Injury bug has hit Falcons early in camp
New Falcons receiver Marty Booker is a former Pro Bowler.
THE BRANCH – The injury bug is in the air.
One of the keys to the Falcons success last season was the lack of major injuries.
Just a few days into camp and Harry Douglas is done for the season and second round pick William Moore is out for a month.
The big battle to replace Lawyer Milloy is practically over before it got started. Go ahead and pencil Thomas DeCoud as the default winner. Moore will have to catch up when he comes back and show his
Robert Ferguson is noted for his downfield blocking. (Curtis COMPTON/AJC)
stuff on special teams.
The Falcons were the fifth-best team in terms of man-games missed by their starters last season, according to the Football Outsiders Almanac 2009.
Wide receiver Brian Finneran, who missed two seasons with a similar injury to Douglas, knew it was trouble when he saw Douglas go down.
“The way he went down, it was a bad feeling,” Finneran said. “It was a tough, tough deal there.”
FERGIE, FERGE and BOOKER: Wide receivers Robert Ferguson and Marty Booker have had their moments in the NFL, but have never reached major stardom.
Robert Ferguson is a former Green Bay Packer. (CURTIS COMPTON/AJC)
The Packers had high hopes for Ferguson when he was selected in the second round (41st) overall in 2001. He showed flashes there, but never had the breakout season. He’s more noted for his downfield field blocking.
Now Booker, 33, was a third round pick of the Chicago Bears in 1999. He went to the Pro Bowl in 2002 when he had 97 catches for 1,189 yards and six touchdowns. He has more than 500 receptions despite that he’s played most of his career in quarterback-challenged offenses.
RODDY’S WORLD: Been trying to get some exact numbers on the rife in the White negotiations. Folks generally don’t go on the record with that info, but the rife is wide enough that the sides have dug in.
This one could get much uglier in the coming weeks.
The Falcons have some nice leverage in that White is under contract and growing up in Charleston, he’s been a longtime fan of the team. White will have to stay emotionally detached.
The Falcons know that $2.28 million is low for their Pro Bowl receiver. But how high do you go? Do you do a long-term deal and wrap him up? Do you do a short-swing deal like Arizona did with Larry Fitzgerald and Green Bay with Greg Jennings? Maybe if the Falcons would have moved faster to extend White, they could have set the market and instead of letting Green Bay beat them to the punch on the Jennings deal.
Stay tuned . . . .
Linemen drills at practice. (Photo by D. O. Ledbetter)
LATE ROUND PICKS: Some of the Falcons late round picks are already making some noise in training camp. Last season, some of them – like Kroy Biermann – struggled early before coming on.
Defensive end Vance Walker (seventh round), tackle Garrett Reynolds (fifth round) and defensive end Lawrence Sidbury (fourth) have all drawn some praise from Coach Mike Smith.
WILDCATS VISIT: The Duluth High Wildcats football team visited practice on Wednesday evening.
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69 comments Add your comment
mars
August 7th, 2009
6:25 pm
Wow. This blog is “rife” with “strife”. I hope it doesn’t cause a “rift”.
Greg fromMarietta
August 7th, 2009
6:54 pm
Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water! This is a good team and injuries are a part of football. It’s like when I was in the Army and a point man went down, another soldier would step up and do a fine job. Smitty and his staff have a way of getting the best out of their players and I have a gut feeling that some of these rookies and retreads (no disrespect intended) are going to shine when given the opportunity. This is a resilient team with a very good coaching staff so don’t despair they will succeed.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
August 7th, 2009
7:25 pm
Rift, strife, riff, tiff — the GOT PROBLEMS. MAJOR PROBLEMS.
The Brookwood scrimmage is about to start. Mr. Blank just addressed the crowd and they are working on special teams.
Here’s the Coaching scoring system.
Offense — regular system.
Defense — Interceptions worth 3 points, fumble recoveries 3 points, Three and out 2 points, sack 1 point, tackle for loss 1 point, stopped drive without points, 1 point.
The QBs’ are weaing blue non-contact jerseys.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
August 7th, 2009
7:30 pm
LOFTON: Coach said after practice he was getting close to returning.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
August 7th, 2009
7:41 pm
TE Justin Peelle just dropped a pass in the flat.
Eric C.
