Matt Ryan, Mike Turner miss practice
090426 FLOWERY BRANCH Atlanta Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Mike Smith introduce their NFL draft pick, Peria Jerry, Ole Miss defensive tackle, during a press conference at their facility in Flowery Branch Sunday morning. KENT D. JOHNSON / kdjohnson@AJC.COM
UPDATE
FLOWERY BRANCH – Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, in order to rest his turf toe injury, did not practice on Wednesday.
Also, running back Michael Turner (right high ankle sprain) did not participate in practice.
“He did go through the walk through this morning,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “We had anticipated that if he was going to play, that would be the course of action that we would take. It’s not a setback. It was a course of action that we were going to take.”
THE DRAFT AND COMPENSATORY PICKS — FALCONS COULD HAVE 9 PICKS IN THE 2010 DRAFT
THE BRANCH – There’s indeed a method to the workings of Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff’s madness.
You have to give it to him, for being way ahead of the pack on this draft stuff.
Last summer, right here on this blog, we were wondering aloud why the Falcons were not signing any free agents and
Keith Brooking is worth a fourth or fifth round compensatory pick.
letting all of those defensive starters go. They had cap room and could have pulled the trigger on a few deals. Cornerback Jabari Greer would have been nice. Ron Bartell could have worked, too.
But Dimitroff held his cards tight and just signed linebacker Mike Peterson. They traded the second round pick of the 2010 draft to Kansas City for tight end Tony Gonzalez and had to burn the seventh round pick to get Tye Hill from St. Louis.
As it stands today, the Falcons will have their own picks in the first, third, fourth, fifth and sixth rounds of the deep 2010 draft.
Michael Boley's signing with the Giants should bring the Falcons a pretty high compensatory draft pick.
But here’s the kicker, by letting Domonique Foxworth, Michael Boley, Keith Brooking and Grady Jackson leave during free agency, the Falcons could gain as many as four compensatory picks when they are announced by the league in March.
Last season a total of 32 compensatory picks were awarded to 16 teams, including four each to Cincinnati and Tennessee. The maximum number of compensatory picks a team can receive is four.
Pursuant to the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, a team losing more or better compensatory free agents than it acquires is the previous year is eligible to receive compensatory draft picks.
A formula, developed by the NFL Management Council and based on playing time, salary and postseason honors is used to determine compensatory free agents.
Under this formula, the Falcons are almost certain to get a third round pick for cornerback Domonique Foxworth. He signed a four year, $27.2 million contract and is starting his little heart away. He’s made all 14 starts for the Ravens. He’s struggling so there probably won’t be many post-season honors.
Michael Boley, who signed a five-year, $25 million deal with the New York Giants, could likely bring the Falcons a fourth round pick. Boley was suspended for a game and was injured. But he’s played in nine games and is second on the Giants in tackles with 65.
Dallas linebacker Keith Brooking could be worth a fourth or fifth round compensatory pick and Detroit defensive tackle Grady Jackson could be worth a seventh round pick.
So, with the Falcons needing to add some depth and competition at some key positions, they could end up with nine picks in the 2010 draft.
We’re months away from the draft, but here are a couple of things that will likely appear on the Falcons’ draft list.
–A good tight end who can serve an apprenticeship under Gonzalez.
–Cornerback and linebacker depth.
–Some more muscle along both lines.
–Some more running back and wide receiver insurance.
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124 comments Add your comment
WW
December 23rd, 2009
10:31 pm
MAD-DONNA
Since you think we need a QB, quickly without looking it up, who was the QB that one the Superbowl for the Ravens?
uga_b
December 23rd, 2009
11:03 pm
MAD-DONNA, we get mad because Mike Vick doesn’t play here (after he betrayed the trust shown him and putting the franchise back 3-4 years by going to jail). This is a Falcons blog. You are welcome to go to a Philadelphia blog and show your Vick support. I get tired of trying to read about my team and having illiterate posts about a former player. PERIOD.
And for the last bleeping time, Matt Ryan never contacted Mike Vick in high school/college to tell him to set up an interstate dog fighting operation, go to jail, and make the Falcons draft him, so quit hating on him for your man’s failures. Matt has done everything the team has asked of him and more; unlike your boy, he stays late; works with receivers; and studies film. Vick has said he didn’t do that while he was here, so don’t act like it is my opinion.
