Ex-Ravens Hauschka signed to kick for Falcons
Falcons defensive end # 71 Kroy Biermann got a chance to perform kickoffs with injuries to the Falcons normal specialists. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com
UPDATE
Kicker Steve Hauschka, who was released earlier this season by Baltimore, was signed by the Falcons on Tuesday.
Also, starting right guard Harvey Dahl (ankle) and left cornerback Chris Houston (hamstring) were placed on injured reserve.
Linebacker Robert James, was elevated to the roster from the practice squad.
Kicker Matt Bryant suffered a hamstring injury against the Bills on Sunday and experienced a death in his family. He remains on the active roster.
Hauschka played in 17 games for the Ravens and converted 10 or 15 field goals and 27 of 28 extra points.
He was cut by the Ravens after nine games this season and four missed field goals.
Bryant pulled his hamstring in the third quarter on Sunday while punting for Michael Koenen, who’d suffered a concussion making a tackle earlier in the game.
THE BRANCH – The Falcons could be further depleted for the all important season finale in Tampa Bay.
Tight end Tony Gonzalez (calf), kicker Matt Bryant (hamstring), punter Michael Koenen (concussion) and left tackle Sam Baker (hamstring) suffered bad injuries against the Bills.
Gonzalez, Koenen and Baker did not return to action.
Bryant did come back to kick an extra point, but clearly couldn’t fully swing his leg. The Falcons likely will have to find a new kicker to close out the season.
Bryant was signed after a kick-off with Paul Edinger. The Falcons also worked out Brandon Coutu, Steve Hauschka, Sam Swank and Shane Andrus in November.
Also, former Cowboys kicker Nick Folk is now available. He was cut last week after missing 7 of his last 11 field goal attempts. Hauschka and Andrus worked out for the Cowboys along with Connor Hughes and Parker Douglass. Shaun Suisham won the Cowboys kick-off.
Now what if the Falcons get into a close game with the Buccaneers and breaking the back-to-back winning streak comes down to a kick?
FALCONS ON TRACK: Linebacker Michael Peterson believes the Falcons are on track to get the winning season.
“The thing is that we have to go out and finish up 9-7,” Peterson said. “I’m sure that the fans, the organization and the city will be really proud.”
SHUT OUT SLIPPED AWAY: The Falcons were hoping to shut out the Buffalo Bills. Rian Lindell’s field goal with 1:58 left in the third quarter were the only points the defense yielded.
After suffering a calf injury in the 1st half, Falcons tight end # 88 Tony Gonzalez is forced to watch the game from the sidelines. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com
The Falcons last shut out was against Oakland, 24-0, last season on Nov. 2, 2008.
“I’ll take the three, but we still didn’t let them in the endzone,” Peterson said.
BROHM WAS FUNCTIONAL: Buffalo quarterback Brian Brohm was in a tough spot and didn’t get much help from the Bills running game.
“We kind of treated it like we were getting ready for a rookie quarterback,” safety Thomas DeCoud said. “We just had to go off their scheme and think of how they were going to try to simplify it for a guy who hasn’t taken many snaps.”
It was Brohm’s NFL debut. He was signed off Green Bay’s practice squad on Nov. 19.
“He handled the game for it being his first start,” DeCoud said. “They tried to take it out of his hands with the run game.”
3-1 vs. the AFC EAST: The victory over the Bills gave the Falcons a 3-1 record against the AFC East. They also defeated Miami and the New York Jets while they lost to New England.
OWENS ELATED: Cornerback Christopher Owens got his first career interception against Buffalo.
“It was a little bit overthrown and I made a play on the ball,” Owens said. “I got the first one in the record books. It feels good, really good.”
EXPERIENCE HOLDER: Quarterback Matt Ryan was a holder in college, so he was fine with taking over those duties against the Bills when Michael Koenen went down.
“We’re all football players here and sometimes you have to step into some different roles and do some different things,” Ryan said.
