Falcons release former first-rounders Anderson, Jenkins
Jamaal Anderson got one of his 4.5 sacks last season against Seattle. (Associated Press).
FLOWERY BRANCH – The Falcons cleared $7.8 million under the salary cap by releasing veteran defensive lineman Jamaal Anderson and wide receiver Michael Jenkins on Friday.
Anderson and Jenkins were both former first-round picks.
Anderson taken eighth overall in the 2007 drafted and never blossomed in to the sackmaster that the Falcons envisioned when he was selected. The Falcons passed on future stars Patrick Willis and Darrelle Revis. Willis, a linebacker, went 11th to San Francisco and Revis, a cornerback, went to the Jets with the 14th pick.
Willis has been to four Pro Bowls and has been named an All-Pro three times. Revis has been to three Pro Bowls and has been named All-Pro two times.
Anderson played in 60 games and made 47 starts, but had just 3.5 sacks (The Falcons officially have him for 3.5 sacks. Pro-Football-Reference.com has him for 4.5 sacks. The Falcons gave the credit for the sack against Seattle to Jonathan Babineaux.)
Jenkins was selected with the 29th pick in the 2004 draft.
He was a mainstay in the offense, but never amassed over 100 yards receiving in a game. He had a career-high 53 catches in 2007 and a career-high in yards of 777 in 2008.
Jenkins’ future was in doubt after the Falcons traded five picks to move up 27 spots in the draft to select wide receiver Julio Jones with the sixth pick of the 2011 draft.
With the extra cap room, the Falcons will likely be able to pursue free-agent defensive end Ray Edwards.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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369 comments Add your comment
Ra'mon
July 29th, 2011
11:35 am
Jay, I really don’t think Chad will be a problem. Chad wants to win so he can be called a champion. Chad is about branding himself before his career is over. And he understands that the best brand is a champion. He never had that opportunity in Cincinnati.
Jay
July 29th, 2011
11:35 am
@BoomBoom, I would have much rather signed Dahl over Blalock because of that nastiness.
@TRS, Durham is good, but he’s too dang fragile.
ctfalconfan
July 29th, 2011
11:35 am
Good luck to Jamaal and Michael!
Jamaal was a nice run stopper and Michael had some nice catches. NONE better than the one at the Dome against Chicago with 1 second left to get us a shot to win with a FG
I wouldn’t mind ATL trying to re-sign Jamaal for a few hundred grand if he doesn’t gain any interest in the market.
I’m sure someone will pick them both up..
TLaw
July 29th, 2011
11:36 am
Alright UGA 1999..”Tick-Tock”
Jay
July 29th, 2011
11:36 am
Why everyone is excited about our offense. GB packers beat us because we couldn’t stop the pass.. Have something change that i’m not aware of. Defense Win Games.
DawgsnFalcons
July 29th, 2011
11:37 am
BoomBook: I’m with ya man. Not happening. Every news agency is reporting the complete opposite.
falconfever74
July 29th, 2011
11:37 am
jay: i agree totally i heard him on an interview on espn the other day and he just sounds like a guy who is trying to cash in on what he has been blessed with size and atheletism. he doesnt care about winning or helping a team win. i dont touch him and i dont like the shot he took at commissioner goddell. thats my opinion
BoomBoomJoe
July 29th, 2011
11:38 am
I wonder how Fat and out of shape Micheal Turner is this year, It’s funny how these guys get paid to basically be in shape and this dude shows up bigger and fatter every year.
UGA 1999
July 29th, 2011
11:38 am
DawgsnFalcons….yeah you are right the “news agencies” can always be trusted hahaha.
DawgsnFalcons
July 29th, 2011
11:39 am
@Jay Yeah he’s nasty but Blalock has been their most reliable O-lineman and he’s an earth mover which is what they like for the running game. I like Dahl but I would take Blalock because I think Johnson can come in and replace Dahl with no problem.
DawgRed24
July 29th, 2011
11:41 am
Ummm….Kris Durham was drafted. Why would be be able to sign him?
UGA1999- I hope you are right. You seem awfully sure of yourself. If you are just being smug to torture us, I hope you sleep badly tonight.
UGA 1999
July 29th, 2011
11:41 am
DawgsnFalcons….nice post 11:39
Greg Moundine
July 29th, 2011
11:41 am
My buddy honest_abe, this is what makes New England coach so great. He work with the ones that others don’t think can accomplish something..for example Dillion and LT.
