J.Mike's Missives

With emotion in his voice, Falcons linebacker Coy Wire brought a special message to soldiers stationed at Ft. Benning Monday evening.

Attitude is everything.

After thanking the gathering of more than 250 men and women for their service, Wire noted the urge to wilt in the face of adversity but asked everyone to rise above the challenges with a positive attitude.

Wire and 10 of his Falcons teammates flew to Ft. Benning on Army Blackhawk helicopters Monday afternoon to have dinner with soldiers soon to be deployed to Iraq. A group of Falcons Cheerleaders also made the trip and gave a brief performance — their first of the 2009 season.

“We came to show our appreciation,” Wire said. “To show how much respect we have to each and every one of you. We came to represent not only the Atlanta Falcons, not only the city of Atlanta for which we play, but for all the people across this country — strangers you’ve never met — who are thinking of you and praying for you every day.”

Wire said attitude is something people can choose to control and, through a brief anecdote, illustrated the impact of a positive outlook on life.

Everyone goes through tough times.

The secret is in the process.

“We see the world not as it is; we see the world as we are on the inside,” he said.

“There’s a saying that the strongest steel is burned in the hottest coals. Each and every one of you men and women will have to go through something difficult in the next few months or year. It’s going to make you strong. It’s going to refine you and make you ready for anything and everything that you may encounter in your lives.”

Wire said the Falcons plan to dedicate the first game of the 2009 season to the soldiers at Ft. Benning and across the nation.

Members of the brigade the Falcons visited should be deployed in October.

Running back Jerious Norwood, center Brett Romberg, lineman Quinn Ojinnaka, guard Justin Blalock, defensive end Willie Evans, fullback Ovie Mughelli, tight end Justin Peelle, wide receiver Brian Finneran and tackle Will Sviteck also made the trip.

Finneran’s father served in Vietnam, adding special meaning to his trips to military posts.

“It’s awesome, especially the ride in the helicopter,” Finneran said. “We’re here to support our guys, our troops that fight for us.”

The veteran wide receiver said it’s easy to take the joys in life for granted, particularly air conditioning after a hot training camp pracitce.

But he knows none of it’s possible without the daily activity of service men and women around the world.

He joined Wire and his teammates in an expression of gratitude.

“We’re here to say thanks, shake their hands and tell them how much we appreciate all they do.”

Members of the Army thanked the Falcons with a custom, engraved sledge hammer — the symbol of the brigade. Wire proudly carried it the rest of the day and, once practice starts, will find a way to keep it in front of his teammates for motivation.

The Falcons organization is also offering a military-only deal on tickets to the Carolina Panthers game on Sept. 20 (click here for details). Tickets are $30 and include a limited edition, camouflage Falcons hat (pictured).

Click here for more pictures from the Falcons trip and work in the community.

J. Michael Moore Falcons in the Community, Feature, News Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders, Brett Romberg, Brian Finneran, community, Coy Wire, Ft. Benning, Jerious Norwood, Justin Blalock, Justin Peelle, Ovie Mughelli, Quinn Ojinnaka, Will Sviteck, Willie Evans

Don’t say the NFL fails to correct flaws in the system.

Earlier this week league owners approved a measure that will change the draft order of playoff teams based on their exit from the postseason, not regular-season record.

This year the Eagles barely made the playoffs but went all the way to the NFC Championship game. Under the current system, the Eagles have the No. 21 pick. If the rule change were in effect (and it happens in 2010), the Eagles would pick at No. 29.

Here’s a chart from colleague and AFC South blogger Paul Kuharsky.

Apply the rule change and the Falcons would get a better selection this season, from No. 24 to No. 22.

Falcons cornerback talks about overcoming learning disability, Belleville (Ill.) News-Democrat
Bravo to David Irons. He’s a “friend of the program” when it comes to the website and he’s always willing to talk about things important to him.

News & Notes — DeCoud’s Number is Up, Scout.com
Some tidbits of Falcons news from friends over at Falcons Insider.

Draft Discussion: Defensive Ends, AF.com
We’re turning our attention to the defensive line this week. Ask your questions or make your comments and Matt Moore and I will discuss them next week on Falconcast. Here are some topics to get you started:

Falcons pros, kids team up to deliver food for Meals on Wheels, Gainesville Times
The Falcons don’t have to travel far from home to find opportunities to serve the community.

Atlanta Falcons’ Trey Lewis has come full circle and is excited to be back on the field, Examiner.com
Trey Lewis is the “X-Factor” when it comes the Falcons defensive line fortunes. A healthy Lewis can give the team some options.

Dahl Tops Falcons’ Performance-Based Pay List, Scout.com
This proves working hard does pay off in time. After 2008, more people got familiar with Harvey Dahl and Tyson Clabo.

Smith likes the USC linebackers, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I, too, like the linebackers at USC. The fact that all three starters at the position could go in the first round says enough.

J. Michael Moore Birdseed AF.com, AJC, Belleville News-Democrat, community, David Irons, Examiner.com, Gainesville Times, Harvey Dahl, Head Coach Mike Smith, NFL Draft, NFL News, Scout.com, Thomas DeCoud, Trey Lewis, Tyson Clabo

Linebacker Curtis Lofton and defensive end Kroy Biermann delivered meals to home bound seniors in Gainesville, Ga. Thursday.

