An ode to Jerious Norwood
The electrifying Jerious Norwood, one of the nicest guys on the team, has had an injury-plagued career with the Falcons. Curtis Compton/Ccompton@ajc.com)
Perhaps coach Mike Smith just didn’t want to jump the gun Monday. But we don’t know why he’s gone all Bill Belichick on the media over injuries.
It was already out that Jerious Norwood had a torn ACL. He was seen in the locker room on crutches. He sent an e-mail to an associate
Norwood is an avid fisherman.
stating that his ACL was torn, but that he was in good spirits. His family was already apprised of his status.
Smith said the team was still evaluating things and if there was a season-ending knee injury that an announcement would be made.
They made it today and announced some other moves.
Norwood suffered a torn ACL in his right knee on the opening kickoff of the 41-7 pasting of the Cardinals. He tripped on Shann Schillinger’s foot and his right knee slammed into the Georgia Dome turf.
The players already knew that Norwood was done for the season on Monday.
Norwood had speed to burn.
“We are a run-first offense,” wide receiver Roddy White said. “We are just looking forward to next week. Mike (Turner) will be able to play. (Jason) Snelling will be backing him up and we’ll keep rolling.”
The Falcons also announced the addition of running back Gartrell Johnson to the active roster and terminated the contract of linebacker Bear Woods, who was on the practice squad. They signed running back Shawnbrey McNeal to replace Woods.
Johnson was a fourth-round draft pick of the Chargers in 2009. He had 43 yards on 13 carries for the Giants last season.
McNeal was signed by San Diego as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Southern Methodist. He was waived following training camp.
He rushed for 1,188 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior and was honorable mention all-Conference USA.
Norwood has been injury plagued over his career with the Falcons.
“Unfortunately, since we’ve been here Jerious has had some bumps and bruises and some missed time,” Smith said. “But he is a very talented football player and he’s been a guy that’s contributed to the success that we’ve had.”
When asked about the ACL tear on Monday, Smith said, “I don’t know where that report is coming from. We’ve had testing done and evaluation done this morning. We are going to continue to evaluate it. If it is indeed the case. Then we would announce that. But again,
Jerious Norwood on the move.
that will come on Wednesday when we give our injury report.” (Umm, it came from an e-mail Jerious sent.)
The coaching staff thought Norwood could help them on third down. Norwood, who had four accrued years in the league, was a restricted free agent and received a second round tender last season. He was set to receive a salary of $1.759 million or 110 percent of his 2009 salary, whichever is greater.
“There is always a sense of frustration anytime that you don’t have your best players out there on the field,” Smith said. “That’s not necessarily directed toward Jerious or anyone else. Any time you don’t have your best players out there who give you the best chance to win, it is frustrating.”
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161 comments Add your comment
ReddJonn68
September 21st, 2010
11:01 pm
Sean Payton is a master O coordinator so he see’s our weaknesses like everyone else, like I said if you do not contain the outside every running back in the league will look like Reggie. Mendenhall & Hightower are not top ten backs ! They both exposed our outside containment.
FrontRow
September 21st, 2010
11:01 pm
@Breesus….they tried desparately for years. 2008- I recall Brees padding stats in the last game trying to break the record for TY and getting lots of help on the way.
And no bad calls on the magnitude of giving a team a dead ball punt (very clear to everyone BUT the refs). Stinker homey calls happen EVERY WEEK in a Saints game. The Saints are now the ONLY team that consistently tries to pick up dead ball punts – Monday Night was not the first time that play has happened with the Saints involved.
The last few years have gotten to the point where we expect it. After Monday’s call I quit watching because the intended outcome is obvious and therefore the game not worth watching.
truth
September 21st, 2010
11:03 pm
Redd….the Cards rushed for 118 yards one running play was for 80 yards without that it would have been 38…..I say 38 yards the entire game. Thats why Im not much of a stats guy. Dont know about the steelers game.
FrontRow
September 21st, 2010
11:04 pm
Yep they exposed us for a total of 2 tds in 2 games.
Frankly, I hope every team gets a long run on us. It pads the stats so the next team thinks they can run on us.
Hopefully, the Saints try it about 30-40 times on Sunday. We have lotsa d-linemen.
