Archive for July, 2010

The Falcons recently unveiled their new secondary logo. (D. Orlando Ledbetter/dledbetter@ajc.com)

FLOWERY BRANCH — The Falcons unveiled a new “ATL” logo recently.

“We established out own secondary logo in conjunction with the league,” said Jim Smith, the team’s chief marketing officer. “What we wanted to do was find something that was uniquely Atlanta. So when we started looking around, everybody in this country knows that the three letters A T L stand for Atlanta. So we wanted to find a way to capitalize on that.”

The Falcons sent their design to the league office and it was approved.

Fans can purchase the apparel exclusively at training camp or on the website: Falcons365.com

Continue reading Falcons unveil their secondary logo: ATL »

FLOWERY BRANCH –   Falcons defensive end Kroy Biermann is getting some bad advice concerning not talking about his “rumored” relationship with “Real Housewives of Atlanta” reality TV star  Kim Zolciak.

Biermann would not confirm that he and Zolciak are dating.

“Just in general, that’s my personal life and I would probably keep it that way,” Biermann said.

You saw last year that this Reality TV star thing worked out for the New Orleans Saints.

Reggie Bush was dating Reality TV star Kim Kardashian and they won the Super Bowl.

Maybe Biermann and Kim Zolciak could help the Falcons bring home the Lombardi trophy.

Continue reading Kroy Biermann linked to Reality TV star »

Falcons receiver Michael Jenkins after practice on Saturday. He was explaining to the media why the defense appears to be ahead of the offense. (D. Orlando Ledbetter/dledbetter@ajc.com)

FLOWERY BRANCH – The Falcons caught a break from the heat Saturday morning.

When the first practice started there were clouds in the sky and the temperature was in the 80s. Near the end of practice, the humidity picked up and it was a little hotter.

Here are some of the highlights from the morning session:

–Wide receiver Brian Finneran (back), safety Matt Giordano (back) and tight end Colin Peek (knee) did not practice.

The Falcons are not certain about the extent of Peek’s injury and are calling him day-to-day at this point.

–The defense continued to dominate the offense in the third practice of training camp. They are beating players to the spot and getting their hands on a lot of passes.

Second-year cornerback Christopher Owens broke up a deep pass intended for Michael Jenkins.

However, …

Continue reading Saturday practice report: Finneran out with back injury »

FLOWERY BRANCH — Tight end Colin Peek, an undrafted rookie free agent from Alabama, left the field during the afternoon practice with an apparent right knee injury.

He walked off the field with a trainer, but his right knee was heavily wrapped.

Peek, who  started his collegiate career at Georgia Tech, had a nice catch during the morning practice.

Continue reading Tight end Colin Peek leaves the field with apparent knee injury »

Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez chats with AJC columnist Mark Bradly after the first practice. (D. Orlando Ledbetter/dledbetter@ajc.com

MIKE SMITH, HEAD COACH: “The biggest thing for us is to stay healthy, especially in the first 10 days of training camp. We want to make sure that we’re doing everything that we can for our guys in terms of hydration, tempo of the practice, I think it’s going to be very important that we stay healthy. That’s one of our main objectives.”

MATT RYAN, QUARTERBACK: “I thought it was pretty good. Guys knocked some of the rust off. Guys came out and mentally we were pretty sharp. . . Offensively, I think it’s about fine tuning what we are good at.”

TONY GONZALEZ, TIGHT END:

Q: How much motivation is it that the New Orleans Saints are in your division?

A: “I think it’s great. It’s the best thing that can ever happen because it’s a measuring stick. It was our measuring stick last year. Both of those games, we could have won. But that’s how it goes …

Continue reading Post practice comments »

Falcons wide receiver Harry Douglas speaks with the media after practice. (D. Orlando Ledbetter/dledbetter@ajc.com)

FLOWERY BRANCH – Falcons wide receiver Harry Douglas returned to the field on Friday for the first time since tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee early in training camp last season.

He was limited and held out of some drills.

At one point, wide receiver coach Terry Robiskie said, “Harry get out of that line. I’m not going to tell you again.”

After the team’s first practice, Douglas chatted with the media.

Q: Can you sum it up, just what it felt like to be out of football last year?

