As Arthur Blank struggles to find the next general manager and coach of his football team, the owner of the Atlanta Falcons makes it clear that he has no intention of placing restrictions on his new hires.
Blank said this week that if the new GM and coach decided that it would be better for the club to move on from franchise stars like Matt Ryan or Julio Jones, he wouldn’t be in the way.
“You can’t hire the best people you can hire, be they general managers or coaches, and then tie your hands up and tell them, well, this person is off-limits and that one is off-limits and that one,” said Blank , through the team’s official website. “What are you asking them, what is not off limits and needs to be investigated deeply, do they have a plan for the championship, do they have a plan to reverse the franchise sooner or later, so that we can win in 2021? Do we have a plan that is sustainable over a long period of time so that we can ensure that this team is competitive not only for the next year or two, but for a longer period of time than that? … However, does this affect certain players, affects certain players. “
Ryan has been a name for potential trade rumors, as the Falcons could choose their heir with the fourth overall choice.
Ryan and Jones ‘contracts would make them difficult to move forward in 2021, with large amounts of dead money reaching the Falcons’ salary cap if they are not under contract in Atlanta. Ryan is expected to have $ 40.9 million against the limit in 2021, with Jones at $ 23.05 million.
Even if a new GM or trainer wants to move from veteran stars to riding on young blood, it can take at least a year.
The bottom line is that Blank will not force his next command to retain any of his favorite players, even if they are some of the best in the franchise’s history.
“I think it is a mistake for the owner to establish such a set of dictates for the general manager and the head coach,” said Blank. “If I were a general manager or head coach considering this opportunity and I heard an owner say that, I would be a little nervous because I think this is crossing a line that I don’t believe an owner should cross.”