But they weren’t alone.

The second-year players were joined by members of the Flowery Branch High School Football team and the Junior Falcons football program.

Lofton started 15 games at middle linebacker in his rookie season, notching 108 tackles. Biermann played in every game and recorded two sacks in the defensive line rotation.

In other community news, running back Jason Snelling will take part in the National Walk for Epilepsy in Washington, D.C. Saturday. Click here for details.

J. Michael Moore Falcons in the Community community, Curtis Lofton, Flowery Branch High School, Jason Snelling, Kroy Biermann

Jason Snelling makes a living by running.

He runs through holes, runs around tackles and runs down field to make tackles on special teams.

He’s a running back.

But Saturday the third-year pro out of Virginia will walk for something near to his heart.

For the first time, Snelling will participate in the National Walk for Epilepsy in Washington, D.C. He’s using his role as an NFL player to raise awareness for the seizure disorder that he was diagnosed with at age 15.

“It’s something that’s personal and hits home with me,” Snelling said Tuesday. “It’s something I’ve had to deal with and I think I can relate to a lot of people’s personal experiences. I’m just trying to help the best I can and speak out on it.”

Snelling said most of his teammates known of his condition which, thanks to treatment and monitoring, hasn’t given him much trouble in the NFL.

He wants to let others know epilepsy doesn’t have to disrupt a normal life.

“I love the game of football and I wasn’t going to let this stop me,” he said. “I had to deal with a lot of things that prevented me for a short period of time but, at the end of the day, I was able to find something that worked for me.”

Snelling has formed a team of walkers for this weekend named “Rush to Support Epilepsy.” Click here for more information on the team and Snelling’s involvement.

J. Michael Moore Falcons in the Community community, Jason Snelling

Around 12:15 this morning I contemplated shutting down the MacBook and heading upstairs to bed. I spent most of the evening watching the NCAA Tournament online and my alma mater Western Kentucky was up 17 on Illinois with just six minutes to play.

Then I remembered something I told my wife soon after we started dating.

You never leave a game early.

I will now amend that statement to include turning off the computer in the midst of online viewing.

I’m exhausted this morning. The eyes are bloodshot and the coffee is nowhere near strong enough but I would have never forgiven myself if I went to sleep and the Hilltoppers completely collapsed in the closing minutes.

Instead, I like to think a little spirit flowed through the Internet up to Portland, Ore. and I helped WKU secure a 76-72 win.

A little lost sleep is more than worth the bubbling of school pride that happens after an NCAA tourney win.

But, please, excuse any delirious commentary in this edition of Birdseed.

It was a long and stressful night.

Blank, D-Hall team up to promote physical education, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kids, don’t be like me. Get out and exercise. You’ll have more energy and it will pay off when you’re an adult. For instance, you’ll be able to stay up and watch your favorite team play on the West Coast and not pay for it the next day.

Atlanta Falcons’ Michael Turner on free agency: ‘Time for other guys to step up,’ Examiner.com
I’ll try to keep everyone updated on radio interviews when I hear about them. Good recap by a fellow web reporter here. Now, about Turner’s tournament picks…

Afternoon mailbag, ESPN.com
There is a question about the Falcons. Just look at the bottom of the page. Good points from Pat Yasinskas. I, too, am of the opinion that a good pass rush is the heart of any successful defense.

UGA Pro Day Coverage, The Atlanta Sports Journal
Interviews here with General Manager Thomas Dimitroff and Head Coach Mike Smith. Also a good look at what really goes on at a Pro Day.

Stafford attracts a crowd at Georgia’s pro day, NFL.com
Maybe Matthew Stafford locked up the No. 1 pick yesterday but I’m still looking at some changes at the top of my mock draft. Why? Because there’s only one Matt Ryan and franchise quarterbacks like that are extremely difficult to come by, especially two seasons in a row. I vote for the safe pick.

Atlanta Falcons: Are All the Moves for the Best?, Bleacher Report
Dig into the media reports and it becomes clear the Falcons didn’t let players “walk.” Many players, including Keith Brooking, were approached about new contracts. But the business forced other plans. Speaking of plans, anyone else notice the defense getting younger? Pros and cons there, but the only way to get a dynasty going.

Are Kickers Too Good?, The Washington Post
Congratulations, you just jinxed all the kickers in the NFL.

Draft Discussion: Offensive Line, AF.com
Jump over to the main page and ask your questions/make your comments about the offensive line. I’ll keep pondering some of the options and try to get a light in my new office so I’m not talking from the shadows.

J. Michael Moore Birdseed AF.com, AJC, Arthur Blank, Bleacher Report, community, ESPN.com, Examiner.com, Head Coach Mike Smith, Keith Brooking, MacBook, March Madness, Matt Ryan, Matthew Stafford, Michael Turner, NCAA, NFL.com, The Washington Post, Thomas Dimitroff, UGA, Western Kentucky