Atlanta Falcons Hall of Shame: Worst breakup and more

After highlighting the Falcons by noting their players who someday could be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, we flip the script to give you Atlanta's Hall of Shame. 

Worst breakup: Michael Vick

Deion Sanders was an option here considering how devastatingly good he was for the 49ers after fleeing Atlanta in free agency following the 1993 season, but Vick's break-up with the team was much uglier. 

At one point, he was arguably the league's most marketable star. The quarterback's rare dual-threat ability made him must-see TV. That changed following his 2007 arrest on dog-fighting charges, subsequent trial and then imprisonment for 23 months in federal prison. 

Atlanta made the obvious choice by releasing Vick and struggled without him, as many expected. The Falcons went 4-12 that season. Things went so poorly that head coach Bobby Petrino infamously ditched the team 13 games into the season. The Vick situation led to the team drafting QB Matt Ryan third overall in 2008.

Worst draft pick: Bruce Pickens

The third overall pick in the 1991 NFL Draft, Pickens — who started at Nebraska — was traded to the Packers after Atlanta's 0-5 start in 1993. The cornerback only made eight, mostly unimpressive starts for the Falcons. Pickens could be on this list in the "Worst break-up" category considering he threatened to sue the Falcons. As bad as Atlanta was to land such a high draft pick, drafting Pickens was much worse.

Worst free-agency signing: Ray Edwards

The Falcons had reason to be excited after signing Edwards to a five-year, $27.5 million contract in 2011. Atlanta was coming off a 13-3 season and had an ascending offense with Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and Roddy White. Plus, Edwards had been a major asset for Minnesota with 29.5 sacks in five seasons. At 26, the defensive end from Purdue was in the prime of his career. Paired with fellow defensive end John Abraham, he appeared destined to give Atlanta one of the best pass-rushing duos in the NFL.

Edwards, however, flopped, tallying 3.5 sacks in 25 games before being cut midway through his second year with Atlanta. He pursued a boxing career after being cut, and on the way out, he suggested head coach Mike Smith had a grudge against him. "He just didn't like me," said Edwards in 2013. Based on his lackluster time with the franchise, it's easy to understand why.

Worst loss: Super Bowl LI on Feb. 5, 2017

When sports fans think of the Atlanta Falcons, "28-3" is one of the first things that come to mind. It's a shame, considering just how good Ryan was in leading Atlanta to Super Bowl LI. He was the clear MVP that year, the best QB piloting the league's best offense. Instead, the Falcons received the "chocker" label that they haven't been able to rid themselves of since.

New England, as you may recall, overcame a 28-3 deficit and won Super Bowl LI in overtime, 34-28.

Falcons fans can take solace in the fact that Atlanta is the only team to build a 25-point lead against Tom Brady in a Super Bowl.