Archive for May, 2010

090424 Atlanta – Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez and his wife October Gonzalez as he is introduced at the Arthur M. Blank Office in Atlanta, Friday, April 24, 2009. October will have her say on when Gonzalez decides to retire. CURTIS COMPTON / ccompton@ajc.com

UPDATE

Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez had a shaky flight back to California.

“Great job to the four pilots that landed the plane. You guys kept everyone calm,” Gonzalez wrote on his Twitter.com page at 2:51 am.

Earlier at 1:15 a.m. he tweeted, “Long day but SO glad to be home!! We took off and the right engine went out. Had to make an emergency landing. Its a good day to be alive!!”

The Falcons confirmed that Gonzalez was scheduled to fly back to Los Angeles on Delta Flight 125.

You can follow the Gonzalez at: @TonyGonzalez88 on Twitter.com.

Continue reading UPDATE: Tony Gonzalez survived emergency at Hartsfield-Jackson »

The Atlanta Falcons played a little Friday night football in front a full house at Brookwood High School in 2009. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

FLOWERY BRANCH – The Falcons “Friday Night Lights” program is staying in Gwinnett County for the third consecutive year.

The event was held at Grady High School before being staged at Mill Creek High in 2008 and Brookwood High in 2009.

The “Friday Night Lights” scrimmage will be held at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 6 at North Gwinnett High in Suwanee.

The scrimmage is open to the public and admission is free.

This grass roots event includes a fan fest with interactive inflatable games, face painting, sponsor activation, a post event autograph session and a spectacular fireworks show. During the live scrimmage, Falcons coach Mike Smith, Falcons quarterbacks, and certain position players will be mic’d so fans can get an in depth look “inside the huddle” during the scrimmage. WXIA-TV also will be broadcasting live from the …

Continue reading Falcons to keep “Friday Night Lights” program in Gwinnett »

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan and tight end Tony Gonzalez get on the same page. Jason Getz/jgetz@ajc.com

FLOWERY BRANCH – Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez has heard owner Arthur Blank’s message, loud and clear.

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Now that the Falcons have posted back-to-back winning season, Blank has stated that it’s all about getting some rings.

Gonzalez knows that Blank was not talking about wedding rings, either.

“On paper right now, this is probably the best team that I’ve ever been on,” Gonzalez said after Wednesday’s OTA session. “It’s exciting. It’s good to know that we can go out there and accomplish some big things this year.

Running backs Jason Snelling, Dmitri Nance (30), Turner and Jerious Norwood line up to participate in a drill. Jason …

Continue reading OTAs: Tony Gonzalez plans a trip to Super Bowl »

Atlanta Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon is learning both — weakside and strongside — outside linebacker positions. (AP Photo/Paul Abell)

FLOWERY BRANCH – Sean Weatherspoon, Corey Peters, Mike Johnson and the rest of the 25 members of the Falcons’ rookie club and some of the team’s cheerleaders are set to visit the Shepherd Center at 3 p.m. today in Atlanta.

They will sign autographs and visit with the patients at the non-profit hospital devoted to the medical care and rehabilitation of people with spinal cord injury and disease, acquired brain injury, multiple sclerosis and other neuromuscular problems.

Recent posts

OTAs: Mike Smith looking for some consistency

OTAs: William Moore takes part in first session

Chauncey Davis helping to fight childhood obesity

At the polls: Fans say no to T.O.

Thomas Dimitroff to play D.J. on DAVE:FM

Corey Peters had same position coach as Warren Sapp

Are you Falcons fans ready to head back outside?

Should the Falcons finally …

Continue reading The Rookie Club is set to visit the Shepherd Center »

Falcons head coach Mike Smith encourages players before the start of organized team activities (OTAs) Wednesday in Flowery Branch. Jason Getz/jgetz@ajc.com

FLOWERY BRANCH – The coaching theme for the organized team activities is “consistency.”

Falcons head coach Mike Smith doesn’t want players to make one spectacular play and then have a drop off. If you can play at the spectacular level, he wants you to stay there.

Smith is a master of the simple and clear message. Now, he’ll try to get some repetition on the theme and drive his point home.

“It starts out here on the practice field,” Smith said on Wednesday. “We’re really stressing consistency with every member of our team. Not only on the field, but in the class room so that we can make sure that we are hitting on all cylinders.”

The Falcons went through their second OTA session. The team has three sessions a week planned with the final one on June 17th. The team will then break for a few weeks and reconvene for training …

Continue reading OTAs: Mike Smith is looking for some consistency »

Falcons safety Erik Coleman getting an interception against New Orleans' Drew Brees during the 2008 season. (CURTIS COMPTON/AJC)

The Falcons will hold their second session of their organized team activities today.

