July

July 18, 2008   

Small strides could bolster game of Falcons DE Anderson

After a disappointing rookie season, Falcons DE Jamaal Anderson is determined to get better in Year Two and has put a lot of work into improving this offseason, the way we hear it. Anderson, the eighth overall pick in the 2007 draft, was unable to get a sack last season, but the coaching staff remained patient with him and he started all 16 games. Sources say some of Anderson’s problems stem from being a long strider, which makes it easy for blockers to knock him off his course. He’ll need to do a better job of taking short, choppy steps and has to use his hands more to gain leverage, as well. Close observers of his in Atlanta say he wants to be good and has a solid foundation of teachers in head coach Mike Smith and DL coach Ray Hamilton, who served in the same position with the Jaguars for the past five years while Smith worked as Jacksonville’s defensive coordinator.

July 4, 2008   

Falcons have little patience for S Stone's off-field woes

We hear the image-conscious Falcons could be prepared to part ways with second-year S Daren Stone if he’s convicted of driving under the influence. Stone, who is considered the heir to SS Lawyer Milloy, was arrested on a drunken-driving charge in the early morning of June 15. The Falcons’ organization has been hypersensitive to any charges against employees as it tries to rebuild its image in the wake of the embarrassing Michael Vick saga. Stone mostly worked on special-teams units last year, but sources say he had the potential to flourish in new head coach Mike Smith’s defensive scheme. Atlanta does have some depth behind starting safeties Milloy and Erik Coleman, but it took a hit when Jimmy Williams was released last month, and Stone’s departure would be another setback. However, coaches have been encouraged by the performance of rookie FS Thomas DeCoud in workouts, so much so that he took some snaps with the first team. The Falcons may be willing to sacrifice some depth in order to avoid another scarring public-relations fiasco.

June

June 25, 2008   

Falcons head coach Smith oversees culture change as offseason activities wrap up

Sources in Atlanta tell PFW that first-year head coach Mike Smith took an almost opposite tack from the dictatorial approach employed by Bobby Petrino last year during offseason OTAs and minicamps. We hear it’s much less tense, assistant coaches no longer are afraid to speak up and schemes are being drawn up that cater to the team’s strengths, rather than forcing the squad to adapt to the coach’s system. Smith canceled the Falcons’ final minicamp, giving his players a bit of a break before training camp on July 26 and, word is, they seemed to appreciate it. While a positive, upbeat tone may not lead to a great turnaround in terms of wins and losses, we hear that it bodes well for changing the overall culture surrounding the team, which is a key first step in the rebuilding process. Players know they will be rewarded for hard work. That wasn’t always clear with Petrino at the helm.

June 13, 2008   

Falcons work on defining RB Norwood's role

The past two Falcons coaching regimes have tried to figure out the best way to utilize the unique talents offered by backup RB Jerious Norwood, and new head coach Mike Smith’s staff is prepared to take on the same task. Norwood is undersized at just 202 pounds and isn’t built to withstand the beating that every-down backs take. The role of workhorse running back will be fulfilled by the Falcons’ prized free-agent signee Michael Turner. Norwood, however, has shown the speed and breakaway ability that few other backs in the league possess. He has averaged an impressive 6.7 yards per touch with a little more than eight touches per game in his two seasons. Reports indicate Norwood could get more involved as a receiver split out wide to create mismatches and force defensive coordinators to make adjustments. Smith seems to understand that he has a valuable weapon at his disposal in Norwood and will get creative in order to put him in situations that are more conducive to success.

May

May 30, 2008   

Mularkey getting a feel for new franchise cornerstone Ryan

Matt Ryan underwent an extensive check of his personality, background and athletic ability before the draft, but the evaluation process in Atlanta is just beginning. Ryan, the Falcons’ new face of the franchise, will have at least one set of eyes on him during all team activities. “I watch (Ryan’s) huddle presence, I watch what he does,” Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey told PFW this week. “We as a staff constantly are evaluating everybody, so I look at: Is he the first one in the classroom? Is he the first one in the weight room? Who does he hang with? I am constantly watching him.” Mularkey said the team is “throwing the whole ball of wax” at Ryan during the ongoing offseason practices so that he can begin the process of tailoring the offense to the rookie sometime down the road.

