Former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White blames Kyle Shanahan for Super Bowl collapse
Roddy White takes exception to Kyle Shanahan's play-calling during Super Bowl LI
Wednesday 15 February 2017 21:59, UK
Former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White said he would have "fought" ex offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan and blames him for their dramatic Super Bowl collapse.
White, who spent all 11 years of his NFL career with the franchise before retiring in 2015, was upset with some of the play-calling on the offensive side as the Falcons blew a 25-point lead deep into the second half to the New England Patriots.
And White claims Shanahan, who left the Falcons to become the 49ers head coach earlier this month, is the man to blame for the 34-28 overtime defeat in Houston.
"I'm glad I wasn't a part of that team because I probably literally would've fought him," White said.
White felt the decision not to run the ball three times after Julio Jones put Atlanta in field-goal range to go up two scores late in the contest was a huge turning point in the contest.
"You destroyed a dream for a city," White said. "It's bigger than me. The city of Atlanta needed that championship and you had it. [Team owner] Arthur Blank needed that championship and he deserved to win that game, with everything he's been through. It was finally our time to win and it just hurt me that we didn't get it done."
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