Archive for October, 2010

Dunta Robinson. (D. Orlando Ledbetter, dledbetter@ajc.com )

Cornerback Dunta Robinson was declared inactive for today’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Christopher Owens will replace Robinson at right cornerback.

Other inactive players include:  running back Antone Smith, linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, tackle Garrett Reynolds, guard Mike Johnson, tight end Justin Peelle and defensive tackle Trey Lewis.

Robinson suffered a concussion last week against the Eagles when he collided with Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson.  Robinson was fined $50,000 for the hit, but he is appealing the league’s decision.

Robinson was in the league’s concussion protocol. He was examined by a independent doctor.

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Continue reading Inactives: Dunta Robinson will not play vs. Bengals »

Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson on Monday, March 8, 2010. D. Orlando Ledbetter, dledbetter@ajc.com

FLOWERY BRANCH – Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson remains under the league’s concussion protocol, but is being listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals at the Georgia Dome.

Robinson could still be cleared by an independent doctor later today or Saturday. By putting a questionable tag on him, the Falcons are holding out hope that Robinson will be cleared to face the Bengals and their two celebrity receivers, Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco.

Also, running back Antone Smith (shoulder) is listed as questionable for the game.

Tight end Justin Peelle (sports hernia surgery) and linebacker Sean Weatherspoon (right knee sprain) will not play on Sunday.

If Robinson, who was fined $50,000 for a hit on Philadelphia’s DeSean Jackson, is not cleared, second-year man Christopher Owens will start at right cornerback. Veteran Brian Williams would …

Continue reading Injury report: Robinson not cleared, but listed as questionable »

Deion Sanders strutting his stuff during his time with the Falcons. He set to be inducted into the franchise's Ring of Honor.

FLOWERY BRANCH – Deion Sanders, the most entertaining and flamboyant player in team history, will be inducted into the Atlanta Falcons’  Ring of Honor.

Deion Sanders visited the team facilities with his youth football team this summer. (D. Orlando Ledbetter/dledbetter@ajc.com)

Sanders, nicknamed “Prime Time” for his style of play, was with the Falcons from 1989 to 1993 after being drafted No. 5 overall out of Florida State.

The Atlanta Falcons today announced that cornerback Deion Sanders is the latest inductee into the team’s prestigious Ring of Honor. Sanders was named the eighth member of this exclusive club by a vote of a local media selection committee.

Sanders said he was trying to convey a positive message with all of bling, but the message got lost.

The induction will take place at halftime of the nationally-televised Thursday night …

Continue reading Falcons to induct Deion Sanders into Ring of Honor »

Continue reading Video: Can Ochocinco still get open or is he washed up? »

FLOWERY BRANCH – Ray Anderson, the Falcons former vice president, is the NFL’s executive vice president of football operations, and is charge of the crackdown on “dangerous” play.

He went on NFL Network earlier this week to explain the league’s position on the fines that were imposed against Pittsburgh’s James Harrison, New England’s Brandon Merriweather and Atlanta’s Dunta Robinson.

Anderson played football and baseball for three years at Stanford and later graduated from Harvard Law School. Before taking the job with the Falcons, he was an agent and represented a number of players and coaches, including Tony Dungy and Dennis Green.

Here’s the transcript from Anderson’s interview:

On sending a message with $175,000 worth of fines from illegal hits in Week 6:

RA:  We hope are sending a message empathically that going forward hits to the head that are illegal under our existing and current rules will be dealt with at a higher level.  Players and coaches need to know …

Continue reading Transcript from Ray Anderson’s interview on NFL Network »

Atlanta's Roddy White (84) tries to get out of bounds after catching a pass in the final minutes of the game. Johnny Crawford / jcrawford@ajc.com

FLOWERY BRANCH – Falcons wide receiver Roddy White gives us his scouting report on the Cincinnati Benglas on RoddyWhiteTv.

Here’s the link.

“We are going to send them home, nice and quietly,” White said. “Tell them to leave quietly.”

White said he was to do his homework — film study — on his iPad.

Also, he has to get 50 tickets for the game.

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Continue reading RoddyWhite.TV: A look at preparing for the Bengals »

Continue reading Video: Is Atlanta’s offense too predictable? »

Former Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer (right) is probably not having Bobby Petrino over for a cookout this summer. (Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com)

After practice in Cincinnati on Wednesday, former Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer ripped former head coach Bobby Petrino.

Zimmer was the defensive coordinator in 2007, the season that Petrino abruptly resigned 13 games into the season. Zimmer ended up in Cincinnati and has led the defense to its highest ranking in three decades last season at No. 4.

“When a coach quits in the middle of the year and ruins a bunch of people’s families and doesn’t have enough guts to finish out the year, I’m not a part of it,” Zimmer told the Cincinnati media. “And you can put that in the Arkansas News Gazette. I don’t really give a (bleep). He’s a coward, he ruined a bunch of people’s lives, a bunch of families, kids, because he didn’t have enough (guts) to stay there and finish the job. And that’s …

Continue reading Mike Zimmer calls Petrino a ‘coward’ over his 2007 exit »

Tight ends Justin Peelle and Leroy Banks signing autographs after a recent minicamp practice. (D. Orlando Ledbetter/AJC)

FLOWERY BRANCH –In an attempt to get back to their physical style of play, the Falcons put on the pads at practice on Wednesday.

Coach Mike Smith hasn’t been happy with the pad level of the team. They had not practiced in pads in the previous two weeks on Wednesdays. The offensive linemen and defensive linemen got into a few dust-ups, but no one was injured.

There were a few other items:

• Tight end Justin Peelle had sports hernia surgery and will miss four to six weeks. Rookie Michael Palmer will move up into the backup tight end position.
• Running back Antone Smith did not practice because of a shoulder injury.
• Cornerback Dunta Robinson plans to appeal his  $50,000.
• Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon was held out of practice with his right knee sprain.

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Continue reading Practice report: Peelle out 4 to 6 weeks »

FLOWERY BRANCH — Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson plans to appeal his $50,000 fine for a hit that he made on Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson.

“I am disappointed by the NFL’s ruling,” Robinson said in a statement released by his agent. “I recognize the goal is to protect all players — from the Pee Wee level on up — however, this was a bang-bang hit situation where I did not lead with my helmet, and therefore I will appeal. Although it was a violent hit, my hit did not violate the NFL’s rules, and I was playing the game the way I always have. I am not a dirty player and have never been characterized as one.”

Robinson didn’t practice with the Falcons on Wednesday. He watched from the field and went inside with about 10 minutes left.

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Continue reading Dunta Robinson to appeal his $50,000 fine »