August 7th, 2009
10:27 pm
I have to agree with a previous poster on Roddy White…he is not a big-game clutch receiver. Catch the potential game-winner against Denver last year and don’t make the big drop against Arizona in playoffs…then you’ve got more support. Roddy White is a good receiver and I’m glad he is playing for the Falcons, but he is somewhat of a head-case when it comes to hanging on to the ball.
Bill in Dallas
August 7th, 2009
11:46 pm
Orlando, I’m still trying to figure out how Roddy White’s agent finally opened up when all he said was he wouldn’t discuss it.
And the rumor is that RW and co wants Fitzgerald money, which most people agree he’s not worth. Can you confirm this or let us know what ballpark figure they’re asking?
Professor
August 8th, 2009
12:17 am
Anyone go to the scrimmage in Snellville tonight? What did you see? Anything interesting?
Reid Adair
August 8th, 2009
12:56 am
Very good point about the Roddy White negotiations. Thomas Dimitroff and Mike Smith knew he was in the last year of his contract. After his performance in 2008 (not to mention 2007), getting him locked in during the off-season should have been a priority.
It obviously wasn’t. For all we know, there weren’t even discussions.
gasportsfan
August 8th, 2009
3:44 am
AH those are my exact thoughts…Last year we were pretty lucky on the injury front. Injuries are part of the game so you’re right if you gotta have them it’s better to have them early and with the law of averages they won’t continue for the rest of the year…HOPEFULLY!!!!
kdog
August 8th, 2009
10:07 am
Had a great time at the falcons scrimmage and thought it was great until i come out at around 9pm and see my truck on the back of a wrecker. Talk about spoiling a great time. Gwinnett county towed away around 20 cars out there yesterday and it was just pathetic how they did it. Tells us the made an announcement but yet and still no one comes out. Makes me think i got caught up in some kind of money making conspiracy. Very bad experience that makes me not want to go to anymore Falcons events.
Striped Shirt
August 8th, 2009
10:16 am
Three plays from last year’s games stand out like no others: 1. Ryan’s first pass, a touchdown to Michael Jenkins. 2. Ryan to Jenkins to set up the game winning FG against the Bears. 3. Roddy White’s drop of the game winner against Denver. Somebody needs to be in camp.
Big Ray
August 8th, 2009
10:18 am
White’s holdout is what it is. Now let’s just hope he’s working on holding onto the ball more …
I hated to see Douglas go down. And before anybody brings up the fact that we traded Laurent Robinson, let’s remember that we had guys who were better and healthier at the time. Some people act as if we KNEW Douglas would get injured.
Hated to see my boy William Moore go down too, but better now than during the season. I liked the competition that he and Decoud were having. Don’t count Moore out for the duration. Trust me on this. Either way, it looks as though Decoud has truly improved and grown. So much better for us, overall.
Rife
August 8th, 2009
12:30 pm
Rife……. Give me a break. It’s not even a typo either. He used it twice.
atlfalcon
August 8th, 2009
12:43 pm
How bout trading White for Brandon Marshall of the Broncos. sure he has some off field issues but he spends alot of time in atlanta and i think he would be happy in the falcons offense.
BIGGATLDAWG
August 8th, 2009
1:23 pm
I think that Aaron Kelly has first round talent, he lead the ACC IN RECEVING. THAT IS NO SMALL FEAT. THIS KID IS VERY CAVIN JOHNSON LIKE MINUS THE TOP LEVEL SPEED. WAIT TIL YOU SEE HIM PLAY!
JeanE
August 8th, 2009
1:57 pm
I can’t stand Roddy White, guys got talent but is a total bonehead. Go ahead & hold out, just give’s my guy Finn more snaps! I feel totally comfortable with the receivers we’ve got, Finn, Jenks, new guys, etc. Roddy will drag his greedy self in eventually at least now we don’t have to listen to his big mouth. Go Birds!!
Garrett Reynolds
August 9th, 2009
4:47 pm
[...] followed right tackle Garrett Reynolds and right guard Calvin Darity out of Chapel … Injury bug has hit Falcons early in campDefensive end Vance Walker (seventh round), tackle Garrett Reynolds (fifth round) and defensive end [...]
Romblurbamoli
November 26th, 2009
4:04 am
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