Falcons are set to hit the field on Friday
110721 Atlanta - New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, right, is escorted by security as he arrives for the NFL Owners meetings at the Atlanta Airport Gateway Marriott on Thursday, July 21, 2011. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com
The Falcons are tentatively set to return to practice on Friday after the NFLPA approved the 10-year collective bargaining agreement by a unanimous 32-0 vote in Washington, D.C. on Monday.
The players are set to vote on recertifying the union on Wednesday. They can report for training camp on Thursday and are tentatively set to hit the field on Friday.
The player representatives took part in a three-hour conference call before voting to approve the deal. The owners approved the deal last Thursday at a hotel near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
“We talked about the process that we are about to go through,” said Falcons player representative Tyson Clabo. “The reconstituion of the union. The process here over the next week with the team. For the most part, we had already discussed the financials of the deal last week.”
There was a public backlash against the NFLPA after they didn’t immediate ratify the deal last week.
“There were a lot of questions,” Clabo said. “A lot of guys had concerns. We tried to address those concerns. Finally, at the end of the day, it came down to the vote and everybody was on board. I was happy to see that.”
The news of the vote sent the Falcons’ braintrust into a frenzy. The team has to address 11 free agents, five rookie draft picks and sign 10 to 15 undrafted college free agents.
“Coy Wire sent out an email to everybody and I called a couple of the guys personally,” Clabo said. “At this point, I would anticipate that the guys would be getting a lot of phone calls from the coaches.”
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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69 comments Add your comment
Lesa
July 25th, 2011
6:08 pm
So glad we can stop talking about the lockout and start talking about football! Woo hoo!!!
ueeediot
July 25th, 2011
7:06 pm
How much cap space do the Falcons have?
ueeediot
July 25th, 2011
7:11 pm
The Saints are at $99.5 million
The Falcons are right behind them at $97 million
Bucs have $58.7 million (Tampa Bay has the least amount committed toward a 2011 cap of all 32 NFL teams.)
The Carolina Panthers have $71.8 million committed
Bobby Petrino
July 25th, 2011
7:23 pm
If not for the dog issue, the Falcons would already have had their ring.
Falcon fan since prime
July 25th, 2011
7:47 pm
I think the falcons should go after cromartie real hard in fa and let grimes play nickel
Falconsrus
July 25th, 2011
8:08 pm
I THINK dent is gonna hunker down
Orlando D. Ledbetter
July 25th, 2011
9:29 pm
I think this is great. Im going to get me a white gurl. I needz me sum white gurl. Sho nuff.
Hey V ick Im gone getz me a white gurl….Whatz up?
hiramsaint
July 25th, 2011
9:41 pm
it’s really lookin’ good for atlanta this year! just think- in dec. , y’all can celebrate 4 winning seasons in a row with a 9-7 record and then sit home with your team and watch the saints and the bucs battle in the playoffs . even better is how matty melt won’t have to explain 0-3 in the post season since he’ll be on his sofa too !
SeenThisB4
July 25th, 2011
10:49 pm
Hey D-Led:
The Saints have already signed two two undrafted defensive free agents this evening, what’s your team doing? And hey, did you know that the Vets can report to Flowery Branch on Friday, but they can’t practice till next week? on Aug 4th when the new league year officially starts?
SeenThisB4
July 25th, 2011
11:11 pm
Check that, make that 3 signings and they’ll keep rolling in tonight! Nothing going on here on AJC, I’m out. STB4.
cccc80
July 25th, 2011
11:35 pm
We just picked up Noel Devine kid is a baller, and STB4 you still got blown out by the SEAHAWKS
Chucktown38
July 26th, 2011
12:22 am
Wow Todd Heap is going to be released, ATL maybe. Everyone forgets Cliff Mathews I am telling you he really could become a game changer if given the chance.
Chucktown38
July 26th, 2011
12:25 am
I think you will find out Ray Edward is going to be a buster>
Ghostrider
July 26th, 2011
7:50 am
@willie g the gambler
Get Favre….You have got to be kidding…
N.F.L.= No Fan Love
July 26th, 2011
6:26 pm
Dear NFL (especially you Mr. Blank),
I am glad this is done. I thought there probably wouldnt be a season honestly but now I see the even bigger picture. Honesty, Ive watched through this whole thing and I’m tired. Even if this ends up being one of the most exciting seasons, it’ll still carry a sting to me bc you all decided to wear skirts and skip down candy lane about the situation. I also agree with some of the bloggers about the stadium. We shouldnt be paying for rich people’s playgrounds. I stand firmly on that. You dont tell people that there is an underbelly to football many dont look at. Yeah, its enjoyable to watch but then what happens while our attention’s diverted?
Yours No Longer,
Burnt Out Bernie
N.F.L.= No Fan Love
July 26th, 2011
6:27 pm
P.S. Thanks for helping me remember that there is life without you.
hiramsaint
July 26th, 2011
9:07 pm
@cccc80- 5 pts. is not a blow out. what the packers did in the ga. dome …now that was a blow out
Ken Strickland
July 27th, 2011
12:31 am
HIRAMAINT-Your beloved AINTS were the defending NFC divisional and Superbowl champions, and was picked to repeat. Your opponent, on the other hand, was the Seahawks, the worst, and only team in NFL history to make the playoffs with a losing record. And that SORRIER THAN SORRY joke you call a DEF got punked out by last yrs 25h ranked OFF.
How can anyone that’s not totally delusional and out of touch with reality find solace in losing by 5pts to the NFL’s worst and first none winning team to make the playoff in NFL history? Your BELOVED AINTS established an NFL playoff record with that humilating defeat.
And like your embarrassing record of 25 consecutive yrs without a winning season will never be broken, neither will that embarrassing record setting whipping you established in last yrs playoffs. I can only imagine how hard it is to be an AINTS fan. You have to pretend, ignore and rationalize so much in order to deal with your version of reality.
[Falcons News] Falcons Set To Begin Practice On Friday - GridironFans.com
July 27th, 2011
9:10 am
[...] report for training camp on Thursday and are tentatively set to hit the field on Friday. Source Atlanta Journal-Constitution [...]