All-Atlanta Falcons Team: Offense

So the Atlanta Falcons have never had anyone make the Pro Football Hall of Fame based on their services with the franchise.

But that doesn't mean the Birds haven't had enough good players to put together an All-Atlanta Falcons team.

While Falcons fans eagerly await a shot at putting together back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in franchise history, here's something to look back on: my version of the All-Falcons team, starting with the offense.

(Note: The years in parentheses indicate the time these players suited up for Atlanta, not necessarily their whole careers.)

Quarterback: Steve Bartkowski (1975-85)

Believe it or not, Bartkowski was selected No. 1 overall by the Falcons in 1975—ahead of Walter Payton.

Not grabbing Payton stings some, but Bartkowski is by far the best quarterback to ever play for the Falcons.

In 1978, after three years of struggle, Bartkowski led the Falcons to a 9-7 record and a berth in the playoffs. The Falcons hosted Philadelphia in the first round and beat the Eagles 14-13 behind two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

In 1980, Bartkowski threw for 3,544 yards, leading Atlanta to its first divisional championship.

Bartkowski is part of an elite group of quarterbacks to post back-to-back 30-touchdown seasons. Only six others have done so: Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Jeff Garcia, Dan Fouts, Dan Marino and Y.A. Tittle.

In 1980 and 1981, Bartkowski was selected to the Pro Bowl, leading the NFL in touchdowns in 1980 with 31. He holds the Falcons career passing mark with 23,470 total yards.

Bartkowski is recognized by Atlanta in the organization's Ring of Honor with his No. 10 jersey number retired.

Others considered: Chris Chandler, Chris Miller

Running back: Gerald Riggs (1982-88)

From 1984 to 1986, Riggs put together an impressive string of seasons that placed him at the pinnacle of Falcons running backs.

In 1984, filling in for an injured Willie Andrews, Riggs exploded for 1,486 yards and 13 touchdowns. He followed the '84 season with 1,719 yards and 10 touchdowns in 1985 and rounded out this three-year stretch with a 1,327-yard, nine-touchdown season in 1986.

Riggs owns the Atlanta record for career rushing yards with 6,631 yards.

Riggs was a Pro Bowler from 1985 to 1987 and was named to the All-Pro team twice, in 1984 and 1985.

Others considered: Willie Andrews, Jamal Anderson, Dave Hampton, Warrick Dunn

Running Back/Fullback: Willie Andrews (1979-1986)

Since Atlanta doesn't have much of a fullback history, the All-Atlanta Falcons team gets a second running back.

And that running back was a pretty good one.

As a rookie in 1979, Willie Andrews ran for 1,023 yards—a single-season team record at the time—highlighted by a 167-yard performance against New Orleans in the first game of the season, a 40-34 Atlanta win in overtime.

Andrews spent his entire career in Atlanta, running for over 1,000 yards four times—including a career high 1,567 yards in 1983. His time in the NFL was cut short as he sustained a knee injury in the 1984 preseason that cost him two years.

In 1986, he came back and even played some tight end, but that would be his last year. Andrews is recognized in the Ring of Honor as his No. 31 jersey is retired.

Others considered: Craig Heyward

Tight End: Alge Crumpler (2001-07)

Crumpler was as reliable with his hands as they come, and became a favorite target of quarterback Michael Vick during his time in Atlanta.

Crumpler made the Pro Bowl four times and led the Falcons in receiving for three consecutive years (2004-06). He was named to the Pro Bowl four times as a Falcon (2003-06) and the All-Pro team twice, in 2003 and 2006.

Crumpler's career high in receiving came as a Falcon in 2005, when he caught 65 passes for 877 yards.

Before signing with Tennessee in 2008, Crumpler spent his time in the NFL with the Falcons exclusively. He was a second-round draft pick out of North Carolina in 2001.

Others considered: Jim Mitchell, Brian Kozlowski

Wide Receivers: Terance Mathis (1994-2001) and Andre Rison (1990-94)

Mathis was the easy choice to make this list, as he holds all the important Falcons receiving records—career receptions (573), touchdown receptions (57) and receiving yards (7,349).

Mathis played in Atlanta's only Super Bowl appearance, catching seven passes for 85 yards and a touchdown in Super Bowl XXXIII. In 1994, his first season in Atlanta after coming from the Jets, he set a franchise record by catching 111 passes during the season.

Mathis was named to the Pro Bowl in 1994, as well as being named to the All-Pro team the same season.

Rison makes this team thanks to his four 1,000-yard seasons during a five-year tenure in Atlanta. Rison posted a career-high 1,242 yards and 15 touchdowns (an Atlanta single-season record) in 1993. Rison also made the Pro Bowl four years in a row with Atlanta (1990-93) and was named to the All-Pro team each of those same years.

Rison led Atlanta in receiving three different years (1990, 1992, 1993).

Others considered: Roddy White, Alfred Jenkins, Wallace Francis

Offensive Tackles: Mike Kenn (1978-94) and Bob Whitfield (1992-2003) 

Kenn had a long and successful career in Atlanta that spanned 17 seasons—the second most for any Falcon.

Kenn was drafted with the 13th pick in the first round of the 1978 NFL draft out of Michigan and became a staple on the offensive line for years to come.

Kenn made the Pro Bowl five consecutive years from 1980-84 and was named All-Pro in 1991 after only giving up one sack that year. He also made the All-Pro team in 1980 and 1981.

Kenn has the Falcons record for career games played and career starts with 251. Kenn's No. 78 jersey was retired in 2008 as he was added to Atlanta's Ring of Honor.

Whitfield was drafted by the Falcons in the first round in 1992 and became a consistent force at tackle in the '90s. He played 178 games for Atlanta before the Falcons released him after the 2003 season.

Others considered: Todd Weiner, Brett Miller

Offensive Guards: Bill Fralic (1985-91) and R.C. Thielemann (1977-84)

With Atlanta having many high first-round draft picks in its history, the team spent the second overall pick in 1985 on Fralic, a guard out of Pittsburgh.

Fralic went on to play 116 games for the Falcons after becoming a starter in just his rookie season. Fralic's superb run-blocking skills helped name him to the All-Pro team in 1986 and 1987. He also made the Pro Bowl four consecutive years (1986-89).

Thielemann had a successful career on some good Atlanta teams, helping block for Bartkowski.

Thielemann was drafted by the Falcons in the second round in 1977, and later made three consecutive Pro Bowls during his tenure in Atlanta (1981, 1982, 1983).

Others considered: Eric Sanders, Lincoln Kennedy

Center: Jeff Van Note (1969-86)

The original plan wasn't for Van Note to play center.

He was drafted in the 11th round by Atlanta in 1969 to play linebacker after playing defensive end and running back in college at Kentucky.

But Van Note put in a stellar career in Atlanta after moving to center. He made five Pro Bowls (1974-75, 1980-82) and five All-Pro teams (1975, 1979, 1980-82).

Van Note played in 246 games and started 226. Van Note's No. 57 is retired by Atlanta as he is a part of the franchise's Ring of Honor.

Others considered: Jamie Dukes, Todd McClure

Kicker: Morten Andersen (1995-2000, 2006-2007)

Andersen is easily the best placekicker in Atlanta history (and NFL history), connecting on 82 percent of his kicks as a Falcon.

Throughout Andersen's career, he made seven Pro Bowls, including one as a member of the Falcons (1995).

As a Falcon, Andersen became the NFL's career leader in points and in field goals made in 2006.

Others considered: Jay Feely, Mick Luckhurst