Atlanta excellence was on display at SunTrust Park on Saturd

ay afternoon. Big names showed up to partake in the 19th annual celebrity flag football challenge Jordan Miller Atlanta Falcons Jersey , sponsored by Celebrity Sweat.It was team Michael Vick taking on team Doug Flutie in a flag football game consisting of two 30 minute halves (running clock) on the SunTrust Park field. Current Falcons players De’Vondre Campbell and Brian Poole were featured, as well as NFL stars Melvin Gordon, Darius Slay, Trai Turner, Desmond King and Jarvis Landry. Former Falcons Brian Jordan and Devin Hester suited up too.Before the game began I got a chance to speak to a few of the players about the event and the current state of the Atlanta Falcons.Brian Jordan, the former two-sport athlete with both the Falcons and Braves, who played with the Birds from 1989-1991, told me he thinks that the Falcons have a good chance to “at least return to the playoffs” next year if they can draft some offensive lineman to protect Matt Ryan.What was his favorite moment as a Falcon? “Beating the Saints in ‘91 to go to the playoffs, and getting a hand on blocking Morten Anderson’s field goal attempt to win the game,” Jordan said. However 2019 Jordan Miller Jersey , his favorite moment as just a fan of the team was when Julio Jones made that incredible catch in Super Bowl 51 which should have won the game. I’m sure that would be near the top of everyone’s list had Atlanta been able to close that one out.Jordan concluded by telling me that the event meant a lot to him because the money was going toward a great cause — hero sports and local veteran organizations — the military means a lot to him because of all of the sacrifices they make.Starting Falcons linebacker De’Vondre Campbell also had some thoughts on the state of the defense in particular when asked, saying that Atlanta has a very talented group and that they “just have to put it together.”When I asked Campbell was his favorite memory as a Falcon has been thus far he cited the NFC Championship victory in the 2016 season: “The atmosphere was ridiculous. We gotta get back there,” Campbell said.De’Vondre isn’t the only member of Falcons nation who has his eyes set on a deep playoff run next season — fans of the team have developed those same expectations. The hunger for success is more prevalent than ever after that 2016 season, especially when you see all the talent on Atlanta’s roster.Right before the game began, I spoke with Detroit Lions Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay, and asked him where Julio Jones ranked among the toughest wide receivers he’s had to cover in his career.“Number one, besides going against Calvin Johnson in practice every day,” Slay said.When alluding to what made Julio such a tough cover, the Pro Bowler cited his speed, strength and the fact that he “catches everything.”Slay also offered praise for Atlanta CB Desmond Trufant: “That’s my guy. He’s doing his thing and getting better every year. Him and Rocky (Robert Alford) - that’s a good tandem Jordan Miller Atlanta Falcons Jersey ,” Slay said.Following the pregame festivities, and the Vets vs. Pros military scrimmage, it was time for the game to begin. Michael Vick earned the loudest ovation from the crowd when his name was announced in the pregame.Vick didn’t play in the game, but his squad got the ball first and marched downfield to take a 6-0 lead, and then Doug Flutie’s team proceeded to go to work. Flutie himself quarterbacked his team, and answered with a first drive which culminated in a touchdown pass to UFC fighter Tyron Woodley.Brian Jordan would then secure an interception which was taken back for six, a number of laterals later, to give Team Flutie a lead which it would never relinquish. Woodley himself got another interception which was once again returned for six (after a few laterals of course), on Team Vick’s very next drive to put Team Flutie up 20-6 going into the half.Rap star Quavo of Migos stepped into the quarterback role for Team Vick and pulled his team to within 20-12 with a touchdown pass on his first drive of the second half (following a Flutie interception).Two more pic 6s (both interceptions secured by Brian Jordan, and scored by someone else) and two more Doug Flutie passing touchdowns would see Team Flutie score 27 points unanswered to go up 47-12.The game would end with two more Flutie touchdown drives Womens Jordan Miller Jersey , one for each team (yes, he switched sides for a drive), bringing the final score to 54-19 for Team Flutie over Team Vick.Doug Flutie was named the player of the game with five touchdown passes (including the one he scored against his own team), although Brian Jordan gave him a run for his money with those three interceptions, each of which was returned for a touchdown after about a hundred combined laterals.It was a fun event, some money was raised for a great cause and a good time was had by all. South Carolina head football coach Will Muschamp fell under scrutiny for his response when asked about voting on Election Day.For starters, this is a completely fair and timely question by Josh Kendall. This was obviously the biggest news story of the day with huge national significance. Kendall got some criticism online for asking the question in the first place, but like, come on, it’s not like he knew Muschamp would answer the way he did.But the bigger storyline here is how folks criticized Muschamp’s response to the question. A lot of the sentiments centered around as a head coach in charge of molding and influencing of young men Black Grady Jarrett Jersey , he should be addressing bigger issues such as voting. One of the more outspoken critics was former UNC and NFL defensive back Bucky Brooks:This was a common sentiment throughout Twitter over the next few days.But as someone who covered Muschamp for three years while at the University of Florida, I can confidently tell you I expected nothing less from his answer, too. Sure, I assumed he at least knew Nov. 6 was Election Day, but this is pretty par for the course as far as Muschamp being very much just a football coach. Once during a press conference in 2014 when asked about Northwestern football’s unionizing — at the time a pretty significant story in the news cycle — he said this: And back in 2011, he clearly was not up on Star Wars references:But here’s the big thing: it’s not like his players were completely out of the loop. Here’s Gamecock safety Steven Montac saying coaches indeed encouraged players to vote. “Whenever you get a chance just make sure you go vote the people from South Carolina. I mean, it’s kind of out of our hands people not from South Carolina to go vote, but he definitely told us that South Carolina people to go vote.”Linebacker TJ Brunson made it to the polls. too: And Muschamp isn’t the only head coach who claimed he wasn’t proactive in telling his players about voting, either (based on Montac’s response, Muschamp very well could’ve just been putting on a show for the media). Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt didn’t get much heat for this:Look Grady Jarrett Jersey 2019 , I understand where the Muschamp criticism is coming from — if you’re a head coach of a college football team, you’re both responsible for coaching and molding young men. That includes instilling awareness about bigger societal issues. And it’s not like Muschamp hasn’t done that — in August before the 2018, he had Brenda Tracy, a national advocate and voice on sexual assault, come in speak to his team. He also spoke to his players about the NFL protests last season, and how important free speech is in America. Should Muschamp have been a little clearer about where his team stood on Election Day? Sure. But let’s not assume one of the most player-beloved coaches in college football didn’t actually discuss the issue with his team, and let’s not act shocked if Muschamp says he’s not up on the latest news.