James Sanders agrees to 1-year deal with Falcons
Safety James Sanders in action for New England. (Associated Press)
UPDATE:
Safety James Sanders agreed to a one-year contract with the Falcons on Tuesday, according to his agent Gary Uberstine.
He worked out for the team on Tuesday after being released by the New England Patriots on Monday.
Since being drafted in the fourth-round of the 2005 draft, he’s played in 84 NFL games and has made 50 starts. He played in 15 games last season and made nine starts.
He was drafted by the Patriots when Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff was their director of college scouting.
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Defensive back James Sanders, who was released by the New England Patriots, is set to visit the Falcons on Tuesday, the team confirmed.
Sanders, who was drafted by the Patriots in 2005 when Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff was with the team, plays strong safety. He can also play free safety.
“Tough release there with James Sanders,’’ New England coach Bill Belichick told the Boston Globe. “James has been a good guy to have on this team. A hard-working kid. He really has developed from the time he came to us as a draft choice from Fresno [State] and he’s been a really solid team player for us but we just, part of the move, needed to release people. But he was a tough one.’’
Sanders was drafted in the fourth round. In six seasons with the Patriots, he registered 301 tackles and eight interceptions in 84 regular-season games with 50 starts.
Sanders was slated to make $2.8 million with New England.
“Not a lot of negatives with James, but we have to select the players that we feel like are best for our team,’’ Belichick told the Globe.
The Falcons don’t have much experienced depth behind starting safeties William Moore and Thomas DeCoud. On the depth chart released for the final exhibition game, Rafael Bush, Rafael Priest and Matt Hansen are listed as the backup strong safeties behind Moore. Shann Schillinger and Suaesi Tuimaunei are listed as the backup free safeties behind DeCoud.
The Falcons have a competition at nickel back between Christopher Owens and Dominique Franks, but Sanders has not played the nickel back position.
The Falcons pass defense struggled against Pittsburgh; giving up touchdown passes of 77 and 44 yards. The pass defense ranked 22nd in the league last season.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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83 comments Add your comment
DirtyBirdBrain
August 31st, 2011
8:56 am
We need better D.B.s If not we’ll pay the price when the season starts.
Dee
August 31st, 2011
9:10 am
This signing solidifies the safety spots if DeCoud or Moore were to go down.
Statick
August 31st, 2011
9:10 am
Schillinger or Bush is outta here.
bigdave
August 31st, 2011
9:29 am
solid pick up..
guy plays the game neck up.. not much of a “ball hawk” type but he should sure up our zone schemes if a starter goes down. our depth at safety, was not a good look.
DeCoud better tighten up, Willy Mo could easily slide over to FS.. making room for the solid Sanders.
Don't feed Aints trolls (It isn't 2009 anymore)
August 31st, 2011
9:39 am
Sanders is a great addition to this team. He is good in coverage, just no so much against the run which is why it is great we have a little depth at that position. We can put him in on obvious passing downs. He is solid. You don’t start for the Pats at safety if you can’t play. Belichick didn’t have anything bad to say about him. They just need someone better against the run.
Don't feed Aints trolls (It isn't 2009 anymore)
August 31st, 2011
9:47 am
http://itiswhatitis.weei.com/sports/newengland/football/patriots/2011/08/29/a-closer-look-at-the-decision-to-release-james-sanders/ nice article about sanders
Larry
August 31st, 2011
9:50 am
After watching Rodgers completely disect the colts secondary with four and five receivers on the field, we haven’t a prayer with this bunch coached by BVG.
Worse, we’ve done absolutely nothing to address this.
Don't feed Aints trolls (It isn't 2009 anymore)
August 31st, 2011
9:55 am
QBs only had a 77.1 QB rating against Sanders last year which is 20 points lower than any other safety on the Pats including Chung.
D man
August 31st, 2011
10:16 am
This is a good pickup. We still need help at CB.
