog-fighting-days, Falcons fans have routinely filled up the Georgia Dome as well as any NFL fans, even before their present-day success (with the exception of Green Bay whose fanbase is absurd). Because of the city's newfound love for the Falcons—and its history of not always being so faithful—Blank knew he must get the deal done while morale is as high as its ever been.

In addition to the money he is putting towards the stadium, Blank has promised $15 million to the development of the surrounding areas. For those of you unfamiliar with Atlanta, you don't want to be caught around Georgia Dome too late at night, which is the case with many stadiums across the United States. Along with the neighborhood development, jobs will be created during the construction.

Blank is showing Atlanta that he cares, not only his football team but for its home city.

Plenty of jokes have been made, myself included, about how impatient the city of Atlanta and its football organization was towards getting a new stadium. Nostalgia becomes a large part of the negativity towards the deal because the Georgia Dome serves as more than just an NFL stadium to this state (hosting state playoff games, the 2007 and 2013 Final Four, the SEC basketball and football championships and other various college football games).

But now is the time to move past that because that stadium is going up. If you don't like it then don't use a hotel in Atlanta the next few years and don't go to a game at the new place when it is finished. I'll go ahead and thank you if you don't go so I will have a ticket at lower cost.

The stadium is a good thing for what it will bring to the city. You have an owner who is investing in Atlanta because he wants to win in and for Atlanta. Few fans are so lucky.

What's Next for the Falcons Foursome?

The Falcons have a come a long way in four years. Atlanta was struggling as one of the worst teams in the NFL, Michael Vick was suspended for his actions in a dog-fighting ring and coach Bobby Petrino skipped town in the middle of the night to coach the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Where do the Falcons go now?

Thomas Dmitrioff came to Hotlanta from the New England Patriots with a winning attitude for owner Arthur Blank. Dmitrioff brought in a new head coach in Mike Smith--a defensive guru from the Jacksonville Jaguars, the hottest free agent--running back Michael Turner from San Diego, and a drafted a quarterback from Boston College named Matt Ryan.

The franchise's new foursome enjoyed immediate success, leading the Falcons to an 11-5 regular season in 2008. Ryan was awarded the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. Atlanta would finish the season in a loss in the Wild Card round to the eventual NFC Champion Arizona Cardinal.

The following season the Dirty Birds missed the playoffs at 9-7, but did manage to snap the club's embarrassing mark of 44 seasons of never having consecutive winning seasons in 2009.

With a regular season record of 13-3, Atlanta had their best regular season since the 1998 Super Bowl squad. The Falcons secured a division title and the No. 1 seed in the NFC for the playoffs before being absolutely destroyed 48-21 by the eventual Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers in the Georgia Dome.

The past four years have led to yesterday's offensive debacle, a 24-2 beating from the New York Giants. "Offensive" is meant in both ways, the offensive side of the ball and the coaching staff's repulsive play calling. Atlanta was 1 for 5 on third and fourth downs less than 2 yards. When the Falcons score one-third the number of points that Zaza Pachulia, an awkward Georgian forward for the Hawks, is averaging this season it was a horrendous day on the gridiron.

With the playmakers at the Falcons disposal, this should never happen.

Now defensive coordinator Brian Van Gorder has left the NFL for Auburn, and it looks as if current offensive coordinator will be hired as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins or the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Falcon fans have many questions as they head into the offseason about the four-man anchor that brought Atlanta unprecedented success.

Thomas Dmitrioff- Though he has brought a bevy of free-agent talent to Atlanta on the field a la Dunta Robinson, John Abraham and Ray Edwards, Dmitrioff has plenty of work ahead this season with no first or fourth round picks in April's draft. Of course, aging veterans and the offensive line will have to be addressed along with the hiring of new coordinators.

Matt Ryan- In the latter stages of yesterday's game, while watching Atlanta's porous offensive output, I began to ask myself, with his poor performances in postseason play, when does Matt "Smirnoff Ice" Ryan begin to receive comparisons to the often criticized Dallas Cowboy quarterback Tony Romo? The biggest difference is that Romo waits until the fourth quarter to ruin his team's chances of advancing, whereas Ryan (3 TD, 4 INTs in three playoff games) only scores in mop-up duty after the Falcons' losing fate is long decided. Ryan has shown the clutch gene in the regular season but has immensely underperformed when it counts.

