UPDATE: Falcons make roster moves
Falcons coach Mike Smith and owner Arthur Blank watching a recent practice.
UPDATE: 6:35 p.m.
With center Todd McClure out for the season-opener, the Falcons signed Brett Romberg to likely serve as the backup to second-year center Joe Hawley on Tuesday.
In order to cut the roster down to the league-mandated 80, the Falcons waived wide receiver Doug Beaumont, cornerback Kirk Belgrave, running back Philip Sylvester, linebacker LaMarcus Thompson and linebacker Youri Yenga. The team reached an injury settlement with wide receiver Tim Buckley.
Romberg, a 6-foot-2, 293-pounder, played 10 games with the Falcons in 2009. Overall, Romberg has played in 46 NFL games and made 19 career starts.
Buckley, who was originally signed by the Falcons as a college free agent on April 26, 2010 from Alcorn State. He spent the entire 2010 season on the Falcons practice squad. His injury was not disclosed.
The Falcons must cut the roster down to 53 players by September 3 and may establish an eight-player practice squad on September 4.
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The Falcons have to cut their roster down to 80 by 4 p.m. today.
They have released running back Philip Sylvester and linebacker LaMarcus Thompson, according to their agent.
Also, not at practice today were wide receiver Doug Beaumont, wide receiver Tim Buckley and linebacker Youri Yenga.
Sylvester, a speedy back from Florida A&M, is a candidate to return on the practice squad if he does not land on another team’s active roster. In addition to the Falcons, the Dolphins and the Titans wanted to sign him as a free agent.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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83 comments Add your comment
BobDawg
August 30th, 2011
9:43 pm
DLed is McClure really out for the Bears game??? Starting center out is HUGE…. Hawley and Ryan better get on the same page……
Ra'mon
August 30th, 2011
10:04 pm
NHE, could signing Sanders (an improving at one of the safeties) leave it open for the Falcons to trade or release Decoud possibly, creating room for another nickel?
Tdawg
August 30th, 2011
10:21 pm
I can’t believe we didnt go after any of the numerous CB’s in free agency….after the Steelers lighting us up I am not sure if this is going to be a good season.
lower case b
August 30th, 2011
10:26 pm
The Falcons really don’t need more free agents.
They may be deficient at nickle, but that won’t derail their strength at linbacker, d-tackle, corner, safety and d-end.
Cohesive units make great defenses, not one player, at one position that’s not even on the field for every play.
tonyt
August 30th, 2011
10:31 pm
Didn’t you hear James Sanders have hamstring problems. It will hamper him all year.
lower case b
August 30th, 2011
10:31 pm
Let’s focus on the fact that, for the most part, this team is healthy going into the season.
No top picks expecting to start or contribute are on the ir this year.
I call that a great preseason.
McNasty
August 30th, 2011
10:51 pm
St Pius fan – I am an alumni also. The Golden Lions won the Goveners Cup for AAA and beat Marist. Soccer team is #1 in the country. Hows that for an “academic institution”
Atlanta Falcons sign James Sanders | Falcons Blog
August 30th, 2011
10:54 pm
[...] Falcons then made a lot of unsurprising cuts to get to the required 80 player limit. Waived were WR Doug Beaumonth, CB Kirk Belgrave, RB Philip [...]
South GA Dude
August 30th, 2011
11:09 pm
D Led has to get stuff confirmed before he can report it…he can’t go by my mama’s brother’s cousin’s mother-in-law’s daddy’s great uncle told me that…and nickle? it’s nickel
D. Orlando Ledbetter
August 31st, 2011
1:06 am
South GA Dude — Thanks for chipping in. They Jedi dude is bad news. He’s always negative. We have one of the strongest sourcing policies in the industry.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
August 31st, 2011
1:07 am
BobDawg — Yes, Chris reported that today from practice for us. (Had to Drive Mrs. Daisy to the hospital today.)
