When Rich McKay put the finishing touches on his first draft class with the Atlanta Falcons, he had the makings of a Super Bowl contender.
Four years later, the Falcons are in shambles. McKay will no longer decide who’s on the roster.
McKay’s downfall is another stunner in a season filled with them. Michael Vick, Atlanta’s franchise quarterback, is in federal prison. Bobby Petrino suddenly resigned as coach last month after just 13 games.
How long McKay remains in Atlanta is uncertain. Both he and owner Arthur Blank sidestepped questions about the GM’s future when Petrino resigned. Eight days later, Blank revealed that Bill Parcells rejected an offer to take charge of Atlanta’s football operations. He said McKay would retain general manager responsibilities until a new GM is hired.
Blank reportedly met this week in Green Bay with Packers personnel chiefs Reggie McKenzie and John Schneider. Today, Blank received permission to speak with Eagles GM Tom Heckert.
Other candidates to replace McKay are Thomas Dimitroff, New England’s director of college scouting; Bill Kuharich, Kansas City’s vice president of player personnel; San Diego assistant GM Buddy Nix; Falcons assistant GM Billy Devaney; and Chris Polian, Indianapolis’ vice president of football operations.
In the coaching search, the Falcons interviewed Indianapolis assistant head coach Jim Caldwell today and are scheduled to meet tomorrow with Dallas assistant head coach Tony Sparano, expected to be a candidate for Miami’s coaching vacancy as well. Jason Garrett, the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator, could be on the Falcons’ list, along with San Francisco assistant head coach Mike Singletary, a finalist for the job a year ago
Labels: Atlanta, Atlanta Falcons, Falcons, McKay
# posted by
Brian Vanderhoff @ 10:45 AM
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- A man who sold a champion pit bull to suspended NFL quarterback Michael Vick's dogfighting operation pleaded guilty in Virginia Wednesday to a federal dogfighting charge.
Oscar Allen entered the plea to conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce to aid in illegal gambling and to sponsor a dog in animal fighting. That's the same charge to which Vick and his three co-defendants in the Bad Newz Kennels operation pleaded guilty. Vick is expected to be sentenced in December.
The 67-year-old Allen -- who lives in the Williamsburg area -- is scheduled to be sentenced January 25, 2008. He faces a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. He was released until sentencing with conditions, including a prohibition on buying or selling any dogs.
Allen admitted in a statement that he sold a female pit bull named Jane in 2001 to Bad Newz Kennels in rural Surry County and traveled with Vick's dogfighting associates to Jane's fights.
Labels: Atlanta Falcons, Dog Fighting, Falcons, Michael Vick, Mike Vick
# posted by
Brian Vanderhoff @ 1:42 PM
