“The QB went to jail for fighting dogs”: Bomani Jones reveals what led to him giving up on the Falcons forever

Bomani Jones has, over the years, been an outspoken critic of the Atlanta Falcons. The former ESPN analyst was born in Atlanta and was at one point a fan of the team. However, he turned against the Falcons after a certain event made him realize they were a losing team.

In a recent episode of his “Right Time with Bomani Jones" podcast on Monday, he looked back on the Falcons’ quarterback transition from Michael Vick to Joey Harrington. That moment was an epiphany for Jones, making him realize he's not meant to associate with the team.

The Falcons handed Harrington the starting quarterback role after Vick was suspended for his role in an illegal dogfighting ring in 2007. Vick ultimately pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges in court and served roughly 21 months in prison.

“Was there a single event? The quarterback went to jail for fighting dogs,” Jones said. “They replaced him with Joey Harrington. Fighting dogs. Was there an event? Fighting dogs? You're like, would you start up a helpline for the Atlanta Falcons fans?

“Son, I don't hang out with losers. At this point, that's a choice. Yeah, you keep doing that right there, that's a choice. I can't help you. You ain't looking for help. You just want to lose. You're going to do that without me.”

Joey Harrington didn't work out for the Falcons in the 2007 season after losing Michael Vick. The quarterback threw for 2,215 yards and seven touchdowns with eight interceptions in 12 games. The team finished with a 4-12 record and started two other quarterbacks that season.

How has the Falcons performed since Bomani Jones became a critic

Bomani Jones became a critic of the Atlanta Falcons in 2007, and it was an underwhelming season. The team bounced back the following season with an 11-7 record, making a return to the playoffs but losing the Wild Card.

It's been a series of ups and downs for the Falcons since then. They've only made it to the playoffs five times, including a Wild Card loss, two divisional round losses, a conference championship loss and a Super Bowl loss.

The Falcons haven't made the playoffs since the 2017 season, and with a 3-7 record this season, it doesn't seem like they'll end the streak in 2024. With their performance over the years, the team has continued to give Bomani Jones a good justification for turning into a critic of the team.