Dunta Robinson, the Book Report

I'm a pack rat. Normally, this is a problem. However, when I'm lying in bed at night and wondering things like "I wonder what all my old Pro Football Prospecti say about the Falcons' new franchise cornerback," it comes in handy. So, here are some thoughts from people who have watched more Texans football than me:

2006 - Robinson is a "bona fide upper echelon cornerback, but like Eddie Murphy on the post-Belushi Saturday Night Live, the man desperately needs some help from his teammates."

2007 - Robinson is the one "bright exception" in the Texans's secondary. He was "extremely streaky" in 2006, but overall, he improved his numbers.

2008 - Robinson was hurt at midseason and then replaced by Fred Bennett, who outperformed Robinson and just about every other corner in the league.

2009 - Robinson missed extensive time with injuries for the second straight year and wasn't right when he was on the field. They do add that "Robinson has exceptional cover skills and a track record of success."

We'll have to wait for the summer to get an evaluation on Robinson's 2009 season. In the meantime, here is an interview with FO's Bill Barnwell about Robinson and the impact on the Texans losing him. Robinson's numbers weren't as good as the Texans' other numbers, but he was seeing their opponents' number one receiver regularly. It does sound like his level of play didn't match the heights he achieved before his injury-plagued 2007 and 2008 seasons.

In sum, the Falcons are taking a gamble here. They've acquired a player who has top talent, but has been hurt and was not great last year. They're signing Robinson in the hope that they are getting the Robinson from 2005-06. This sounds dangerous to me. There has to be a reason why the Texans didn't scratch and claw to keep him. Color me a skeptic of this move.