John
December 23rd, 2009
11:36 pm
That was one of many options the Falcons need to explore. The Falcons should be selective when it comes to FA. I like what TD is doing and growing the team thru the draft and developing the players which goes to my next comment….. The Falcons need to replace Terry Robiski/WR Coach. Jenkins needs to show more improvement and Terry needs to make sure that happens
Godsey4Heisman
December 23rd, 2009
11:44 pm
The Falcons should go after Quincy Carter. Then the fair weather Vick fans would have another high class QB playing for the Falcons.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
December 23rd, 2009
11:45 pm
!st priority : CB 2nd priority DE 3rd priority OT 4th priority LB – O.K. at RB, FB, S, QB, TE, DT. Need two CB’s in this draft (one a starter) and 1 SE (starter).
Flo-Ri-Duh!
December 23rd, 2009
11:54 pm
Qunicy Carter is playing his ball at half way house near Mayretta. Not eleigible to play for the Cons right now.
MAD-DONNA
December 24th, 2009
12:05 am
WW, I don’t understand your question! I going to guess that you meant “won”!
MAD-DONNA
December 24th, 2009
12:13 am
.uga_b, Mick Vick means no more to me than you do! The point I was trying to convey is, whether you like Vick or not, he seem to always be in the Falcons’ blog! Does that simplify it for you?
uga_b
December 24th, 2009
5:21 am
Oh well, if it is in a blog…
truth
December 24th, 2009
10:20 am
Charlie Wies please.
Joe Mama
December 24th, 2009
7:42 pm
Maybe they can package some picks and go get Vick and lets get this show on the road
Joe Mama
December 24th, 2009
7:44 pm
uga_b that shyt you talking is old stankie shyt! folks have moved on. MV7 is a force and its in the best interest of the cons to get him back. That racist shyt yo stankie azz is farting is dead.The man has long ago took care of that shyt….fool.
Vick Fanz
December 24th, 2009
8:03 pm
Massa Blank, pleez brings backs my Bra Vick so us fanz canz whup it up wid our homies inz zat Dome anz so’s we’s can shows za hole world zat We’s Vick’s fanz r so smart anz prowd!!!! Yeeeaaahhh Boooyyyyeeeeee
Sage of Blueland
December 24th, 2009
9:31 pm
There goes the neighborhood…
Vince
December 24th, 2009
9:32 pm
Last!
Gotta strengthen both lines and the defensive secondary. Also, later round pickup of a wide receiver. Someone’s gotta push Jenkins for the #2 receiver next year.
Dawgs07
December 24th, 2009
9:40 pm
Eric Berry
WW
December 24th, 2009
9:53 pm
Correct, MAD-DONNA, the Ravens only won one Superbowl, but they won it with defense.
nash
December 24th, 2009
11:09 pm
mccluster or dixon should be available in the third round babs caught a felony we need a nother d tacke lin the first i think in can get a o line man or to later in the draft. does anything grady jackson had a lot to de with abrahams sacks last year?
DHD
December 24th, 2009
11:25 pm
We have an extra first rounder, in a way, because he never played this year. We need DEFENSE!!!
Atlanta Falcons Talk » Blog Archive » AJC: Falcons Could Have Up To Nine Picks In 2010 NFL Draft
December 25th, 2009
1:02 am
[...] AJC: Falcons Could Have Up To Nine Picks In 2010 NFL Draft [...]
Birdseed: December 25, 2009
December 25th, 2009
5:05 pm
[...] Matt Ryan, Mike Turner miss practice, Atlanta Journal-Constitution Smith made it a point earlier in the week to say Ryan didn’t suffer any setbacks in his recovery from turf toe. His time away from practice is to allow extra rest. [...]
MV#777
December 29th, 2009
7:12 pm
IT FIRST BECAME obvious, this feeling between Michael Vick and his new teammates, a couple of weeks ago in Atlanta. It was his homecoming game, as it were. It was where he scored his first touchdown for the Eagles and his teammates bounded off of the bench in celebration, where cornerback Sheldon Brown said that he and some of the players were telling each other before the game that they wanted to win it for Vick.
I mean, win one for Mike? Really? We all observe from a distance, and it was so hard to see or to understand. But it was real. There is no doubt that it was real, this bond between Vick and his new teammates.
And, now, this:
The Eagles’ players have unanimously voted Vick as the team’s recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award, given annually to the player on each NFL team who exemplifies “commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage.”
Guilty of horrific crimes. Sentenced to a federal prison term. Forfeited millions and millions of dollars. Back in the league for only a few months, only through the good graces of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Eagles coach Andy Reid. Now, a convicted felon honored by his teammates for overcoming a terrible situation into which he had put himself.