Breesus
September 21st, 2010
11:04 pm
Front Row,
What is yout point? The call was overturned and the ball was correctly given to the 49ers, so again what maddening injustice do you speak of? You keep harping on one play when the officials correctly ammended their mistake
myles
September 21st, 2010
11:05 pm
We need too just let him go he’s played like 20 games for usin the last four years he’s a good football player and i like him as a return man also but him being as injury prone as he is is too much of a liability. I’d really hate too say it but it’s time for norwood too go.
ReddJonn68
September 21st, 2010
11:08 pm
Both of those clowns Mendenhall & Hightower are averaging over 4 yds a carry. Heck Hightower is averaging 7.2 yds a carry, neither avgs 100 yds a game, so I wonder who padded those fantasy stats for them ????
FrontRow
September 21st, 2010
11:09 pm
truth – same thing with the Steelers. I think they got us for 125, 50 on 1 play.
like i said…maybe it’ll happen every week and all these teams will think they can run over us. I watched one game on TV and saw another and I did not see either the Steelers or the Cards jamming it down our throat.
myles
September 21st, 2010
11:12 pm
@Front Row
nobody’s jammed it down our throats the D jus has containment problems look at both of those TD runs they were both too the same side of the field and notice its the opposite side of Abraham
truth
September 21st, 2010
11:12 pm
The steelers rushed for 143 yards one run was 50 yards on ot. So without that its 93 yards the entire game. REDD YOU ARGUMENT IS POINTLESS AND PLEASE NO MORE SWINGING FROM SEAN PEYTONS NUTT SACK OR CHANGE TEAMS.
ReddJonn68
September 21st, 2010
11:13 pm
Mendenhall 115 yds vs Birds, 189 total for season, Hightower 120yds vs Birds, 169 total for season nuff said !!!
truth
September 21st, 2010
11:14 pm
WITHOUT THOSE TWO PLAYS WE AVERAGED 65.5 PER YARDS RUSHED FROM THE OPPOSING TEAM. GET A LIFE.
Frank Wilson
September 21st, 2010
11:14 pm
Sounds like Ted Striker thinks he’s Sargent John Stryker……….. Naw!
FrontRow
September 21st, 2010
11:15 pm
Breesus…the fact that they made the “mistake” in the first place is the problem. I was patently obvious nobody (but the Saints) touched the ball so why was the call made?
Two words: Homey Rules
It’s not one play. It’s one or 2 EVERY GAME. Go out yourself and review every Reggie Bush screen pass – at least half the plays have linemen downfield but it has NEVER been called.
HOMEY RULES…learn how to beat them.
FrontRow
September 21st, 2010
11:16 pm
Naw I think Redd should call Peyton and tell him how vulnerable we are to the run.
truth
September 21st, 2010
11:18 pm
Those two mistakes can be fixed easily. Gosh I hate fans with doom and gloom mindset. LOOK AT THE WHOLE PICTURE AND TAKE YOUR FANTASY FOOTBALL MIND AND GO ELSEWHERE.
ReddJonn68
September 21st, 2010
11:18 pm
Forget Peyton & everybody else only fools don’t face the truth !!! N.O. @ss won last year because of the offense their defense was lacky as hell & Baltimore won a ring because of their defense. Wishful thinking don’t win JACK , YOU BETTER KNOW WHAT YOU WORKING WITH WHEN BRING IT ON SUNDAY !!!!
FrontRow
September 21st, 2010
11:20 pm
Redd…just tell Sean to ignore the film and concentrate on the 2 plays. Tell him to give the ball to Pierre what’s his name about 40 times. Our D-line will make sure he doesn’t see week 4.
truth
September 21st, 2010
11:20 pm
Very funny FrontRow.
truth
September 21st, 2010
11:22 pm
Redd ill be working with your wife if you keep talking stupid. Im sure glad smith and company dont tuck tail and run when the aints go marching in.
truth
September 21st, 2010
11:23 pm
No…..fantasy football dont win jack. best to stop while your ahead and leave with alittle dignity.
truth
September 21st, 2010
11:25 pm
We know who we are working with. THEY ARE WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE!!!! AND WE WONT LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT!
ReddJonn68
September 21st, 2010
11:25 pm
Thats why we on this Norwood post right now for 4 yrs we been riding out on an often injured RB god bless him, just like we rode that none covering @ss Keith Looking at the ball go right by him ! Get real , we played a real defense in Pittsburgh, thats how u get it done not with this oh we look good against a team Alabama, could have shut down. Get real you know this D is a work in progress WTF up !!!!
