Justin Blalock agrees to six-year contract with the Falcons
Falcons guards Justin Blalock (left) and Tyson Clabo help Ryan to his feet after a hit against Tampa Bay (Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com)
FLOWERY BRANCH – Justin Blalock , who’s been a starter since his rookie season in 2007, has agreed to terms on a six-year contract to return to the Falcons on Sunday.
Blalock was drafted in the second round (39th overall) of the 2007 draft.
He struggled his rookie season, but things starting to come together for him under veteran NFL line coach Paul Boudreau.
He’s extremely durable and has started 62 of a possible 64 regular-season games.
Also, Blalock had a 41 on the Wonderlic test and is a smart and heady player.
After practice on Saturday, Falcons coach Mike Smith stated his desire to have Blalock re-signed.
The Falcons have already agreed to terms with starting right tackle Tyson Clabo, but lost starting right guard Harvey Dahl to the St. Louis Rams.
Blalock can not practice with the team until Thursday when the league calendar year starts or if the new collective bargaining agreement is ratified and the year starts sooner.
The only internal free agent left is cornerback Brent Grimes, who is a restricted free agent and has a first-round tender.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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191 comments Add your comment
FlyHigh
July 31st, 2011
11:39 pm
Gazoo is the patron saint of trolls I’ve never seen trolling so masterfully done. when you can make saints fans as well as falcons fans annoyed by the same person on the same blog its genius
SaintsFansAreFunny
July 31st, 2011
11:42 pm
I think we will miss Dahl in the run game, but the Falcons were ready to play 2 guys who were backups as starters if they needed to which means they have confidence in those guys. Hopefully they can step right in. I think that is going to be the most interesting position to watch in training camp. That is really the only starting position that is up for grabs right? Maybe Peterson and Nicholas could be a battle. From the reports I am reading out of camp, some of the undrafted rookies could battle for the nickle back spot.
Mike
July 31st, 2011
11:49 pm
Snelling going to the Giants. I read where Falcons will sign a veteran RB. I trust this administration.
Randy
July 31st, 2011
11:59 pm
I like that picture. Ryan appears to be saying “Did anybody get the number of that truck?” While Clabo and Blalock appear to be saying “Don’t worry about it. We got it covered!!”.
DR. FALCON
August 1st, 2011
1:45 am
I AGREE WITH SLY TY! CHEERS! CHEERS! FOR THOMAS DIMITROFF!! EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR! GREAT JOB ON RE-SIGNING THE OLD TEXAS LONGHORN, JUSTIN BLALOCK. BRENT GRIMES SHOULD BE NEXT, UNLESS WE MAKE A RUN AT ANTONIO CROMARTIE! GRIMES WORKED HIS WAY UP, THE OLD FASHIONED WAY: HARD WORK! LET’S GET HIM IN CAMP! THEN, WE’RE SET!
Dale McCartney
August 1st, 2011
4:04 am
Maybe, just maybe they have not signed Grimes because they are talking Cromartie or Samuel. Just saying. TD never tipped his hand about Julio and the draft….maybe they are doing the same thing now.
CuseFalcon
August 1st, 2011
5:24 am
I agree with McCartney, I like Grimes…but either of those 2 guys improve this ballclub instantly. With that being said, if Grimes does sign the tender im good with that to.
BFALCON
August 1st, 2011
6:50 am
Dimitroff has done well, but we still need another DB even if we sign Grimes. We need a big corner who can bump & run with the WR. C.Owens is no match for any NFC or AFC receivers. Get M.Ryan to restructure and go get Cromartie (CB) and M.Floyd (WR).Make a splash like the Eagles.They are definitely the team to beat in the NFC.
Paddy
August 1st, 2011
7:04 am
Everyone always said Harvey Dahl was real mean and real nasty. Don’t remember anyone say Dahl was real good? Could be why the Falcons did not go real hard to sign him?
Dawg46
August 1st, 2011
7:55 am
This is great for the Falcons to get 2 stud off lineman back , there is still a good core of guys there let the gel begin. Gazoo get a grip !!!
Greg Moundine
August 1st, 2011
7:56 am
OK Gazoo, I was just a little worried that Kerry Meier is coming off a knee injury!
1959 DAWG
August 1st, 2011
8:22 am
Many of you guys on here may disagree, but the Falcons were a Wild Card at best without Jason Snelling. He is versatile and always plays extremely hard. Personally I like him better than Turner. MT is starting his decline. Snelling always gets the job done when Turner is out. They need to get him signed.
Thorpe
August 1st, 2011
8:55 am
D-Led – WHY would you say that Grimes is the ONLY free agent the Falcons have not re-signed when SNELLING is a free agent who has not re-signed. WHY DO WE HAVE THE WORST SPORTS COVERAGE IN THE COUNTRY? First, the AJC’s irresponsible coverage of the Thrashers, now we are stuck with this idiot covering the Falcons.