Backup quarterback Chris Redman was set to punt, but his services were not needed.
“We did miss that treat,” Ryan said. “Red would have done a great job. He was telling me on the side line that he was the backup punter in high school.”
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150 comments Add your comment
rfgh
December 28th, 2009
10:20 pm
I am afraid the “Chad Pennington” comparisons are vsry close to reality for Ryan. Just doesn’t have much of an arm.
cdog
December 28th, 2009
10:26 pm
thanks Mcook for being so smart. at least you know what i mean, i hope you do. you might be to smart to understand.Truth, that’s still won’t get the falcons to the playoffs THIS YEAR.THAT WAS THE MAIN GOAL.5 years from now no one is going to remember the team for back to back winning seasons sepecially 9-7. they will still be home for the playoffs thanks to stupidity on the coaches and matt ryan’s part. yes, i love michael vicks and you too. we are all GOD’S children and i love him and you because we are brothers in Christ. i also love you too Mcook.
toby
December 28th, 2009
11:01 pm
before the season started, when I looked at our schedule, I said I be glad to have 2 winning seasons in a row. especially with all the injuries I will still be happy. I’m going to Tampa to cheer the Birds on. And if you think this team is so bad why are you on this site. Go cheer for the team from birmingham or Los angelas,wait they aren’t lucky enough to have a team to cheer for. Be Thankful for a team especially one with a good future. Live wiyh it Vick is GONE
cdog
December 28th, 2009
11:11 pm
TOBY, SO ARE THE FALCONS
Kris G
December 29th, 2009
12:15 am
I’m going to be clear for all the idiot Falcon haters who don’t have a clue what it’s like to have loyalty to a team… 9-7 is everything. if we don’t get it, i can’t say “next year” because next year is worthless to me… I don’t care if we go 14-2, next season, it means nothing to me. 9-7 this year is FAR more important than playoffs last year or next year. If you don’t get the importance of this game, I’ll give you a hint… it’s in the top 5 most important in the history of the franchise. Mock it if you want…. not understanding what that means makes YOU the clueless one.
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tired
December 29th, 2009
12:18 am
I wish all the haters would just simply go on the blogs for their favorite team(s) and leave the AJC Falcons blogs for the Falcons fans. If you hate the team so much, why waste your time reading and posting on the AJC blogs? GO GET A LIFE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY YOU DON’T HAVE ONE !!!!!
Kris G
December 29th, 2009
12:19 am
By the way… I’m sure I qualify as a Vick fan. I hate to tell you… the Vick fans aren’t nearly as divisive today as you Vick haters.. who ARE the ones bringing him up here. And you absolutely know the door you’re opening when you inject him into discussion here. Focus on the issue at hand. Back to back winning seasons.
Kris G
December 29th, 2009
12:28 am
Cdog, you are truly a moron. No, no one but Falcons fans will ever notice what matters with this team. No, ESPN won’t be talking about back-to-back winning seasons. No, it won’t be big with the national media. Know who it’s big to? Falcons fans. That would be us. In other words, it really doesn’t matter who else cares about it. We do.
thunderbull56
December 29th, 2009
2:17 am
Reality TV? Not.Even a playoff berth would be one and done with this year’s injured reserve and long term development goals.You think TD is drafting poorly? Remember Glanville’s, Bruiser Broussard? The Swamp Fox? Aundrey Bruce? Pause for groans.All those can’t miss prodigies.Anyone notice five to ten yards past the line of scrimmage Brooking’s love from Poke’s commontaters?Free advice to TD.Do not draft USC offensive linemen,Ohio State wide recievers,Nebraska defensive backs,nor any former Heisman winner.I could go on, but I think my advice/consultation should be a paying position.
