Buchanan upset over benching of DBs
By KEN SUGIURA
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer
Flowery Branch -- Falcons cornerback Ray Buchanan got a chance to tell his side of the story Wednesday. Predictably, Buchanan had some things to say about being benched for just the second time since 1994.
Buchanan says that he and three other defensive backs are being made scapegoats for a defense that is ranked last in the NFL in points and yards allowed.
"You hear, 'Keep this thing together, and let's not point fingers, let's keep it tight knit,'" Buchanan said, referring to admonitions from coaches and owner Arthur Blank to keep their gripes in-house. "'But here's our way of pointing fingers. The secondary, we're going to snatch all four of 'em and bench 'em.'"
The benching of Buchanan, cornerback Tyrone Williams and safeties Keion Carpenter and Gerald McBurrows in favor of corners Tod McBride and Juran Bolden and safeties Cory Hall and Bryon Scott is a severe shakeup. Buchanan, Williams and Carpenter have started 273 of the past 275 games that they have dressed for.
Said Williams, "I've never seen anything like this, but you've got to learn from everything."
But changes would seem to be in order for a defense that is on pace to allow the second most yards in a season in NFL history. Said coach Dan Reeves , "We've given up way too many plays and we need to get some new men out and see if they can come in and change it."
However, It is not only the secondary that is at fault for giving up an average of 266.9 passing yards per game. For instance, defensive ends Patrick Kerney and Brady Smit h, who had a combined 37 sacks in 2001 and 2002, have two through seven games.
"I've always bent my back for this team," Buchanan said. "To find out you're not even playing in that spot, it's like, 'Dang, are you all saying I'm not even a part of this organization?'"
Team captain Carpenter took a more conciliatory tone, saying, "It's a situation right now, when things go bad, it's on us. No one's excluded from that. It's hard to look at yourself individually and say, 'Well, I'm doing good,' when the team's last in passing."
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Yeh Big Play Ray thats what they are saying.
The finger pointing is getting worse. Ookie Vick says he can't play yet , Coach Reeves says oh yes you can and you will get in there and win me my 200th victory.
Falcons dissention and team griping getting worse now and they have a game with the Eagles in two more days.
UH OH