“I’m not sure you can explain it unless you’ve gone through it here with him,” Reid said yesterday. “Everybody is going to have their opinion on it, I’m sure. Until you’ve been with him for the hours that his teammates have been with him and seen him through all these different things that he’s had to go through, that time-tested part of it, you can’t appreciate it quite as much.
“I don’t expect everybody to understand it, no, but I think it’s a tribute when it’s a slam dunk by his teammates voting him that. It was just a unanimous vote there.”
That this is just a gut punch to the people who have opposed Vick’s reinstatement goes without saying. For them, a PETA spokesman said:
“The Philadelphia Eagles fumbled when they gave Michael Vick the Ed Block Courage Award, which was named after a man who advocated in behalf of abused children. Michael Vick should not be the person anyone points to as a model of sportsmanship, even though he has now exchanged dogs for touchdowns after serving time for extreme cruelty to animals. We wish him well in educating others, but this is not appropriate and does not mark a joyous moment in NFL history.”
It is hard to disagree with any of that. It does seem too soon to be celebrating Vick. It does not feel right – and this comes from somebody who thought Vick deserved a chance to play this year, somebody who was looking forward to seeing what he could do on the field.
But here is the thing: I did not get a vote and you did not get a vote. This is a players’ award, voted upon by players. And whatever your personal feelings, it is impossible not to be fascinated by this team’s embrace of Vick, right from the start.
“I never worried that guys wouldn’t accept me,” Vick said. “That probably was one of the last things on my mind. The most important thing was to get in here and get to know the guys and get acclimated in the city and playing football again. You just let things happen naturally. You just be yourself.”
This is more than just teammates supporting a teammate. It is clear that they like the guy. Talking to them through the season, it is clear that they thought the punishment for the crime was so severe, prison-wise and especially financially, only because Vick was a celebrity. Their inclination as fellow celebrities was to root for him, and as fellow teammates to root for his ability to help them on the field. But the feelings still ended up going deeper, and this award demonstrates it.
“It means a great deal,” Vick said. “I’ve only been in this locker room for 3 1/2 months. For those guys to feel that way about me, it means a lot to me. The bond that I have with the players on this team and the way we’ve jelled has been outstanding.”
Someone asked Vick what kind of courage he demonstrated, per the award.
“I’ve had to overcome a lot, more than probably one single individual can bear,” he said. “Take a look at what I’ve been through. You ask certain people to walk in my shoes, they probably couldn’t do it – probably 95 percent of the people in this world. Because nobody had to endure what I’ve been through, situations I’ve been put in, situations I’ve placed myself in, decisions that I’ve made, whether they were good or bad. There are always consequences behind certain things and there are repercussions behind them, too. Then you have to wake up every day and face the world, whether they perceive you in the right perspective or it’s a totally different outlook on you.
“You just have to be strong and believe in yourself and be optimistic. That’s what I’ve been able to do and that’s what I display.”
When you talk to Vick, it sometimes takes him a minute to get to the key point: situations I’ve placed myself in. That is what rankles for some, still, that minute it sometimes takes. But it is all part of a longer process.
Anyway, Vick said, “The thing I told Roger [Goodell] was that, 4 or 5 years from now, when I come to him, I’ll be able to say everything I told you I was going to do, I’m still doing it. That’s what I pride myself on. That’s my focus and that’s my goal.”
That might have seemed a more appropriate time for an award such as this one, not now. Then again, this is all about a bond within a locker room, a place that none of us can hope to understand from the outside
MV#777
January 2nd, 2010
2:57 pm
WHAT GOES AROUND….
COMES AROUND……
LOL………..
jesse james
January 8th, 2010
7:41 pm
Most of you clowns probably never played any organized sport , let alone football.I’m old school i don’t join stupid “FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUES”!Just another excuse for losers like most of you “GUYS ARE”!Alot of you have probably just started watching “MY SUPERBIRDS” it’s funny to me how many “GENERAL MANAGERS”, “PRO SCOUTS” and ” SO CALLED COACHES” COME THE WOOD WORK WHEN THINGS SEEM TO BE GOING GOOD!The FALCONS only need a solid corner probably from free agency at least resign B.WILLIAMS and please try and keep most of your core players together!The draft is not deep this year with “TOP NOTCH CORNERS” so they will look at DE’S , OLB’S and ol’s NOT WR’S , SS or TE’S not at least in the first round for the latter.Also a decent veteran DE like Richard Seymour or not likely Will Smith. Seymour can collapsed the pocket and put consistent pressure on the QB he is 30 but he can play play either on 1st and 2nd downs or just 3rd down passing plays and can play DE and DT he would help guys like SIDBURY ,BIERMANN and the 1st round draft pick DE with the transition and the team with good depth!