Jerry
December 29th, 2009
8:42 am
Chandler got us into the superbowl. IMO we need defense,defense and defense before Turner and Tony G fall apart.
planb
December 29th, 2009
9:22 am
cdog
I don’t see why you insist Vick is the man when he barely won over 1/2 of his reg. season games. He was exciting to watch for awhile, before he took a few NFL hits that changed him to running out of bounds instead of cutting up field.
truth
December 29th, 2009
9:24 am
boo hoo hoo…..cdog you brought me to tears. NOT!!!!!!!!!
Observe & Report
December 29th, 2009
9:30 am
Baker gets hurt every freaking week. What a bust! Falcons need to finish with a W, let’s go Coons! 9-7 baby!!!
PMC
December 29th, 2009
9:51 am
Terrell, Indeed, they traded up to get Baker, because with the other trade ups to get Tackles in that draft he was the only tackle left with close to a first round grade. They made a huge reach for Baker and thus far it has not paid off, but they HAD to have a tackle in that draft because they expected to play Ryan having no one else worthy of starting on the team.
They really NEED a much better NFL caliber left tackle. I’m not sure Baker is physically able to play that role.
WRD
December 29th, 2009
11:03 am
Heard they signed former Baltimore kicker Hauschka. Finally a good decision going with a young kicker, that guy did not get a fair shake with the Ravens and looked really good in preseason.
cdog
December 29th, 2009
11:10 am
9-7 and no playoffs and people are happy.lets me know what kind of so-called fans are in atlanta.i bet you 9-7 would not cut it with new england,pittsburg,minnesota AND THE OTHER FRANCHISES THAT WIN.PLNB AND TRUTH, LEAVE MIKE VICK ALONE, HE’S GOING TO THE PLAYOFFS, THE FALCONS ARE NOT.I STILL LOVE YOU GUYS THOUGH.
cdog
December 29th, 2009
11:15 am
KRISG, I MAY BE A MORON IN YOUR EYES, I’M SURE EINSTEIN WOULD HAVE BEEN AS MORON IN YOUR EYES BUT 9-7 AND NO PLAYOFFS DOES NOT CUT IT UNLESS YOU ARE A LOSER AND IS NOT USE TO WINNING.OUR STUPID COACHING STAFF, MATT RYAN QUIT ON THE TEAM, AND OUR HIGH SCHOOL SECONDARY DOOMED THE FALCONS.HOPEFULLY MANAGEMENT WILL LEARN FROM THIS.LIKE AL DAVIS SAID WHEN WERE WINNING, JUST WIN BABY.
truth
December 29th, 2009
11:52 am
cdog any franchise that has not had back to back winning seasons would love a 9-7 if it meant they were able to achieve that goal. And by the way, Vick better thank McNabb for his trip to the playoffs.
Answer this question…..What has Vick done anyway to make him a greay QB? WAITING………………………….
PMC
December 29th, 2009
11:53 am
cdog, I love you too man. No hate here at all. If I thought the Falcons were ultimately happy with 8-8 or 9-7 I’d be upset. They are not selling some kind of moral victory but you can’t have any of the other goals without first having a winning season. If they can accomplish that goal even in a down year where things didn’t work out we can see some progress being made. Not having Mike Vick available to play and play well set this team back quite a bit. He has unique talents. If he ever became a good passer he would have been a lock for the hall of fame. I’m just not interested in Mike anymore because he doesn’t play for this team anymore. I think most people wish him well when he isn’t playing Atlanta. It certainly looks like he’s making the most of his opportunities now. I’ve got no hate at all for you or any Vick fans… I just wish we could stop beating each other up over an old issue that is over with.
Trust, I want this team to win the super bowl and be in the playoffs perennially. It just wasn’t in the cards this year…. so I’m hoping for the best we can do.
Cheers man, happy new year.
truth
December 29th, 2009
11:54 am
Told you you were a Vickamaniac cdog. BWAA HA HA!!! Like looking through glass.
truth
December 29th, 2009
12:01 pm
PMC it’s always my hopes the Falcons go to the playoffs and the superbowl every year myself. However when I saw that was not gonna happen I began to root for back to back winning seasons. Something I have never seen with my favorite team and been a fan since 1979. So I will not tolerate some two bit Vick sack hugger who want to diss use true fans who want to see a back to back winning seasons. I’m not here to make friends but to stand up for my team!!!
