***By Michael A. Lough***
***The Sports Report***
***centralgasports@gmail.com***

It’s been an odd few days for fans and observers of the Atlanta Falcons.

They have been days of adjustment, of an odd feeling of calm, of competence.

And of reading words like “The Falcons pretty much got the draft right.”

We don’t know, of course. They don’t know, of course. ESPN’s morons don’t know, of course. The draftees don’t know, of course.

But in terms of bolstering for the future some spots, Atlanta did well. In terms of not coming up with out-of-left-field picks, Atlanta did well.

In terms of not coming up with a third-team all-conference pick from the Sun Belt, Atlanta did well.

Exactly what foreign country without cell service as Rich McKay been visiting the last 6-8 weeks?

Atlanta was saved from some legit grief, though, by Jalon Walker dropping to No. 15, because apparently the Falcons were ready to take James Pearce at that spot.

Ruh roh.

Consider that the consensus viewpoint was that Atlanta may have erred somewhat in how much it gave away to move up to 26th to get Pearce, who by most accounts was a second-round pick.

But here’s what the “analysts” forget, until it’s convenient. If you’re relying on rookies to start in September, you’re not a good team.

Atlanta is, yes, a good team, like many. It’s unlikely to need Walker to step in as a starter, but he’ll be working up a sweat in the first quarter of the opener.

Pearce is a year away from that level, most likely, and that means the Falcons are on target to have a pretty solid front line for a few years.

Xavier Watts is a multiple-position defensive back, and versatility is good. Billy Bowman Jr. brings depth, and here’s hoping for a late growth spurt.

And they deserve a high-five for taking an offensive lineman from Wisconsin. Those are four pretty good words on our draft sheet: “offensive lineman from Wisconsin.”

Had they not picked one offensive player, they’d have deserved grief. Had they picked a tight end or wideout, they’d have deserved grief.

Any draft of five selections or more must have an offensive lineman. You just can’t ever – everrrr – have enough offensive linemen to pick from.

Atlanta got a Georgia player, which hopefully inspire a whole lotta people to shut the hell up for awhile. Atlanta picked from two teams in recent national championship hunts, and one with a couple trophies, and from five upper-level programs, players who should be pretty prepared.

All of which means something but has proven nothing. They have to work. Atlanta coaches have to get smarter than they were last year.

Now, if they can cleanse themselves of the current backup quarterback situation soon, it might be a pretty good summer of anticipation for the Falcons.

Public Service Reminder

We used not endorse and defend greed, and gluttony.

Isn’t the latter one of the seven deadly sins?

Yeah.

Isn’t the former one?

Yeah.

Well, some books’ interpretations sure have changed the last decade or so.

Loughdmouthings

While you’re complaining about the portal and quitting and listening to the wrong people and all, note that some of the little angels who called Central Georgia home are deep in all of this.

From multiple commitments and transferring to transferring to transferring – one gave clearly misleading information just to play around, which is worth of a scolding from his new college coach – it’s all over the Central Georgia alums who do follow through signing day by making a roster. …

Ja Morant has to make a decision. Does he want to be in a gang or does he want to be in the NBA for a long time?

Anthony Edwards has to make a decision. Does he want to be a punk possibly out of the NBA by 30 or a Hall of Famer? ...

Alabama wouldn’t announce attendance at its spring game. While that’s actually not relevant to normal people – which excludes triggered fans and clickbait media – it’s a little cheesy.

Georgia wouldn’t allow quarterbacks Gunnar Stockton or Ryan Puglisi to speak to the media after the spring game.

Come on, man, really? After a spring game? …

I was happy for all the teams, especially the one at The Branch, who passed on Bill Belichick a few years ago, people in charge exhibiting a rare bout of common sense.

Don’t happen much. Alas, fan bases and “media”/media gobbled up misguided BS like they’re wont to do.

The Bill Belichick of 2023, 2024, and 2025 would bear no resemblance, none, to the one of a decade earlier. Common sense.

He got fired. The Patriots crumbled under Belichick’s coaching and administration after the QB left.

He wasn’t going to be an even decent fit in Atlanta, in no form or fashion, and the Falcons, while having issues, didn’t need the crap he was going to bring, nor be in another transition in three years.

And a transition from what Belichick would’ve done administratively would have been massive.

But nobody certainly foresaw the Belichick that North Carolina made the mistake on.

Under the control of a 24-year-old, um, girlfriend? Not in power? Not in control? And, well, not all that sharp and quick as before?

*Biting tongue almost hard enough to draw blood*

Based on the CBS News interview and everything coming out from that debacle – plus the pile of crap about excluding Robert Kraft, kind of a big reason he became who he became – from absolutely any mention in his book is disturbingly petty, and a sign - we’re looking at a situation where Belichick may not finish the full 2025 season at North Carolina, may not make it as coach from game 12 to a bowl game (no concerns at all about a playoff chance).

We’re seriously looking at a sad and pathetic conclusion to a successful and interesting and legendary – in more ways than one – coaching career.

When not in command of one’s faculties … At least he’s only a football coach and not … *Biting tongue again*

Nevertheless, this isn’t going to end well. …

Used to be people sent out news releases on newsy stuff when they hoped for coverage of stuff, and kids, and people. Sent, not posted. Posted on social media isn’t professional communication nor information dissemination. And there was actual usable information to share with folks.

Releases – by email – are. When they’re executed. No idea how people think word is supposed to get out any more if they don’t get the word out to people who can get the word out.

Just sayin’. …

Catching up: Maaaaan, there must be loads of money floating around for stuff that, well, colleges really don’t need but have to have because somebody else has it.

“The Fanning Center will also be equipped with the Institute’s first-ever sports science lab, which will use pro-model motion tracking to capture student-athletes’ performance data that will feed into an in-house data analytics office for performance tracking and analysis.

What in the samhell is that? It’s the new costing-too-much-money crap a state school is putting in a new facility. Colleges are gluttons, and isn’t glutton a mortal sin? …

As per releases, a thank-you to Dublin City Schools and Jason Halcombe for doing it right, like Monday night in announcing Josh McLendon as the new softball coach.

They’re very alone in those meetings among Central Georgia schools, who can’t get public relations and media relations – aka, informing constituents – right in almost any form or fashion.

It’s not hard or complex, and takes the desire to do it right. So, well, yeah, never mind, and hold not thy breath. …

I’m worried now that Belichick will show up at ACC media days with a toupee.