Sean
August 31st, 2011
10:25 am
What many people are forgetting is that Dunta Robinson hasn’t played all preseason, he’s going to help the secondary and big plays like we saw against Pittsburgh won’t happen nearly as often. Also, Sanders is a solid pickup, but what everyone must understand is that there really isn’t a major CB on the market, save for Asante Samuel who is Brent Grimes 2.0, so just chill.
B.G
August 31st, 2011
11:02 am
D.Led so is R.Bush chances slim? R the coaches still high on him?
Steve-O
August 31st, 2011
11:09 am
Spot on Dtan
August 30th, 2011
8:30 pm
Kelvin Hayden+ James Sanders would be ideal.
Too bad we have “Dummytroff” as our GM…
________________________________________________________________________
Are you KIDDING me?? Dimitroff has drafted Matt Ryan (starter), Curtis Lofton (starter), Harry Douglas (starter), Thomas DeCoud (starter), Kroy Biermann (rotation guy with Edwards on the team now), William Moore (starter), Vance Walker (depth at DT), Sean Weatherspoon (starter), Corey Peters (starter last year), and some guys named Julio Jones and Jaquizz Rogers this year. Oh, and don’t forget about the free agents: Michael Turner, Ray Edwards, Dunta Robinson, and Eric Weems.
Oh, and these numbers don’t lie: 11-5, 9-7, 13-3
Fan
August 31st, 2011
11:25 am
Atlanta Falcons are making smart business choices for this team. They are picking up players at bargain basement prices that will help them reach the playoff and beyond. They also will get another CB or NB at cheap rate. This is a smart organization that uses common sense for smart business choices.Your so called fans complain and complain for what?? none of us have the money or the business sense like TD has so we need too let him do his thing. Atlanta will keep on building a championship team in GA if you are no a fan, PLEASE GET OFF OF THIS PAGE AND LET THE REAL FANS POST COMMENTS
Greg Mendel
August 31st, 2011
11:34 am
Right, Steve-O. Reading some comments, you’d think the Falcons need to have Pro-Bowlers three deep to win a single game. The reality is that Atlanta has very talented team — more talented than last year. In just three years, the debate has become whether or not we’ll get to the Super Bowl. For decades, it was over whether or not we’d have back-to-back winning seasons, or a winning season at all.
FalconJim
August 31st, 2011
2:44 pm
If he’s good enough for TD, he’s good enough for me. After all, he did draft him, while with N.E., so he must have seen a lot of up-side to the kid. I like it!!!
In TD, We Trust!
hiramsaint
August 31st, 2011
2:50 pm
failcans and second rate re-treads. between sanders and dunta, ,you get at least 2 ints this year. we know from last year the 57 mil $ man was good for one. man, ,y’all are digging an even deeper hole!
Steve-O
August 31st, 2011
4:05 pm
hiram-aint, Dunta Robinson had only 78 balls thrown his way during the entire 2010 season (being targeted by the opposing QB only 16.6% of the time). He also blew up DeSean Jackson and put him on the bench for a few games last year. You are narrow-minded enough in your thought process to think that INTs are the ONLY measure of a CB. Who benefited from Dunta’s play? Brent Grimes on the other side…he had 5 INTs in 2010 after having only 7 in the 3 prior years total. You need to be more worried about your M*A*S*H unit of a team. Chris Ivory’s hernia, Tracy Porter and Malcolm Jenkin’s knees, Will Herring’s calf, and good ol’ Will Smith’s upcoming, and long overdue, suspension. See you on the field and good luck…you’ll need it.
Steve-O
August 31st, 2011
4:06 pm
hiram-aint, Dunta Robinson Robinson had only 78 balls thrown his way during the entire 2010 season (being targeted by the opposing QB only 16.6% of the time). He also blew up DeSean Jackson and put him on the bench for a few games last year. You are narrow-minded enough in your thought process to think that INTs are the ONLY measure of a CB. Who benefited from Dunta’s play? Brent Grimes on the other side…he had 5 INTs in 2010 after having only 7 in the 3 prior years total. You need to be more worried about your M*A*S*H unit of a team. Chris Ivory’s hernia, Tracy Porter and Malcolm Jenkin’s knees, Will Herrilg’s calf, and good ol’ Will Smith’s upcoming, and long overdue, suspension. See you on the field and good luck…you’ll need it.
