Thursday, March 31, 2005
Early 2005 Review
Falcons are looking solid for the 2005 season! Can't wait for it to start!
Thursday, July 29, 2004
Falcons - Recent Signings
It's one No. 1 down and one No. 1 to go for the Falcons, who agreed late July 27 in principle with Ohio State wide receiver Michael Jenkins, the latter of the club's two selections in the first round. The agreement with Jenkins, which will be finalized July 28, leaves only standout Virginia Tech cornerback DeAngelo Hall unsigned. Hall, the eighth choice in the draft, is not close to an agreement and will officially become a holdout when rookie head coach Jim Mora convenes his training camp July 28. "I'm never one that says you're close or far because truly you're about a 10-second phone call from being able to finalize any of these deals," Falcons president Rich McKay told The Associated Press of negotiations with Hall's agent, Joel Segal. "So hopefully this is the one. I'll do everything I can."
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
Rookies Demorrio Williams and Etric Pruitt sign
Rookies Demorrio Williams and Etric Pruitt signed three-year contracts with the Falcons on Tuesday night. Williams, a fourth-round selection from Nebraska, was given a signing bonus of roughly $345,000, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. His overall deal is worth an estimated $1.3 million. Pruitt was given a bonus of about $63,000, and his overall deal is worth roughly $1 million. "It is always good to get the process started on getting our draft picks signed," Falcons' general manager Rich McKay said Tuesday. "We will continue to work on signing the remaining five draft picks with the objective of getting them signed by the start of training camp." The most notable members of the Falcons' draft class are cornerback DeAngelo Hall and wide receiver Michael Jenkins, fellow first-round draft picks.
Tuesday, July 13, 2004
Finneran competes in NFL Cayman Challenge
Falcons wide receiver Brian Finneran along with seven of his fellow NFL players, recently participated in a series of competitions in the first-ever NFL Cayman Challenge. The hour-long program is set to air on the NFL Network on Wednesday, July 14 at 8 p.m. ET and again on Sunday, July 18 at 9 p.m. ET.
The eight players divided into two teams of four, the Blue and Red team. Finneran, along with Daunte Culpepper (Vikings), Ed Reed (Ravens) and Marcellus Wiley (Cowboys) made up the Blue Team, while the Red Team consisted of A.J. Feeley (Dolphins), Bubba Franks (Packers), Ephraim Salaam (Jaguars) and Roy Williams (Cowboys).
The NFL Network special will detail the quartets dueling in a series of six, team-oriented events amidst the backdrop of the popular Caribbean vacationing spot. Also included in the one-hour program will be a collection of short features chronicling the vacations of the eight athletes and their families on the lush, three-island British territory. NFL Network’s Michelle Beadle and Houston Texans’ Cheerleader Carrie Milbank will serve as hosts.
NFL Network is carried on DIRECTV’s basic service that is seen in more than 12.6 million homes on Channel 212. NFL Network is also available on Voom satellite service on Channel 312 as well as on cable via Charter Communications and Insight Communications. To get NFL Network, call 866-NFL-NETWORK.
The eight players divided into two teams of four, the Blue and Red team. Finneran, along with Daunte Culpepper (Vikings), Ed Reed (Ravens) and Marcellus Wiley (Cowboys) made up the Blue Team, while the Red Team consisted of A.J. Feeley (Dolphins), Bubba Franks (Packers), Ephraim Salaam (Jaguars) and Roy Williams (Cowboys).
The NFL Network special will detail the quartets dueling in a series of six, team-oriented events amidst the backdrop of the popular Caribbean vacationing spot. Also included in the one-hour program will be a collection of short features chronicling the vacations of the eight athletes and their families on the lush, three-island British territory. NFL Network’s Michelle Beadle and Houston Texans’ Cheerleader Carrie Milbank will serve as hosts.
NFL Network is carried on DIRECTV’s basic service that is seen in more than 12.6 million homes on Channel 212. NFL Network is also available on Voom satellite service on Channel 312 as well as on cable via Charter Communications and Insight Communications. To get NFL Network, call 866-NFL-NETWORK.
Thursday, July 08, 2004
Tight end Goodwin retires
The retirement of Falcons tight end Hunter Goodwin became official Tuesday, and with it came a degree of uncertainty as the Falcons head to training camp in three weeks.
Goodwin, an eight-year veteran signed in March to be the No. 2 tight end behind Alge Crumpler, ended his career because he could not overcome a nagging hip injury. It led the Falcons last week to sign Justin Swift, who played for the 49ers from 2000 to 2002. He was out of football last season after getting cut by the Houston Texans in training camp.
New coordinator Greg Knapp, who coached Swift in San Francisco, won't use two tight-end formations as much as former coach Dan Reeves, but should run them some of the time. Swift has played 49 NFL games but has only 23 catches. Last year's No. 2 tight end, Brian Kozlowski, signed as a free agent with Washington.
"He was a good match for us for now," coach Jim Mora said of Swift. "We're still hunting, though."
If the Falcons make another move at the position, it would likely come during training camp as other teams trim their rosters.
Goodwin, an eight-year veteran signed in March to be the No. 2 tight end behind Alge Crumpler, ended his career because he could not overcome a nagging hip injury. It led the Falcons last week to sign Justin Swift, who played for the 49ers from 2000 to 2002. He was out of football last season after getting cut by the Houston Texans in training camp.
