FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The excitement surrounding the Atlanta Falcons' unexpected run to the playoffs stems mostly from the rapid rise from the ruins of 2007, checkered by quarterback Michael Vick's dog-fighting imprisonment and then-coach Bobby Petrino's Dear John departure. But the devolution of the franchise started well before that, not long after a berth in the NFC Championship Game after the 2004 season sent expectations off the chart. The roster wasn't as good as those who built it thought.
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