Atlanta, GA

The Atlanta Falcons next coach must restore credibility. Here’s who will do it | Bill Shanks

Published

4 months ago

January 11, 2024

The Atlanta Falcons next coach must restore credibility. Here’s who will do it | Bill Shanks

Bill Shanks
| Columnist

On January 21, 1997, former Atlanta Falcons owner Rankin Smith, Sr. introduced Dan Reeves as his new head coach. Reeves, a Georgia native, had led the Denver Broncos to three Super Bowl appearances as coach. He had played and coached for Tom Landry with the Dallas Cowboys. His resume was about as good as a candidate could present.

I was there that day covering the press conference. It was incredible how palatable the respect was in the room for a coach and for a franchise that had never, in 30 years in the NFL, had much success. Reeves instantly brought credibility to the Falcons, and in his second season he led the team to its first Super Bowl appearance.

The Falcons need that credibility again.

More Bill Shanks: After firing Arthur Smith, the Atlanta Falcons can’t make this mistake again

Sure, they need someone who will win, who will take this franchise to the next level, who will help rescue a team that has simply not been the same since losing a 28-3 lead to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI in 2017.

Who better to do that than the coach who beat them that day, Bill Belichick. Could it be a stroke of good luck that the Falcons have a coaching search going on at the same time the best coach in NFL history is available?

Imagine Belichick roaming the sideline in a Falcons hoodie. We’ve seen him in Patriots gear for so long, since 2000, it would sort of be like when Joe Montana played for the Kansas City Chiefs, or even when Matt Ryan played for the Indianapolis Colts.

And while Belichick won’t be bringing Tom Brady with him to solve the Falcons’ quarterback problem, and while he’s not as young as he once was, he is the perfect candidate to help a fledgling franchise escape the abyss it’s been in since he helped put them there with the embarrassing loss in Houston.

So, what will be the things that might keep fans from wanting Belichick? First, his age. He turns 72 in April, and as we’ve seen with a certain college coach who is a good friend of Belichick, it does get more difficult as coaches get older. But Belichick is 27 regular season wins away from having the most wins by any NFL head coach. That goal of achieving that record will drive him.

You know he would want to prove that he can coach outside of New England. Sure, it’s been difficult the last four years without Brady, but as the Falcons have seen it’s not easy going from a franchise quarterback and trying to find that replacement. Plus, the Patriots overall roster has just not been what it once was. How much of that is Belichick’s fault? Well, it’s a good question.

Some say, “Sure, bring him in as a coach, but only as a coach.” Well, maybe at this age, Belichick will not want to pick the players. That’s not a bad option, and it would give Falcons GM Terry Fontenot a chance to show how good he really is at picking players, since we’re still not sure of that even after his three years on the job.

The one thing Belichick would do is not allow team owner Arthur Blank and Rich McKay interfere. They need to get out of the way. They have never hired an experienced NFL head coach. They’ve hired four NFL coordinators and one college head coach, and only one (Mike Smith) had substantial success.

Just imagine what the Falcons might have done this past season if Belichick had been the head coach. Instead of a 7-10 record, might the record have been flip-flopped? Could an experienced head coach like Belichick have made a difference in all of those close games the Falcons lost against teams with losing records?

It’s time to let someone who knows what to do to have the room to do it. OK, so Belichick’s record without Brady has not been very good. How have the Falcons done without Ryan the last two years? The current makeup of the Falcons roster might be perfect for Belichick. He’s got two good physical running backs in Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, along with a big tight end in Kyle Pitts and a tall, physical receiver who knows how to block in Drake London.

Belichick would just need to find a quarterback. That in itself may keep Belichick away from Atlanta. He might want to pick a team that has a better quarterback situation. Then again, he might enjoy getting a chance to select a quarterback, whether it’s a veteran like Russell Wilson or selecting a young player to develop.

Blank says he wants the Falcons to win quickly. So, how can he gamble on another coordinator who would be getting his first head coaching job. Instead, the choice is clear. Get Belichick to Atlanta, let him do his job, and see if he can do better than what’s been done in the past.

And along the way the Falcons may just regain some credibility and win some more games.

Listen to The Bill Shanks Show weekdays at 3:00 pm ET on 104.3 FM in Savannah and online at TheSuperStations.com. Email Bill at TheBillShanksShow@yahoo.com.

Source link

Click to comment

Atlanta, GA

Man wanted for stealing car, credit cards, Atlanta police say

Published

4 hours ago

May 9, 2024

Press Room

Man wanted for stealing car, credit cards, Atlanta police say

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Atlanta police are seeking the public’s help looking for a person of interest in a northeast Atlanta burglary.

Police said officers responded to a home on Oakdale Road NE just before 7:45 a.m. Friday. The homeowner told police a man had stolen a backpack containing the keys to their car and their credit cards. The homeowner also said their cards has been used “at a number of locations” by the man.

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477. There is a reward of up to $2,000.