Ryan's first feeble attempt on 4th and 1

Mike Smith- Play calling, play calling, play calling. One would think after losing to New Orleans on a failed quarterback sneak on a 4th and 1 conversion that Smith would have learned his lesson. Nope. Twice the Falcons were stuffed running the "Matt Ryan-curls-up-into-a-fetal-postion-and-hopes-to-fall-to-a-first-down" play on fourth down yesterday. When you are on the road in playoffs and especially when your offense is struggling, you take the points.

Michael Turner- The Burner Turner had 41 yards on 15 carries yesterday. He turns 30 in February. Which because of the wear and tear taken at the running back position usually a red-flag age for this position. No doubt he had his great moments during the regular season, but without a consistent running game Ryan was forced to throw too soon, and there was no threat of play-action.

Is this it? I hate to think so, but look at the rest of the NFC. Green Bay and New Orleans are going no where from the top. The Chicago Bears had their starting quarterback go down, keeping them out of the playoffs. The Detroit Lions are rising, and with the new pride Jim Harbaugh has instilled in San Fransisco they appear headed in the right direction. Even within the division it looks like Carolina's Cam Newton will be a threat for years to come.

Making the playoffs was a tremendous accomplishment for a rookie coach and quarterback, but now just getting to the postseason is not enough. Success in the postseason, not the regular season, matters now in Atlanta.

Is This Real Life?

I have decided every once in a while I will do a post about what is going on in the world of sports. There are things that happen during the year that, in the world of sports, just do not make sense. For example...

1. Boise State loses. Can you believe it? The one week that I have faith in the Broncos to pull out a victory they fail me. Maybe we aren't giving the WAC the credit its due. Just maybe Boise does play a tough schedule and should be considered for the National Championship game. Yeah right! Losing to Nevada is not a good loss. Nevada would be handled by the sixth best SEC team, Mississippi State, easily. Oh well, it was a good run this year and I am sure we will hear the same arguments for the little guy next year.

2. Auburn came back to win in Tuscaloosa. After falling behind 24-0 in the first half the Tigers found a way to win in Bryan-Denny Stadium for the first time ever. If everything had gone just as Alabama wanted it to, not being stopped in the red zone a few times, the score would have looked more like 42-0. Those stops hurt Alabama by taking the more than 100,000 people out of the game. I give credit to Auburn and its resiliency to come back under such tough conditions. No way they shouldn't play for the national title.

3. Arkansas may play a BCS bowl. Really? In the most difficult conference to play in, with 5 ranked teams in the West, Arkansas played their way to the top? I am so used to settling for the Cotton Bowl but not this year. The Razorbacks have actually lived up to expectations and, with an Auburn win in the SEC Championship should play in the Sugar Bowl for the first time in 30 years. Even more surprising is the old man will be pulling or the Tigers come Saturday. I never thought I would see the day.

4. Sticking with football and moving to the professional ranks, the Falcons could be the best team in the NFL. Again, really? A franchise that just last year had its first back to back winning seasons is considered by many to be the favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. The team is clicking with a calm quarterback, Matt Ryan. They have won three games within the last minute of the game and have not had a turnover in 4 games. The next three weeks will tell a lot as the Dirty Birds are on the road, not in the friendly confines of the Georgia Dome where they are 19-1 over the past three years. That is a serious home field advantage.

5. The Miami Heat continue to struggle. They are now 10-8 and the 5th best team in the Eastern Conference. Who saw this much of an adjustment period coming. So much for those predictions that the Heat would break the 1996 Bulls record of 72 wins. They would have to finish out the season at 62-2 to tie that record. Not happening. Miami has serious offensive woes and has yet to figure out how to play like a team.

6. Jeter maybe not a Yankee. Derek Jeter, along with his agent, is under negations to further his career as a Yankee. He is coming off of his worst year as a professional and seeking $20 million dollars a year. The Yankee organization is trying to run the franchise like any business and pay for what they are getting. The aging captain has meant a lot to the team and he, along with many New Yorkers feel as if he is due the money just because he means so much to the history of the Yanks. New York management is not budging much. Meanwhile Jeter has received offers from World Series Champion San Fransisco Giants and the arch rival, Boston Red Sox. Can you imagine Jeter getting his 3000th hit in a Red Sox jersey?

Be sure to check the blog to see my picks for Championship Weekend and after all of the BCS hoopla has settled, my 2010 Bowl Game Prediction Spectacular.