UPDATE: Weatherspoon contract watch is underway
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
UPDATE
Wed. 10:54 p.m.
Progress was made during the negotiations on Wednesday, with a push Thursday morning, Falcons first round draft pick Sean Weatherspoon could be signed in time to report with the rest the squad and been ready for team meetings in the evening.
* * *
With the Falcons due to report less than 24 hours from now, the “Weatherspoon Watch” is under way.
Another first-round domino dropped this morning, when cornerback Devin McCourty agreed to terms with the New England Patriots, according to his agent Andy Simms.
“Patriots 1st rounder Devin McCourty has agreed to terms this morning and will be at the facility when the full team reports today,” Simms tweeted at 7:20 a.m.
McCourty and Dallas’ Dez Bryant are the only first rounders with deals.
Also, Carolina agreed to a four-year deal with quarterback Jimmy Clausen, a second round pick.
It should be a busy day with several teams set to report either today or Thursday.
“There hasn’t really been a lot of action throughout the first and second rounds,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “But of course, the closer that you get to the reporting date, you’ll start to see more and more guys sign.”
Under the current regime, Matt Ryan and Peria Jerry were signed in time for camp. With the owners’ meeting in town, the Falcons signed Ryan in May, months before training camp opened.
Last year, Jerry was signed on a Thursday just before the start of camp on Saturday.
However, in 2008, Sam Baker’s first-round deal hit a last minute snag. He agreed to a contract late Friday night, but the contract was not approved by the league in time for Baker to start practice early Saturday.
Baker had to go upstairs and wait in an office until his contract was approved.
Baker joined the team one hour and 12 minutes after the first practice started. He was selected with the 21st pick, two picks behind where Weatherspoon was selected.
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46 comments Add your comment
Tweets that mention Sean Weatherspoon contract watch is underway | Atlanta Falcons -- Topsy.com
July 28th, 2010
9:16 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Kay Kay, D. Orlando Ledbetter. D. Orlando Ledbetter said: Sean Weatherspoon contract watch is underway in the #ATL. http://bit.ly/c30yWA [...]
FalconTransplant
July 28th, 2010
9:32 am
Spoon is hungry to play, but our Falcons front office wants to be sure a fair contract is in place.
He’ll be signed in time for this weekends Training Camp. No Doubt!!!
FalconTransplant
July 28th, 2010
9:32 am
Oh and 1ST other than the tweet alert!
D.S.G.B.
July 28th, 2010
10:07 am
i think “spoony love from up above” will be signed and ready to go come start of camp. this is the year falcons fans.
Blue Fender
July 28th, 2010
10:10 am
All I want to see is Spoon hit someone…anyone! (On the playing field, of course. He doesn’t need to go all Steve Smith on anyone.)
ToccoaBird
July 28th, 2010
10:14 am
I’m not worried about spoon. He wants to be a Falcon and it will get done. He is smart enough to know he needs to be in camp from day 1.
ToccoaBird
July 28th, 2010
10:16 am
D Led the question is, Are you ready for some FOOTBALL.
Tweets that mention Sean Weatherspoon contract watch is underway | Atlanta Falcons -- Topsy.com
July 28th, 2010
10:29 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by FanZeed.com and Fantasy Tackles, ATLHOMER. ATLHOMER said: Atlanta Falcons – RT Sean Weatherspoon contract watch is underway: 00509 Flowery Branch – Atlanta Falcons line… http://bit.ly/aCmzzp #AJC [...]
Bird Dog
July 28th, 2010
10:42 am
Get er dun! I would have thought that the signing of Bryant would have started a mass movement. Shouldn’t everyone right in front of him and right behind him just sort of fall in line with their deals? I guess that makes too much sense in a world with so much greed!
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
July 28th, 2010
11:06 am
just get it over with and show up to camp on time & ready to go. greedy SOB!!!