DawgsnFalcons
July 29th, 2011
11:41 am
UGA 1999: I’m not talking about just the networks. I’m talking specifically guys who make their living reporting this stuff. LaCanfora, DLedbetter, Michael Lombardi, Adam Schefter, Jay Glazer and none of them has said what you’ve said and that’s because it’s not true and isn’t happening. So go yank someone elses chain.
gb
July 29th, 2011
11:41 am
uga 1999 dont b pulling our chain there really are true fans who have been waiting for years to hear our team make bold moves like this like this but if so we will be super bowl champs!!!!! hope this is not a lie!
UGA 1999
July 29th, 2011
11:41 am
DawgRed24….I sleep badly every night ugghhhh….
falcons relax
July 29th, 2011
11:42 am
We now do have enough cap to go after nnamdi. If the boys have the cap space we have to cap space period. But I would love to have osi. But if that UGA1999 guy is pullin our leg then so be it. I just don’t know why a falcon fan would play around like that. He missing me with that signing ray edwards AND nnamid but I could believe in actually signing nnamdi though.
UGA 1999
July 29th, 2011
11:43 am
UPDATE!!: THE PRESS CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR TODAY IS STILL ON….
Falcons4Life
July 29th, 2011
11:44 am
WE WANT OSI UMENYIORA GIVE THE FANS WHAT THEY WANT DIMITROFF!!!
HappyCamper
July 29th, 2011
11:44 am
Great moves! Jenkins will be missed though. He made some key sideline grabs to help win some games….’08 against da Bears comes to mind.
Falcons4Life
July 29th, 2011
11:46 am
Good ridden Michael Stinkens And Jamal Crapderson!!!
BoomBoomJoe
July 29th, 2011
11:46 am
We need a backup QB as well, I cringe at the thought of having to rely on Chris Redman or JP Wilson,we should get Vince Young or Kyle Orton.
miggy
July 29th, 2011
11:46 am
i agree with honest_abe.. we need depth in the trenches and we MUST have a pass rusher.. asumough is not going to happen. randy moss.. yea right. and whoever said get marion barber is an idiot.. charles johnson would have been a great compliment to john abraham. i love brent grimes’ heart and talent but he is so small. i think we need a safety and a pass rusher. wonder what jaquizz rodgers will bring to the offense? go falcons
falconfever74
July 29th, 2011
11:46 am
i understand what your saying about blalock dawgsnfalcons but dahl brings an attitude to a position which is all about attitude he may not be as talented as blalock but his attitude and relentlessness raises clabo, baker, and mcclure game. a guy like that makes you better bacause u know he is always competing try ing to whip your butt. look at babs impact since facing dahl everyday for the last couple of years.
Falcons4Life
July 29th, 2011
11:47 am
Whats has he done for us lately….Happy Camper was a no show in NFC Divisional Playoffs!!!
DawgsnFalcons
July 29th, 2011
11:48 am
UGA 1999: LOL You’re killing me.
UGA 1999
July 29th, 2011
11:48 am
UPDATE: THE NEWS CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR TODAY IS STILL ON…..DISCUSSION POINTS WILL BE SOLIDIFYING THE OFFENSIVE LINE AND TRADES REGARDING OFFENSIVE LINE POSITION PLAYERS.
PLAN ON WORKING TOMORROW….NEWS CONFERENCE INVOLVING FREE AGENT SIGNINGS WILL BE WORKED BETWEEN NOON AND 3PM ON JULY 30, 2011.
Falcons4Life
July 29th, 2011
11:48 am
Good ridden Michael Stinkens And Jamal Crapderson!!!
I’ll say it again…
DawgsnFalcons
July 29th, 2011
11:50 am
FalconsFever74: I hear ya but when it comes down to it I think they’ll resign Blalock. He fits the scheme more and I believe they like Mike Johnson a lot and he’s cheaper than Dahl will be.
falcons relax
July 29th, 2011
11:51 am
I think UGA1999 is right in the sense of the conference. BUt it aint for no nnamdi or ray edwards. lol! If it is then I would apologize to him personally. lol! But they might just have an conference for the players we resigned or something. Todays the first day of practice anyway
UGA 1999
July 29th, 2011
11:53 am
falcons relax….I can tell you that before Monday the Falcons will the the focus of the sporting agencies and media outlets.
honest_abe
July 29th, 2011
11:55 am
the falcons make a big FA splash by resigning mike petersen 100 yr old linebacker! nice! meanwhile the saints get sproles. aaaaaaaaah bad start to football.