New coordinator Greg Knapp, who coached Swift in San Francisco, won't use two tight-end formations as much as former coach Dan Reeves, but should run them some of the time. Swift has played 49 NFL games but has only 23 catches. Last year's No. 2 tight end, Brian Kozlowski, signed as a free agent with Washington.
"He was a good match for us for now," coach Jim Mora said of Swift. "We're still hunting, though."
If the Falcons make another move at the position, it would likely come during training camp as other teams trim their rosters.
Tuesday, July 06, 2004
Falcons Sign Justin Swift #45
The Falcons signed reserve tight end Justin Swift to a one-year contract. Swift, 28, joins Hunter Goodwin and Spencer Nead as veteran free-agent tight ends added in recent months. Goodwin will backup Alge Crumpler and take away many of Crumpler's blocking duties. The Falcons hope to use Alge more in the passing game this season.
Thursday, July 01, 2004
Falcons moving training camp to Flowery Branch in 2005
After 6 years, the Falcons are graduating from Furman University.
Starting next July, the Falcons will conduct their entire preseason training at their Flowery Branch complex, joining a number of other NFL teams who do their preseason and in-season training at the same location.
The team's future at Furman had been in doubt as team owner Arthur Blank has considered bringing the team closer to its fan base. In 2003, Blank signed a two-year contract with the school with an option for a third year, which has been declined.
"If we have it at our facility, fans all over the Atlanta area and the state can come over," Blank said. "It's going to be a lot easier for them and fan-friendly."
While the drive to Flowery Branch -- about an hour from downtown Atlanta -- isn't a breeze, it's far shorter than the roughly 2 1/2-hour hike up to Greenville, S.C.
"It's going to benefit us, as far as not having to travel and also our family and fans," said tight end Alge Crumpler. "It's got to."
The decision became official Wednesday night when the Flowery Branch City Council unanimously approved the construction of expanded facilities at the team's headquarters. The plans include a dormitory to house players during camp, a revival of the team's Falcon Inn at its old Suwanee complex. The Suwanee site, which the team left after the 1999 season, was its training camp home from 1979 to 1998.
The Falcons already are planning an expansion to their four-year-old headquarters to accommodate the Georgia Force arena football team Blank purchased in May. Construction of the dorms, which will be beyond a retention pond next to the two practice fields, is scheduled to start in October.
In recent seasons, the Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers have left college campuses to train at their own complexes. Seven other teams do likewise.
Aside from being closer to fans, teams benefit by being able to use their own fields, weight and video equipment, locker rooms and coaching offices. While all players will stay in the dorms, coaches and staff will be able to sleep at home. The need to isolate players for the sake of building morale, an oft-cited reason for the traditional training camp, has been decreased by offseason workout programs. Nearly all of the Falcons players, for instance, have been working out in Flowery Branch since March.
The news disappointed Furman, which also hosted the team from 1971 to 1978 and had received positive reviews from team officials and players.
"The only thing we couldn't do was move closer to Atlanta," said Chris Colvin, an assistant athletics director and the university's training camp coordinator.
But it is a boon for Flowery Branch, which was waiting for the team to commit full-time to camping there since the team moved from Suwanee in 2000.
Said Flowery Branch Mayor Bryan Puckette, "It gives us an opportunity to play host as a city more often and share what we have in Flowery Branch with others."
Starting next July, the Falcons will conduct their entire preseason training at their Flowery Branch complex, joining a number of other NFL teams who do their preseason and in-season training at the same location.
The team's future at Furman had been in doubt as team owner Arthur Blank has considered bringing the team closer to its fan base. In 2003, Blank signed a two-year contract with the school with an option for a third year, which has been declined.
"If we have it at our facility, fans all over the Atlanta area and the state can come over," Blank said. "It's going to be a lot easier for them and fan-friendly."
While the drive to Flowery Branch -- about an hour from downtown Atlanta -- isn't a breeze, it's far shorter than the roughly 2 1/2-hour hike up to Greenville, S.C.
"It's going to benefit us, as far as not having to travel and also our family and fans," said tight end Alge Crumpler. "It's got to."
The decision became official Wednesday night when the Flowery Branch City Council unanimously approved the construction of expanded facilities at the team's headquarters. The plans include a dormitory to house players during camp, a revival of the team's Falcon Inn at its old Suwanee complex. The Suwanee site, which the team left after the 1999 season, was its training camp home from 1979 to 1998.
The Falcons already are planning an expansion to their four-year-old headquarters to accommodate the Georgia Force arena football team Blank purchased in May. Construction of the dorms, which will be beyond a retention pond next to the two practice fields, is scheduled to start in October.
In recent seasons, the Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers have left college campuses to train at their own complexes. Seven other teams do likewise.
Aside from being closer to fans, teams benefit by being able to use their own fields, weight and video equipment, locker rooms and coaching offices. While all players will stay in the dorms, coaches and staff will be able to sleep at home. The need to isolate players for the sake of building morale, an oft-cited reason for the traditional training camp, has been decreased by offseason workout programs. Nearly all of the Falcons players, for instance, have been working out in Flowery Branch since March.
The news disappointed Furman, which also hosted the team from 1971 to 1978 and had received positive reviews from team officials and players.
"The only thing we couldn't do was move closer to Atlanta," said Chris Colvin, an assistant athletics director and the university's training camp coordinator.
But it is a boon for Flowery Branch, which was waiting for the team to commit full-time to camping there since the team moved from Suwanee in 2000.
Said Flowery Branch Mayor Bryan Puckette, "It gives us an opportunity to play host as a city more often and share what we have in Flowery Branch with others."