May 23, 2008   

Falcons lay groundwork for rookie quarterback's Week One start

Matt Ryan

The stage has been set for Matt Ryan to be the Falcons’ starter at quarterback by Week One of this season. On Tuesday they signed the rookie to a six-year, $72 million contract, with $34.75 million guaranteed, and announced the deal at a gala in owner Arthur Blank's office building, with potential suite holders and team investors in attendance. Commissioner Roger Goodell, who was in town for the owners' meeting regarding the Collective Bargaining Agreement, was also on hand for the press conference. Sources say getting a contract finalized early was part of the plan to make sure Ryan would not miss any part of training camp and thus would gain a strong understanding of the offense and personnel. Following the Michael Vick saga, Falcons representatives had said they weren’t going to pin the hopes of their club on any one player’s shoulders again, but it appears they have changed their tune, consistently referring to Ryan as the “franchise player.” The pressure on Ryan to lead the offense is mounting, but we hear he has handled the situation like a pro thus far.

May 14, 2008   

Falcons WR Horn wants to be traded

Joe Horn told PFW correspondent Steve Wyche, a Falcons beat writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, that he was prepared to ask for a trade as the team’s minicamp wrapped up on Monday. Horn has long been rumored to be on the outs in Atlanta, and the Falcons’ selection of Louisville WR Harry Douglas in the third round of April's draft seemed to confirm the sentiment. The 13th-year veteran likely won’t be higher than fourth on the depth chart, with Roddy White, Laurent Robinson and Douglas ahead of him. Horn is looking for a larger role on a Super Bowl-contending team. GM Thomas Dimitroff said the 36-year-old remains in the team’s plans, but whether that means as a player or a part of a trade remains to be seen. One obvious destination for Horn would be the Cowboys, who are in the market for a receiver. However, there is no indication that Dallas has made any inquiry as to what it would take to land Horn, who a year ago signed a four-year contract worth up to $18.5 million with incentives.

May 9, 2008   

Boley's battery charge stuns observers, could impact contract negotiations

Just as the Falcons were set to cast aside the ghosts left over from an embarrassing ’07 campaign and open a mandatory minicamp this weekend, a run-in with police by a player whom observers least expected to see arrested threw a wrench in the plans. SLB Michael Boley, who is largely considered an individual of high character, was charged with family-violence battery, a misdemeanor, on May 3 after he allegedly became physical with his wife, Chantelle. Sources say the franchise is extremely sensitive to incidents like Boley’s following the Michael Vick saga of last year, and it could have a profound effect on the fourth-year veteran’s ongoing long-term contract negotiations with management, pending further details that should emerge from the case. Boley, arguably the team’s best player and someone who often represented the Falcons as a mentor to young children, admitted to police that he pushed his wife out the door as the two were involved in a heated argument. Boley signed a one-year tender for just over $2 million last month as a restricted free agent.

April

April 23, 2008   

Uncertainty about ORT Weiner has Falcons cross-training O-linemen

Falcons ORT Todd Weiner sat out the team’s recent minicamp and there are concerns about whether he will be ready to play this season, according to sources in Atlanta. Weiner underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee late last season and is in the midst of a daunting rehabilitation project. The Falcons have begun cross-training linemen at multiple spots so that if a shift is necessary — to fill a hole left by Weiner or any other injured starter — it will be as smooth as possible. We hear the new offensive coaching staff believes Justin Blalock, who started at left guard last season, may not be tough enough or athletic enough to play the position and could slide over to right tackle if Weiner is out. Blalock should have some familiarity with right tackle, having played there for the majority of his college career at Texas. Quinn Ojinnaka, who started at left tackle late in ’07, has worked out at left guard and could be an opening-day starter at the OLG spot if Blalock moves to tackle.

April 18, 2008   

Falcons FS Williams sits out two of three days at minicamp

Falcons FS Jimmy Williams participated in the first day of Atlanta’s voluntary minicamp this week but was absent the next two days. There was no explanation for his departure, but when asked about Williams, head coach Mike Smith emphasized the workouts were not mandatory. Williams, however, was the only Falcons veteran not present. Sources tell PFW the third-year player was running drills with the defense’s third team on Day One, while free-agent signee Erik Coleman and second-year man Antoine Harris worked ahead of him. We hear it could be that Williams, who thought he would have a chance to compete for the starting job, was upset about his positioning on the depth chart and left in a form of protest. Williams, the Falcons’ top pick in the 2006 draft, was in the same spot last season but mostly flew under the radar while bigger stories like Michael Vick’s indictment and Bobby Petrino’s resignation stole the headlines. It’s premature to reach a conclusion about Williams’ future with the club, but with Coleman in place, the Falcons are prepared to move on without him if he continues to be a no-show at upcoming mandatory events.