Source link

Atlanta, GA

Assembly Atlanta: An inside look at new movie studio

Published

11 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Press Room

Assembly Atlanta: An inside look at new movie studio

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – News 12′s parent company, Gray Television, built a new movie studio in Atlanta as a way to be a part of Georgia’s booming movie scene.

We were there to check it out.

Assembly Atlanta offers everything a production needs on one lot.

It can accommodate everything from feature films to television shows, as well as commercials or music videos.

It includes a parking deck that can fit more than 1,000 cars, a 140-foot LED tower that is almost complete, as well as an amphitheater.

It took just under two years for Assembly Atlanta to get to this point.

You’ll find 19 stages inside, multiple mills that production crews will use to build and create sets, as well as a wet stage that’s about the size of a football field.

And if you’re wondering what a wet stage is, think of the movie Jaws, which was filmed in the “ocean”. Well, now you’re able to do that here at Assembly Atlanta.

The cool thing is construction is not complete. Construction is happening in phases, and you’ll one day find retail, restaurants, residential space, and more right here just two hours down the road.

If you want to learn more about Assembly or internship opportunities, you can head to their website.

Source link

Atlanta, GA

Good Day Atlanta viewer information: May 8, 2024

Published

18 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Press Room

Future service dog Mae celebrates birthday

Future service dog Mae celebrate turning 1 with a big fun-in-the-sun birthday pool party at Pet Lodge Resort in Alpharetta.

ATLANTA – Mae’s Birthday Celebration:

Future service dog Mae is celebrating her first birthday, and a few days ago she celebrated with her siblings. Paul shows us how much fun the had.

Atlanta Lantern Parade lights up BeltLine

14th Annual Lantern Parade Preview:

Creativity always shines here in metro Atlanta — but it never shines brighter than during the annual Atlanta BeltLine Lantern Parade!

The Atlanta BeltLine Lantern Parade returns this Saturday, May 11, continuing a magical tradition that began back in 2010 when parade artists Chantelle Rytter and the Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons decided Atlanta needed another reason to celebrate! Rytter founded the Krewe in 1999 in New Orleans, and the group has since established several popular lantern parades — all with the common mission of inviting everyone in the community to make a lantern and join in on the festivities. Rytter calls the Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade “the mothership” of their lantern parades; since its creation 14 years ago, it’s grown into a major production that draws more than 10,000 participants and spectators and some truly awe-inspiring lanterns.

Speaking of those lanterns, Rytter has already hosted several lantern-making workshops here in the community — but don’t panic if you missed one! There will be a lantern-making station at Westside BeltLine MarketPlace from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, and a kid’s lantern-making workshop starting at noon at Pittsburgh Yards. Kids are then invited to take part in a special kids’ lantern parade at 6 p.m. at Pittsburgh Yards.

Meanwhile, the lineup for the main event begins at 7:45 p.m. at Adair Park, and the parade steps off onto the Westside Trail an hour later. There will also be a parade finale “jam session” from 9:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Lee + White mixed-use development.

For more information about this year’s Atlanta BeltLine Lantern Parade, click here. And click the video player in this article to check out our morning getting some hands-on lessons in crafting a colorful lantern for this year’s big event!

Casting Call for May 8, 2024

Entertainment insider Tess Hammock shares the big productions looking for extras and background actors around metro Atlanta.

Casting Call with Tess Hammock: Tess has the latest information on casting calls around the area, but there are also venues hiring as well. Keep up with her on Instagram @CastingCallwithTessHammock

Tips for home decor imagery on a budget

If you want to give your home a facelift without breaking the bank, there’s a number of budget-friendly home decor ideas that will save you time and money. Photographer Alice Park shows how you can use imagery to make your place special.

Budget-friendly home decor imagery with Alice Park: Park highlights budget-friendly decor ideas, such as using printable art, thrifted frames or repurposing everyday items as decor accents. Check out the details below:

Provide tips on maximizing space and adding personality to small living areas with photos and artwork.
Showcase versatile decor pieces that can easily transition from dorm room to first apartment.
Offer guidance on where to find affordable artwork and photography, both online and offline.

Doggy treats with Four-Legged Foodie

The Four-Legged Foodie was Atlanta’s first food truck for dogs and now has a permanent spot in Midtown that offers homemade treats for your furry friends. Co-founder Deborah Pena stopped by to show off what goes into making their treats.

It’s Mae’s birthday, and we’re celebrating: You saw Four-Legged Foodie, the first dog food truck, supplying some of the sweet treats at her first birthday party. So we wanted to bring them into the Good Day studio today! Co-founder Deborah Pena is here to show us how to make dog treats at home! Click here for more information. Learn more about City Dog Market here.

Drake’s security guard wounded in shooting

Rapper Drake had a frightening incident at his Toronto mansion early Tuesday morning when a shooting left one of his security guards seriously wounded. Radio personality Niecey Shaw joins Joanne Feldman with the latest update.

Niecey Shaw has the latest in entertainment news: There was an apparent shooting that happened near Drake’s home that left one person hospitalized. Niecey Shaw has the latest information.

Source link