Archive for September, 2010

Tony Gonzalez continues to be a weapon on offense // Falcons at Steelers // 9/12/10 – Heinz Field // PHOTO: Jimmy Cribb, Atlantafalcons.com

FLOWERY BRANCH –  It’s going to be a busy weekend for tight end Tony Gonazlez.

The folks are coming in from California and that’s always stressful.  The Falcons are set to honor him for his 1,000th catch and he will pay tribute to the winner of his 1,000th catch contest on twitter.com.

All this will be going on while Gonzalez will be planning to help jumpstart the offense.

“My Mom, Dad, Brother, Cousins and my oldest boy, my 9-year-old, will be here as well,” said Gonzalez, who had to purchase about 15 tickets. “It’s something that will be special.”

He’s excited about the Falcons tribute.

“It’s definitely special,” Gonzalez said. “I’m humbled by it. To think that the guys who have been able to accomplish that, I never thought I’d be on that list. Even three or four years ago, it seemed so far out of reach. I have just been lucky to be …

Continue reading Tony Gonzalez ready for celebration, offense to get on track »

Continue reading Video report: Falcons look to bounce back »

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Babineaux

FLOWERY BRANCH – Defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux returned to practice on Wednesday after serving his one game suspension.

The suspension resulted from a drug related arrest in December. He later pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors.

He watched the Falcons 15-9 lost to Pittsburgh on television.

“It was kind of weird,” Babineaux said. “I had a kind of empty feeling in my stomach, not being out there with them. I had to let the guys know that I (was supporting them). I wish I could have been out there with them, but they knew I was thinking about them and hoping that they could do their best.”

Babineaux wouldn’t say if they threw something at the TV after Rashard Mendenhall scored on the 50-yard walk-off touchdown run.

“The guys fought hard the whole game,” Babineaux said. “To let one play end it like that was very disappointing. I think the guys played very well without me. They had a great game. I knew the guys were going to play good.”

Babineaux …

Continue reading Jonathan Babineaux returns to practice today »

Arizona general manager Rod Graves and head coach Ken Whisenhunt.

FLOWERY BRANCH — Here’s a quick look at the two-time defending NFC West champion Arizona Cardinals:

Record: 1-0.

Coach: Ken Whisenhunt (Georgia native who played at Georgia Tech and for the Falcons from 1985 to 1988.)

Last time played: The Cardinals defeated the Falcons, 30-24 in the wildcard round of the playoffs after the 2008 season. The Cardinals hold a 1-0 advantage in playoff meetings and 14-10 in regular season meetings.  The Falcons have a 9-6 edge in games played in Atlanta. In the last regular season meeting, the Cardinals beat the Falcons, 30-27, in overtime in 2007.

Arizona on offense: The Cardinals have hitched their wagon to the erratic Derek Anderson at quarterback. They have wide receiver

In the wildcard game on Jan. 3, 2009, Falcons safety Eric Coleman levels Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who had 6 catches for 101 yards and a score. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

Larry …

Continue reading A quick look at the Arizona Cardinals »

Falcons defensive end Kroy Biermann (71) looks on with coach Mike Smith (right) to see where the officials spot the ball in the third quarter. Associated Press

FLOWERY BRANCH —  The dust has settled after the Pittsburgh loss.  I just went back over coach Mike Smith’s media briefing.

He was calm, cool and collected. But he was about as frank and open as he’s been in his three seasons as the Falcons head coach. He knows the Falcons let one slip away.

He didn’t point any fingers, but he didn’t absolve anyone from the loss to a good team that was playing with their third string quarterback.

The offense has to score touchdowns. He said it was a problem in the preseason and it was a problem against Pittsburgh.

He called out the offensive line, too, when he said, “We need to block better.”

The defense has to play harder and more consistent. (I actually thought they did a good job considering they had five new starters.)

The coaches, himself included, have to coach better.

Falcons …

Continue reading Coach Mike Smith demands improvement across the board »

Atlanta Falcons running back Dimitri Nance (30) does a little "Dirty Bird" dance in the endzone after scoring a 1-yard touchdown run for a 17-3 lead over the Kansas City Chiefs during 4th quarter action in the exhibition season opener at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Friday, August 13, 2010. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com

FLOWERY BRANCH – Running back Dimtri Nance was signed by the Green Bay Packers off the Falcons practice squad on Tuesday.

Nance lost a competition for a roster spot with running back Antone Smith. After clearing waivers, he was signed to the team’s practice squad on Sept. 5.

After playing four years at Arizona State and rushing for 1,934 yards and 19 touchdowns, Nance was signed by the Falcons as an undrafted rookie free agent on April 26

He was an early star of the preseason rushing for two touchdowns in a 20-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Packers were in the market for running back depth after Ryan Grant suffered a right ankle injury that …

Continue reading Dimitri Nance signed off practice squad by Green Bay Packers »

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

FLOWERY BRANCH – When tight end Tony Gonzalez made his 1,000 career catch in Pittsburgh, the Steelers faithful were not impressed.

There were a few light claps and a smattering of boos.

But on Sunday, during the Falcons season opener and throughout the week, the team plans to honor the tight end who is the only tight end in league history with 1,000 receptions.

“It was great to finally catch my 1,000th pass,” Gonzalez said.  “It’s an accomplishment that I am very proud of and one that signifies that I’ve been blessed to play this great game for a long time.”

Gonzalez is the NFL’s all-time leader at the tight end position with 1,001 career receptions for 11,842 yards and 82 touchdowns. He is the seventh …

Continue reading Falcons to honor Tony Gonzalez for his 1,000th catch »

FLOWERY BRANCH – In order to make room for the return of defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux, the Falcons waived backup center Rob Bruggeman on Tuesday.

Bruggeman, 6-4, 286 pounds, spent part of the 2009 season on the Falcons practice squad. With Joe Hawley inactive with a hip injury, Bruggeman served as the team’s backup center in the season opener against Pittsburgh.

Bruggeman was signed to the practice squad after clearly waivers.  There was an opening on the practice squad after the Packers signed running back Dimitri Nance.

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Continue reading Bruggeman released to make room for Babineaux »

Continue reading Video report: Offense is searching for its identity »