ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) \u2014 The Atlanta Falcons fired both head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot after a second straight 8-9 season Sunday night. It means next fall there will be new leadership in Flowery Branch.<\/p>\n
Players on Sunday and Monday expressed support for both men, especially Morris.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m behind Ra, he hasn\u2019t changed throughout this whole process,\u201d said Jessie Bates, a Falcons linebacker.<\/p>\n
One by one, players were vocal about wanting to see Morris back. But late Sunday, Morris met with Arthur Blank and was fired.<\/p>\n
Monday morning, as they cleaned out their lockers, players expressed disappointment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the nature of the business that we\u2019re in. We\u2019re here to win so, haven\u2019t been so I understand, but definitely a little bit disappointed by it for sure,\u201d linebacker Josh Woods said.<\/p>\n
The Falcons finished the season on a four-game winning streak after starting the year 4-9. Morris and Fontenot were allowed to hold an emotional team meeting Monday morning to address the team a final time.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was hard for a lot of guys,\u201d said long snapper Liam McCullough. \u201cThey\u2019re great people and they have a massive amount of respect with the guys on this team. There were tears that were shed.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a letter to the Falcons\u2019 fan base, Blank mentioned a number of changes coming. Rich McKay would no longer serve as president and CEO of the Falcons, moving to a similar role over the larger Arthur M. Blank Sports and Entertainment organization. Greg Beadles would take over.<\/p>\n
A new position will also be added, president of football, who will have final say on football decisions and will be pivotal in hiring the new head coach and general manager.<\/p>\n
As the players braced for new leadership, they were vocal about what they would like to see in a new head coach.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomebody who holds everybody to a high standard,\u201d Woods said. \u201cMore than anything somebody that can come in and win, create a winning culture.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Falcons have retained consultant groups ZRG Partners and Sportsology Group to help hire the head coach and general manager, respectively.<\/p>\n
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