Day: July 25, 2007

As if the Falcons need any more bad news in the wake of Michael Vick’s indictment, Jimmy Williams’ pot charges and key injuries to defensive starters Demorrio Williams and Rod Coleman, word out of Atlanta is that running back Warrick Dunn will be out 3-6 weeks following recent back surgery.

“After [offseason training activities], I felt some discomfort in my back and legs that just never subsided,” Dunn said in a statement released by the team. “After consulting with the medical staff, it was recommended that we have the surgery. The doctors told me that the discomfort would have lingered throughout the 2007 season had we not had the surgery, so I felt like this was the best course of action for me.”

Most backs fade when they reach the 30 mark, but Dunn only got stronger, rushing for at least 1,100 yards in each of the past three seasons. 2007, however, might mark the end of Dunn’s career, which is sad for football fans considering he’s one of the classiest guys the NFL has ever see. The only good thing for Atlanta fans is that lighting bolt Jerious Norwood is about to see a lot more action this year in the wake of Dunn’s surgery.

Perhaps a glimpse into how the current Atlanta regime feels about their once face of the franchise, Falcons owner Arthur Blank said in a press conference Tuesday that the team was ready to suspend Michael Vick four games until commissioner Roger Goodell urged them not to.

“Prior to this, we were pursuing the maximum discipline, which is a four-game suspension,” Blank said. “We had gone so far as to draft the letter. But the commissioner asked us not to take action until they completed their review.”

Blank and the rest of the Falcons’ brass have taken a lot of heat recently for the way they have coddled Vick in the past. Whether that is just or not (personally, I think the man on trial is most to blame), at least the Falcons were ready to levy the biggest punishment they could possibly hand out before Goodell hit the pause button. Blank and GM Rich McKay also admitted an outright release of Vick was also discussed, but decided to hold off at this time.

Anyone who saw the presser and witnessed how Blank responded to questions could see a very distraught man. It appears Vick’s days in Atlanta are numbered and I for one, think it’s absolutely the best thing for the Falcons and the league that this guy doesn’t take another snap.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the Bears disgruntled linebacker Lance Briggs was close to signing his one-year franchise tender Wednesday.

There were strong indications Tuesday night the two sides either were coming close to an agreement that would end a messy contract dispute or had solved it altogether.

I’m not surprised that Briggs is thinking about reneging on his, “I’m done in Chicago” threats, but it is a little surprising that he may sign before camp. Most players have no problem holding out of the grueling training camp sessions, but once they catch a sniff of the regular season they come crawling back. Briggs is a competitor and I don’t care what he’s said in the past, he’s not going to want to lose out on $7.2 million this year to try and prove a point. We’ll see if he officially caves in and signs the tender within the next few days.

Update: Briggs caved.