Falcons Owner Arthur Blank yesterday said he was "embarrassed and angered" upon learning in November that the franchise was being investigated by the NFL for piping in crowd noise at the Georgia Dome, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. The investigation “has been completed and the team is just waiting for league to respond with possible sanctions, which could include a fine or possibly a draft pick.” The Falcons “were not turned in by an opposing team.” The issue came up in the league’s “regular review and periodic check of the audio of games in terms of crowd noise.” Blank said, “That’s not our culture and what we are about or what the NFL is about” (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 2/4). When asked if there was a "fine line" between what is and is not allowed by the NFL, Blank replied, "It's not really a fine line. I think what we've done in 2013 and 2014 was wrong. Anything that affects the competitive balance and fairness on the field, we're opposed to, as a league, as a club and as an owner." The Falcons claim 101 of the 103 home games since Blank bought the team in '02 "have been sellouts." However, actual attendance "declined during losing seasons the last two years" (AP, 2/3).
THE MIGHTY QUINN: The JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION's Ledbetter notes the Falcons yesterday officially introduced new coach Dan Quinn, who as part of his five-year deal will have "final authority over the roster" and will report directly to Blank. Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff "will oversee" Assistant GM Scott Pioli, who will be "in charge of free agency and the draft" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 2/4). Dimitroff said of the arrangement, “It’s not about who has final 53 or who has authority over one thing or another. It’s about working together. It’s about nice equal footing and a partnership.” He added, “I have no problem with how the set-up is. I encouraged it” (AJC.com, 2/3).
