On Sunday evening, after the Falcons 23-16 loss to the Panthers that dropped the team to 0-5, Owner Arthur Blank made the decision to fire Dan Quinn and Thomas Dimitroff.
Whenever a team welcomes in a new General Manager and a new Head Coach, that pair usually likes to put their stamp on the franchise.
If previous regime changes in other markets have taught us anything, the only way to do that is to make significant changes, and that sometimes means parting with fan favorites.
John and Hugh take a look at some of the changes that new leadership could look to make when they do take over.
"The dominos tend to fall in situations like this. Normally when you have a new GM and a new coach they try to be in lock-step with one another. How many guys on this team are actually safe," wonders Hugh Douglas. "Matt Ryan and Julio Jones are 20% of your salary cap right there."
"A new head coach might come in and want to go in a different direction, and that means some of your biggest chips are bargaining chips, like Julio Jones," says Douglas. "The Falcons aren't in salary cap hell, but there's concern. Somebody is going to come in here and they might be expendable."
The only person safe is Calvin Ridley, A.J. Terrell, and Grady Jarrett. Those are the three that come to mind immediately," says Hugh Douglas.
"The Falcon for life thing, I don't think anybody is safe," explains John Fricke. "Lindstrom, McGary, and Sheffield, but if somebody needs a veteran center for a stretch run, sure"
Falcons Owner Arthur Blank has not been shy to hang the term "Falcon For Life" on a number of players on the current roster, but you do have to wonder as the team undergoes a rebuilding how firm he will be if a new GM wants to change that.