Aug 23rd 2008 9:57AM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Falcons, Titans, AFC South, NFC South
Matt Ryan got the first start of his professional career last night and proceeded to complete 15 of 21 passes for 102 and one touchdown (no picks!). It was preseason, for sure, but for a group that has endured more in the last 12 months than most of us face in our lifetimes, it’s a nice start.
But there were other story lines to come out of the 17-3 victory over Tennessee. Namely: the Falcons are a bunch of dirty players, at least to hear the Titans tell it. Atlanta had nine penalties for 101 yards, and it was one in particular that made second-year safety Michael Griffin very sad. Titans safety Michael Griffin got called for holding on a first-quarter punt return, and he wound up with his helmet pulled off. He tussled with Daren Stone and had to be restrained. … Griffin said Stone crossed a line.
“He got my dreads, just pulled my hair,” Griffin said. “That got me fired up, pulling my hair, man. My helmet got knocked off and then he grabbed my hair. That’s really all there was to it. Hair is fair game, my helmet was off, we got into a little pushing and shoving and pulling match and he pulled my hair. It gets better: “When it comes to that, somebody pulling your hair? Not cool. That’s disrespect you know? I’m not going to pull on your hair. You’ve got a problem, don’t pull on my hair. Girls pull on hair.”
Got that, Daren, GIRLS PULL HAIR. Well, girls and Larry Johnson.
Whatever, if this is the new-and-improved Falcons, great. Anything to help erase the memories of the Bobby Petrino Era.
