Catching up with Falcons Legend Patrick Kerney

On the 60th anniversary of the Atlanta Falcons' founding, I had the opportunity to reconnect with the team's first-round selection from 1999. Patrick Kerney, a two-time Pro Bowler, concluded his NFL career with a total of 82.5 sacks and 19 forced fumbles. Additionally, he earned first-team All-American honors while playing at the University of Virginia.

Craig: The Falcons have now reached 60 years as a franchise and every time there's a list compiled of the all-time greatest players, you're always near the upper third of that grouping.How does that make you feel that you're held in such high regard?

Patrick: Wow, I haven't been following it that closely. It's an immense honor, because there've been so many great players especially at my position, most notably Claude Humphrey and then most recently the great John Abraham. I also think about Chuck Smith who was my mentor. These guys were great players and to be in the same conversation with those guys is beyond anything I would ever be the case when I was a young kid just loving the game of football.

Craig: When I research some of your sacks, the image that continues to appear on a recurring basis is your sack of Aaron Rodgers. Any idea what's going on there, was that the most special sack you had in your career? (laughs)

Patrick: I enjoyed sacking my college teammate Aaron Brooks. He was a fun one to get not only because he was a college teammate, but also because he played for the Saints, that was a double dose in a special nature of getting to him. I had some against the all-time greats, I was able to get Brett Favre a great deal, Aaron Rodgers as you mentioned, Kurt Warner was high on my list. When you get your hands on a hall of fame quarterback even all of these years later, it's still a little bit surreal for me.

Craig:Speaking of legendary quarterbacks, what was it like competing against Michael Vick every day in practice?

Patrick: You know a lot of people ask me about Mike, and I just simply look at them and say that he's the best athlete in the world. It's a bit stunning to hear that, so I repeat it, he's the best athlete in the world. For a moment, forget what he can do with his legs which alone puts in him the top 1% of best athletes in the world. His arm was just incredible. He could run to his right and with a flick of the wrist send the ball sailing 65 yards. He's just the most gifted and special athlete in the modern era.

Craig: For your career, most proud of the durability factor and the fact that pretty much every week you suited up throughout those 11 NFL seasons?

Patrick: I think it's the durability and the consistency. Knowing that from a strategy standpoint the coaches could script a practice or go into a game and know what they were getting from me. That was important, and it added value to me and it's something that I'm proud of.

Craig: What is a day in the life like now for Patrick Kerney?

Patrick: I get up at 5am and do a workout at 5:30. I either pound the weights or do the run machine. I shower up, get the kids breakfast, out the door to school, then I go to work to take care of investment or insurance work for clients and then I get in the carpool with the kids and stay involved in their lives with coaching. I'm doing what I can to be a positive influence on them.