|
Posted 08/06/2009 at 04:30 PM
There's a reason the Atlanta Falcons have never enjoyed back-to-back winning seasons in the history of the franchise. Every time they are coming off a quality year, things go south the following season.
Think about the year after Atlanta made its lone Super Bowl appearance in 1998. Jamal Anderson held out for an extended period of time, leaving the squad without its team leader and best player through most of training camp. Then in Week 2, Anderson tore his ACL in a MNF game at Dallas.
The year after the Falcons stunned the Packers at Lambeau Field to become the first visitors to ever win at that venue in the playoffs, Michael Vick broke his leg in the second exhibition game against the Ravens.
Both of those teams limped to 5-11 campaigns.
Now we have WR Harry Douglas tearing his ACL at practice yesterday. Douglas was a dynamic playmaker as a rookie playing both WR and returning kicks and punts on special teams. His loss looms even larger because Roddy White is holding out (sound familiar?) after producing a monster season in 2008.
Are these telling signs for the 2009 Falcons? It sure has the feel of an inauspicious start.
|
