Interesting blurb out of the Tweety's camp

[Sackem90]

Sounds seriously like the Skins:

Reeves blames Blank
There are several Atlanta employees (old and current ones) who agree with former coach Dan Reeves that owner Arthur Blank told them to go get a wide receiver (Buffalo's Peerless Price) for his star player, Michael Vick. The personnel department wasn't totally sold on Price, but did what the new owner wanted.

"It was like do this trade (surrender a first-round draft choice) or get fired," said one former employee. "So, we did the trade. Dan knew the deal and accepted it."

The Price trade has been horrible for the Falcons, who released him this week but will continue to carry a heavy salary-cap price ($1.7 million this year) and ($5.7 million next year).

"Considering the erratic state of their receivers, it would have been better to keep him as insurance at wide receiver than simply to get rid of him," said a rival GM. "They are paying him whether they keep him or not. They saved literally nothing by cutting him."

Several teams have shown interest in Price (the Dolphins could be the leaders), but the word in Atlanta was that he was a negative guy in the locker room and that was more his undoing than his inability to get open as a No. 1 receiver.

 

[law1ng2b2]

From the AJC yesterday:

Reeves warned of Price deal

By STEVE WYCHE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/01/05
FLOWERY BRANCH — Former Falcons coach Dan Reeves distanced himself from the 2003 acquisition of wide receiver Peerless Price, claiming he told owner Arthur Blank the first-round pick and the $37 million contract the team gave up for Price was too much.

Price was released by the Falcons on Tuesday after two seasons with the team.

"Nobody wanted Peerless Price more than [owner] Arthur Blank," Reeves said on Sirius NFL Radio Wednesday.

"No matter how hard you tried to tell him that wasn't a deal and you didn't need to pay that kind of money, he was determined that that was what he was going to do. So that's as much the owner as it is anybody. Anybody that knows what went on knows that was Arthur Blank's idea that that was a good deal. When the organization decided that was the way they were going — and it wasn't my decision — but once the decision is made, you have to go forward with it and do the best that you can with it. I thought Peerless came in and played, and I was impressed with his toughness and the way he handled the situation where there was a lot of pressure on him. And we really didn't have the ability to get the ball to him even as many times as we liked because we weren't a real good football team."

Blank said Tuesday he was wrong about the price he paid for Price.

"You can't afford those kinds of mistakes and win in the NFL," Blank said.

By releasing Price, the Falcons saved $2 million on this season's salary cap but will take a $5.7 million cap charge next season because signing-bonus credits that were charged annually through 2009, when his contract expired, will be forwarded into a lump sum because Price was cut.

President and general manager Rich McKay said Wednesday the Falcons will not sign a player from another team before the Sept. 12 season-opener, meaning the fifth receiver will be selected from in-house free agents Cole Magner, Will Pettis, Brian Bratton or Romby Bryant. Cornerback DeAngelo Hall also is an option.

 

[law1ng2b2]

and today, Mr Blank fires back:

Blank disputes Reeves' version of Price deal

By STEVE WYCHE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/02/05
Miami — Falcons owner Arthur Blank said he was not the driving force behind acquiring recently released wide receiver Peerless Price in 2003, saying, he did not have enough knowledge about football personnel to insist on such a move.

"My job, when it comes to free agency, trades, is not to pick players, but support the personnel department and the coaching staff," Blank said Thursday. "We have to have the financial resources to make things happen and that's my job."

Dan Reeves, who coached the Falcons in 2003 when the team traded a first-round pick to Buffalo for Price, then awarded him a seven-year, $37 million contract with a $10 million signing bonus, said on Sirius Radio Wednesday that Blank pushed for Price and did not listen to advice regarding compensation.

"Nobody wanted Peerless Price more than [owner] Arthur Blank," Reeves said. "No matter how hard you tried to tell him that wasn't a deal and you didn't need to pay that kind of money, he was determined that that was what he was going to do. So that's as much the owner as it is anybody. Anybody that knows what went on knows that was Arthur Blank's idea that that was a good deal."

However, Blank countered: "It was a decision that was made by a group of five or six people. I was involved in that group. It was felt that to make Michael [Vick] more effective, we needed a greater threat that would stretch the field. There basically were two players that were available: Laveranues Coles and Peerless.

"The personnel department and coaches, as well, didn't think there was a whole lot of difference between the two but thought the transaction itself would be easier since Peerless was an unrestricted free agent and Coles was a restricted free agent.

"It was not a decision made by any one person. We're sorry it didn't work out, from a club standpoint, Peerless's standpoint. But it wasn't a singular decision by me."

Price, maligned, in part, for the perception that his production - 109 catches for 1,413 yards and six touchdowns - did not merit his salary and was released Tuesday. The Falcons saved $2 million this season but will take a $5.7 million blow to their salary cap next season because the remaining, pro-rated charge of his signing bonus accelerates since he is no longer on the roster.

The Dallas Cowboys have spoken to Price and his agent about possibly joining the team and reuniting him with quarterback Drew Bledsoe, his battery mate in Buffalo, according to the Dallas Morning News.

 

[Sackem90]

See, this is why the owners shouldn't get involved with acquiring players. Leave it to the coaching staff and the GM. The owners should just stick to writing the paychecks.

 

[Collin]

At least Jerry Richardson appears to have stayed out of the picture since the Sean Gilbert fiasco.

 

[Faithwarrior118]

Alot has been made of the Lions spending 3 straight #1 picks on Wide receiver, but if you count the #1 they traded for Price, Atlanta has spent its last 3 #1 picks on wide receivers as well.

By the way, the pick Buffalo got for Price, they turned into Willis McGahee. Ouch.

 

[Paladin]

President and general manager Rich McKay said Wednesday the Falcons will not sign a player from another team before the Sept. 12 season-opener, meaning the fifth receiver will be selected from in-house free agents Cole Magner, Will Pettis, Brian Bratton or Romby Bryant.

Damn, I'd have mixed emotions to see a former Paladin making it with the Falcons. It's hard enough for a I-AA player to make it. Hell, even if he makes the roster and gets playing time, he'll never get any catches with Vick's poor imitation of a quarterback.

It was felt that to make Michael [Vick] more effective, we needed a greater threat that would stretch the field. There basically were two players that were available: Laveranues Coles and Peerless.

"The personnel department and coaches, as well, didn't think there was a whole lot of difference between the two but thought the transaction itself would be easier since Peerless was an unrestricted free agent and Coles was a restricted free agent.

OMG, Laveranues Coles=Peerless Price?? On the other hand, Coles numbers would be crap with Vick at QB.