This Edition: Aikman Advice, Fromm’s Draft, Home Field Advantage

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ATLANTA, Ga – Troy Aikman has some advice for Jerry Jones that Arthur Blank needs to hear

Troy Aikman has been very outspoken of the dysfunction within the Dallas Cowboys organization. In an interview with the NY Post he addressed why the Cowboys are a mess. He points that finger at Jerry Jones, an owner which he clearly feels spends too much time talking publicly about his football coaches and operation…

Aikman has suggested that Jones needs to take a step back from speaking publicly about the team as frequently as he does.

“Am I confident that will happen? Unfortunately, I am not”

“I think in a lot of ways it shines a light on some of the dysfunction, if you will, within the organization and kind of how they got to the point that they’re in now.”

 

I know Mr. Blank wakes up every day wanting to bring a winner to town. Yes, he’s a class act philanthropist too. Enough of the accolades he deserves, one he doesn’t is “football guy”. He’s an owner. He needs to step back, stop holding post game pressers and let the men he hires do their job. Listen to Troy, he knows there is a reason only 2 owners feel the need out of 32 to constantly be center stage.

Jake Fromm won’t find a better draft next year

I’ve said it all along in this process. I hope Jake Fromm just listens to his loved ones and their trusted family advisors. His “fans” on Twitter don’t have his best interests at heart. I expressed this on Twitter the other day and the outrage was deep! Here were a few of the best!

“That’s ridiculous! I’m a Georgia fan who also thinks it would be better for him to stay!”

That’s great dude. You’re a computer analyst (on his own profile). You don’t work in the NFL, you don’t talk to anyone connected to the process. You have an opinion but you a;so have an agenda. You know that Georgia WITH Fromm might be the hands down pre-season SEC favorite in 2020. WITHOUT Fromm it is more of a dog fight of indecision.

There are at least 8 franchises looking to add a QB to their stable of talent. Those 8 teams hold a whopping 20 of the first 45 picks in this draft. I don’t see Fromm dropping below that 45th slot.

Next year there won’t be that many teams shopping. It might be prudent to leave now. Notice I don’t tell him what is best. I don’t know either. I just tell him to listen to people without an agenda that just want to see their beloved team win. Huge difference.

Home Field Advantage in the NFL is disappearing

This season there were 250 regular season games played in the NFL with a true home team, so take out the neutral site games.

Home teams were just (130-120) for a 52% win percentage. That number has dropped from closer to 57% just over a decade ago. It’s becoming less important.

Take into consideration that over the last 10 playoff seasons in the wildcard round teams are just (20-20) at home. In the divisional round that jumps to (30-10)

I blame the PSL culture. It killed off the Everyman fan in many cities and causes the secondary market to be a welcome gate to opposing fans like we see here in Atlanta.

Gordon Gecko said “greed is good”. It doesn’t appear to be good for home teams in many NFL cities like ours. Falcons are just (11-13) at MBS.

The Dirty Little Secret of the Dirty Birds’ Overseas Trip

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JOHN KINCADE
ATLANTA, Ga – It’s not just about losing a home game in 2020, it’s about losing respect.
It’s not just how close you came to that Lombardi Trophy in early 2017, but how far you have fallen off in 2019.
It’s a shiny new stadium that has somehow managed to lose its appeal to draw fans in a few short years.

The Falcons are off to London or Mexico or Spain…who knows?
What we do know is that the Falcons announced overseas trip puts them in strange company. A brand new stadium, huge PSL’s if you want to actually sit in the seats and a terrible 2-7 start. Losing a home game in 2020 may actually be a public service to the sanity of the community. This is a fan base that has left thousands of empty seats weekly, seats that are paid for except for the millions that have already defaulted on their payments.

You know who loses home games? Teams where the NFL fan bases don’t miss them! This should never be Atlanta, especially after the millions spent to build the new designer ATM. The teams that lose home games are those with stadiums under construction like the Rams and the Chargers. There are others like the Jaguars where you have to tarp over empty sections, so Duval County barely notices. The Raiders are exiting their city and heading to Vegas so the NFL has sent them overseas for a few years now.

