Atlanta Falcons Inside Slant

Call it a lesson learned.

While first-round draft pick Matt Ryan will be used in the team's marketing strategies, he won't get exclusive top billing as Michael Vick did.

The Falcons found out the mistake of hitching every facet of their franchise to one player when their economic and on-field fortunes crashed once Vick was indicted and later imprisoned on federal dogfighting charges last fall.

A roster that had been built for Vick suddenly seemed miscast. A coach brought in to perfect Vick bolted after not getting the chance to coach him. The one-time waiting list for season tickets disappeared and season-ticket renewals, according to the team, are down.

Though Vick can be blamed for some of the woes, the Falcons appear to be accepting their share of the blame in the carnage for attaching themselves to the wrong side of the wrecking ball.

The team's marketing and sales representatives are formulating a vastly different strategy to regain season ticket holders and attract new customers. They not only need to put butts in the seats but they also needs to find occupants for the suites.

Luxury boxes could be emptier than they have been the past few seasons, the team acknowledged. The downturn in the economy coupled with the Vick-straining, 4-12 season in 2007 has provided a difficult challenge in persuading fans to invest in a team having little more to sell than hope.

That hope includes Ryan, the fresh-faced, publicly polished rookie from Boston College. He's done a variety of television, print and radio interviews — on sports, rock and urban music stations.

Yet, he's just part of the plan, according to the Falcons. Veterans, rookies and coaches will be included in team-concept promotions to convert the scorned and doubtful.

The plan was set in motion within hours of the draft's first day being completed. The Falcons put Ryan's draft-day jersey for sale on their website but they also pushed memorabilia from fellow first-round pick Sam Baker (USC) and second-round selection Curtis Lofton (Oklahoma).

Unlike most teams, the Falcons don't have a hardcore fan base because there isn't tradition in place. They've never had back-to-back winning seasons so prolonged success is foreign to fans. Thus, they have to constantly sell the product.

That product no longer will be a one-man option.

NOTES, QUOTES

—It has not taken new general manager Thomas Dimitroff long to start the process of getting some of his longtime associates in place. It also hasn't taken long for some of Atlanta's current employees to read the tealeaves.

Dimitroff hired longtime Colts regional scout David Caldwell as the Falcons' director of college scouting, a role Dimitroff held with the Patriots before being hired by Atlanta.

Caldwell replaces Phil Emery, who served in the role for three seasons. Emery was reassigned to be and Eastern-region scout.

Atlanta also received permission to speak to Ravens' personnel men Lionel Vital and Vincent Newsome.

—A vacancy was created for a salary-cap manager when highly respected Brian Xanders accepted the assistant GM job with the Denver Broncos. Xanders, who worked his way through the ranks after more than a decade with the team, was considered one of the brightest minds in the front office.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "This is a great pick for us. We knew earlier in the week when we were going through this decision making process. It was on Thursday that we came to a conclusion that this was the direction that we wanted to go. If something were to happen at the last minute there at the third spot, we were going to get a good football player. We were very at ease with this." — Falcons coach Mike Smith on the decision to stick with drafting Ryan even though LSU DT Glenn Dorsey was available.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

By not drafting any defensive tackles, the Falcons possess a unit stocked with players best suited for the three-technique tackle spot. The limited options on the roster to play nose tackle leaves the door wide open for the re-signing of veteran free agent Grady Jackson.

Jackson was cut in the middle of last season, despite being the most productive defensive lineman on the team in 2006 and the portion of 2007 he was there. The coaching staff soured on him for some reason and surprisingly cut him, creating a furor in the locker room.

Rookie Trey Lewis stepped in played well until tearing his ACL in his knee (he re-tore the ligament in the offseason and had to have a second operation). Jackson, meanwhile, moved on to Jacksonville where he played for current Falcons coach Mike Smith, then the Jags' defensive coordinator.

If a move is made for Jackson, it likely won't come until closer to training camp. Jackson still lives near the team facility in Flowery Branch and stays in touch with players on the team.

FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

—PK Morten Andersen is a reliable geriatric kicker that still has some leg left but the signing of Jason Elam takes him out of the picture.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.

PLAYERS ACQUIRED

—FS Erik Coleman: UFA Jets; $10M/4 yrs, $2.5M guaranteed.

—K Jason Elam: UFA Broncos; $9M/4 yrs, $3.3M SB.

—DE Simon Fraser: Not tendered as RFA by Browns; terms unknown.

—TE Ben Hartsock: UFA Titans; $9M/4 yrs, $2.5M guaranteed.

—CB Von Hutchins: UFA Texans; $9M/4 yrs, $2.5M.

—FB Corey McIntyre: RFA; $927,000/1 yr.

—DT Rashad Moore: Not tendered as RFA by Patriots; terms unknown.

—DT Kindal Moorehead: UFA Panthers; terms unknown.

—C Alex Stepanovich: UFA Bengals; terms unknown.

—RB Michael Turner: UFA Chargers; $34.5M/6 yrs, $15M guaranteed.

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED

—DT Tim Anderson: UFA; terms unknown.

—LB Michael Boley: RFA; $2.017M/1 yr.

—OL Tyson Clabo: ERFA; terms unknown.

—DE Chauncey Davis: RFA; $927,000/1 yr.

—QB Joey Harrington: FA, had been released by Falcons; $1M/1 yr, $300,000 SB.

—P Michael Koenen: RFA' $1.47M/1 yr.

—QB Chris Redman: UFA; $4M/2 yrs, $2.75M SB.

—NT Montavious Stanley: ERFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.

PLAYERS LOST

—TE Courtney Anderson: UFA Bills; terms unknown.

—TE Dwayne Blakley: UFA Titans; 1 yr, terms unknown.

—DT Rod Coleman (released).

—S Chris Crocker: UFA Dolphins; 1.15M/1 yr, $300,000 SB.

—TE Alge Crumpler (released).

—RB Warrick Dunn (released).

—WR Jamin Elliott (released).

—OT Wayne Gandy (released).

—CB DeAngelo Hall (traded Raiders).

—QB Byron Leftwich (released).

—S Omare Lowe: UFA Seahawks; $605,000/1 yr.

—CB Lewis Sanders (released).

—LB Marcus Wilkins (released).

—OLB Demorrio Williams: UFA Chiefs; $16M/5 yrs, $5.5M guaranteed.

I beg to differ...32 years and counting 7i87,m7t8

You have suffered even longer than I have. 26 years for me...

35 years here.

Wow, I get to be a "noob" again. Only about 12 yrs. hardcore. Maybe 15-16 peripherally watching them.

And only about 4 yrs. on message boards. So ya'll need to listen up when the new blood speaks. nr6