Falcons Go Extra Mile for Nicholas

ESPN's Pat Yasikinas has a solid story today about Falcons linebacker Stephen Nicholas and his infant son's heart transplant. It's a great story for Father's Day and well worth the read.

But beyond Nicholas and his wife Irene's emotional journey of dealing with a sick child that thankfully has a happy ending now that Stephen Jr. is doing well, something else jumped out from Yasikinas' story: the Falcons as an organization got it right.

It's easy to make jokes about the Falcons' history of ineptitude on the field, but what struck me is that the team got every detail right off the field with Nicholas.

The Falcons seemed to have done everything they could to help Nicholas deal with Stephen Jr.'s health problems.

First, when the Nicholases were trying to figure out what was wrong with their child, Stephanie Blank, wife of owner Arthur Blank, helped ensure that the child was airlifted to Atlanta's children's hospital. Then, with his son in Boston for treatment, Nicholas was allowed to leave the team every Sunday after the game to head to be with him. He wasn't expected to return until Wednesday. A couple of teammates pitched in to help cover his travel expenses.

Also Falcons' director of player programs Kevin Winston served as a liason to help out in whatever way the Falcons could.

"Kevin was on the phone with me all the time,'' Irene said. "He was always checking to see if there was anything I needed or anything the Falcons could do.''

Nicholas could end up being a starter at linebacker this year, having proven his mental toughness by surving a hellish 2008. But beyond that, the Falcons have assuredly helped themselves in the locker room by showing that they treat their players as more than just replaceable cogs.