April 2, 2008   

Elam bolsters Falcons on and off field

In addition to a boost on special teams, the Falcons’ signing of PK Jason Elam gives the team a player with a long track record of involvement in community service — an attribute Atlanta’s front office values highly right now. Owner Arthur Blank is fully aware of the damage done to the Falcons’ image by Michael Vick’s involvement in a dogfighting ring and Elam, who grew up in nearby Snellville, Ga., is viewed as someone who can help restore a more positive reputation for the franchise. On the field, Elam’s contributions will be crucial to the success of the team. The Falcons will likely struggle to get into the red zone with an unsettled situation at quarterback and left tackle, but the 38-year-old’s powerful leg gives the team a shot at scoring points off short drives, which could be plentiful. Last season’s kicker, 47-year-old Morten Andersen, had great success inside 40 yards, but didn’t have the range to kick from further out.

March

March 28, 2008   

Falcons WR White becoming focus of team's offensive attack

Roddy White

Once maligned as a draft bust, Falcons WR Roddy White could become the team’s No. 1 option on offense next season. In an otherwise dismal season for the franchise, White, a first-round pick in 2005, emerged as the team’s top offensive weapon last year, compiling 83 catches and 1,202 receiving yards, which marked the fifth-highest total in each category for a Falcons receiver in franchise history. Though the addition of RB Michael Turner will create an added emphasis on the ground game, White’s ability to get separation from cornerbacks on short or long routes, while also shifting to different spots in the formation before the snap, could very well make him Atlanta’s top offensive player, according to our sources. We hear White, who had more receptions and receiving yards last season than he did in his first two years combined, finally realized how great it feels to have individual success, and once he got a taste, he didn’t let down. While his role on the field will be enhanced, our source in Atlanta said not to expect White to take on more of a position of leadership. Becoming a more vocal player in the locker room wouldn’t mesh with his personality, we’re told.

March 19, 2008   

No good options on roster as Falcons contemplate replacing Hall

Updated at 6 p.m. EDT Thursday, March 20

The long-reported trade to send Falcons CB DeAngelo Hall to the Raiders was finalized Thursday, according to the NFL Network. Hall will reportedly receive $70 million over seven years, with $24.5 million guaranteed, in a new contract. Meanwhile, the Falcons, who will receive a 2008 second-round pick (34th overall) and a 2009 fifth-rounder in the swap, must turn their attention to filling the void left by the departure of a Pro Bowl-caliber cornerback entering the prime of his career. We hear the team is very high on last year’s sixth-round pick, CB David Irons, because of his physicality and athleticism, but there are questions about his readiness to assume a starting role. Atlanta could start four-year veteran CB-S Von Hutchins, a recent free-agent signing, at the beginning of the season and then hand the job over to a rookie, although that would leave the club with two inexperienced starters at corner. Chris Houston, entering his second season, is slated to start at the other corner.

March 14, 2008   

QBs Redman, Harrington will be short-term solution in Atlanta

The Falcons re-signed QBs Joey Harrington and Chris Redman, but only to keep the seat warm, a source said. Redman and Harrington, who combined to start 14 games for Atlanta last season, will battle for the starting job while the team breaks in a rookie signalcaller, who will likely be selected early in the April draft. With the Falcons’ offensive line in need of some major rebuilding, we hear GM Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Mike Smith could wait a full season before allowing the newcomer to take the reins of the offense. As for the two veterans battling for what could be a one-year job as starter, word is Redman, who led the squad in passing touchdowns (10) last season, has an edge in the fight. He has the full support of his teammates, who were impressed with his leadership and how he distributed the ball in the final four games of 2007, while Harrington is far less popular in the locker room because of his conservative style on the field.

