Atlanta Falcons Management Will Set Its Fate in the Next 60 Days

It wouldn't be fair to call the Falcons general manager and head coach a failure. However, it also wouldn't be fair to call them a success at this point, either.

There is an interesting Bird Cage blog the examines if Thomas Dimitroff will take risks or be conservative in the pending free agency and draft.

I personally believe that Thomas Dimitroff understands that this free agency and this draft will determine his success or failure as the Atlanta Falcons general manager.

Last year, when the general manager was only hearing praise, he took a huge risk and compromised this year's draft in order to bring in Julio Jones. This risk did not pay off last year.

If Thomas Dimitroff took on such a high-risk move when he thought his success was near, I think there is no question that he will try anything to ensure a winning legacy here in Atlanta this year.

Since it is rare to find a future star in a late round of the NFL Draft, a couple key players must be acquired in another way. Speculation is rampant as usual this time of year, mostly focusing on free agency.

I am thinking that the existing brain trust with an influx of new coaches will put every option they can think of on the table. This could lead to an unforeseen blockbuster trade.

Although it seems like the Falcons have a huge number of free agents, so do most other teams. This is a natural progression of the parity system the Owners put in place. I think a blockbuster trade more often seen in baseball could be made.

This is what I am looking for anyway, because I do not see any players that will save this team in free agency or the draft.

Also, I do not think fixing this team by baby steps will satisfy the fans—or Arthur Blank.

Although it is fun to speculate as to what the team will do, there are too many moving parts for an accurate guess. Knowing which free agents will sign with their team and which will hit the market is tough.

It is obvious that Thomas Dimitroff and Mike Smith have a number of trusted contacts in the league. I would sure like to know the kinds of deals that are being discussed.

I will just say that bringing in a first-rate offensive lineman and a first-rate defensive lineman would be worth trading some key Falcons players. We all know the names in play, but we can only have trust that Atlanta's management will swing a deal, if only to save itself.