You know who doesn’t lose home games? Tom Brady isn’t skipping Foxboro for Mexico City. The Giants and Eagles fans aren’t  having to tailgate in London. The Chiefs and Cowboys don’t need a map of Barcelona. This is troubling.

The Falcons fall from grace in the win column and fan support locally has been staggering. The loss in status around the NFL might actually be the bigger story. If you paid for that PSL and only get 7 home games, no big deal right? You deserve better.
No amount of 2 dollar hot dogs is going to help you stomach this.

Flowery Branch thinks the house isn’t burning down. They felt no sense of urgency to address a horrendous 1-7 start. Julio Jones might be the greatest motivational speaker of all time after this one! The 2020 home game lost says as much about what the NFL thinks about the home fan base as it says about the home team. I’m floored that it all came crashing down this soon, this fast.

Kincade’s RANDOM THOUGHTS

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FALCONS LEFT WITH REGRETS

Not only did the Falcons see the Eagles beat them and go to Super Bowl 52 and win a Lombardi Trophy, they saw the team they let off the hook in New England also get back to the game. The Eagles closed the deal that should have been the Falcons celebration a year earlier. Two little yards in the Divisional Playoff changed everything.

I don’t know which off-season will produce more regret. The fact that you lost the Super Bowl in excruciating fashion or that the road to redemption was right in front of you. The Falcons had everything line up in their favor, but failed to execute.

Thankfully they have what appears to be a wide open window of contention. I believe it to be as strong as almost any franchise in the NFL. The problem is, correcting the problems. When you go from 1st in the NFL to 15th in scoring you have problems. Thankfully when you go from 27th to 8th your defense shows great promise.

I’ll continue to believe that being out coached cost you a playoff win and a Super Bowl win in consecutive seasons. I don’t know why after 3 seasons I am expecting anything to change. Some coaches are better when the clock isn’t running. Dan Quinn is one of those coaches. Regret can be staggering. Hopefully the Falcons take advantage of this off season to change the direction.

MR. BLANK NEEDS AN INTERVENTION

First it was the complaining about the Patriots celebrating their 28-3 Super Bowl comeback win with 283 diamonds in their rings. Then it was filing an official complaint with the NFL that the Saints were taunting you with 28-3 videos on their Jumbotron and a harmless comedy routine at halftime. Now it is continuing to talk about how close the team is to winning a Super Bowl. Somebody needs to intervene.

Arthur Blank every day does anything he can to bring Atlanta a title. He is the epitome of a man obsessed with victory and a loving relationship with thus city. He cares about making his players experience and his organization first class. Those are all truths. He also can’t balance those desires with being overly sensitive and involved.

He has built the first class organization. His stadium desires have also been met. Now he just needs to stop inserting himself onto the front page on issues that distract from the winning a Super Bowl agenda. Fact, you blew a 28-3 lead in the Super Bowl. Fact, that is a national punch line. Your team has to change that. You’ve claimed to have moved on. The petty sensitivity over the mocking shows otherwise. The NFL owners are partners, but competitors. It’s time to grasp that and move on.

If you want the mocking to stop. Change the narrative on the field. Let the football people do the talking. Let their actions and results be the talking points. Stop being so sensitive. The NFL is big business. Let’s start acting like it.

RADIOTHON

The 18th Annual Strike Out Leukemia and Lymphoma Radiothon is this Friday, February 16th. Thank you for your overwhelming support every year. We are approaching the 2 million dollar mark in total donations. You are the best. Go to 680thefan.com to donate anytime you wish!

BRAVES SPRING TRAINING COVERAGE

Buck and Kincade kick off our 680 The Fan Braves Spring Training coverage on Monday, February 19th. We hope you enjoy the broadcasts. If you have any suggestions on story lines that you want covered, drop us a line at 680thefan.com on our emails.

