Dan Reeves cut Juran Bolden in '98 after 1st loss to rival 49ers

[Bravo95]

AJC columnist Mark Bradley raised a good point in the wake of Edwards' release: We've been down this road before. Back in 1998, Dan Reeves cut Juran Bolden, who was a key player on defense and special teams, after they lost to then-division rival San Francisco on the road. Those Niners spent most of the 90s beating down other NFC West teams (ATL, STL, NOR), and this loss probably just sent Dan over the edge.

As you can see here, they really lost that game because of 4 turnovers and bad O-Line play, as Chris Chandler was sacked 7 times. Steve Young proceeded to slice them up like he usually did. So this is kind of the same situation: Team loses to a hated rival again, coach/front office get pissed and drop the hammer on someone who wasn't the real reason they lost to send a message. (Atlanta went 14-2 that season and "upset" the juggernaut Vikings in the NFC title game to reach the Super Bowl... and whatever happened after that is a blur to me). But yeah, here's an old article about that move, and notice how my guy Jessie Tuggle pulled no punches in his quotes.

http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories...o_240575.shtml

Poor play blamed for Bolden's release

By Morris News Service

SUWANEE, GA. -- Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Reeves sent a message to his team Wednesday, waiving reserve defensive back Juran Bolden in the wake of his poor performance in last Sunday's 31-20 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

The move was surprising because of Bolden's age (24), value on special teams and upside potential. Bolden not only was one of the fastest players on the team, but he also has good size (6-foot-2 1/2 , 202 pounds), which is rarely found in corners who can run.

To replace Bolden, the Falcons signed free-agent cornerback Darren Anderson, a six-year veteran who played in 66 games with six starts for Tampa Bay and Kansas City.

"If you've given somebody adequate chances to to improve and he doesn't, you don't have much of a choice," Reeves said. "Juran is an outstanding physical talent. He just wasn't able to put it together assignment-wise in some crucial situations."

Bolden was drafted in the fourth round in 1996 after he spent two years at Mississippi Delta Community College and one year with the Canadian Football League's Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

He was beaten several times by 49ers receivers, including twice for touchdowns by Jerry Rice despite being in position to knock the ball down both times. Reeves criticized him afterward for not rerouting receivers or making plays.

Bolden was well liked off the field, but his teammates didn't seem particularly upset about the decision.

"You could be the greatest athlete on the team, but if you seem to somehow be making the same mistakes over and over, it gets to a point where somebody has to make a decision," linebacker Jessie Tuggle said. "As great of an athlete as Juran is, we've got to get somebody on the team who's more dependable."

[Ramon Nivar]

I like that and I really like Tuggle's response. I remember when we cut Grady Jackson mid-season and that piece of crap DeAngelo Hall cried to the media about how you shouldn't backstab a veteran like that.

[Bravo95]

Tuggle was all business, but then again he was a respected vet league-wide by that point. Different personality from Weatherspoon, who we all like but I wouldn't expect to be that honest after a situation like this. Not yet at least.