Archive for March, 2010

Hill returned an interception for a touchdown against the Redskins last season. (Curtis Compton/AJC)

ATHENS — The Falcons continue to tinker with their secondary.

They released cornerback Tye Hill and signed safety Matt Giordano on Tuesday.

Hill was acquired on Sept. 1 from the St. Louis Rams for a seventh round pick.

Matt Giordano

Hill, a former first round pick with the Rams, played in eight games in 2009. He had seven tackles and one interception, which returned for a touchdown.

Giordano, a five-year veteran, has played with the Indianapolis Colts and the Green Bay Packers. He has played in 60 games, with just six starts.

Giordano, who played for the Packers last season, is 5-foot-11, 194 pounds. He was a fourth round pick (135th overall) in the 2005 draft.

After finishing 28th in the league against the pass, the Falcons have been revamping the secondary this offseason.

They signed cornerback Dunta Robinson to a six-year, $57-million contract in free agency and re-signed …

Continue reading Atlanta Falcons release CB Tye Hill; sign Matt Giordano »

Defensive tackle Kade Weston stretching before running his 40-yard at UGA's pro day. (D. Orlando Ledbetter/AJC)

ATHENS — The crowd has picked up at University of Georgia’s pro day.

Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Mike Smith have arrived.

NFL agent Joel Segal is watching the proceedings.

Attorney David Ware (StarCaps case) is also at the practice fields.

The Bulldogs just completed the 40-yard dash (here are unofficial Blackberry times):

WR Michael Moore  4.45 seconds,   4.53

DE Rod Battle 5.0

LB Rennie Curran 4.67, 4.73

DE Darius Dewberry 4.94, 4.8

CB Bryan Evans 4.47, 4.46

DB Reshad Jones 4.52, 4.53

CB Prince Miller 4.5, 4.82

DT Jeff Owens 4.88, 4.96

OL Vince Vance 5.2, 4.96

DT Kade Weston 4.97

THREE CONE DRILL

CB Prince Miller 6.56

Vance 8.3

Weston 7.92

Moore 6.89

Evans 7.32

Dewberry 7.53

Continue reading UGA pro day: Bryan Evans runs fast 40-yard dash »

UGA's pro day is underway. There are a lot less scouts than last year, when most of the league came to see Matthew Stafford workout. (D. Orlando Ledbetter/AJC)

ATHENS — University of Georgia’s pro day has started.

Eight players got things going by doing the bench press. When the scouts called for someone to get the show started, wide receiver Michael Moore stepped forward.

Here are the results of the players who lifted:

BENCH PRESS

WR Michael Moore 22

DB Prince Miller 22

LB Rennie Curran 27

OL Vince Vance 21

DB Bryan Evans 20

LB Darius Dewberry 22

DE Rod Battle 10

DT Kade Weston 21

STANDING BROAD JUMPS

Curran 9 feet, 4 inches

Dewberry 9-7

Battle 8-5

Evans 10-5

Moore 10-2

VERTICAL JUMP

Curran 35 inches

Evans 34-5

Continue reading UGA’s pro day is underway »

Sean Weatherspoon told the AJC at the combine that he wants to be Thomas Dimitroff's third consecutive high defensvie pick from the Big 12. (Photo by Parker Eshelman)

One player of interest for the Atlanta Falcons is Missouri linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, who is set to workout for representatives from the team on Wednesday in Columbia, Missouri.

The Falcons have dipped into the Big 12 with each of their second round picks in each of the last two drafts.

In 2008, they selected Oklahoma linebacker Curtis Lofton and last season they selected Missouri safety William Moore.

Weatherspoon meet with the Falcons at the NFL scouting combine. He’ s the No. 2 rated linebacker in the draft by Pro Football Weekly’s 2010 Draft Guide. Texas linebacker Sergio Kindle is rated ahead of Weatherspoon.

Here’s their upside to Weatherspoon: “Instinctive with an outstanding football IQ — has a nose for the ball.”

Downside: “Does not have long arms and could do a better job disengaging — stays hung up …

Continue reading Falcons to workout Weatherspoon at Mizzou »

Georgia Tech's Jonathan Dwyer at the start of his 3-cone drill workout. Check out the silver cleats. (D. Orlando Ledbetter/AJC).

BOUND FOR ATHENS — Falcons head coach Mike Smith attended Georgia Tech’s Pro Day on Monday.