 

 

Co-Host “Buck and Kincade” – 680 The Fan
Host “John Kincade Show” – CBS Sports Radio
Co-Host “BIG Podcast with Shaq” – Podcast One
@JohnKincade on Twitter 

Kincade’s Random Thoughts – 01/29/2018

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SUPER BOWL WEEK HAS ARRIVED

 

You know that an asteroid is due to pass by the earth on Super Bowl Sunday? Knowing my luck the Eagles will have a big lead and I’ll be ready for champagne right as it hits with 5 minutes on the clock! Falcons fans, you can relate right? Most of the nation is rooting for your team to upset the Patriots. It appears everything is going very well. Then the bottom falls out.

I would imagine that this Sunday watching the Super Bowl will be met with a little less enthusiasm in Atlanta. Not only are the hated Eagles representing the NFC, but this is the first of a lifetime of rip off the band aid moments of memories rushing back from last season. 28-3 is the worst sports memory that the city will ever own, until it doesn’t. I would fully expect many will want to avoid this game like the plague. I would suggest it gives you a chance to dream. Tighten up a few things and the Falcons can host Super Bowl 53 in their own building. That might get you through a tough 4 hours.

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I WISH I COULD SHARE ALL MY EMAILS WITH YOU 

David Dickey has a policy about profanity on the 680 website or I could share some real gems with you. Partners in law firms, doctors and school teachers are only a few of the folks who took the time to send nasty emails after the Eagles advanced to the Super Bowl. Now many of you were classy and congratulatory, but there was a segment that decided to go very low brow. To them I suggest, growing up.

I’m sorry that you are so offended that I am loyal to the team my grandfather, father and now myself devote endless hours of support to. Last year when the Falcons were in the Super Bowl run I couldn’t have been happier or more supportive. I don’t expect that of you. You gave no reason to like the Eagles or root for them. I personally love seeing the local teams do better because it helps the show and I like most of their players and staff. What I do expect is that grown men won’t act like keyboard bullies and say the nastiest things they would never say to my face. (Especially on their business emails)

Please, I know you are scheming to come up with a way both the Patriots and Eagles will lose next Sunday. I respect you for that. I enjoy the semi good natured ribbing. I don’t appreciate cowards on an email.

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STEAK SHAPIRO

Any one of you that has listened to Atlanta sports radio knows that Steak and I have a very colorful “competitive” history. You may not know a few other things. Since I’ve been asked in person, on social media and via email let me fill you in.

Yes, I like Steak. (Preferably a marbled ribeye) No, I seriously like Steak. He’s a tremendous competitor, relentless salesman, truly unique and shares my drive and ambition. We see the world quite differently on many issues. We bond as fathers and husbands to women that are far too good for either of us. Believe me, it’s better competing with Steak than against Steak.

Don’t read too much in to radio confrontations. I assure you that they are not staged for your benefit, but when the mics are off I have no issue with my sparring partner. Now, if he is in a ball crying next Sunday night knowing I’ll never let him forget that the Eagles beat the Patriots in SB52 I will relish it forever! Believe me, he would enjoy it too.

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VIVA LAS VEGAS!

I will broadcast my portion of “Buck and Kincade” from the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on Thursday 2/1 and Friday 2/2.

I’ll join up with old friend Scott Ferrall on CBS Sports Radio on Friday night 2/2 live from the D Casino on Fremont Street between the hours of 11pm – 1pm ET. Check out the CBS Sports App if you can’t find it.

My Sunday edition of the JK Show will instead come to you live on 680 The Fan from Noon-2pm ET on Saturday 2/3.

RANDOM THOUGHTS For Jan. 17 – Football Edition

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TWO STEPS BACK

The Falcons didn’t get back to the Super Bowl, not even back to the Championship Game. The drop to the 6th seed is being brushed off as not that bad or pretty good by others. Considering how the NFC broke this year, taking two steps back is actually worse.

You had the top seed, young inexperienced team, lose their starting QB in their 13th game and you had a chance to beat them with their backup. The number two seed Vikings are a team that is very stout, but also playing with a backup QB. The Rams as a 3 seed were another over achieving inexperienced team.