SaintsFansAreFunny
August 1st, 2011
9:12 am
I can’t help but laugh at so many Falcons fans, which is sad being that I am one. I constantly hear stuff like “Turner is starting his decline” and “Abraham is past his prime” being said by the media and by fans.
Turner was injured most of the year last year and still led the NFC in rushing even though we had 8 games against the top 10 defenses in the NFL. He has had surgery to correct that injury and will be even better this year. I would like to sign another RB to take some of the pressure off of him. I like Snelling, but if he doesn’t sign I am not worried. RB is by far the easiest position to replace.
JA may be getting older, but statistically he hasn’t lost a step yet. 2 out of his last 3 seasons were the best in his career. Last year he led the NFL in sacks by a DE even though he had NO help on the other side. JA is probably the most under appreciated player in the NFL. Now that we have Edwards, that means Biermann and Sidbury will be in constant rotation to give JA a break on running downs. JA will just have to worry about one thing…. getting to the QB. If he can continue to get 13 sacks a year, I don’t care if he is 97 years old.
ATL Observer
August 1st, 2011
9:24 am
I agree with SaintsFansAreFunny that MT’s “decline” is far overstated but that said, I think the Falcons rush him too much. I don’t think these injuries happen by accdient. Snelling provides a change of pace and something to keep Turner’s legs fresh. If he bolts, we are definitely going to need someone to fill those shoes.
But I agree with ohyeah…..we NEED UPGRADES IN CB!!! Asomugha, Joseph, Cromartie, etc etc…….while overall I put great faith in this management, it does worry me that they don’t seem to think that this position is a weakness.
Thorpe
August 1st, 2011
9:26 am
By the way, how is it that even the most casual Falcons Fans are aware that Free Agent Jason Snelling has not yet re-signed with the team, but the Falcons very own BEAT WRITER who GETS PAID to follow the team, thinks that Brent Grimes is the only unsigned free agent. First “C-Viv” was paid to LIE about the Thrashers, now “D-LED” is compensated for incompetence. Welcome to Atlanta.
D man
August 1st, 2011
9:30 am
Great, now get a CB to shore up the defense.
Terrell
August 1st, 2011
9:48 am
Dale McCartney
They haven’t signed Grimes yet because he is a RFA. They don’t have to sign him right away. They are seeing who will bite and give him a contract and ATL will more than likely sign it. They are letting the market determine Grimes’ value as opposed to possibly overpaying him.
North FLA Falcon
August 1st, 2011
10:03 am
If I had to lose one of the 3 OL guys it would be Dahl … he is a mauler but he had too many penalties last year. Defensive linemen got in his head. I remember he had a crucial penalty in our loss to the Saints on 12/26. Now Baker and Mike Johnson need to step it up. I like the moves so far. Good job.
Hoss Can't Writer
August 1st, 2011
10:24 am
Where’s the info. on the Ray Edwards DE signing ? Keep up now AJC bloggers…
drmaryb.(*_*).
August 1st, 2011
10:45 am
For Sale!
Uugh … Mr. Blank, could you please purchase The Hawks and fire everybody over there? A good start would be disposing of:
The 8 feces throwing orangutans aka ASKillerG. Just spray them with industrial grade pesticides. Respiratory failure would be a good start. Not LOL!
drmaryb.(*_*).
August 1st, 2011
10:56 am
Corner It!
“while overall I put great faith in this management, it does worry me that they don’t seem to think that this position is a weakness.” -ATL Observer-
_______________
Have you considered that the line is the first line of defense. With a better pass rush up front, it helps all the DB’s tremendously. The QB will not be able to freely get that ball down field to his receivers.
I like Dimitroff’s approach to address the D-Lines weakness up front first and then assess the DB’s and Corners from there. Grimes is a very fine play maker and should benefit greatly from the addition of Ray Edwards. Dunta too.
JMHO
UGA 1999
August 1st, 2011
10:58 am
That is the second of the big deals. The third fell through on Friday.
joe white
August 1st, 2011
11:00 am
good we kept two out of the three lineman, figured we would lose harvey. now lets resign brent and snelling and we set, would love to pick up another corner carlos rogers maybe.
gucci706
August 1st, 2011
11:07 am
i would luv to see us go get asanti from the eagles n a trade that would lock up a good def for us
gucci706
August 1st, 2011
11:08 am
i like brent grimes but his size will hurt us n a big game against big receivers
PlanB
August 1st, 2011
11:23 am
If Grimes gets away we get a 1st round pick. That’s about a year away and if we choose a CB with the 28th to 32nd pick we still have to wait 2 to 3 more years for any experienced results. Sign him and quit waiting for other teams to make an offer. Make him feel wanted so he might want to stay here when his next contract comes up. He has developed into a good CB and should not be treated with any less respect just because he was undrafted. We definitely need him after loosing Brian Williams and the awful play of Chris Owens against Green Bay. I think Owens play was the main cause in the GB loss. I hope it was a just bad day and not his best effort.
