Arthur Blank on Dan Quinn's job security: 'We'll take the next couple weeks to evaluate where we are'
ATLANTA -- The obituaries for Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn were written seemingly weeks ago. Supposedly the only thing owner Arthur Blank was waiting for was the right time to make the coaching change, which many assumed would be when the Falcons reached their bye week.
But that's not the case as Atlanta heads into its bye this week.
In front of a sea of reporters following Quinn's press conference after Atlanta's sixth straight loss, Blank said he would take "the next couple weeks" in order to "evaluate" where the Falcons stand as an organization.
"Much like the coaches, I'm extraordinarily disappointed in the season," Blank said. "No one would have anticipated 1-7. The lack of consistency. Today was a prime example of that.
"We'll take the next couple of weeks, and during this bye period of time and evaluate where we are, and whatever decision we have to make will be made for the right reasons for the long term."
In the 27-20 loss to the Seahawks at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, the Falcons fell behind 24-0. Atlanta has faced a deficit of at least 17 points in all seven of its losses this year.
The Falcons didn't give up, playing some of their best football of the season during the second half. They held the Seahawks to negative yardages in the third quarter and only three points in the entire second half while backup quarterback Matt Schaub and the offense finally warmed up.
But it was, as usual for this year, too little, too late.
"It's bewilderment how we can play that way in the first half and completely differently in the second half," Blank said. "That's kind of been typical of the year."
The Falcons owner added that it's been a "very painful" season and says that he feels the pain of the fan base.
The Falcons are 1-7 for the first time since 2003.