I.MUS WRITE
July 28th, 2010
11:08 am
Im like a kid waiting on Xmas……Cant wait until friday Lets Geaux Birds!!!!
Boo the Falcons!!!
July 28th, 2010
11:16 am
Booo!!!
Thats for not sighing TO
SirReal
July 28th, 2010
11:19 am
Dr. Ken….i dont think its a matter of greed. many times its the agents orchestrating this fiasco. These players have been wanting to do this their entire lives and you better believe Spoon’s itching to go.
P.S. Dont be so wuick to run to judgment but i totally agree with you about getting it done. Im tired of hearing about it.LOL
Uptown
July 28th, 2010
11:21 am
Can a football players with surgerically repaired knees ever return to near 100% performance? Are lineman more apt than wide receivers to play near 100%?
Baseball players with Tommy John surgery often are stronger pitchers than before the injury.
YEEEESSS to the Falcons!
July 28th, 2010
11:25 am
YEEEEESSSS…..that is for the Falcons NOT signing TO. We don’t need a diva as a wideout.
kyle
July 28th, 2010
11:39 am
Exactly. TO is D.O.N.E.
LJ
July 28th, 2010
11:42 am
@ Dr. Kenneth Noisewater,
How is Spoon being greedy? What offer has he turned down? What evidence do you have that he has some astronomical asking price???? The two sides have not even talked until recently.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
July 28th, 2010
12:22 pm
ToccoaBird — I’m ready.
I’ve figured out that SPOON’S deal should be 5-years, $18.5 million. We’ve got two of the best in the business — Dunn and McKay — negotiating here, it should get done in time.
Paddy
July 28th, 2010
12:23 pm
Dr. Ken….I don’t see anything in these negotiations that point to greed on Spoon’s part. This is just the natural progression of things in a players contract. Especially the first contract. An agent that gets to anxious can leave alot of money on the table. This is a life changing experience thats sets the team and the player up for happeir years in a good organization. Just let it play out, it will turn out just fine in due course.
Bird Droppings
July 28th, 2010
12:27 pm
Not worried in the least about Spoon. My only concern at this point is whether Harry Douglas, Jerry and Moore are fully recovered from their injuries. Jerry and Moore are basically rookies, so I wonder what kind of production is expected from them. Anyone?
D. Orlando Ledbetter
July 28th, 2010
12:32 pm
McCourty’s deal will be a bellwether for others. Getting to camp a priority for the kid. Numbers-wise, we know $13.2M over 5, with $7.825M. — tweet from my ALBERT BREER, of the Boston Globe
Boo the Falcons!!!
July 28th, 2010
1:12 pm
Is Bellwether like warm weather?
Rise Up !
July 28th, 2010
1:16 pm
OOO-OOOHHHH
Rise Up !
JD2
July 28th, 2010
1:32 pm
Hey DLED. I’m a broadcast journalism major in college. I wanna walk in your shoes for a day, talk to the players and report it back to public
Paddy
July 28th, 2010
2:54 pm
JD2…..you had better hurry and get that degree and find a job before all the newspapers in this country go 10 toes up!
JD2
July 28th, 2010
3:09 pm
Aight Paddy. Thanks for the heads up.
i saw brent grimes
July 28th, 2010
3:16 pm
amen! football is almost here!!!! can’t wait to hit practice next sunday morning and friday night lights at n gwinnett!!!
alanfalcon
July 28th, 2010
3:49 pm
Where is our DEVA?????????????????????????????????????????????????????
alanfalcon
July 28th, 2010
3:50 pm
HE MUST BE A DEVA INSTEAD OF A FALCON LB………………………….
alanfalcon
July 28th, 2010
3:54 pm
WAIT A MINUTE MAYBE HE IS STILL IN TEXAS WITH HIS HIGHSCHOOL BUDDIES,he’s not in Atlanta and part of the team, Maybe he’s confused and in Mo. Has anyone seen him or is this all just fiction……..