falcons relax
July 29th, 2011
11:58 am
OK UGA1999 are you in ATL or something??? Like there could be a lot of factors in this. 1. You could be a closeted saints fan just making up some name to pull our leg. 2. You could be delusional and really think nnamdi is coming. 3. You have something backwards, as we’re going after osi and your getting nnamdi twisted. 4. Could be what I jus said about the conference just being for the players we’re resigning. 5. You could have nothing better to do but get everyone excited and get attention. or 6. YOU COULD BE TELLING THE TRUTH WHERE 99.9% OF PEOPLE IN HERE DON’T BELIVE YOU. lol! We’ll have to wait and see. If we never were in the hunt for nnamdi and he signs with the jets or something I would just love to here your explanation though. lol!
DawgsnFalcons
July 29th, 2011
11:59 am
honest_abe: Yeah I’m with you on that. Not sure why we’re keeping Peterson around but at least it was only a one yr deal. I have to hand it to the Aint’s that Sproles pick up is huge.
UGA 1999
July 29th, 2011
11:59 am
Falcons Relax….nice synopsys.
jerseyfalcon
July 29th, 2011
12:00 pm
I don’t know if anyone has brought this up or not but since they signed Clabo and relaesed anderson/jenkins..do they ahve enough to re-sign Grimes, Blalock and Dahl? I hope they dont let them all go just to sign Ray Edwards…there is a reason why he’s been a FA for this long.
DawgRed24
July 29th, 2011
12:01 pm
Why wouldn’t you resign Peterson? The cost doesn’t affect the cap, and he can play all 3 positions in case of an injury. He is no risk, and provide depth at a cost that doesn’t impact the team.
Jay
July 29th, 2011
12:02 pm
UGA 1999, let it go mang. You’ve already lost all credibility.
honest_abe
July 29th, 2011
12:02 pm
ya sproles is huge for the aints. better more consistent version of reggie bush. and we get to see him twice a year now. awesome.
UGA 1999
July 29th, 2011
12:03 pm
Jay….I guess we all will see on Monday. I hope this blog is still open.
DawgsnFalcons
July 29th, 2011
12:04 pm
jerseyfalcon: They likely do not have enough. Keep in mind they still have Dahl, Snelling, Blalock and Grimes is an RFA and Weems is an exclusive rights FA. So someone will have to go. This is another reason that the Asomugha rumor is complete bs. Not enough dollars to spread around.
Jay
July 29th, 2011
12:05 pm
Bush >>>> Sproles
A healthy Sproles does not scare me anywhere near the way a healthy Bush did. The only guy we had that could even come close to keeping up with Bush last year was a rookie LB that couldn’t stay on the field.
DawgsnFalcons
July 29th, 2011
12:05 pm
DawgRed: Well he can certainly stand on the field in all three positions. Not sure how well he can play them. He’s in year 13 I believe. A little long in the tooth for me however, like you said, they probably got him cheap.
Jay
July 29th, 2011
12:05 pm
So you’ve gone from today at one to Monday, lol.
UGA 1999
July 29th, 2011
12:06 pm
Jay….read earlier posts….I am willing to place a wager.
falconfever74
July 29th, 2011
12:06 pm
uga 1999 stop toying with us like that. we all know the numbers dont add up unless we cut or trade duanta or matt takes a big salary cut
jerseyfalcon
July 29th, 2011
12:09 pm
I’m torn between Blalock and Dahl…you never hear anything about Blalock, which is a great thing for an O-lineman and Dahl is just nasty, another great thing. haev’t seen enough of Mike Johnson to say he can fill that role of a nasty guard. Grimes you’ll tender, Weems is an “eh” because he’s only special teams…maybe Rodgers can fill that roll. Snelling is a decent backup but you don’t pay a lot of money for big.slow back up running backs.
DawgsnFalcons
July 29th, 2011
12:10 pm
He’s yanking our chain. Ignore it because we all know it ain’t happening.
DawgsnFalcons
July 29th, 2011
12:14 pm
jersey: I think they’ll try to resign one of the two O-linemen. Johnson and Haley filled in enough last year to where I think we’d be fine with them in there.
Grimes will depend on whether or not someone tries to get him. Weems had a really good season and they can probably tender him and keep him.
Snelling: They really like him and you won’t turn the job over to Rodgers as a rookie in the even that Turner gets hurt they’re gonna want a veteran that knows the system.
UGA 1999
July 29th, 2011
12:14 pm
Duante is not going anywhere…