Above the Clouds

Historical Record
There's little doubt that the Birds have cemented themselves in league history in a number of ways. They've won two championships, they own the second highest all time winning record (77-60-5), and they hold the longest winning streak for a season (11). Of course they've also had the third longest losing streak ever (8), scored the second least points ever in a season, and averaged just about the worst points per season ever. 2002 and 2007 were the championship years while 2003 and 2006 found the Birds dead last in their division. Ever dangerous and ever streaky, that's been the Birds' way.

Through it all, they have been to the playoffs six out of nine years, suffered just three losing seasons, and managed to put themselves in the conversation for best team ever. Actually, there would be a lot more traction for that argument if they didn't have such tough divisional rivalries. Buffy has always proven to be a thorn in the side for the Birds, as the pair of two time champs wage constant battles for the last playoff seed. Buffy aside, the biggest hurdle for the Birds have been Evan's Chunky Monkeys, who have eliminated Jon's team in the conference finals two years running (plus another time in 2005).

More aggravating though, is the Monkey's regular season dominance, which have allowed the Birds to win the top seed -- and a playoff bye -- only once. Here's a fun stat: the Birds have a winning or even record with every other team in the league except against the Monkeys, who have dominated the Birds to the tune of 14-6 in their matchups. That's a 0.300 winning percentage for Jon versus Evan. (The only other team the Birds are down versus is Ante Up, but that is by only one loss.) "You damned dirty ape!"

Recently the Birds have found themselves in a very stable place, with three consecutive winning seasons and three straight second place divisional finishes. Unless their retooled roster collapses, the Birds can look forward to doing plenty more Dirty Bird dances.

Core Roster
There's been no shortage of player movement in the Dirty Birds' history. They've been the most active trade partner in the league and average one roster shakeup per year, and usually for a big name. Right out of the gates, GM Jon signed off on a trade for Ahman Green, giving up franchise cornerstone Eddie George just a few weeks into the first season. That gave the Birds a stellar backfield of Green and Corey Dillon, who became one of the best running combos in the league. The inaugural draft also produced Marvin Harrison, who would team with a number of big name receivers over the years. Two Atlanta Falcons were drafted that year, as RB Jamal Anderson was on his way down while QB Michael Vick was about to explode. The stand in QB that first year was Tom Brady, free agent surprise and eventual superstar -- but not for the Birds.

By the second CTDB season, the Dirty Birds had completely gelled and romped their way to a championship led by Vick, Green, Dillon, Harrison, Plaxico Burress, Jerry Rice, and young Chad Johnson and Koren Robinson. Jon's quick trigger finger decimated the team next year as he traded away Vick, Green, and Harrison for the rights to Ricky Williams, Drew Bledsoe, Joe Horn, and Charles Rogers. That trade imploded when Ricky retired soon after and Lei's Tiiite End Jammers went on to an easy championship powered by the Birds' star players (and Priest Holmes).

A few seasons in, Jon's team was wiped of talent and he hit the draft boards and free agent bread line. Over the next three years there became a rotating array of players such as Plaxico Burress, Joe Horn, Rudi Johnson, Willis McGahee, Roy Williams, Larry Fitzgerald, Cadillac Williams, and even an unretired Ricky Williams. Trades for Jamal Lewis, Randy Moss, and Plaxico came and went. The drafting of Steven Jackson in 2005 solidified the backfield. For the next few years, it would be S-Jax, Rudi, and Fitzgerald who would lead the team.

Never one to sit on a quarterback, the Birds traded away Tom Brady before his record setting year -- and Randy Moss in a separate move -- but still managed to co-win a Super Bowl with a loaded receiving corps that boasted Fitzgerald, Burress, Braylon Edwards, Wes Welker, and Greg Jennings. Dependable plodder Rudi Johnson was replaced by dynamic rookie Adrian Peterson and the Birds soon featured two top five running backs and three top fifteen receivers. Post-Brady, the Birds have rotated through QBs like Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Hasselbeck, Jay Cutler, Carson Palmer, Jason Campbell, and Matt Ryan. Whoever provided less headache usually won the starting gig for the week.

A few words here about Plaxico Burress, who has been acquired and dumped by Dirty Birds management quite a few times. He was traded onto the team in 2002, cut by 2004, reacquired via trade in 2005, and then traded away in 2008. You could call it a love hate relationship and no wonder Burress shot himself in the leg. It's almost inevitable he'll become a Dirty Bird again in the future.

During this past offseason, Steven Jackson was finally shipped off after five successful seasons (along with Wes Welker) and Falcon Michael Turner was brought in to pair with Peterson. With a proven knack for finding young receiving talent, the Birds struck again with Miles Austin last year and going forward he'll replace Welker in the lineup. A strong running game, deep receivers, and some patchworking at quarterback, that has been the Dirty Birds' way and it's resulted in two championships. Is a third on the horizon?

Season Breakdowns
2009: 7-5-1; Second in division and lost to Chunky Monkeys in conference finals
2008: 7-6; Started off 5-1, finished second in division and lost to Chunky Monkeys in conference finals
2007: 10-3; Second in division and advances to Super Bowl where they tied with Gang Green for co-champs
2006: 4-8-1; Started off 1-5-1, and despite winning their last three games, tanked to last place in the division
2005: 7-6; Third seed for the playoffs and gets knocked out first round by Chunky Monkeys
2004: 6-7; Starts off 6-3 but loses last four games of the regular season to barely sneak into the post-season, where they were beat by eventual champ Buffy in round one
2003: 5-8; Lost four in a row to slide into last place in the division during title defense year
2002: 10-3; Goes on a record eleven game winning streak and hoses the competition for their first Super Bowl win
2001: 7-6; Had a five game winning streak but ends up out of playoffs due to tie-break

Stats (full)
Highest Avg Game Score, Season: 115.60 (2002)
Most Points Scored, Game: 157 (2002)
Least Points Scored, Game: 45 (2001)
Best Margin of Victory, Game: 84 (2002)
Worst Margin of Defeat, Game: -71 (2003)
Longest Winning Streak, Season: 11 (2002)
Longest Losing Streak, Season: 8 (2006)