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Drawing A Blank: Falcons, McKay Painfully Enduring 3-Year Funk

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By IRA KAUFMAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 14, 2007

TAMPA - They've shared a suite at the NFC title game, taken on some of the most challenging golf courses in the Southeast and trekked an African safari together with their families.

But after three disappointing seasons linked as the owner and director of football operations for the Atlanta Falcons, Arthur Blank and Rich McKay could be headed for splitsville.

The Falcons are embarking on their third head coaching search since McKay bolted the Buccaneers four years ago to join an NFC South rival.

A series of embarrassing episodes on and off the field has forced Blank to repeatedly apologize to Atlanta fans pining for long-term success and stability.

Some poor personnel decisions have tarnished McKay's image as a sharp NFL executive, and Bobby Petrino's midnight run to Arkansas may be jarring enough to create a rift between Blank and McKay, just as the 3-10 Falcons head to Raymond James Stadium on Sunday.

"In this business and in this job, you'd better be ready for criticism," McKay told The Tampa Tribune on Thursday, 24 hours after he and Blank spoke at length to the local media about Petrino's stunning departure.

Since reaching the conference championship game under Jim Mora Jr. in McKay's first full season in Atlanta, the Falcons have faded as playoff contenders.

Too many news conferences, not enough wins.

"They have a lot of talent on that team," said Bucs center Matt Lehr, who signed as a free agent in April after two years with the Falcons. "It's kind of disheartening what has been going on. The guys I know over there, all they want to do is win."

The Bucs won 85 games in McKay's nine seasons as general manager, but Atlanta has dropped 17 of its last 22 matchups and turnstile attendance at the Georgia Dome has dropped off markedly.

The Michael Vick saga has proven disastrous for a 42-year-old franchise still looking to string together back-to-back winning seasons.

"We felt like in 2005 and '06 we had pretty good teams that didn't finish very well," McKay said. "We didn't ever think we could go through a year like this one. I've been in this business for 16 years and I'll look at my body of work and keep moving forward. I'm not going to worry about my professional future - my focus is to do the best job I can."

After Mora's volatile three-year run and Petrino's duplicity, Blank knows his next coach must restore faith and credibility among a dwindling fan base.

Will McKay be along for the ride?

"From my perspective, my relationship with Arthur hasn't changed," McKay said. "I feel we have a good and open relationship. We make decisions in group fashion and the process is transparent."

Efforts to reach Blank were unsuccessful, but he has remained loyal to McKay through some troubled times and questionable moves.

On Wednesday, Blank reiterated his support for McKay and indicated Atlanta's president and GM will play an integral role in the selection process for the next coach.

"I'm proud of our staff, starting with Rich," Blank said.

But if the next coach demands a bigger say in football operations, McKay's power could be compromised.

It has been a difficult three years for the co-chairman of the NFL's Competition Committee.

When the Falcons traded quarterback Matt Schaub to Houston in March, Vick's participation in an elaborate dogfighting operation hadn't come to light. But Atlanta's franchise player already had been involved in some unsettling incidents that apparently failed to raise concerns within the organization about the risks of dealing a talented backup.

The same executive who brought in Brad Johnson and Simeon Rice as 2001 free agents in Tampa gave linebacker Ed Hartwell an $8 million signing bonus in 2005.

Hartwell was gone after two injury-plagued seasons and 35-year-old wide receiver Joe Horn, signed as a free agent in March, is still looking for his first touchdown catch as a Falcon.

Blank's club forked over a $5 million signing bonus to Ovie Mughelli early in free agency, only to watch Petrino fail to utilize the hard-blocking fullback.

Atlanta's four drafts under McKay represent a mixed bag.

For every smash such as 2005 fifth-round linebacker Michael Boley, an emerging star, there's a struggling player such as defensive back Jimmy Williams, a second-round choice in '06 who can't get on the field.

Most importantly, the stature of the entire franchise has plunged since the glory of that 2004 division championship club, which went 11-5, then crushed the Rams 47-17 in Atlanta's first home playoff game in six years.

After a 27-10 loss at chilly Philadelphia ended Atlanta's season a week later, Mora vowed better days were ahead.

"You can be assured if you're an Atlanta Falcons fan that this organization will not rest until we have a Lombardi Trophy," Mora said on that fateful January afternoon before the sun set on the Falcons. "As an organization, we've got the right people on the bus and the bus is heading in the right direction."

Three years is a long time to deal with a detour.

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