On Tuesday, Smith will make the short drive over to Athens for  Georgia’s pro day.

Chicago head coach Lovie Smith and Arizona head coach Ken Whisenhunt were also in attendance at Tech on Monday.

The Falcons have taken a player from Georgia or Georgia Tech in each of the last four drafts.

Last season, Georgia Tech defensive tackle Vance Walker was selected in the seventh round (210 overall).

In 2008, Georgia running back Thomas Brown was selected in the sixth round (172nd).

In 2007, Georgia tight end Martrez Milner was selected in the fourth round (133rd).

Some NFLer's consider Georgia Tech's Morgan Burnett as the fifth best safety in the draft behind Tennessee's Eric Berry, USC's Taylor Mays, Texas' Earl Thomas and LSU's Chade Jones. (D. Orlando …

Continue reading Atlanta Falcons add local flavor to recent drafts »

Chris Houston was traded to the Detroit Lions, but for what? (REUTERS/Tami Chappell)

Before the Falcons trade of cornerback Chris Houston was officially consummated over the weekend, the two side revised the compensation.

The Falcons are now set to received a sixth round pick in 2010 and a conditional seventh round pick in 2011.

The Falcons were initially slated to move up 16 spots from 18 to second in the fifth round, but that part of the trade did not reach the final deal.

Continue reading Compensation changed in Houston deal (update) »

Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford is headed for St. Louis in the Mock Draft 3.0.

BIRDLAND – There’s some movement in the Mock Draft 3.0, but for second week in a row, the Atlanta Falcons are selecting LaShawn Maurkice Pouncey with the 19th pick in the draft.

Some of you were irate with the pick last week.

So, I got in touch with Pouncey and interviewed him over the phone on Wednesday. I figured you all should get to know the Falcons’ next first round pick before just ripping the decision to shreds.

Also, you need to know that Pouncey was the first Florida Gator to win the Dave Rimington Trophy, which goes to nation’s top center.

So here you go folks, meet Mr. Pouncey:

LEDBETTER: Did you meet with the Falcons at the combine?

 Loading …

POUNCEY: Yes.

LEDBETTER: How …

Continue reading Mock Draft 3.0: Q & A with Maurkice Pouncey »

New Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson on Monday, March 8, 2010. D. Orlando Ledbetter, dledbetter@ajc.com

Here’s the breakdown on Dunta Robinson six-year contract, which included a $7 million signing bonus:

He’s sent to receive base salaries of $5 million in 2010, $5.5 million in 2011, $6 million in 2012, $7 million in 2013, $9 million in 2014 and $9.5 million in 2015.

He’s also set to receive a $3 million bonus in the second year of the deal and could also receive another $5 million in option bonuses.

His salary cap numbers are $12 million in 2010, $6.5 million in 2011, $7.75 million in 2012, $8.75 million in 2013, $10.75 million in 2014 and $11.25 million in 2015.

Continue reading Contract: Falcons show Dunta Robinson the money »

Falcons running back # 44 Jason Snelling is tackled by Saints defensive end # 94 Charles Grant as he picks up yardage during 1st half action at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009. Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com

BIRDLAND – The Falcons just spent $57 million in order to bring Georgia native Dunta Robinson back home.

Should they open up Arthur Blank’s hefty wallet to bring home another one of the state’s top football products?

Former New Orleans Saints defensive end Charles Grant, the Colquitt native who played at the University of Georgia, went on Sirius NFL Radio on Wednesday and stated that he wanted to play for the Falcons, Carolina or Tennessee.

Grant has started 106 of 118 games over his career with the Saints. He was released on March 5.

Grant, 6-foot-3 and 282 pounds, doesn’t appear to be a fit for the Falcons.  Grant is eighth on the Saints’ career sack list with 47, but a torn triceps kept him out of last season’s playoffs.

Also, there is the …

Continue reading Should the Atlanta Falcons go after Charles Grant? »

Thomas DeCoud congratulates Brent Grimes, who led the team with six interceptions. (Kathy Willens/AP)

Cornerback Brent Grimes, a former undrafted rookie free agent, was signed to an exclusive rights free agent contract on Tuesday.

In an unrelated move, the Falcons released wide receiver James Swinton, who was on the practice squad.

Grimes started eight of 16 games last season and led the team with six interceptions.

Continue reading Falcons sign cornerback Brent Grimes; waive Swinton »