This will be the first of four sessions that will be opened to the media and you can expect that all eyes will be on second-year safety William Moore, who returned to action on Tuesday after missing the mandatory minicamp with a pectoral injury.

During training camp last season, Moore, a second-round pick from Missouri, was expected to make a bid for a starting position. His bid was derailed by  hamstring and knee injuries.

He played in only two games and was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 27.

Safety Erik Coleman has been a mentor to the team's young secondary players. He could be in a battle for his starting spot. (CURTIS COMPTON/AJC)

The Falcons have revamped their secondary this offseason and now will get to see if Moore can challenge Erik Coleman for the …

Continue reading OTAs: Erik Coleman has been team’s second top tackler »

Falcons owner Arthur Blank welcomes safety William Moore to last season's mini-camp, May 8, 2009. (CURTIS COMPTON/AJC).

Safety William Moore took part in the first day of organized team activities on Tuesday, according to a team spokesperson.

The first session was closed to the media.

Moore was held out of the team’s mandatory minicamp earlier this month with a pectoral injury.

Moore, a second round pick in the 2009 draft, played sparingly last season as he suffered from knee and hamstring injuries that required surgery and forced him to the injured reserve list.

Running back Jerious Norwood (hip) and wide receiver Ryan Wolfe (injury unknown) also returned to practice.

Wide receiver Harry Douglas (knee), cornerback Brian Williams, wide receiver Kerry Meier (hamstring), defensive tackles Peria Jerry (knee) and Jonathan Babineaux (shoulder) did not practice.

Continue reading OTAs: William Moore takes part in first practice »

Atlanta Falcons' Stephen Nicholas, right, Chauncey Davis, second from right, and Curtis Lofton, left, try to tackle New York Jets' Braylon Edwards during the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Falcons defensive end Chauncy Davis hosted a special field day event for more than 300 students at Coan Middle School in Atlanta last Thursday.

The physical fitness event was sponsored by The Chauncey Davis Foundation. Nike, DTLR and Cardio Kids. The was to encourage the youth to stay physically active.

“We know the best ways to combat diabetes and childhood obesity is through diet and exercise,” said Davis, whose mother lost her leg due to complications associated with diabetes. “There is no better gift I can think of than the gift of life through promoting healthy lifestyles and exercise year round. Whether it’s running, playing basketball or jumping rope, there is always an easy way for kids to stay …

Continue reading Chauncey Davis helping to fight childhood obesity »

Terrell Owens didn't have much of an impact in Buffalo last season. (Mike Groll/Associated Press)

The fans have spoken and they don’t want the Falcons to sign wide receiver Terrell Owens.

There was a combined “No” vote of 57%, so you political science majors know that we won’t to have a runoff.

No, he’s too much of a diva (32%) and No, he’ll poison Matt Ryan’s young career were the leaders in the four-question poll.

Here’s how the poll turned out.

Should the Falcons sign Terell Owens?

• No, he’s too much of a diva. (32%, 877 Votes)

• No, he’ll poison Matt Ryan’s young career. (25%, 691 Votes)

• Yes, the receiver corps is thin after Roddy White. (24%, 659 Votes)

• Yes, you can never have too many good football players. (19%, 490 Votes)

Total Voters: 2,717

Our buddy and fellow Bison, Steve Wyche has Seattle showing some interest in T.O. Of course, the Falcons play the Seahawks on Dec. 19.

Continue reading At the polls: Fans say no to T.O. the Diva »

Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff, left, talks with head coach Mike Smith during the morning session on the second day of NFL football mini-camp at the team's training complex in Flowery Branch, Ga., Saturday, May 8, 2010. (AP Photo/Paul Abell)

UPDATE: Here’s the playlist from DJ Dimitroff’s guest set on Mara Davis’ “Radio Free Lunch” show Friday, May 22, on 92.9 DAVE-FM. – AJC Sports

And It Stoned Me, Van Morrison
Truckin’, Grateful Dead
Steamroller, James Taylor
Toes, Zac Brown Band
Spirit In The Night, Bruce Springsteen
Ramblin’ Man, Allman Brothers Band

Thomas’s other favorite songs:
The River, Bruce Springsteen
Roll Me Away, Bob Seger
Into The Mystic, Van Morrison

We know that Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff is an avid cyclist.

Today, he’ll spend an hour, from 12 noon to 1 p.m. on DAVE.FM (92.9) spinning the hits flashing his guest D.J. skills.

He’s going to share his list of top 10 favorite songs and New England coach Bill Belichick is …

Continue reading Thomas Dimitroff to play D.J. today on DAVE.FM (Updated) »