Darrell
August 31st, 2011
4:21 pm
Nice pick of Sanders laying wood to a Saint, just what they need!
ohhhYEAH
August 31st, 2011
5:06 pm
so…why is it posts arent being posted?
Eric
August 31st, 2011
5:13 pm
NFL.COM REPORTING FALCONS JUST SIGNED FORMER COLT DB-HAYDEN TO 1YR CONTRACT. WHERE ARE YOUR REPORTING SKILLS AT D-LED?? JK. C’MON MAN GET WITH IT, I SHOULDNT HAVE TO LOOK AT OTHER WEBSITES TO LEARN THIS…..
Greg Mendel
August 31st, 2011
5:32 pm
Sanders and Hayden. Both from New England. Not superstars, but smart pick-ups.
Mystikal
August 31st, 2011
5:54 pm
By 3rd game, Sanders may have Decoud coming off the bench.
Daily Recap: New England Patriots News and Notes 8/31 – PatsFans.com (blog) « Patriots Craze
August 31st, 2011
6:36 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
COOK1972
August 31st, 2011
6:36 pm
Thank you Eric. I thought I was lacking in editorial perusing.
I heard it on Mike & Mike.
sheeeze !!
hiramsaint
August 31st, 2011
7:47 pm
@ darrell- looks like the reciever beat him for the catch. typical failcan!
Mave
August 31st, 2011
8:00 pm
And the winner of the nickel job is….a guy signed off the street-yikes, and injured at that (K.Hayden) …guess Franks and Owens didn’t wow anybody…and thus…relegated to true back-ups…at least Franks is a good return man…Owens may have to fight to make the team.
chichci
August 31st, 2011
8:22 pm
Mave despite the injuries Hayden is a still at what we will be getting him at. Was injured he will make a difference,
bigdave
August 31st, 2011
8:50 pm
Hayden still plays at a high level.. if they ink him.. secondary just go a whole lot better.
Falcon James
August 31st, 2011
10:19 pm
The falcon will lead the league in giving up big play. we better have a explosive offence just to keep up the points the defence is going to give away. every team in the league already know the falcon cant cover rice with gravy.
DR. FALCON
August 31st, 2011
11:49 pm
THIS MOVE WAS NECESSARY! IT SHOWS THE TEAM AND THE FANS, THAT SIGNING SANDERS IS A SIGN THAT NOBODY IS SAFE IN THE SECONDARY! AFTER THAT DEBACLE IN PITTSBURGH, THOMAS DECOUD AND WILLIAM MOORE, BETTER STEP IT UP!!
Birdmobile
September 1st, 2011
6:54 am
@spot on Dtan sounds like you the dummy cus the Falcons signed Hayden!!!
THIS IS OUR TIME
September 1st, 2011
11:32 am
I think moore is gonna be okay. He’s young but he still make plays. Don’t forget he tied brent grimes in INTs last year and is becoming known as one of the hardest hitting safeties in the game. My problem is with DeCoud. He is always getting burned (ie the pittsburgh game) and his side is the weakest. He is supposed to have over the top coverage so our CB’s can make plays but he is always getting blown. He is always out of place and cannot make the plays we need him to. He is slow and soft. If he didn’t make plays the least he could do was lay the BOOM on someone but no he wont do that. He needs to be benched and it is time for someone else to step up. He is this years JAMAAL Anderson. Slow and sorry. Bottom line DeCoud is not good. He is not even average. You are only as strong as your weakest link and seeing that that is decoud… we may have some hard times ahead in the passing game.