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Trumpeting His Horn Out Of Atlanta

Andrew Brandt

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A story out of Atlanta this morning says Joe Horn desperately wants out of the Falcons.  Horn told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution "I'm even contemplating giving some money back to further this thing along. "I'm ready to get it solved and move on. The longer I stay here, the worse it's going to get." The story resonates here because a little over a year ago, I was working hard to sign Joe Horn for the Packers.  The first week of free agency had passed and now that the truly crazy money had been spent, we were kicking the tires on the market.  Horn’s name came up as someone that would be a good receiver and a presence in the locker room for a young team.  Coach McCarthy knew him well from his days in New Orleans and started to recruit him. Although Joe had some positives, there were some red flags.  He certainly did not fit the profile of how we were building our team.  He was an older receiver with some baggage whose fiery personality could be a problem with a young group of receivers, especially if he wasn’t playing.  While chasing Horn and dealing with his mild-mannered agent, Ralph Vitolo, I knew that although there was interest, we were not going to break the bank to sign Joe Horn.  That was comforting, although when the Falcons got involved – they were close to his home, he was close with Mike Vick who was still their quarterback – I knew the stakes would be ratcheted up. We were in it for a while, but the Falcons became more enamored with Joe financially, agreeing to give $7.5 million of guaranteed money for a 35 year-old receiver.  Joe had 27 receptions for the Falcons last year, meaning that if there is a divorce – as it appears there will be – Horn will have received almost $280,000 in guaranteed money for each of those receptions. This will not end well for Horn in Atlanta.  He is now questioning why he is not practicing, as he feels ready to go. "I'm healthy," he said. "It's frustrating to sit to the side. I tweaked a little hamstring. It's nothing major. I know I can still play, and I'm ready to go. It's just frustrating sitting out here and dealing with this." Joe Horn will not sit quietly while discontented.  That will not fit well with a new coach, new general manager and new atmosphere – sans Vick – in Atlanta.  Horn’s name will be in the transaction section soon.  The Falcons will likely try to trade him, and with no suitors, will eventually release him. Our Horn non-deal of last year proves an adage in the business of football that should never be underestimated:  some of the best deals are the ones that don’t get done.

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Sean
Aug 13, 2008
12:10 PM

Thank goodness the Packers didn't bring Joe Horn in last year. James Jones probably wouldn't have been drafted, and he's going to be a key member of what is probably the deepest group of WRs in the NFL.

Ron Lemire
Aug 13, 2008
03:01 PM

Mr. Brandt,

Being a long time Packer fan, I was sad to see you leave Green Bay last year as you apparently did a great job helping to keep Green Bay fiscally responsible.

I am excited to have found out about your new website from one of the blog entries on the JS Online site. I look forward to you and your writer's insight.

Thank you,
Ron Lemire

Andrew Brandt
Aug 13, 2008
04:03 PM

Ron-
Thanks for your kind words; Packer fans are a special breed. Hope you continue to enjoy the site.
Andrew

Mark Bannach
Aug 14, 2008
11:49 AM

I echo Ron's comments. Andrew, I was very disappointed to see you go. I was very impressed with the work you did and was hoping you would take over for Bob Harlan. I hope someday down the road you can return to Green Bay.

Andrew Brandt
Aug 14, 2008
03:24 PM

Thank you, Mark. Very kind.
Andrew

Thomas
Aug 14, 2008
05:44 PM

Andrew,

good to hear from you. Add the Brett Favre Trade to Minnesota as one of those deals!

I would be interested in your take on the way the Packers handled that situation.

Good luck!

Thomas

Jim
Aug 14, 2008
06:07 PM

Thanks for the insight Andrew. Those are the sort of decisions that need to be made for the long term benfit of the team in this "fantasy football" day and age.

Aaron
Aug 14, 2008
08:35 PM

Andrew, I can only echo another reader's sentiments about wishing you were higher up on the board's list of candidates to replace Bob Harlan. In my opinion, only those who truly understand and have long-witnessed the essence of this special franchise should be leading the organization. I believe you were that person. Hard to understand how they saw an "outsider" fit to come in and learn all of this in two months and "on the job". When this regime wears out its welcome, I do hope you are strongly considered once again. Best wishes...

Andrew Brandt
Aug 14, 2008
08:36 PM

Jim--
Thanks. Enjoy the site.
Andrew

brian
Aug 15, 2008
12:14 AM

hello andrew, life long packer fan here. nice to see you doing well for yourself, but we miss you up here! such a fiasco, was wondering if you could or would shed any insight as to whether or not favre was really just trying to put an end run on his final 3 years under contract in gb and if he is truly as selfish and self absorbed as he now seems to be?

Dennis Hamel
Aug 15, 2008
07:01 AM

Mr Brandt,

Let me add the thanks and best wishes of a long distance (New England native) and long time Packer fan (since 1964.
Your name always came up around positives for the Green & Gold, doing the seeming impossible.
I will always be grateful for the hard work and diligence you provided in support of sports greatest franchise.
Today I add your site to my favorites list and will visit often.
Thank you again.

Andrew Brandt
Aug 15, 2008
07:48 AM

Dennis--
Thank you so much for those kind words. Enjoy the site.
Andrew

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