Falcons ‘Same S***, Different Year!’ Grady Jarrett Sounds Off After Playoff Elimination

The Atlanta Falcons have skilled some unbelievable highs and lows over the previous eight years, and defensive sort out Grady Jarrett has been round for all of it.

From starring within the crushing Tremendous Bowl loss to being one of many few constants on rebuilding groups, Jarrett’s been a vibrant mild for a while … however spirit-wise, possibly he is beginning to dim.

And who would not?

“Upset,” stated Jarrett, the 29-year-old Jarrett who hasn’t performed a postseason recreation in 5 seasons and who now is not mincing phrases following Atlanta’s loss in Baltimore.”You strive so laborious, however similar s***, completely different 12 months.”

As a rookie, Jarrett watched because the Falcons began the 2015 season 5-0 earlier than falling to 8-8 and lacking the playoffs.

The 12 months after, he was a starter on what was arguably Atlanta’s greatest staff ever, successful the NFC Championship in dominating vogue earlier than blowing a 25-point lead within the Tremendous Bowl.

The Falcons made the playoffs as soon as extra the 12 months after however fell brief within the divisional spherical, shedding to the Philadelphia Eagles after a late goal-line stand. On the time, Jarrett was simply 24 years outdated and shortly growing right into a power inside, poised to anchor Atlanta by means of playoff runs for years to come back.

Quick-forward to the locker room Saturday in Baltimore, the place the Falcons misplaced 17-9 to the Ravens and noticed their playoff hopes formally come crashing down. On the season’s midway level, Atlanta led the NFC South … however has misplaced six of its final seven video games since.

Jarrett has began the final 76 video games that the Falcons have performed relationship again to 2018, incomes two Professional Bowl nods and an All-Professional honor.

He is the second-longest tenured participant on the staff behind left sort out Jack Matthews and signed a three-year contract extension this previous offseason, displaying his dedication to the group transferring ahead.

Falcons coach Arthur Smith has dubbed Jarrett the staff’s undisputed chief, and maybe no one embodies what Smith is making an attempt to construct greater than Jarrett … however the participant is distraught about the way in which this season has unraveled.

“You have to preserve combating, however all people’s combating,” stated Jarrett. “We have got to win some video games, we have to complete robust as we are able to, however to not also have a probability to be within the postseason, mess that up, it is irritating.”

The “mess that up” half is especially telling as to the place Jarrett’s thoughts is surrounding his outlook on the staff, and it is definitely warranted. A fifth-round decide in 2015, Jarrett has given his coronary heart to Atlanta – and has largely had little or no staff success on the sector to indicate for it.

Probably probably the most disappointing and “irritating” a part of the marketing campaign is that the NFC South was firmly up for grabs. Although Atlanta entered Saturday with a 5-9 document, it was just one recreation behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the division lead, the door propped open.

However the Falcons could not capitalize … and whereas it “bothers” Jarrett, he appeared to start to ponder if it did not trouble a few of his teammates almost as a lot.

“It hit me,” Jarrett stated. “I do not know if all people round … it bothers me very a lot, and we’ll see how all the things else shakes out.”

Jarrett broke off his ideas after the phrase “round,” taking an exasperated breath, shaking his head and persevering with on with the sentence.

He is obtained two extra video games with this group – the second youngest within the NFL – earlier than getting one other lengthy, playoff-less offseason to refresh and put together for one more season … with the hopes that it isn’t the “similar s***” as years previous.

You may comply with Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft

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