Your path back to the title game was supposed to be clear. I don’t hear much outrage from fans. Maybe the disappointment is just wearing off. This wasn’t a good year. In retrospect this should be seen as a huge miss.

THIRD PLACE SCHEDULE DOESN’T LOOK EASY TO ME

The NFL always rewards you the next season with an easier path depending on how poorly that you finish. The 3rd place schedule is supposed to be easier. It doesn’t look that way to me, especially on the road!

HOME – Saints, Panthers, Bucs, Cowboys, Giants, Cardinals, Ravens, Bengals

AWAY – Saints, Panthers, Bucs, Eagles, Redskins, Packers, Steelers, Browns

On the road you face teams led by Rodgers, Wentz, Brees, Roethlisberger, Newton.

The 3rd place schedule advantage turns out to not be reality. I think this schedule looks tougher than last years.

POSITIVE VIBES FROM NEW SENIORS 

Great to see Georgia get two returning leaders. Neither Terry Godwin or Deandre Baker were projected as impact draft guys, they certainly paid big dividends for the 2016 SEC Champions. Can these guys bring the same level of leadership and continue the trend started in 2016?

Godwin will only get better with Fromm and the defense can benefit from a guy like Baker sticking around. Fantastic news to keep the momentum rolling. 

 

Silver lining to a disappointing finish?
The Falcons might be bummed to not be playing on Title Game weekend, but a certain stat says you might see them playing there next year.

This is the first time that the 4 teams playing on Championship weekend are all in the Top 5 scoring defenses. (MINN-1, JAX-2, PHL-4, NE-5)

The Falcons improved to 8th this past season and if this year was any indication, going from 27th to 8th in scoring defense, maybe next year is the next step forward. If we assume that and a slight improvement on defense, the window remains open.

Matt Ryan is going to get paid again

If one of the Falcons off-season priorities is getting Matt Ryan signed to another extension, the troubling fact of no 20M cap hit QB ever winning a Super Bowl rears it’s ugly head. First of all, that seems impossible to believe. How has Tom Brady never been a 20M cap hit? If Brady has never been, what case can be made for ANY other QB being worthy of one? Why set your roster back? Can you ask your QB to follow the Brady model and do whatever it takes for the team cap to be workable?

Best emergence of 2017? Takk has a very high ceiling

Talk about another silver lining? I feel much better about Takk than I did Vic Beasley after year one. The Falcons maneuvered to get him and the payoff might end up being huge. I think he is one of the best things about this team looking forward.

Kincade – NO FALSE NARRATIVES ON FALCONS 2017 SEASON

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RANDOM THOUGHTS – HAPPY NEW YEAR EDITION

There are enough voices in this market that will pander to you as the Falcons prepare to take on the Rams. They will push every sunshine and lollipops scenario to make you resist embracing the facts. I still haven’t made my pick, but won’t ignore the facts.

First, the 2017 Falcons season doesn’t even begin until Saturday night. I know that the 10-6 record is already in the books. The third place finish is set in stone. The clear step back from last season is apparent and no excuses should be accepted. You went from a division champion to a 3rd place finisher without major injury issues. You went from a first round bye to a 3 road win scenario just to get back to the Super Bowl. It was a collection of missed opportunities and dodged bullets. Now, the fun begins.

The Falcons are clearly better on defense as the 8th team in scoring defense. A huge improvement of last years 28th ranking should be applauded. The offense drops from 1st overall to 15th. What was a great strength is now a mediocre performer with as much star talent as any NFC team in the NFL. Those swings are a big part of the inconsistency.

The Rams are not a fluke, they aren’t a patsy. The Falcons are not the better team on the field. The Rams have been far better coached and suffer fewer self inflicted wounds. The Rams are the team most likely to score a TD on a possession in the playoffs. The Falcons are the most likely to self destruct and suffer for a maddening field goal. These are all factors you need to consider.