PMC
December 29th, 2009
12:12 pm
wow 79. I don’t go quite that far back. I think once I was old enough to be lucid it was the Gerald Riggs era.
This game Sunday is 43 years worth of struggle rolled into 3 hours. I certainly hope this years edition can pull it out.
Matt Ryan can get revenge for his toe. Hopefully Turner will be back for this week and maybe Dahl too.
ELVISINTHEHOUSE.
December 29th, 2009
12:22 pm
Truth you will be dead and gone before this sorry team(turdy birds)win anything.Better yet,they probably move to another city.So keep cheering for nothing.
truth
December 29th, 2009
12:35 pm
ok elvis I will. And you can still leave the building. baa bye.
ELVISINTHEHOUSE.
December 29th, 2009
12:53 pm
Lolol,really its all fun for me truth.Not gonna dislike or hate someone i don’t know.Hope one day you get your wish with the birds.Happy newyear.
Falcon66
December 29th, 2009
1:04 pm
I saw the first game the Falcons ever played (lost to the Eagles 9-7 in the preseason) and the their first regular season win (27-16 over the Giants at Yankee Stadium). I have never seen a team with the heart that this group does. The closest were some of the Leeman Bennett/Bartkowski teams in the late 70s and early 80s. I am excited about the future. Yeah, I wish we were in the playoffs, but it wasn’t in the cards. This was a tough year.
As a matter of fact if you look at the NFC playoff scenarios the Falcons might have went 11-5 and still not got in this year. If the Cowboys beat the Eagles this week they win the NFC East and the Packers also win, then all three would be 11-5. If I’m not mistaken the Eagles and Packers would hold the tie breakers over the Falcons.
That said, this game Sunday means a lot to me. To us life long Falcon fans this is like a playoff game. GO FALCONS!
MV#777
December 29th, 2009
2:00 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
Nutrition?
December 29th, 2009
2:02 pm
Does anybody know who our strength and conditioning coach is? I haven’t heard anything about the war or nutrition. true you can’t stop all injuries but c’mon it is getting damn rediculus
truth
December 29th, 2009
2:03 pm
MV#777…………..aaahhh you posted on the wrong web site dude.
truth
December 29th, 2009
2:06 pm
Last year the strength conditioning coach was a god send. Now we are ready to throw him out the door. Come these things happen in the NFL.
ELVISINTHEHOUSE.
December 29th, 2009
2:11 pm
Its amazing how someone can be hated for something they did and paid for and oh being black.
Barry
December 29th, 2009
2:11 pm
Call Morten Anderson. Mr. Dependable. Call him in “ONE HEARTBEAT!!”
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
This is a SECRET from a FALCON FAN. TELL EVERYBODY!!!!
…………………………”ONE HEARTBEAT, BABY!!”……………………….
Vick in 4 years....
December 29th, 2009
2:12 pm
Hey Roger doger I’m still a 3rd string QB. Aint you proud of me dog…ah…I mean sir.
truth
December 29th, 2009
2:16 pm
Elvis you still in the building. Dude stop being so racist. It aint about black. If you were a fan before Vick and then see what he himself did to a team and a fan base you would be pissed off too. I don’t care who Vick fans are, they just don’t belong on this blog. Philly has plenty they can go to.
Coon4life
December 29th, 2009
2:16 pm
Even if we were 1-14 right now I would still be cheering for the falcons
truth
December 29th, 2009
2:23 pm
Me 2…..Coon4life. And we have plenty of times. With and w/o the 3rd string Vickster.
robert
December 29th, 2009
2:29 pm
morten to kick us into the superbowl and morten to kick us out of the curse
ELVISINTHEHOUSE.