A: It was heart breaking, especially for me because I love the game of football. Once again, my family, the guys here, who I consider family also, they were a great supporting cast. They always picked me up when I was (feeling) down. I just love being around this place.

Q: Is this first day kind of a hurdle that you’re over?

A: Yeah. I was thinking about it last …

Continue reading Q & A: Harry Douglas returns to practice »

Falcons coach Mike Smith talks with the media after the teams first practice of training camp. (D. Orlando Ledbetter/dledbetter@ajc.com)

FLOWERY BRANCH – With the offense in place, a promising young quarterback and a rebuilt secondary, the Falcons have managed to win the offseason Super Bowl.

No, there won’t be a parade down Peachtree Street.

No, Arthur Blank won’t get to hold a trophy over his head.

But by making all of the right moves, the Falcons are media darlings and are showing up in the top 10 of several of those so-called “power rankings.”

“We are real excited about the energy,” general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. “The big message that we really stressed in the offseason is consistency.”

But the work for the “real” Super Bowl – the one that comes with the Vince Lombardi trophy — starts today.

“That’s exactly how we are going to proceed,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “When we first got here we talked about our goals and our goals are always going to be kept …

Continue reading Smith says opening camp is one of the ‘best days of the year’ »

Players began reporting Thursday for the start of Atlanta Falcons training camp Friday. Receiver Harry Douglas, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, is all smiles as he reports. (Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com)

FLOWERY BRANCH – Almost 5,000 of you all voted in the “COUNTDOWN TO TRAINING CAMP 2010” polls over the last two weeks.

A quick sample of the results reveal that you all believe rookie Dominique Franks will be the team’s primary return man, that quarterback Matt Ryan will throw more than 20 touchdowns passes and wide receiver Roddy White will have more than 1,200 yards receiving.

If this were a Georgia primary election,  Brian Williams (43 percent) would have to face Brent Grimes (37 percent) in a runoff for the open starting cornerback position.

Here’s a look at how you voted.

Who is going to be the team’s primary return man in 2010?

• Dominique Franks (47%, 127 Votes)

• Harry Douglas (36%, 98 Votes)

• Jerious Norwood (13%, 36 Votes)

• Brent …

Continue reading Countdown to Training Camp poll results »

00509 Flowery Branch – Atlanta Falcons linebackers coach Greg Pires works with first round draft pick rookie linebacker # 56 Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri, during day 3 of minicamp in Flowery Branch on Sunday, May 9, 2010. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com

FLOWERY BRANCH — Falcons first-round pick Sean Weatherspoon agreed to five year contract on Thursday, the team confirmed.

Weatherspoon, a linebacker  from Missouri,  is set to sign the deal before the team meeting which is scheduled for 7 p.m. He was the 19th player selected in the 2010 NFL draft.

Most of the Falcons pulled up to the amenities building in their luxury cars to check into the living quarters for training camp earlier in the day.

But Weatherspoon was not one of them because the team and his agent were still hammering out his contract.

With Weatherspoon in the fold, the Falcons have all of their rookies signed and will have all 80 players when they hit field for their first practice Friday morning.

Earlier in …

Continue reading Sean Weatherspoon signs 5-year, $17.5 million contract »

Falcons cornerback Brent Grimes checking into his dorm room. (D. Orlando Ledbetter/dledbettter@ajc.com)

FLOWERY BRANCH – Falcons cornerback Brent Grimes arrived to check into his dorm room Thursday afternoon.

He led the team in interceptions last season and will be in a battle for the starting position opposite of Dunta Robinson.

After picking up his playbook and keys, Grimes talked about his summer and preparation for training camp.

Q: How has your summer been?

A: The summer has been cool. Hot, obviously. I’ve just been working out. I got to relax a little bit after OTAs broke. It’s been cool.

Q: Did you work out around here?

A: Yeah, I didn’t go anywhere. I’ve been around here pretty much.

Q: What are your thoughts about training camp, it’s going to be pretty hot?

A: Of course it will easier for somebody my size than an offensive lineman. But it’s still hard for everybody. This heat is going to be something that everybody has to fight with this whole training camp. It …

Continue reading Q & A: Brent Grimes is ready for training camp »