The Falcons are the team with all the playoff experience, right? Yep, just like the Falcons last year the Rams have very little. That didn’t stop Atlanta from trouncing the Seahawks and Packers who re the most playoff experienced rosters in the NFC.

Understand this! Many are going to try to spin every statistic that gives you hope. Not that there isn’t reason for hope, but the 2017 Falcons do not deserve the benefit of the doubt. They are not likely to be able to play a complete game now when it matters most and the opposition is the best. Not to mention that the thought of them winning three in a row on the road to get to Minneapolis is nothing more than wishful thinking.

Yes, it COULD happen. No, it’s not likely or logical.

Co-Host “Buck and Kincade” – 680 The Fan
Host “John Kincade Show” – CBS Sports Radio
Co-Host “BIG Podcast with Shaq” – Podcast One
@JohnKincade on Twitter 

Kincade’s Random Thoughts – 12/18/17 Edition

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ONE OF THESE CF PLAYOFF TEAMS DOESN’T BELONG

It’s only been 3 seasons of data, but every single season has produced the same result. One of the 4 teams will prove that they don’t belong. Need facts? Oregon beat FSU by 39 points in 2014. Alabama beat Michigan State by 38 points in 2015. Clemson beat Ohio State by 31 points last year. The 3 losers averaged just 6.66 points in those losses with the last 2 being by shutout.

You may think that nobody in this years edition is set to continue this trend, but be honest and tell me if you saw those massive blowouts happening. We usually look at the games and think we are heading for classics. Usually, we get dealt a clunker.

Who is it in this field most likely to get blown out? My guess is Oklahoma. The Georgia Bulldogs will be the best defense that they faced all season. The Bulldawgs have a strong running game and the Sooners have the worst run defense in the playoff.

New Years Day May even be better than we expect!

TIME FOR SOME DOWN TIME

I’ll exit the “Buck and Kincade” Show after Wednesday, December 20th.

You will hear me on the “John Kincade Show” on Sunday, December 24th and Sunday, December 31st.

Thank you for your support all year Long and be sure to follow along on Twitter throughout the holidays! @johnkincade

ROSE BOWL NEW YEARS DAY WITH “BUCK AND KINCADE”

We were not going to let this opportunity go by without a show! The count resumes with the 4,055th edition of “Buck and Kincade” kicking off 2018 in style.

We will be on from 9am to noon leading up to our exclusive Chic-fil-A Peach Bowl coverage on 680 The Fan!

Co-Host “Buck and Kincade” – 680 The Fan
Host “John Kincade Show” – CBS Sports Radio
Co-Host “BIG Podcast with Shaq” – Podcast One
@JohnKincade on Twitter

Kincade’s Random Thoughts – 11/27/17

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Kirby Smart has delivered on expectations, Falcon flags are back on cars, and the Braves…BLUNDER!

KIRBY ALREADY HAS DELIVERED ON 2nd YEAR EXPECTATIONS

Every “long suffering” fan base pulls this nonsense from time to time. In August, every member of the “Buck and Kincade” team came to an agreement that after a disappointing 7-5 regular season for Kirby Smart that a fair expectation was a 10-2 regular season and an SEC East Title in 2017. He delivered that and even went one better!

Now the SEC Title Game week has arrived and fans are attempting to move the goal posts on him. I’ve read various pieces talking about how Georgia needs redemption because of the way that they lost at Auburn. Yes, that loss was horrible but winning an SEC Title should not be considered a mandate.

The Dawgs have every reason to be confident they can clean up their mistakes and make Saturday a more representative effort. The idea of winning that title in Year Two would be an incredible accomplishment. It should not be a huge disappointment if it does not materialize.

FALCON FLAGS ARE BACK ON THE CARS

The Falcons sit at 7-4 and I have been watching all of the flags appear again on the cars on my commute. That’s a good thing, but it was a joke that for the defending NFC Champs it was ever an option. The bandwagon spilled out quickly and now is filling up again.