December 29th, 2009
2:35 pm
Truth,i see you responded to my comment quick fast and in a flash.It is what it is bud.Im not black nor white but im not blind or dumb either.You talk down on a person you know not of just because they like ryan and not vick.Just because you hate on a human being don’t mean everyone else have too.I guess your the king of the blog huh? you should change your name because truth aint it.Again,happy newyear kid.
Coon4life
December 29th, 2009
2:43 pm
Elvis, your an idiot. Your the one who pulled the race card first. By the way try proof-reading your blog before you submit its hard to read your banter.
truth
December 29th, 2009
2:50 pm
I support the Falcons as a team not one player, Elvis. And if you have ever been on this blog before you would know that. I have said numerous times if a player aint cut’n it then let’m go. And no I don’t care if that player is Matt Ryan of the waterboy makes no matter to me. I was a fan before Vick and Matt.
And if you can’t take how someone talks to you then go whine to your mother and she will change you diaper and put you to bed.
truth
December 29th, 2009
3:19 pm
Oh and by the way I never said I hated Vick. I hate that Vick took 130 million dollars and shoved it down the fans throat and basicaly said I don’t care about you I will do what ever I want because I’m superman. I supported him til it became obvious I was wasting my time and that time came when he was told by a judge to stay away from the weed and then later tested and he had the weed in his system. That straw broke the camels back for me. So I hung in their for awhile. Glad he’s gone so let’s move on.
ELVISINTHEHOUSE.
December 29th, 2009
3:29 pm
Ok truth,no disrespect.All im saying is people got a right to post about a player of there liking just like you do.Its good that your a true bird fan instead of a banwagon fan.Comments from blogs is just like texting,sometimes you can think negative of a person response and it could be sincere.Lol truth,im just having fun kid.And by the way,i think the falcons will be a good team in the years to come.I also think ryan will be a franchise QB in time.Truth,you and your fam have a safe and happy newyear.
truth
December 29th, 2009
3:43 pm
All’s well Elvis. I hope the team does have many years of success. We’ll see. I just want back to back winning seasons. It’s tough being a Falcons fan you get dissed alot but I don’t care. Love dim birds!!!
truth
December 29th, 2009
3:46 pm
Just for good measure(lol). I never posted about a player just a team. You and yours have a great New Year as well.
And for what it’s worth, I’m root’n for the Packers in the playoffs.
jim
December 29th, 2009
4:09 pm
Why not Brandon Coutu? instead of some retread….
Chuck Town
December 29th, 2009
4:13 pm
PLEASE PLEASE!!!!NO more Ga players, I love the Falcons but you Ga fans need to get a life.For all you Vick lovers PLEASE you show nothing more than raciest stupidity by even talking about him as if he were a bright spot with the Falcons.You Vick fans would burn him to the ground if he were white.
Scott Case
December 29th, 2009
5:20 pm
Vick paid his debt to society, now he’s trying to work his way back into the NFL. I’m glad to see it, and wish him the best. Yes, he screwed the Falcons, but again — he went to prison, and he paid the price. I hope he turns it around this time and becomes a starter again (which I think he will do — next season)
That being said, I’m glad we have Matt Ryan instead. The Vick aftermath caused some shuffling within the organization, and so far it seems to be for the best.
Now let’s get a pass-rusher and look forward to a great 2010 season.
GO FALCONS!
what....
December 29th, 2009
5:52 pm
I wish the best for Vick also………the best 3rd string QB in NFL history.
Peep in the Deep
December 29th, 2009
7:18 pm
Excuse me, please. Would all the Vick lovers and supporters please go to the Philadelphia blog site and express your opinions there.This is the Falcons blog site. Thank you.
Peep in the Deep
December 29th, 2009
7:22 pm
The only reason Philadelphia picked up Vickwas to play him for one year in order to show the NFL world that he has “some” worth. After a year has passed, they will use him in a trade.