GT97
September 21st, 2010
11:28 pm
It looks like most of us agree that we all love Norwood and was always waiting for the explosion. However, Again I will say it, we should have addressed this running back situation in the offseason. Good luck Falcons with that now. JS is the man, Turner is the backup like he was in SD.
FrontRow
September 21st, 2010
11:28 pm
Yeah and ask Derek Anderson why “progress” game him a fat lip.
truth
September 21st, 2010
11:31 pm
A 41-7 WHOOPING IN THE NFL IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS TO OFTEN. DOESN’T MATTER WHO IT IS. YOU ARE TRYING TO TELL US TO LOOK AT REALITY AND THAT’S WHAT WE ARE DOING. REALITY IS WE LET GAME ONE SLIP BY AND GAME TWO WE JUST PLAN KICKED A**. Look at the whole picture and we should leave the big sleezy with a win. I sure hope a hurricane dont hit them again it was awful watching them hoodlums stealing tvs while walking over there brothers in need.
ReddJonn68
September 21st, 2010
11:31 pm
A mind is a terrible thing to waste, we have played 2 teams in a row who don’t actually have a real NFL starting QB genius @sses !!!
ReddJonn68
September 21st, 2010
11:33 pm
Go Birds, I’m Out
truth
September 21st, 2010
11:33 pm
So is it ok for me to call you, Redd the scrodum swinger.
FrontRow
September 21st, 2010
11:33 pm
GT….waiting? I’m sorry to see Norwood out but I’ve already seen him explode many times.
Once upon a time the Falcons had a guy named Metcalf. A little fragile but dangerous like J Norwood.
J Norwood is a walking TD just like Metcalf and has lived up to the potential that Metcalf never achieved.
truth
September 21st, 2010
11:34 pm
Oh shoot he left.
tom
September 21st, 2010
11:34 pm
Love the guy. He has to retire or be traded. Has not had a complete season with the Falcons.
truth
September 21st, 2010
11:35 pm
See ya guys. GOOOOOO FAAAAALLLLLLCCCCOOOOONNNNSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!
rockie
September 21st, 2010
11:40 pm
thank God we don’t have to pay his broke-up-ass next year. Who the h#*l are these rb’s they’ve signed? Man this organization is baffling, Blank is supposedly a savy businessman, Dimitroff is supposedly royalty coming from NE and Smith always talks about the “process.” they have done nothing in free agency (jury still out on Gonzalez & Robinson p/u’s), this team seems scared of success. the majority of nfc teams are either distancing themselves from ATL or have caught up to them. PATHETIC!
D. Orlando Ledbetter
September 21st, 2010
11:55 pm
Who What?
Mr. Blank
September 22nd, 2010
1:52 am
I’ve had it. I’ve had it with spending a billion dollars on this team and having nothing to boost up my over sized ego. Norwood. We get one game out of you every year since you’ve been here spending my money. Take your little BB sack and the two little BBs in it and GO AWAY.
dogbird
September 22nd, 2010
6:04 am
J Rock’s hurt. Ho-hum
Paddy
September 22nd, 2010
6:47 am
i NEVER GOT TO SEE HIM PLAY BUT THEY SAID HE WAS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE “GREAT ONES”. wE WILL MISS YOU BEAR WOODS
nes
September 22nd, 2010
6:58 am
Last blog for this column, nothing motivates a team more than losing to the same team over and over. That is why the Falcons play their best game of the year this sunday against the Saints, we will win no matter what Mularky play calls! it is a pride thing and we now have enough talent on defense to pressure Brees and stop the run! wait til Brees meets Mr. Moore, our SS who hits like a linebacker (reminds me of Ronnie Lott) So you Saints fans who like the Falcons blogs, get ready to eat cajun, Falcons finally stop the losing and win in the New Orleans Dome!!
JYD
September 22nd, 2010
8:18 am
Somebody bring back Dmitri Nance, wonder why he was released.
Keith Mercer
September 22nd, 2010
9:02 am
As far as Bear Woods is concerned, I never saw him knock the snot out of anyone on the field so he was no major loss. If you want to look at pretty boys with long blond hair then go to Swingning Richards.
