Sunday, February 3, 2013
Blank maturing as an owner?
By Tom Carpenter
Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank wants a Super Bowl win, but he seems prepared to be patient with his front office after coming up short of that goal this season.
“It certainly was a very disappointing conclusion to a great season,’’ Blank said Friday while visiting the Super Bowl media center. “I love where the organization is. I love the work that (general manager) Thomas (Dimitroff) and (coach Mike Smith) have done together over the last five years. I think that’s produced a lot of wins for us. But we’re not where we need to be. Smitty would be the first to say that and Thomas would be right at his side saying that. We’re not going to be happy until we’re playing in the Super Bowl and winning the Super Bowl.’’
ESPN NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas thinks this is a sign that Blank has matured as an owner:
Pat Yasinskas
Blank thinks Falcons headed for next step"The Falcons went 13-3 and won in the postseason for the first time in the Smith-Dimitroff era when they defeated Seattle in the divisional round. That victory might have pacified Blank. But what I heard from Blank made me think he’s an owner who realizes he has a good coach and general manager in place and they have the Falcons close to where they want to be. I don’t think the Falcons are going to simply stand still, but I don’t think you’re going to see the kind of panicked moves we’ve seen from other owners when their teams have been coming up short of where they want to be. I think Blank is more patient than he was in his early days as an NFL owner. He desperately wants to win a Super Bowl. But he also is smart enough to trust that his coach and general manager might need to make only a few tweaks."