I asked Buck and JChad if the Falcons season was over at 4-4. They declared it dead and we argued vehemently. Maybe they were too close to be objective. I did not understand the panic. Atlanta was too talented to let the season collapse away. Now the final 5 games are a 3-2 iffy, 4-1 you are in challenge. I’ll still bet 3-2 gets the job done. After last years run, don’t give up on the Falcons. There is a lot of football to be played and at 4-4 they were still very much alive!

BRAVES BLUNDER

I credit the Braves for doing a thorough house cleaning and getting rid of the leaders that oversaw the embarrassing scouting scandal. It is fair to ask why Terry McGurk comes away unscathed but no evidence implicated him from the MLB office.

The error is in not agreeing to answer any media questions AFTER the scandal. Not taking questions makes it look like they are not being accountable to their fan base and the media. The Red Sox answered questions publicly about the sanctions they previously received. It just looks bad. I’m floored that was the choice.

Co-Host “Buck and Kincade” – 680 The Fan
Host “John Kincade Show” – CBS Sports Radio
Co-Host “BIG Podcast with Shaq” – Podcast One
@JohnKincade on Twitter 

Kincade’s Random Thoughts – Halloween Edition!

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GEORGIA AT (8-0) AND CFP RANKINGS DO MATTER

Kirby Smart is going to try and convince you that the CFP Rankings that will be released tonight don’t matter. He is wrong. He doesn’t want his players to put much stick in them and that is understandable. The rankings do mean a lot to the Georgia program and the fan base.

Example, do you not think that high school athletes are paying attention to these rankings? It drives the CF news cycle and the positive press is an outstanding recruiting tool. Example, do you not think big money donors are more fired up with all the hoopla surrounding the playoff chatter? Of course they are and the wallets are easier to open when you are one of the nations best teams. Example, do you think it is easier to get into the 4 team playoff when you start as one of the 4 ranked teams? The answer is YES. If you start in the first 4 you have a far better chance than those that don’t to remain there.

Coach Smart wants to control the message. I get it. He is also trying to tell you something that is easily proven false. He wants his team to avoid distractions. That is a smart strategy. That does not apply to anyone not in the building.

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FALCONS 4-3 START IS FAR FROM A BURIAL

The Falcons 3-0 start was an apparent continuation of the dominance of the Falcons 6-1 finish in 2016. Life was good. The Falcons 3 game losing streak created all new doubts about what this years team truly is. At 3-3, squeaking by the Jets to go above mediocre is hardly exciting. Now the real work begins.

My crew at Buck and Kincade already waved the white flag. At 3-3 both Buck and JChad declared the Falcons DOA for a playoff berth. I scoffed and immediately guaranteed that this team will play January football. I’m still confident of that fact. How long will they play? Who knows?

Atlanta has the best roster in the NFC South. They have the pedigree of being the defending NFC Champs. They have a returning MVP at QB. This was not supposed to be a horrible struggle. I think you should prepare for one. This division is a race to ten wins. At 4-3 if you can find a way to 4-2 in divisional play it is doable. Atlanta dug themselves a hole and it doesn’t have to be their playoff grave.

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JOHN HART GETS A FREE PASS

If Jerry Crasnick has his reporting right, John Hart is going to come away from the investigation into John Coppolella’s dirty dealing free and clear. They will reportedly claim he knew nothing about any of his alleged crooked short cuts. Excuse me if I’m not going to believe that reporting.

The results would be problematic in many ways. First, if he was not involved it is the best case of corporate subterfuge ever by Coppy. If he was not involved then he also was the worst example of corporate leadership ever. That alone should preclude him from having the control of this organization. If you have corruption in a business and the highest ranking official misses it, they don’t usually survive. This should be no different. The Braves can’t trust that John Hart is involved or aware enough to oversee the future. I can’t wait to hear him speak on how this possibly happened.

Co-Host “Buck and Kincade” – 680 The Fan 

Host “John Kincade Show” – CBS Sports Radio

Co-Host “BIG Podcast with Shaq” – Podcast One

@JohnKincade on Twitter