SeenThisB4
September 22nd, 2010
9:12 am
Nothing gives a team more confidence in beating another team, than to beat them over and over and over.
The falcants couldn’t beat a 3rd string QB, and they think they are now going to control Drew Brees, The Super Bowl MVP. They think cause they hit Derek Anderson, on a blitz, that they can do the same to Brees. LOL! Bring it!
It took them till the second game of the season for their starting offense to find the endzone, against the lowly cardinals, and now all of a sudden they proclaim they have become the “Hunter”. LOL!
Everybody’s looking at their stat books and extrapolating those numbers to foretell that the falcants will rise up and take the division. Who knows? Maybe, and maybe not.
You got brainless dingbats blaming the referees for making calls in favor of the Saints, and blaming the NFL for conspiring to give the Saints the Championship.
But just for the sake of consideration, what happens if the falcants win this week? They “rise up” to a tie for first place, at best in the division, probably a three way tie, cause it’s unlikely Tampa will beat Pittsburgh. What happens if the falcants lose? LOL! They “fall down” two games behind the division leader, in only the third game of the year! Quite a sobering possibility that will wake up even those sitting in the FrontRow wearing the falcant-colored, sissy glasses.
What happens if the Saints lose? They stay tied for the division lead. LOL! If they win? Well, that two game lead will seem impossibly unsurmountable, especially to those sitting on the “FrontRow” in the atlanta stadium.
Well, the “truth” is that the Super Bowl Champions are fairly adept at being lethal, efficient and affective “hunters” themselves….simply because they possess far better weapons.
GEAUX SAINTS! OUR TIME!!
DHunt
September 22nd, 2010
9:26 am
We’ll look back fondly on those few plays Jerious made. Too bad his highlight reel is actually pretty much all the live plays he ever ran.
This is the week to NOT ignore the Aints fans. This is the week to talk smack to those bayou boneheads who can’t help but lurk around a real teams fan blog.
Falcons D has given up 3 field goals in two games, and two, very flukey long runs over the left edge of the defense. You really think our coaching staff isn’t going to be all over that this week? Other than that, teams aren’t even moving the ball much against this defense. You can denigrate Dixon and Anderson all you want, but they don’t play offensive line and running back and wide receiver. We shut down offenses, not just one player. Saints haven’t stopped anyone on defense, Vikes and Niners stopped themselves. And you just lost arguably your most valuable offensive weapon. And you expect to somehow get better on offense?
Saints fans the fantasy ride stops right here. You are about to run up against the new NFC south champs, and don’t feel bad, cause everybody is getting some of this buzzsaw. Saints get 3 field goals and maybe one td. 31-16 Falcons. Believe that.
waynester
September 22nd, 2010
10:04 am
I see that B4 is beginning to ponder the possibility of a Falcons win–an incremental step toward reason, but improvement, nonetheless. I read the NO papers and you better believe the braggadocio is merely a thin veneer covering a very worried fanbase in Louisiana. I’d love to see a Falcons win, if for nothing else than eliminating some of the smug nonsense being posted on here daily….
D. Orlando Ledbetter
September 22nd, 2010
11:02 am
SeenThisB4:
You are banned from using the “GEAUX” word on these blogs ever again.
DC from Conyers
September 22nd, 2010
11:10 am
The Falcons are a better team today than they were Sunday.
Tommy Maddox
September 22nd, 2010
11:13 am
Thank you Jerious! You make football exciting to watch.
Section 108
September 22nd, 2010
11:49 am
Godspeed, Norwood. Thanks for your effort over the years.
Now Falcons Fans, who wants to be buy an authentic #32 Jersey? 80% discount!!!
Mike is back
September 22nd, 2010
12:05 pm
DLed,
Nice tribute to Norwood…I would also like to wish Norwood a speedy recovery…he is a classy guy. However, I do share some of the frustrations of my fellow bloggers…dude is soft as powder. Unfortunately, for Norwood…he has become unreliable.
I hope for his sake…he can beat the injury bug and resurrect his career. Good luck my man…I will be pulling for you.
GO BIRDS…TROUNCE THEM Aints!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
yojimbot
September 22nd, 2010
12:33 pm
SeenThisB4 – Not for nothing, but if the Saints lose, they won’t be tied with the Falcons. The Falcons would be ahead of them in the standings by virtue of head-to-head win. Just throwing that out there.