OPINION: Bring back the Dirty Bird

Players from other teams began doing the “dirty bird” as a taunt, and the dance was pretty much known nation wide.

With that being said, people everywhere were associating it not only with Jamal, but also with the Atlanta Falcons.

The team was doing well and moving towards a super bowl, but Anderson did something extra. He gave the team some added energy and flare, which gave Falcon fans more reason to cheer.

These days many NFL players have endzone dances, but I really miss the days of the signature dances when players had a dance that was truly their own. Not something they stole from a music video or silly rap song.

I miss the days of Deon’s “Prime Time shuffle”, or Terrell’s “Mile-High Salute,” and even as far back as the “Iggy Shuffle” although I was a little young for that one.

Why don’t players bring back some truly personal celebration taunts? I personally found nothing wrong with it. In fact, when Deon would catch a punt return in the 90s I would be cheering for him to score every time. Not because I loved the Cowboys, but because I wanted to see his little shuffle.

I realize that players like Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens catch a lot of flak because of some of their antics, but I really can’t find anything wrong with them.

After all, football is supposed to be fun, and at the NFL level these guys are getting paid to entertain. Sure watching Ochocinco catch a 50-yard pass is amazing, but watching him catch the same pass and then do a line-dance with the team’s cheerleaders is just as amazing, but also entertaining.

I explain the importance of the end-zone dance for a reason. I am, and have always been, an Atlanta Falcons fan, and now that most of the city is behind a winning team again I think its time we added some flare.

Falcon fans are finally coming together behind a team that they not only believe in, but one they enjoy watching. There are dark times in every franchise but Mike Smith, Matty Ice and Tony have brought us out of our recent one.

So let this be a request, better yet a plea. Bring back the dirty bird. We are in the playoffs and it’s the perfect time. I don’t care who does it. Preferably Roddy or Turner, but please someone bring it back. It’s time for a resurrection. I guarantee the fans will remember it and what it once meant to the team.

Matt Wheeler is a reporter for the Barrow Journal. You can reach him at mwheeler@barrowjournal.com.