March 5, 2008   

Upcoming minicamp could help decide Falcons' next cap casualties

A second round of Falcons cuts similar to the mass release of TE Alge Crumpler, DT Rod Coleman, QB Byron Leftwich and four others on Feb. 15 has not come yet, but we hear more trimming could take place after a minicamp three weeks prior to the draft in April. Teams with new head coaches, such as Atlanta, get an extra camp before the draft in addition to the two each team holds post-draft. First-year coach Mike Smith will likely use that time to take a close look at WR Joe Horn and others to decide whether they are expendable or not. As of now, WRs Roddy White, Michael Jenkins and Laurent Robinson are entrenched as the Falcons’ top three pass catchers, so Smith will gauge whether the 36-year-old Horn is a good fit as a No. 4 or if Atlanta would be better served by spending a draft pick on his replacement. The minicamp will be voluntary and while many veterans of Horn’s stature opt not to attend such workouts, our source said he expects the “professional” to be in attendance.

February

Feb. 27, 2008   

LSU's Dorsey would 'love to be a bird'

Boston College QB Matt Ryan and LSU DT Glenn Dorsey both had complimentary things to say about the Falcons at the Scouting Combine, when asked about the possibility of being selected by Atlanta with the third pick of the draft. "I'd love to be a bird," Dorsey, a Gonzales, La., native, said. The Falcons have several holes to fill on both sides of the ball and a wealth of options on how to use the third overall choice. A strong case can be made for either player, but with a Patriots-style blueprint implemented by GM Thomas Dimitroff, the former New England director of college scouting, building a strong defense, particularly on the line, could be the No. 1 priority, and Dorsey would be the obvious choice. "(Dimitroff and I) have talked, philosophically, how (the Patriots) approach the draft and how we're going to approach the draft," Falcons coach Mike Smith told PFW. "We'll be very similar, philosophically. (Dimitroff) comes from a good line."

Feb. 20, 2008   

Housecleaning just starting in Atlanta

Our source in Atlanta says that even after releasing seven players, including TE Alge Crumpler, on Feb. 15, the Falcons have plenty more cuts planned. We hear the Falcons didn't clear a considerable amount of cap space with the first round of cuts and will need to do more trimming to get to the $23 million mark owner Arthur Blank said he wants the team to have to spend. The most likely cap casualties are veterans RB Warrick Dunn, ORG Kynan Forney and WR Joe Horn, along with FS Jimmy Williams. In another cost-saving measure, word is MLB Keith Brooking could have his contract restructured, if he's not released. Surprisingly, it looks like QB Joey Harrington will be kept as insurance for next season. If Chris Redman is not re-signed by Feb. 29, Harrington will be the only quarterback on Atlanta's roster. Word is that much of the newly created cap flexibility will be used on the squad's nine draft picks and that it's unlikely GM Thomas Dimitroff will get involved in bidding wars for high-priced free agents.

Feb. 13, 2008   

Little-used Falcons FB Mughelli should see role increase in Smith regime

Falcons FB Ovie Mughelli is looking forward to spending more time on the field and less on the sideline with new head coach Mike Smith and offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey at the helm. Atlanta gave Mughelli, formerly with the Ravens, the largest contract ever for a fullback last offseason when they signed him to a six-year, $18 million deal with a $5 million signing bonus, but he was used sparingly in former coach Bobby Petrino's scheme. From the day he was introduced, Smith has said he is committed to re-establishing the power running game. "(Smith) sounds like somebody who's going to get back to doing what I'm most comfortable with, which is smashmouth football," Mughelli told PFW. "It's what I fit in best with. In Baltimore, we had Jamal Lewis running downhill and to the tackles. That's what I do best. I thought that was what we were going to do last year, but we got away from that. I'm excited to get started."

January

Jan. 30, 2008   

Falcons owner Blank says he considered stripping McKay of GM duties two years ago

When Falcons owner Arthur Blank announced in December that then president-general manager Rich McKay would be stripped of his GM duties, it came as a surprise to many. However, according to Blank, the move was years in the making. In an exclusive interview with PFW, Blank said he first spoke with McKay about the splitting of his job two years ago at the Scouting Combine. “We talked about the job being just too much at some point, as we got closer to facing the reality of potentially a new stadium,” Blank said. “We needed to split the job, because it’s too much to ask one person to be general manager and president of an organization, given the complexities today in the NFL, given the complexities of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.” When asked why it took two years to make such a move, Blank responded, “We’re now up to the point where we have to start engaging the gears on a potentially new stadium, and that’s potentially going to take a lot more time.” Blank said McKay is happy with his new role in Atlanta, although other sources have said he would likely take a job elsewhere if he was offered GM authority.