D. Orlando Ledbetter
August 31st, 2011
1:09 am
nhe — I thought so, too. But I’ve been told that the safeties messed up on both of the long scores last week. Sanders will get them refocused or take one of the spots.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
August 31st, 2011
1:11 am
tjhook – We don’t think the Falcons are done yet.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
August 31st, 2011
1:15 am
joe white — Or that I changed my name to Joe White. That would be news.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
August 31st, 2011
1:15 am
St. Pius Fan — Thank you for your kind words.
GHunt
August 31st, 2011
1:16 am
We need a “WILD FALCON” type back up QB to provide a change of pace scheme to our new explosive offense. However, I would be happy to add a well excuted screen pass to the playbook.
J-Man
August 31st, 2011
4:33 am
Here are some guys that I’m suprised that are free agents
1. Marcus Stroud
2. Dennis Dixon
3. Lofa Tatupu
dean
August 31st, 2011
5:25 am
Who is the LB with the rasta locks? Is he going make it? Seems to always be around the ball.
Decatur Falcon
August 31st, 2011
6:59 am
Dled- Great Blog as Usual- Keep the bowtie tight- We need a Nickel back- From what I have seen Franks and Owens are not ready for Sunday Afternoons – Muchless Sunday/Monday Nights (Philly/GB/NO)
D. Orlando Ledbetter
August 31st, 2011
7:37 am
Decatur Falcons — Thanks for the kind words and the advice. Franks/Owens might surprise you.
BirdDawg24
August 31st, 2011
7:43 am
i hope bear woods makes it, he is always around the ball..if falcons get their secondary better through free-agency. look out superbowl here they come
D. Orlando Ledbetter
August 31st, 2011
7:43 am
dean — That would be Bear Woods. He’s on the bubble.
BirdDawg24
August 31st, 2011
7:49 am
yeah he”s bear-ly gonna make the team
BirdDawg24
August 31st, 2011
7:52 am
offense looks like it could put up some big points this year, bring back ” the big ben play. ” use it with the no-huddle.
dean
August 31st, 2011
8:26 am
Thanks DLed. Being an undersized footballer in my day I was told more than once that my motor is what kept me on the team.
mountain_jim
August 31st, 2011
8:59 am
Dang DLed – when do you sleep?
ATLol
August 31st, 2011
10:07 am
BirdDawg24 – lol
NATIVEBIRD
August 31st, 2011
10:26 am
PLEASE CUT CHRIS OWENS. GIVE FRANKS ONE MORE YEAR TO DEVELOP AND IF HE DOES NOT PERFORM, CUT HIM NEXT YEAR. LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE DEEP AND TRADE SOMEONE WITH THAT NEED FOR A BONIFIED CORNER! WE WILL NOT WIN MORE THAN 8 GAMES IF WE DON’T. IT IS A GAPING HOLE IN OUR DEFENSE. OWENS HAD HIS CHANCE HIS HEAD IS NOT IN THE GAME, PERIOD!
ONCE WE PICK UP A GOOD CORNER, LET’S PRAY DUNTA STAYS HEALTHY AND PUT GRIMY GRIMES AT NICKEL. NOW YOU HAVE A DEFENSE!!!!! THEN IT WOULD BE DEFUNSE!
GO BIRDS!!!!!!!!
D man
August 31st, 2011
10:55 am
I agree with Nativebird…
Fresh-----need a cold one!
August 31st, 2011
12:18 pm
Nativebird was right on point. Offense wasn’t that bad last year to trade all those picks for J. Jones, as good as he may be, when it is your secondary that’s the weakest link.
Milledgeville John
August 31st, 2011
12:25 pm
What is Akeem Dent’s status ??
Just Asking
August 31st, 2011
12:25 pm
Why don’t they go ahead and cut down further. Surely they know by now which players have no chance of making the team.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
August 31st, 2011
1:01 pm
Milledgeville John — Akeem has been practicing. He’s fine.