Birdword
July 28th, 2010
4:05 pm
Not that it matters much, but I think you are both misusing and mispelling the word “diva”. That said, I hope he’s there tommorrow.
Barton
July 28th, 2010
4:25 pm
ESPN the Ocho reports that former human highlight reel “Neon” Deon Sanders was in pads and playing the OLB position where Sean Weatherspoon is expected to be playing IF he ever gets his contract sign. The Falcons are preparing for the worst as it is rumored that Weatherspoon is looking for a 14-year $109 million dollar contract, similar to that of former Atlanta Thrasher Ilya Kovalchuk. Sanders has reportedly agreed to play the OLB position for free since he is rumored to be signing a max deal to play for the Miami Heat with Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and Penny and Tim Hardaway. The Ocho will report when more news breaks.
Pete
July 28th, 2010
4:32 pm
With the world’s economy in the toilet American arrogant athletes along with their sub-human GREED infested agents still come to the feeding trough like true genuine Pigs that they indeed are.
Someday this will all come tumbling down.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
July 28th, 2010
4:44 pm
JD2 — Anytime, my friend.
Paddy — Newspapers aren’t going anywhere!!!!
Barton — I just talked to Deion. He didn’t mention any of that stuff.
NES
July 28th, 2010
10:29 pm
Don’t worry falcons’ fans, Mr. Arthur BlankCheck will have Spoon signed, sealed, and delivered on time for training camp. Spoon will get more than the slotted amount as BlankCheck always pays more money-$$$. Remember how the other teams’ owners and GM’s got mad over contract Matty Ice got? so don’t sweat the small stuff — money talks.
FalcFans.com » Progress made on Weatherspoon deal
July 28th, 2010
11:30 pm
[...] D. Orlando Ledbetter of the AJC reports that progress has been made in the negotiations between the Falcons and top draft pick Sean Weatherspoon. Per Ledbetter, it’s possible that with a “push” tomorrow morning, Weatherspoon could be signed in time to report on time with the rest of the team for team meetings on Thursday evening. However, the Falcons don’t hold their first practice until Friday morning at 8:30 AM, giving the team a bit more time to finalize a deal. [...]
MaxxFalcon
July 29th, 2010
12:20 am
Spoon will be there, this is all good news. Barton- Hilarious!
Atlanta Falcons Talk » Blog Archive » Looks like Spoon will be signed early tomorrow.
July 29th, 2010
1:02 am
[...] Link [...]
Dr. Warren
July 29th, 2010
2:22 am
Warrick Dunn is already a master negotiator with the Falcons’ front office? Seems unlikely at this point. Who is this Dunn?
TLH
July 29th, 2010
3:22 am
Spoon will be in Camp. On another note, I sure hope Brandyn Harvey makes the roster. Maybe he can unseat Jenkins soon.
#NFL News and Notes – July 29, 2010 | The Other 31
July 29th, 2010
8:21 am
[...] Falcons first-round linebacker Sean Weatherspoon could be signed in time to report to camp with the rest of his teammates, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution [...]
Boo the Falcons!!!
July 29th, 2010
8:49 am
BOOOO!!!!!
Sid
July 29th, 2010
9:24 am
Lol, Hey Boo the Falcons, just curious, who are you rooting for…………?
“The higher we soar the smaller we appear to those that cannot fly”
ryan
July 29th, 2010
1:08 pm
TO missed his plane its already starting to implode Antonio Bryant not happy Marvin Lewis is on the hot seat . I just hope we get Spoon signed soon GO FALCONS !
Hamp
July 29th, 2010
3:40 pm
@ SID
“The higher we soar the smaller we appear to those that cannot fly”
Dude that is Classic!
Hitting the NFC South links | NowSportsLive
July 29th, 2010
8:06 pm
[...] were added to the list, which came as a bit of a surprise. D. Orlando Ledbetter reports that progress was made late Wednesday in contract talks with first-round draft pick Sean Weatherspoon. The Falcons report [...]