Perhaps no other team in the NFL has been more of a disappointment than the Atlanta Falcons (6-7). Following a 5-0 start, the Falcons have dropped seven of their last eight games, including Sunday's humiliating 38-0 beat down at the hands of the Carolina Panthers. While no one believed Atlanta was as good as their unbeaten start, no one expected them to fall off quite like this.
Following the debilitating loss Sunday, Falcons owner Arthur Blank issued a statement confirming his confidence in first-year head coach Dan Quinn. This move shouldn't come as a surprise, as Quinn was one of the most sought after head coaching candidates this offseason. Atlanta even made the risky move of waiting until after last year's Super Bowl to hire him. He isn't going anywhere.
However, Peter King of Monday Morning Quarterback suggests that general manager Thomas Dimitroff could lose his job if Atlanta continues to struggle like this. And he isn't the only one who smells blood in the water. CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora put forth Seattle Seahawks executive Trent Kirchner as a possible replacement candidate, you know, just in case.
The writing may have been on the wall for Dimitroff and assistant GM Scott Pioli when Blank gave Quinn control over personnel, never a good sign for the executives. The Falcons have been hampered by their severe lack of depth in recent seasons and their 2014 free agent spending spree (Tyson Jackson, Paul Soliai and Jon Asamoah) have not had the type of effect that they were hoping for. With former head coach Mike Smith gone, Dimitroff is the logical sacrifice for another poor season.
Should Blank decide to clean house, it's unknown what the new front office would look like. Viable GM candidates would not want to come to a team whose coach has final say over the roster. However, Kirchner and Quinn's familiarity from their Seattle days could make a pairing possible.
The Falcons will next play the Jacksonville Jaguars (5-8).
