Hall gets shot at old team
By: John Keim
Examiner Staff Writer
November 6, 2009
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| Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall said Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff, below, lied to him about his future in Atlanta. (Getty Images) |
Redskins cornerback says Falcons GM lied
ASHBURN - DeAngelo Hall knows what this won't be like. This is not a national topic, like a game from last weekend. This is not the return of the longtime hero. It is, however, the return of a former star who felt spurned by his old team.
"I'm not Brett Favre walking back into Lambeau," the Redskins cornerback said.
But like Favre, Hall has a beef with the management of his former team. Hall, who made two Pro Bowls in four seasons with Atlanta, said Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff lied to him after the 2007 season. Dimitroff, who joined the Falcons after the 2007 season along with coach Mike Smith, has declined comment to Atlanta reporters on what happened.
"I didn't trust Dimitroff at all," Hall said. "He lied to me several times. He promised me he was going to get something done [on a contract] and he's behind my back trying to shop me at the draft.
"I like coach Smith. He's a good coach. I liked his staff. When [management] lied, I can't trust them and I've got to get out of there."
Hall said Atlanta nearly traded him to Washington -- he said he had agreed to terms of a deal with the Redskins, but the teams could not agree on compensation. He said other teams, including Dallas and Jacksonville, also were involved. But only Oakland could agree on compensation both to Atlanta (a second-round pick in 2008 and a fifth-rounder in 2009) and to Hall.
The Raiders cut him midway through last season and he played the final seven games with Washington.
"He's doing a good job," secondary coach Jerry Gray said. "He wants to be in position to make more plays. He's one of those talented guys that can make plays for you."
Hall also clashed with former Falcons coach Bobby Petrino -- he referred to him Monday as an "[expletive]," who left before his first year was over.
"Did I think I'd be there forever?" said Hall, who also will return punts on occasion Sunday. "Yeah, I did. But it's a business. You end up where you end up. I'm loving it here. It's going to be emotion tied into this thing. Hell yes, I'll cry if we win."
