On Saturday, former Falcons receiver Roddy White unloaded on Atlanta offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. On Sunday, White’s agent jumped on the pile.
“There is one reason Roddy is no longer with the Falcons and it is Kyle Shanahan,” Jonathan Feinsod told D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Kyle forced the Falcons to choose between him or Roddy. This was not Roddy’s choice. Over the last 11 years Roddy has played for four different head coaches. Four different offensive coordinators. Three different wide receiver coaches and one incredible owner. Their opinions of Roddy and his opinion of them would all be consistently positive. Roddy has had and continues to have an incredible professional and personal relationship with them all.”
Falcons coach Dan Quinn denied the contention that Shanahan made a Roddy-or-me ultimatum, claiming that Quinn made the decision without consulting with Shanahan.
“I did not consult or confer with any of the assistant coaches,” Quinn said. “From my long history as an assistant coach, I know often times you want to have everybody forever. I did not confer with Kyle in any way regarding this decision.”
Regardless of whether Shanahan did or didn’t lobby for White to leave, the decision to keep Shanahan after one so-so season necessarily became a decision to get rid of White. With Shanahan not using the 2005 first-rounder very much, it was impossible to justify White’s salary.
Whether the Falcons made the right decision will hinge on how well White does or doesn’t perform elsewhere. As a practical matter, the double-barreled blast from White and Feinsod could make teams leery about bringing White to town.