real talk
August 1st, 2011
11:35 am
can we find out about signing another running back or cornerback. the falcons really havent’ done anything yet. let’s bring in some new people. letting go of a few and bringing in one defensive end is really nothing. cant you all see what these other teams are doing. they are really getting aggressive. the falcons sign a “promising” receiver and a defensive end? seriously? let’s get to it!! get some more quality….
real talk
August 1st, 2011
11:37 am
i thought snelling left with dahl?
Richard Dawson
August 1st, 2011
11:39 am
UGA1999, wondering where you were. I must have missed the big 2pm press conference on Saturday.
bigcrimson75
August 1st, 2011
11:42 am
Mike Johnson will hold down Dahl’s old spot.
UGA 1999
August 1st, 2011
11:58 am
Test
UGA 1999
August 1st, 2011
11:59 am
My posts are not going through again!
UGA 1999
August 1st, 2011
12:00 pm
This blog is killing me….they need to fix it.
Greg Moundine
August 1st, 2011
1:04 pm
Randy Moss retires..now go after T.O.
UGA 1999
August 1st, 2011
1:08 pm
TO wouldnt be a bad move in the slot.
Greg Moundine
August 1st, 2011
1:13 pm
I am serious UGA 1999
Greg Moundine
August 1st, 2011
1:14 pm
Give the man a one year deal. You can get him cheap with the knee issue. I is a strong player though.
UGA 1999
August 1st, 2011
1:14 pm
Greg, we have more urgent needs than another receiver. We must sign a CB and a RB. Then we can look at slot receivers.
Greg Moundine
August 1st, 2011
1:17 pm
UGA 1999, we need a WR. What if Philly keep all CB. I know to beat two good corners, our running game and TE must be on key. I agree with the CB, but I think another WR is just as important as getting a RB. I think we are solid on RB.
Greg Moundine
August 1st, 2011
1:19 pm
That’s what make New England so good, Tom and Welker. Tom has a quick release and Welker kills them in the slot. With Jones and White having CB defend them, this opens the middle when drawn up correctly.
ATL Observer
August 1st, 2011
1:27 pm
@drmaryb, who said “Have you considered that the line is the first line of defense. With a better pass rush up front, it helps all the DB’s tremendously. The QB will not be able to freely get that ball down field to his receivers.”
Don’t get me wrong! I’m happy with the Edwards pickup. And I agree: it all starts with the line! If you have a bad defensive line, then the flashiest set of CBs and safeties doesn’t usually do you a damn bit of good. But why can’t we have both? Just one CB to push everyone currently in the lineup wouldn’t be a bad thing, would it? Let’s not create a false choice dillemma.
UGA 1999
August 1st, 2011
1:28 pm
Greg, right now with Roddy and Julio we feel that we can contend with anyones CB core. Harry Douglas is our #3 for now. We may make another move I am just not sure TO is the answer.
Olik
August 1st, 2011
1:31 pm
so are there any legs to an Asante Samuels trade? what would you be willing to give up to make that happen? we can’t give up draft picks given we’re already in the hole next year, so it would have to be a player or two. hard for me to think of a player the Eagles would want that we’d be willing to trade.
UGA 1999
August 1st, 2011
1:35 pm
Olik….it will certainly be fun to watch. If we sign Samuels….Grimes is gone.
Greg Moundine
August 1st, 2011
1:38 pm
Olik, if they trade Samuels, we will not have to give up much. For most players in that situation, they set out to prove a point. What better venue than our first home game against Philly. @UGA1999; do not sleep on TO. He is a beast at WR.
UGA 1999
August 1st, 2011
1:39 pm
Greg…he is also an ego with a knee injury.
UGA 1999
August 1st, 2011
1:39 pm
BTW…TO has said publically that he wants to come to the Falocons.
Greg Moundine
August 1st, 2011
1:42 pm
I am going to Lobby for TO due to he had never had a receiver or receivers like the Falcons have. Philly want to call themselves a “Dream Team,” Falcons with TO will be one that brings down that Dream.
Olik
August 1st, 2011
1:42 pm
I’d be fine swapping out Grimes for Samuels, but I can’t figure out the Eagles best move. If they want a LB, I don’t want to part with Spoon or Lofton to make it happen. Maybe Eagles need the cap flexibility to sign other FAs on the offensive end, and they’d take a younger prospect or 2 like Franks and _____.